Where are all the second hand clothes shops in London?

[ohmyliver]

Oh and the best charity shops are to be found in not remotely 'hip' places, with a large ageing population... like Eastborne for example.... I once got a genuine alpaca mohair coat for 15 quid from Worthing, and the only man's fake fur coat in Barnsley... presumably once worn by the bravest yorkshireman ever

 

[rutabowa]

Oh and the best charity shops are to be found in not remotely 'hip' places, with a large ageing population... like Eastborne for example.... I once got a genuine alpaca mohair coat for 15 quid from Worthing, and the only man's fake fur coat in Barnsley... presumably once worn by the bravest yorkshireman ever

you are right.. though if you go to a trendier charity shop you will have to filter through less rubbish, but they price it up cos they know what is desirable.

 

[Reno]

It's all very good bitching about vintage clothes stores, but I really can't remember the last time I found something wearable in a London charity shop. They are fine if you want something really cheap, but I'd rather not spend a whole day searching for a nice shirt for £2, when I can easily find one in a vintage clothes store that I'd be happy to be seen in for £12. You basically pay for someone having sifted out the rubbish. It still beats the price of a new designer shirt and is just as nice.

 

[ohmyliver]

It's all very good bitching about vintage clothes stores, but I really can't remember the last time I found something wearable in a London charity shop. They are fine if you want something really cheap, but I'd rather not spend a whole day searching for a nice shirt for £2, when I can easily find one in a vintage clothes store that I'd be happy to be seen in for £12. You basically pay for someone having sifted out the rubbish. It still beats the price of a new designer shirt and is just as nice.

yeah, but, but, but... its the thrill of the chase.... the vintage clothes shops take the fun out of it...

 

[Stig]

the thrill of the chase

I don't want a designer shirt, I want a scruffy old waistcoat and some unfashionable trousers.

 

[Reno]

yeah, but, but, but... its the thrill of the chase.... the vintage clothes shops take the fun out of it...

I just don't have the time for that. Anyway I don't really enjoy shopping, but I like nice clothes.

 

[rutabowa]

i bought some navy blue baggy jogging pants, new, form Kingsland Waste for £3. they are fucking horrible and my girlfriend dumped me shortly after.

 

[ohmyliver]

I just don't have the time for that. Anyway I don't really enjoy shopping, but I like nice clothes.

ahh, but I got into charityshopping when I was on the dole, and it was the best place to pick up 60s and 70s stuff in the, um, heady days of britpop... haven't done it much recently, allthough I did get a nice suit for 2 pounds and 75 pee in Faversham... the charity shop had a sale on

 

[milesy]

bugger.

Does this mean that my best bet for finding cheap tat is something like Camden?

camden's alright, there's some good second hand/retroboutiquebohowanker shops under the arches up there. i plan a visit after payday for some new jeans.

 

[BEARBOT]

thanks for posting the info on the waste market ruta
yeah moving is a big hairy stinky one ....best wishes in yr new home!!!

i sometimes go to ridley rd market during the week..i need some pound a scoop veggies/fruitees so ill get them then check out the waste market tomorrow

stig..there is something similiar to waste market on brick lane on sundays under the bridge more at the northern end of the street..car boot type prices on the clothes..there is also the shop "beyond retro" just off brick lane on cheshire st i haventbeen there
since it first opened..
freinds tell me it is still fairly cheap
esp for items that arent currently trendy

 

[vauxhallmum]

Have you been to Nine Elms Market (Vauxhall/Battersea) on a Sunday? Christ, that is an experience, It's the most ahem..male market I have ever been to

 

[Nixon]

There are about 6 good sized charity shops on Beckenham High St if your feeling to brave that ;D There is some good stuff in them though tbh..for books and womens clothes.

Camden is probably your best bet for central though..Rockit is mean't to be good and there's one in Camden and one around Neal's Yard.

 

[pinkmonkey]

Best places for chazza hunting are Golders Green, Temple Fortune, Southgate, Palmers Green and I've found one or two bits in Tooting.
Oh and Letchworth outside of London, had a few great finds there. I still prefer chazzas to vintage shops you have to be patient though, but generally the finds are worth the wait, but I think Stig should visit Alfies Antique market (do a google) because they have a better selection of menswear than most places and the stallholders are the kind of people who'd call you if they found what you are looking for.

 

[8den]

Quick plug, the missus, Iguana, runs a Barnardos, on George Street, Marylebone. Shirley Basset donated a load of stuff when it first opened.

Give it a try, but do not ask for a Urban75 discount.

 

[Lisarocket]

A mate took me on a tour of charity shops in Kensington a couple of years ago. He had a route he always did once a month taking in Oxfam and Notting Hill Housing Trust shops. Got some nice stuff actually, but i am no help at all as i can't remember exactly where they are

@self

 

[Miss-Shelf]

there are two charity shops in well street/E9

they're both indepdendent of big chain charities so they're up for bargaining down

they're run by people with a sense of humour

and lots of clothes are around £2

(I'm starting to resent paying over £3 for things in charity shops when primark/asda/tesco will sell similar new for same price - I know there's other issues involved...)

 

[BEARBOT]

also in south hackney is the sally army on mare st(south of well st but north of victoria park rd)this shop is cheaper than many charity shops..my freind has gotten some nice stuff there like unique looking winter coats for £5..

but its probably only worth it if you are local, its not big or anything..im in the area so plan to check out the ones on wells st eventually, i never go further down wells st than the LIDL..ill seek these places out someday soon miss shelf, ive not been bothering much with charity shops in the last x number of years as many are so pricey now

 

[indigo4]

charity shops i go to regular like are

Balham - 3
Streatham - 3
Brixton - 2
Tooting Bec - 2
Nottinghill - 3
Wimbledon - 4
Clapham Junction - 4
Tottenham Court Road - 2
up from Victoria - 2
forgot to add Camden - 3 but then ya got all that warehouse bits and bobs at the other end which is quite cheap an all.

It's a full time job I tell ya....my favourite is in wimbleon which is a bit of a pain in the ass to get to from brixton but well worth it.

 

[pootle]

I think Stig is on about a top tip Mrs M posted - she recommended a cluster of charity shops around King's Road/World's End area.

I could be wrong though. It's been known once or twice...

 

[moomoo]

Doesn't the notting hill record and tape exchange have a second hand clothes shop or two as part of its empire?

Blimey!

Is that still there

Used to be my favourite hang out when I was a teenager

 

[Louloubelle]

Camden High Street, from Camden towards Mornington Crescent you have

Oxfam - quite good for designer clothes but you have to trawl through the average stuff to find it, occasionally a real bargain
Cancer Research - some nice things but the designer stuff is top dollar for charity shops
British Heart Foundation - Very high prices sometimes more expensive than new
Scope - a wide selection of clothes with some bargains and some over-priced. They have eccentric taste in clothes, so some things that are just awful are expensive and some nice stuff is cheap. Higher prices for obvious vintage / retro clothes than Camden Market
Help the Aged - mostly average clothes with an occasional bargain as they don't have a clue about designer stuff
Age Concern - They have absolutely no idea about pricing, much is overpriced but occasionally a real bargain. Will only take cash

eta

It's worth checking out the Stables part of Camden Market
If you're friendly and praise their stock but plead poverty you can almost always negotiate a massive discount
I bought a load of stuff from one stall for 30% of the stated price, that was a bit of a one off though, I often get 50% discount but I go there a lot

 

[Prince Rhyus]

Camden High Street, from Camden towards Mornington Crescent you have

Oxfam - quite good for designer clothes but you have to trawl through the average stuff to find it, occasionally a real bargain
Cancer Research - some nice things but the designer stuff is top dollar for charity shops
British Heart Foundation - Very high prices sometimes more expensive than new
Scope - a wide selection of clothes with some bargains and some over-priced. They have eccentric taste in clothes, so some things that are just awful are expensive and some nice stuff is cheap. Higher prices for obvious vintage / retro clothes than Camden Market
Help the Aged - mostly average clothes with an occasional bargain as they don't have a clue about designer stuff
Age Concern - They have absolutely no idea about pricing, much is overpriced but occasionally a real bargain. Will only take cash

eta

It's worth checking out the Stables part of Camden Market
If you're friendly and praise their stock but plead poverty you can almost always negotiate a massive discount
I bought a load of stuff from one stall for 30% of the stated price, that was a bit of a one off though, I often get 50% discount but I go there a lot

Hi Louloubelle,

I like to go charity-shop hunting wherever I find myself. As I'm fairly new to London and know little of the territory, may I join you one weekend to go through the regular places you go to? (You seem to know lots about this field)

All the best

PR

(Who tried to PM Louloubelle but she's exceeded her PM storage space!)

 

[secretlondon]

There's about 5 charity shops on the Walworth Road

There's a dreadful yuppie version of one called Traid in Brixton. All about 10x the price you'd normally pay for charity shop stuff.

 

[stavros]

A quick 13-year bump to ask if the recommendations on here are still valid. Zones 1 and 2, plus the north-east of the city are the easiest for me to get to, so are Dalston and Camden still any good?

 

[pinkmonkey]

Yeah the places I mentioned are still decent. Highgate has two charity shops near the tube that are consistently good. But I’m more of a bootsale scavenger these days.

 

[stavros]

Yeah the places I mentioned are still decent. Highgate has two charity shops near the tube that are consistently good. But I’m more of a bootsale scavenger these days.

Are there any you'd particularly recommend?

 

[pinkmonkey]

We got out of London, into Essex and Herts. I think theres some decent London ones though.

 

[stavros]

We got out of London, into Essex and Herts. I think theres some decent London ones though.

Well Essex is where I am, so some recommendations would be good.

 

[blossie33]

There's a boot sale at the weekends and bank holidays at the Princess May school on Stoke Newington Road N16, almost opposite the Beyond Retro store - costs a pound to go in now.