I am sure that we have all seen the videos about beautiful, inexpensive vintage finds that infiltrate our social media feeds. London has become a hub for thrifting but it is often difficult to sift through the heaps of recommendations on where to go for the best second-hand finds.

The beauty of thrifting is not just the price, but the variety of pieces you can find. Whether it be cute tops, old jumpers, designer shoes or even furniture, there are lovely, well-loved finds sprinkled across London just waiting for a new home. These vintage finds can be grouped into three (somewhat distinct) categories: car boot sales, charity shops and vintage warehouses. It is often difficult to distinguish between all the different places, so I have complied a beginner-friendly guide to thrifting in London.

Car boot sales

A car boot sale is not too far off from what you might imagine, but often on a much larger scale. It is usually an open-air venue filled with different stalls all selling their own unique, pre-loved items. One of the best things about a car boot sale is the variety! You have everything from tops, shoes, jewellery, cameras and even furniture in one place. My top tip for a car boot is to come early as there is often a high demand and the best pieces go first. Also, be prepared to sift through everything – I recommend making a day of it and bringing some cash for entry fees and items you purchase. There are a lot of great car boot sales in London but here’s my top 3.

Peckham

The most famous car boot in London is in Peckham at Harris Academy. It is held every other Sunday with prices ranging from £7 to £1 for entry depending on your chosen arrival time. They are open through the year from February until December. For more information, go to their website via this link.

Dalston, Stoke Newington

This is one of my personal favourites with a slightly cheaper entry fee of £5 before 9am and £1 after. One of the best things about this car boot is that you will be able to find anything and everything you’re looking for at low (even negotiable) prices. They also have an indoor and outdoor area to protect against any possibly rainy days. For more information, visit their website.

Kilburn

Kilburn car boot is only open on a Saturday from 7.30am till 2pm. Entry fees range from £5 for early birds and £1 for late entry with a cute indoor café for some quick snacks too!

Charity shops

This is my personal favourite way to vintage shop because not only do you get to diversify your wardrobe, you can also give back to a great cause. Most charity shops in London are next to each other on the high street, but it’s often difficult to know where to go to find the best pieces.

I’d recommend west London for some great vintage designer pieces. I really love walking around the high street in Parsons Green, Fulham and Notting Hill to find some unique items. I’d especially recommend Portobello Road for a great selection of second hand books, magazines and manga at their market on weekends. If that’s too far away for you, south London also has some great options with Traid or Barnardo’s in Brixton and the British Heart Foundation in Peckham.

Vintage warehouses

Last, but definitely not least, is a vintage warehouse. This is a bit of both in that it has the variety of a car boot sale, but within a single building like any charity shop. Vintage warehouses often sell clothes by the kilo with prices usually ranging from around £15-20 per kilo of clothing. This often takes the form of a “fill a bag” event where you load up a bag with all the clothes you’d like and weigh it at the end. These are slightly less common due to the scale of it, but my favourite is in south London at Think Vintage in Worcester Park. It also has an online store where you can shop some of their flagship pieces. For some more options of kilo sales in London, I’d also recommend looking on Eventbrite for some options in your own area.

Happy shopping!