Second-Hand Shopping in London- BrokeInLondon

Being Vintage, Not Broke!

by Gemma Davey

Style is how you make it. You pick your clothes, you buy them, and you put out there the image that you want everyone to have of you. But here’s the problem most of us face, in a city like London it’s hard to find cheap clothes that not everyone has. We’re sure you’ve experienced this, because we have, walking down the street in my latest Primark, feeling really confident and cool, only to stumble across someone else sporting the exact same thing. Then you’re not feeling as cool or individual, you’re just feeling part of the same corporate machine. Don’t get us wrong, the cheap find you can get at TK Maxx or Primark are great, but sometimes don’t you want to just stand out a little bit more?

Cafe Vintage at Mountgrove Road London N5 2LT

The most fun way to do that is to start going to the vintage shops, although they can end up being a bit pricy. And being BrokeInLondon that does not work for us or our budgets. So, after scouring the Internet, we’ve found some great shops that can give you want at prices that you can afford. One of the best of its kind is East End Thrift Store, London’s only vintage fill a bag store where you can find some great bargains.

Moreover, Time Out did a great job a few years ago going to the local shops and reviewing their finds, providing their picks for the top twenty vintage shops in London. They found great deals including a vintage Dolce & Gabbana vest for £15 and a Gloria Vanderbilt silk bomber jacket for the same price. Some of their finds were upwards of £40, but as their reviews show if you have the time to pick through a few stores, you can get something great at a low price.

Yelp can also be a great tool when looking for a local second- hand / vintage clothing store. Make sure when doing your own search to narrow down the price range, as some stores will specialize in high end vintage fashion and you won’t be able to find much in them. Reading the Yelp reviews of the stores you are thinking about checking out is a great way to get a sense of what they have and to ensure that they are in your price range.

Another great blog to check out for vintage looks is Vintage Fashion London. Vintage Fashion London blogs on the latest vintage fashions that are in at the moment and how to “get that look”. They do use a lot of top name brands, but it’s there as your style guide to take with you while you’re picking through the shops for the greatest finds.

Vintage / second-hand fashion is fun, and sets you out from the crowd a bit more. Never discount the local second-hand clothing stores in your neighborhood either, don’t think that you need to go on a huge adventure to find that great piece, you never know what you can find even just around the corner. Below we’ve listed the best vintage shops in London and the best online shops for those who like to shop without having to leave your house.

Best Online London Vintage Shops

Vintage shops in central London

Absolute Vintage | Berwick Street, London, W1F 8TL
What The Butler Wore | Lower Marsh, London, SE1 7AE
Blackout II | 51 Endell Street , London, WC2H 9AJ
Lucy in Disguise | 48 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LR
Peekaboo | Ganton Street, London, W1F 7QL
Reign Wear | 12 Berwick Street, London, W1F 0PN

The East End Thrift Store at Assembly Passage London, E1 4UT

Vintage shops in east London

Absolute Vintage | 15 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR
Beyond Retro | 110-112 Cheshire Street, London, E2 6EJ
Blitz | Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JP
East End Thrift Store | Assembly Passage, London, E1 4UT
Hunky Dory | 226 Brick Lane, London, E1 6SA
Rokit | 101/107 Brick Lane, London, E1 6SE
Strut | 2b Ada Street, London, E8 4QU
The Vintage Emporium | 14 Bacon Street, London, E1 6LF

Beyond retro vintage shop

Vintage shops in south London

360 Degrees Vintage | 3/3a Greenwich Market, London, SE10 9HZ
The Beehive | 320-322 Creek Road, London, SE10 9SW
Crazy Man Crazy | 18a Church Road, London, SE19 2ET
The Emporium | 330-332 Creek Road, London, SE10 9SW
Leftovers | Unit 71 , Fourth Avenue, London, SW9 8PR
Threads | 186 Bellenden Road, London, SE15 4BW

Vintage shops in north London

Cafe Vintage | Mountgrove Road, London, N5 2LT
Camden Thrift Store | 51 Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8AN
Deborah Woolf Vintage | 28 Church Street, London, NW8 8EP
Dirty Blonde | 129a Church Street, London, N16 0UEH
Episode | 26 Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8AG
Painted Black | 22 Veryan Court, Park Road, London, N8 8JR
Pelicans & Parrots | Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 7XJ
Strut and Stroll | 182 Church Street, London, N16 0JL
Vintage King | Unit D04, Stables Market, London, NW1 8AH

Vintage shops in west London

Circa | 64 Fulham High Street, London, SW6 3LQ
Retro Woman | 20 Pembridge Road, London, W11 3HL
Victory Vintage | Whiteleys Shopping Centre, London, W2 4YN

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You may also want to have a look at our Tips for Shopping at The Supermarket.