Mary Portas © Elisabeth Blanchet
Musty, yellowing and piled high with fashion faux pas - the reality of charity shops is often more disappointing than their trash-and-treasure hype. However, Time Out has rummaged and foraged to find the best charity shops in London for designer cast-offs and vintage bargains. Plus we hook up with 'Mary, Queen of Shops' Mary Portas to get her recommendations
Octavia Foundation, South Kensington
MARY PORTAS-APPROVED
A
large, slightly austere space packed with designer donations from
wealthy locals. Plus a 'brilliant' hushed vintage book department with
oriental rugs and coffee tables covered in art periodicals and old
Christie’s catalogues.
Mary's verdict ‘Yves Saint Laurent? Wow! Miu Miu! Chanel! Max Mara for 30 quid? Come on!’
Octavia Foundation, 211 Brompton Rd, SW3 2ED (7581 7987/www.octaviahousing.com). South Kensington tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, noon-5pm Sun. (Currently closed for renovation, reopens June 24.)
British Red Cross, Chelsea
MARY PORTAS-APPROVED
Couture cast-offs, big-label handbags and Manolo Blahniks are presented
beautifully on an airy, uncluttered shop floor, flooded with natural
light.
Mary's verdict ‘It’s
where a shop is based that’s the key. Just look at the incredible
donations in here - you wouldn’t get this in Orpington.'
British Red Cross, 67 Old Church St, SW3 5BS (www.redcross.org.uk). Sloane Square tube. 10am-5.30pm Mon-Wed, Fri; 10am-7pm Thur; 1-6pm Sun
Crusaid, Pimlico
MARY PORTAS-APPROVED
Crusaid’s
tiny Pimlico store, lit with fairy lights and an antique chandelier, is
a real find. Nicole Farhi and Designer Warehouse Sale’s Roger
Walker-Dack regularly donate unworn stock, alongside Urban Outfitters,
Ralph Lauren and Hackett (often dropped off by the Hackett family
themselves). Stock is perfectly merchandised in two rooms packed with
on-trend designerwear and handpicked bric-a-brac.
Mary's verdict
‘It’s gorgeous! I think charity shops that try to copy boutiques lose
the soul of what a charity shop is. In here you know you might just
find something incredible.’
Crusaid, 19 Churton St, SW1V 2LY (7233 8736/www.crusaid.org.uk). Pimlico tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat; 11am-3pm Sun.
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British Red Cross, Victoria
This branch is packed
with designer labels thanks to donations from wealthy locals. Brands currently
in stock include Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Dior, plus
Manolo Blahnik shoes. A selection of bric-a-brac, handbags and hats are also up
for grabs alongside a range of ballgowns.
British Red Cross, 85 Ebury St, SW1W 9QU (7730 2235). Victoria tube/rail.
10am-5.30pm Mon-Fri; 10am-4pm Sat.
Cancer Research UK, Marylebone
A high-quality
selection of fashion and accessories, many of them in mint condition, can be
found here. The shoes are particularly noteworthy.
Cancer Research UK, 24 Marylebone High St,
W1U 5RB (7487 4986). Baker St tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat; 11am-5pm Sun.
Fara
A small shop with an
overbearingly pushy shopkeeper (don’t let that put you off) selling goods in
aid of Romanian children. It specialises in an excellent range of kids’ and
baby wear along with prams and buggies at bargain prices. There are two other
Fara branches, including Retro Mania at 6 Tachbrook Street.
Fara, 40 Upper Tachbrook St,
SW1V 2JS (7630 7730). Pimlico tube. 9.15am-5.15pm Mon-Sat; 11am-5pm Sun.
Cancer Research UK, Islington
A treasure trove of
clothing, accessories and general bric-a-brac where you might even find the odd
antique. Clothing ranges from designer labels, including recent Hugo Boss and
Moschino, to cheaper high-street items, all still in good condition.
Cancer Research UK, 34 Upper St, N1 0PN
(7226 8951). Angel tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat; 11am-5pm Sun.
Salvation Army
Two floors of sublime
thrift. On the ground floor you can find brilliant shoes, including designer
labels like Charles Jourdan, and great old ladies’ sandals. There are lots of
faux-fur jackets, an abundance of 1970s dresses and skirts, and a fine
selection of second-hand denim. Upstairs is a little more boutiquey, with
luxurious finds such as floor-length fake-fur coats and glam evening bags - the
latter can be snapped up for less than a tenner.
Salvation Army, Princes St, W1B 2LQ (7495 3958). Oxford Circus tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat.
Barnardo’s, Brixton
A vast and lively
charity shop with an exciting, unpredictable mix of clothes and accessories,
stocking all kinds of high-street brands with designer bargains going for no
more than £50. The sales lady will probably give you fashion tips as she used
to work at Browns.
Barnardo’s, 414 Brixton Rd, SW9
7AY (7274 4165). Brixton tube/rail. 9am-5pm Mon-Sat; 10am-5pm Sun.
British Heart Foundation, Balham
This clean (it reeks of
Mr Sheen) and brightly lit branch sells a good selection of high-street and
mid-range brands at very good prices. The shoes and jeans are well worth a look
here. They’re all sold alongside a range of new, cheaply priced accessories,
including necklaces, earrings and hairbands from £1.99.
British Heart
Foundation, 184 Balham High Rd,
SW12 9BW (8675 5401). Balham tube/rail. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat; Sun 11am-4pm.
Marie Curie Cancer Care, Richmond
A must if you’re after
designer labels. It’s previously stocked Chloé, Prada and Gucci so you may well
find a hidden gem. There’s also always a great selection of designer
accessories, including Mulberry handbags in near mint condition. Look out for
good quality bric-a-brac as well.
Marie Curie Cancer
Care, 1 Lichfield Terrace, Richmond, TW9 1AS (8940
1800). Richmond
tube/rail. 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat.
Oxfam, Dalston
This branch of Oxfam
used to be a cinema in the 1950s, which accounts for its ample floor space.
Men’s and women’s clothing, books, records and homewares are all up for grabs
with the average garment priced at a modest £2.79. There’s a huge choice with a
hotchpotch of serviceable separates, dresses and curios, plus decent plates,
teapots and the like, as well as grander pieces such as suits, ballgowns and
wedding dresses in the mêlée. It has something of a cult status in the area;
there’s even a local blogger known as Dalston Oxfam Shop who rummages the music
section for obscure tapes.
Oxfam, 514-518, Kingsland Rd, E8
4AH (7254 5318/www.oxfam.co.uk). Dalston
Kingsland rail. 9.30am-5.20pm Mon-Fri; 9.30am-6pm Sat; noon-4pm Sun.
Traid, Westbourne Grove
A favourite of fashion
stylists and journalists alike, and with mentions in Japanese and British
Vogue, this is the charity shop to head to for superior secondhand clothing.
Raising money for international development, the shop has a small, boutiquey
feel, making it a great place to rummage. In particular, check out the vintage
section, where you’ll find quirky one-offs. They get some impressive designer
pieces: a Burberry coat recently sold for £69. There’s also its renowned remade
clothing to look out for.
Traid, 61 Westbourne
Grove, W2 4UA (7221 2421). Bayswater tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat; 11am-5pm Sun.
Trinity Hospice, Kensington
Revered for its
ladies’ clothing and accessories, this is a great charity shop where you’re
bound to unearth designer pieces. They’re currently stocking Dries Van Noten
and last week staff sold a beautiful Louis Vuitton handbag for £50. There’s
always a good selection of well-known designer handbags and shoes.
Trinity Hospice, 31 Kensington Church St,
W8 4LL (7376 1098). High St Kensington tube. 10am-5.30pm Mon-Sat; 11am-5pm Sun.
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75 comments
Mick you are right certain charities were named and shamed in our local gazette for spending more money on admin, wages etc. It's not hard to find out about this.
All those who see primark clothes for higher prices than in the shop COMPLAIN TO THE HEAD OFFICE not the shop - they dont make the decisions generally on what to price as they have a minimum price to sell at even when they don't agree with it. If something is say worth £2.00 because it sells in Primark for £5.00 many shops are told to rag it rather than sell too cheap even though this is rediculous as they are losing money, throwing away donations that people would buy (especially the poorer people) and only the rag men win at 5p per item or less.
DO YOU WANT A CHEAP BARGAIN
Traid has a sale at the end of each month starting at £4 then £3 then £2 until the last weekend usually a sunday when everything is £1.00 (coats and jackets are a little more. This is the day that it gets packed BECAUSE THE POORER PEOPLE SHOP THEN and unfortunately a few greedy traders who literally try to buy up half the shop at a time. GO EARLY
Zara and Michael - British Heart Foundation in Wandsworth High Street and Trinity in Garrat Lane (10 minute walk from Wandsworth Arndale) both sell furniture - everything from beds to sofa beds to chairs. Wednesdays and middle of week seem to be best days to go - you seem to have a lot of landlords filling their sacks up with the good furniture but you may get lucky. Dining tables and chairs are slower to sell as not everyone has a dining room - good hunting!!
The first charity shops - In the nineteenth century, Salvation Army shops sold second-hand clothing to the urban poor. During the Second World War, other charities started to run shops as a way of raising money for the war effort and relieving hardship. It was after the conflict had ended that the first modern-style charity shops appeared, selling mainly donated goods to raise as much money as possible for the parent charity. The first such shop was set up by Oxfam in 1947-8 in Oxford, to raise funds to relieve famine in Nazi-occupied Greece. The charity’s name in fact originated as a contraction of ‘Oxford Committee for Famine Relief’.
Sorry, can't agree with your assessment of the Dalston Oxfam. Full of dirty old rags with the originals selling for not much more up the road in Peacocks is what I've found.
Why are most of these shops selling designer stuff, I want cheap and tacky charity shop stuff, not desinger rubbish.
Can anyone recommend some good charity shops in Surrey.
I am an avid reader and always on the lookout for books. Some of the charity shops are now charging high prices for books, especially Oxfam and British Heart Foundation.
I'm going to London in October and planning on starting a search for a dress to get married in. Any tips on the best charity shops for this type of search would be great. Have heard of barnardos so far. coming from overseas so areas also good to know.
I volunteered (unpaid) in a charity shop last year, while I was on Maternity leave, I was struggling to make ends meet and thus although there were loads of beautiful items at great prices, I couldn't justify shopping. I really loved doing that job, if I could get free child care I'd gladly do it again! Selling an item which you have lovingly displayed is a real buzz! My top charity shop is Oxfam Chiswick High Rd. Staff fantastic prices very reasonable and plenty of top labels. They also have new Fairtrade labels such as People Tree.
Hello we are going to London for the day early Nov it is a Sat. We are wanting to visit the charity shops. I have been told that there are loads but in one particular area there a lot together. Could anyone give me any info on this. We will be arriving London Kings Cross. Any help would be appreciated thanks
I strongly recommend the Spitalfields Crypt Trust shop on Commercial Street. The books there are priced at 50p and there are some excellent tiles among them.
13/8/09 Hi i have just read information on your site. i'm thinking about taking my 18 year old to london and she loves op shopping here in Australia. i know she would love a day or two hitting the op shops in your city. Is there anyone out there that has info on the (not to expensive ) thrifty shops that we could cover in one or two days. Love to hear.
TIME OUT This is a Fantastic site congradulations.
Christine
I agree with those who say charity shopping is all about messy, jumbled up, dusty environments where when you find something exquisite it truly is, as it's at the bottom of an old basket or at the end of a rail priced at the same as everything else. I visited many of the charity shops recommended by Mary Portas today and to be frank, I was disappointed. Yes, there may be designer there, but don't you know it! And the fact that they are charging £25 for H&M items that were probably less than that new is just disgraceful. I'll stick with my pre-Mary Portas Orpington charity shops thanks. I don't want a wannabe high street shop...I want something different.
I am visiting a friend in London this coming week and would welcome suggestions as to where we can find second-hand (charity shop) classical music CDs and videos - we know about the Oxfam Bookshop in Marylebone High Street.
NOOOOOO! One of these, and I am soooo not saying which one is the absolute best! Got a 100% Cashmere Pringle Cardigan for £12!!! Oh my Lord. Uh-Mazin.
Will defo go and check out the other ones though. Although not the ones on Ken High Street they are incredibly over priced.
If you like cheap books, antique & new, make a trip to the Book Barn in Somerset (not the one in Bristol). Oh my GOODNESS is is AMAZING. 3 million books apparently and you can just walk about gazing at them all... Excellent day out, just try not to buy everything!
South Kensington and Kensington has the best charity shops - though last week I attended a clothes swap at the Dermalogica store just off Kensington Church Street - I walked away with an Alexander McQueen pencil skirt given by a fellow swapper!! I really enjoyed this swap because the items were great quality!
Im going to the next one on Thursday 9th and whats more all clothes left over go to stock up the Queen Elizabeths Foundations charity shops so i dont feel like im taking my clothes away from the charity shop!
When: Thursday 9th July @ 6pm
Where: Dermalogica store, Lancer square, Kensington Church Street W8 4EH
Book by calling 0800 345 7546 or just come along with clothes ready to swap!