A beginner’s guide to thrifting in London

by Amelia Gantt

As a General Course student, I’ve been a fan of thrifting for a while in the US, but I have heard that thrifting has only recently become popularised in the UK – most charity shops in London remain small and expensive, and high-end, first-hand fashion still reigns supreme. It seems that the British value status and status symbols over much else. Though, I think that much value can be found in the nameless, aged, funky pieces, and this is what I am looking for when I shop. I have been exploring more around town and have some recommendations of where you could start thrifting. 

illustrated by Vaneeza Jawad
  1. Silk Road in Bloomsbury

Totally underrated, this small shop has truly great prices – sweaters for 99p and leather jackets for £30. For what it can hold, it is filled to the brim with clothes, accessories, and small household knick-knacks. They are open at odd times (don’t trust the Google Maps hours), but the owners are very kind and they seem to be open most nights when I stroll past around 8pm. 

  1. Preloved kilo sale events

If you can handle the rush, kilo sales are the best place to shop for vintage clothes. They pop up in multiple locations around London on selected days; you can book a ticket online for £1 or sometimes £3 and the price per kilo is normally around £15. I bought a genuine leather blazer for less than £10!

  1. Brick Lane Vintage Market

Open every day of the week, this huge downstairs venue holds a ton of great finds, whether your style is classy or grunge. There were over 15 vendors with quite substantial collections of clothes and accessories. I found a gorgeous silky button down with a unique paisley pattern from the stall of a funky old American who also boasted a rack of vintage leather jackets.

illustrated by Vaneeza Jawad
  1. Cream Vintage in Shoreditch

Although much smaller than the Vintage Market, you’re sure to be impressed by the organisation of sales. They have a good selection of fleece pullovers in a wide range of colours all situated on one rack, all for £20 and tanks and tees for £5-£10. 

  1. Muswell Hill/Stoke Newington

I love to just tour the shops in these areas of London. Wealthy neighbourhoods have a lot of good finds, and stock more designer labels if that’s what you are looking for. Dog Trust seems to be a store where you can often find impeccable off-price goods. It’s always great to know that you’re shopping in support of a good cause. 

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