Car boot sales in London
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By Maggie Davis
Posted: Tue Aug 1 2006 
First-time buyer, Chris Taylor
Meet the carbooters!
The first-time buyer
Chris Taylor, financial advisor, Wimbledon Stadium, Saturday morning
‘We came along to do a bit of a recce because we’ve got a load of junk in the house (in Tooting) and I just wanted to suss it out. It’s surprisingly good actually. I ended up buying this chair for a tenner. I needed something to fit in the corner of our living room and this is just perfect. I like the shape of it – the fact it’s quite angular and small – yes, it will fit quite snugly. We’ll definitely come back to flog all our junk.’
Veteran seller, Martin McManus The veteran seller
Martin McManus Wimbledon Stadium, Saturday morning
‘I used to be a hairdresser in the 1960s and then had an antique shop in Camden Town, but had two families to support so packed it in when business wasn’t doing so well in favour of this. I do about three sales a week. It’s mainly house clearance stuff – anything from old chandeliers and oak tables to Victorian travelling wardrobes. I’m finding the 1960s stuff that I used to chuck away is selling now. Funny how things change. It’s been tougher since 9/11 as we don’t have as many American buyers and they were good – they just aren’t coming over so much. On a day like today I can expect to make a hundred quid or so, other days a couple of hundred or more. It all depends on the weather, what I’ve got and how much money people are feeling like spending. Still, I manage to get by.’ Feature continuesAdvertisement
Katie Dailey (centre) sells at Holloway The stylish sellers
Alyn Horton, PR, and Katie Dailey, fashion writer Holloway Road, Sunday morning
‘We started doing car boot sales about a year ago. We had lots of old fashion samples and some junk I wanted to get rid of, so we put a load of stuff together and got a cab to the Holloway Road one. You just need a DIY table and that’s it. We were both a bit strapped for cash at the time, so thought we’d see how much we could make. We had initially been put off by the early start, but if you’re selling on foot, you can turn up to some (like Holloway Road) at 10am. One thing we learnt quickly was don’t let your own personal taste stop you from bringing something. We sold a half burnt-down pineapple-shaped candle within minutes of putting it out for £3 and a dodgy 1970s dress with a giraffe appliquéd on for £7. How we laughed! We ended up making about £50 each and have been doing them about once a month ever since. People tend to love anything with a big designer label on it and unused makeup and perfume. You always get a real mix going, from trendy people looking for vintage bargains to DJs on the hunt for obscure records and mums and kids out shopping. We’ve never found it to be a chore or trauma.’- Add your comment to this feature
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111 comments
there's the chiswick car boot sale its on the 1st sunday of every month, it is absolutely massive. I bought gucci shows for £2! came away with a mountain of stuff. One lady there is a supplier of a vintage shop marshmellow mountain in kingly court W1, but sells everything for under a fiver. depends on the weather, if raining then no. Its from 7am-1, get there for 8, you'll get the bargains. I don't drive but get off at turnham grn and take the E5 bus outside right to the end.
Battersea Car Boot on sundays is the only sale worth getting up for.Its not the same old tat week in week out like many others.Ive bought fantastic textiles there which i coudnt find in new shops at bargain prices.There is a really nice busy buzz to this boot too.
You want to go to Battersea!!! They guarantee you a space when you book and give you a time slot to get in, soooo civilised , well organised and MEGA BUSY, we make at least £400 everytime we go there.. .At Chiswick you need to be in the queue at 3AM to get in!!! who wants to queue up for 4 hours? MADNESS!!!
BATTERSEA BOOT IS THE BEST IN LONDON!!!
they've just put thier prices up but now there are less sellers there is also less competition for sales and that equals MORE MONEY for meeee!! I'll go to Battersea forever, it's the best/
Does anyone know where the Chiswick carboot sale is? plus details day, time etc.
Lyn
enjoyed article! anyone recommend se london or kent sale for vintage clothes.
theres a really good bootsale in taplo on a sunday and irene carvers bootsale in uxbridge is very good! denham have a great one every saturday!
im looking to do a car boot this sunday anyone know anygood ones have been told of 1 in finchley but i cant find any info on it.
Hello,
I live in norbury, london and am looking to do a car boot sale asap. Woulld anyone out there recommend one happening soon and isn't more than half an hour away please!
Thank-you.
I am looking to do a car boot and am thinking about the one in Burnt Oak or Battersea but not sure which to choose? They seem the best two options. I have a lot of stuff to get rid of - clothes, cosmetics, crockery, allsorts. Any suggestions?
The holloway market is complete garbage,i never seen so much cheap,overpriced merchandisings for sale.
I buy a Pda and it dont work,the black man who sells is no longer there.
time for shut down and do the community favor
Without a dubt, the best car boot anywhere in West London is Denham/Uxbirdge. It's just off the A40 and Oxford Road, Uxbridge. Absolutely massive and held on Saturdays in a field so Spring/Summer dry ground only. Visited by thousands each week with sellers from all over London and the Home Counties. Recommmended.
plz, anyone knows where is the nearest car boot market to, i am in northolt, & wht the procedure to get in there & sell my stuff.
does any 1 know the adress of the grenwich car boot sale ..which was in south wark road..many thanks.
I have read the comments made re: Holloway and I think some comments are very unfair! I have found some great stuff and really cheap buys! Most of the stall holders are really nice people! Yes it does get busy but thats a car boot for you! If you don't like the Frenzy stay at home!!!!
can someone advice me on which car both sale would be best for seliing a load of new unwanted kids suff ,all things are new i just want to get rid of the stuff to save on storage cost