The best vintage shops in London

If fast fashion is becoming our dirtiest habit, then vintage shops are the antidote – and few cities can offer more bang for your thrifting buck than London. Bookended by legendary markets on Brick Lane in the east and Portobello Road in the west, the city has long been paved with sartorial gold. And with clothes from this side of the millennium now officially classed as vintage (we meet again, Morgan de Toi), there are threads to suit even the most retro-phobic shoppers. From pre-loved luxury designer boutiques good old-fashioned junk emporiums, here are the best vintage shops in London, ordered by neighbourhood.

Looking for London’s best indie shops? Check out our London shopping guide here.

The best vintage shops in Central London

Reign Vintage, Soho

Best for: Scoring a label on your lunch hour
Location: 12 Berwick Street, Soho, W1F 0PN
Price: ££

Sandwiched between the fabric shops of Berwick Street in Soho, Reign Vintage features two airy floors of well-finessed womenswear and menswear, Reign is ideal for dandies who don’t have time for the jumble sale experience. Expect bold prints, androgynous tailoring, slick streetwear and a veritable Narnia of statement coats, with veteran labels like Escada and Moschino making regular appearances alongside the Kookai and Kangol. Prices are reasonable enough to rival the high street – and if anything needs tweaking, you have Berwick Street’s many tailors and haberdashers on hand. There is an additional Reign Vintage location on Stoke Newington High Street in East London.

Rokit, Covent Garden

Best for: Keeping it casj
Location: 42 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9HZ
Price: £

Cheap and cheerful in every respect, Rokit has been kitting out hip Londoners since 1986 – before half of its current stock was a twinkle in the high street’s eye. But although these days the clothes are more 90s and 00s than genuine relics, the Covent Garden flagship has something for everyone, with a decent size range and some of the kindest pricing you’ll find in London vintage shops. It’s especially good for streetwear, sportswear and utility styles, with a rainbow of logo tees and one of the best denim collections in town. Schmooze the staff to find out when their next markdown day is, and be sure to check out Rokit Originals, the brand’s line of upcycled and reworked pieces that turns yesterday’s trash into tomorrow’s treasure.

The best vintage shops in East London

Brick Lane Market

Best for: volume and variety
Address: The Truman Brewery Markets, London E1 6QR
Price: £

In between the beigels at one end and Bengali feasts at the other, Brick Lane is still serving up some of London’s best vintage to those hungry for nostalgia, and you can spend a full day exploring its second-hand offering. Brick Lane Vintage Market at The Truman Brewery is open daily, bringing together some 100 stalls and retailers. From feathers Fair Isle knits, suiting to spandex, you’ll find it here.

Serotonin Vintage, Brick Lane

Best for: Designer vintage at reasonable prices; Y2K and punk pieces 
Location: 194 Brick Lane, London E1 6SA
Price: £££

In the market for a vintage Chanel T-shirt, Jean Paul Gaultier waistcoat or Roberto Cavalli animal print trousers? As its name suggests, Serotonin Vintage specialises in bold and bright, mood-boosting vintage clothing and accessories. Flick through rails of diamanté-studded tops, sheer dresses, neon hues and loud graphics, alongside sunglasses, belts and footwear. Interiors complement the clothing – walls are hung with framed Keith Haring prints, silk scarves and collectible items from Vivienne Westwood’s 1970s Seditionaries collection, while the basement reveals leopard print furnishings. So renowned is Serotonin by those in the know that founder Rachel Cook has become a go-to for stylists seeking a particular or rare archival piece. Her brother Elliot owns 194 Local, an equally excellent vintage shop with a menswear focus, located a few doors down.

Somewhere in Hackney

Best for: Wearable vintage in the heart of Hackney
Location: 394 Mentmore Terrace, Hackney, E8 3PN
Price: ££

Until recently, this treasure trove was hidden in an attic above the furniture shop up the street – but now Somewhere in Hackney has moved into its own railway arch, much to the chagrin of London Fields locals who wanted to keep it their little secret. Owner Mel is an infectious presence with an impeccable eye, and a talent for sourcing older garms that feel both timeless and bang on trend. Expect disco heels, rainbow-bright boiler suits and a heavy dose of Laurel Canyon glamour at reliably east end prices – all the better for loading up on babka buns next door at E5 Bakehouse, or visiting one of Hackney’s best restaurants.

Vout, Shoreditch

Best for: Investment pieces without the elbow grease
Location: 95 Columbia Road, Shoreditch, E2 7RG
Price: £££

Perfectly positioned to catch the overspill from Sunday’s famous flower market on Columbia Road, Vout’s fragrant vintage shop is catnip for chic Londoners with their arms full of peonies. The selection here is pristine, fashion-savvy and expertly edited (no rummaging required), with each piece an objet d’art in its own right. From classic Burberry trenches and worn-in Levis to the definitive buttery-soft leather blazer or that iconic Fendi baguette. Don’t expect to nab a bargain, but do prepare to fall in love. And if you’re hankering after something especially hard to find, they’ll even source it for you.

Gigi’s Dressing Room, Walthamstow

Best for: Frou-frou and feathers
Location: 104a Wood Street, Walthamstow, E17 3HX
Price: ££

This much-loved Walthamstow boutique stocks everything from sweater vests to cowboy boots, but Gigi’s Dressing Room is famous for jaw-dropping occasionwear. Think: plunging silk sheaths, billowing chiffon capes and frou-frou 80s party frocks in colours that could stop traffic – and regularly do, modelled by happy customers outside on bustling Wood Street. At the helm (and the hem – she also does on-the-spot alterations) is local legend Gigi; a stylist, designer and vintage expert with a passion for eco-conscious style. Best of all? Everything in the shop can be rented, so there’s no need to commit to another dress you might only wear once.

The best vintage shops in West London

Rellik, Ladbroke Grove

Best for: Designer labels and star-spotting
Location: 8 Golborne Road, Ladbroke Grove, W10 5NW
Price: £££

A long-time stalwart for stylists, fashion editors and the 90s Notting Hill set, Rellik’s secret has been out for years but its star power hasn’t waned. Every visit to the Golborne Road boutique is a sartorial history lesson, with racks that read like a fashion hall of fame. Gucci, Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent, Comme des Garçons; the gang’s all here! But despite price tags in the hundreds, it’s far from the stuffy experience of some high-end vintage shops. Owner Fiona is an enthusiastic wardrobe mistress, often on hand to help meet an outfit brief. And if you can’t stretch to an original Ossie Clark, a custard tart from nearby Lisboa Patisserie makes a good consolation prize.

Portobello Road Market

Best for: Vintage clothing of all kinds
Location: Portobello Road Market, London W11 1LJ
Price: ££

London’s Portobello Road Market is one of the world’s most renowned vintage shopping destinations, which runs all day on Fridays and Saturdays. Head to the Ladbroke Grove end of Portobello Road, under the bridge next to Portobello Green, and weave through vintage stalls of varying price points, with disco and funk vinyl music as a backdrop. You might pick up a Ralph Lauren waistcoat, army surplus gear, a Burberry trench or band tee. Go early at 9am to bag the best of it.

Found and Vision, Notting Hill

Best for: Designer runway pieces 
Location: 318 Portobello Road, London W10 5RU
Price: £££

Portobello Road is sandwiched with vintage shops, and Found and Vision rises above the rest for its range of designer vintage spanning decades. The racks read like an A-Z of high fashion, mixing Versace, Lanvin and Vivienne Westwood with Julien MacDonald and Meadham Kirchhoff, and you’re likely to spot an A-list face or their stylist browsing too.

The best vintage shops in North London

Pennies Vintage, Islington

Best for: Modern flappers and brides-to-be
Location: 41A Amwell Street, Islington, EC1R 1UR
Price: £££

With one of London’s most extensive collections of antique wedding dresses, this dreamy boutique on Angel’s leafy Amwell Street is a must-visit for brides on the hunt for their ‘something old’. Like, really old. Making most vintage shops on this list look futuristic by comparison, you’ll also find accessories, jewellery and frocks dating back to the pre-1960s, and an extensive collection of stunning 1920s flapper dresses. Owner Penny has even supplied costumes to Downton Abbey. There’s a £10 fee to try on wedding dresses, but pretending to be a long-lost Mitford sister is free.

The best vintage shops in South London

Retromania, Pimlico

Best for: Having a ball – or going to one
Location: 6 Upper Tachbrook St, Pimlico, SW1V 1SH
Price: £

The sleepy streets behind Victoria station might seem an unlikely thrifting mecca, but Pimlico has some of the best charity shops in the capital. And while Warwick Way is the destination for nearly new gems, it’s around the corner at FARA’s Retromania where the real fun begins. Clothes line the walls, every surface is adorned by kitsch knick-knacks, and to step inside is to be swallowed by a sea of rustling taffeta, sequins and power suits going right back to the 1940s. A minimalist ‘edit’ it is not – you’ll need time and patience – but that’s all part of the charm. Sizing can be on the skimpy side, but with offerings from every decade and more accessories than you can shake a pair of opera gloves at, chances are you’ll find something to love. And it’s all for charity! Just don’t miss your train.

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