Car boot sales in London
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By Maggie Davis
Posted: Tue Aug 1 2006 
Raising money for Notting Hill Carnival Club at Wimbledon Stadium car boot sale Top tips
Get there early
If you are selling, you generally need to arrive well before the punters. That could mean waking at the crack of dawn and queuing for two hours, or simply rolling up at 11am if it starts late – check with each individual sale.Take a wallpaper pasting table and fold-up chair
You can track down a table at most DIY stores for around £10.
Make sure you have enough stuff to sell
You’ll be surprised at what people will buy. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and that is never truer than at a car boot sale. If in doubt, take it anyway – someone might well want that sushi-making set your brother-in-law gave you. Feature continuesAdvertisementHave prices sorted in your head
And if possible organise your stall in some kind of price order. Items over a tenner at one end, things for a fiver in the middle and a £1 box at the end.
Have your wits about you
When the punters descend, it’s chaos. If possible, set up before they approach you. Sometimes this is impossible and you’ll have 20 nimble-fingered people riffling through your boxes. Don’t be afraid to tell them to go away until you are ready.Buy a bumbag
This isn’t a time to think about fashion, a bumbag is an absolute necessity to keep your cash and mobile phone safe.
Take some spare change
About ten £1 coins and four £5 notes should be fine.
Don’t accept £50 notes
People often try to get rid of fake notes at car boot sales, so don’t risk accepting one.
Don’t go it alone
You’ll need moral support and back-up when the haggling gets tough and for those all-important tea breaks.
Novice car-booter Maggie sets up a stall Things that sell well
Books Apparently the bestselling items at car boot sales, followed swiftly by…
Boxed toys, clothing, and CDs
Designer perfume and make-up But only if unused.
Electronics in good working order Boxed MP3 players, video games, mobile phones and the like, as long as you can prove they work.
Handbags For some reason, a good-looking leather, PVC, or glittery bag goes down a treat.
What to buy
Secondhand furniture is almost always dead cheap at car boot sales, so if you see something you love, buy it. You are unlikely to find it again.
China You’ll always find a lot of old tea sets at car boot sales that specialise in secondhand and antique. Look out for quality brands made in England like Royal Doulton. First edition books can be found at many car boot sales for next to nothing and can be resold on eBay for good money.
Designer clothing Always good if you happen upon a stall belonging to a fashion industry insider on a purge. Again, you can sell many designer items in good condition on eBay for a healthy profit.
What not to buySoft toys Just think about all the littlun's who may have thrown up on them.
Anything you suspect could be stolen If you purchase it you will be handling stolen goods, which is a criminal offence.Secondhand lingerie Obviously.
Electrical equipment that you can’t test on site. Even if the vendor can prove something is working then and there, it won’t come with a guarantee.- Add your comment to this feature
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116 comments
im a first time car booter...i would like any infomation on car boots sales in and out of london...i have an estsate car and loads and loads of stuff i want 2 sell 2 raise money...any info would be much appreciated....thankssssssss
I called up Battersea Boot sale yesterday and not only is the txt but dont call rule a bit long winded but the price has gone up like another person said from £10 to £20 and you have to pay over the phone using your CREDIT card or DEBIT card!!!! I simple said NO! What a joke!! On a good note i found another one in hackney at Princess May Primary school, Barretts Grove, Hackney which is £9 ( for cars) and you pay cash on arrival, staring at 9pm-2pm sellers have to arrive at 7pm. I also found the following other one's too:
1. Collier Row, Whalebone Lane, North every sunday. 9-2pm 07956312131 cars £9
2. Banzer (on thursdays) 6-2pm Warren Farm, A12 Romford, near Mobey dick, RM6-6RB cars £12 02085014090
3. Forest Farm, Forest farm road, Barkingside ( oppisite Fairlop water pitches) £10 for cars 02085014090
All the car boot sales that i have mentioned require payment on arrival only and are on a first come basis. :-)
I've also been to the Brentside High School car boot sale (just last week in fact). It was overflowing with traders & loads of people. It's easy to get to in Greenford Avenue, W7 1JJ (local buses stop right outside!). A real mix of stalls, I bought some antique plates from a stallholder who packaged them with Cath Kidston soaps and wrapped them in sellophane - lovely for gifts. I've got the phone number if anyone needs it - 07805 602842 - and you get a voice at the end of the phone - what a pleasure!!
Here we go again! The slagging off of what is clearly the BEST car boot sale in London! Sour grapes combined with other less successful boot sale organisers hoping to poach some trade it seems.
Do you people know what extortion is? It is gaining money through threats/force etc. equally a 'rip off'... trying to get more than something is worth.
Have either of you heard the phrase "supply and demand"????
The organisers of Battersea Boot sale receive 500 requests for pitches every week (they have space for 100) They don't even advertise for sellers, haven't done for years and yet still the requests for pitches increase and increase. That is the power of word of mouth and EXCELLENT customer service.
I'd strongly suggest you think very carefully about what you're saying and who you're slagging off and why before you do it. Opinion is one thing we are all entitled to, slander is not.
There's a great carboot sale in Ealing, Brentside High School (Kajima Community's facility), Greenford Avenue W7 1JJ, lots of local traders - very friendly. Only £10 for a pitch - not a rip-off price that others charge!! I go every week and have picked up lots of bargains, including a White Company light for £15 (brand new) which retails at £200.
Hi Everyone Does Anyone Know Is The Wimbledon Stadium Boot Sale Still On Wednesdays As Well As Saturday Thanks Guys
Just called to book a pitch at Battersea Car Boot this Sunday (with my car) and the price has gone up from £10 last summer to £20 for cheapest, latest arrival pitch! Best pitches are £35!!! I think it's extortionate!
So can anyone recommend some good car boots to take part in (without loads of professional sellers) in southeast London or thereabouts? Have done a Google, but can't find anything that fits the bill. Thanks!
hi
i am travelling to london gatwick end of july would love to go to some car-boot sales also travelling on foot/bus
can ony one tell me were these are ?
how to get to them ?
Tesa, It is £10 to set up a small walk in pitch at Battersea Boot sale.
Walk in sellers just turn up, get a queue ticket and are let in from 1pm subject to space available. Or can pre book and pre pay to get a guaranteed space without queueing.
I do wish people would simply call and ask the boot organisers as opposed to believing whatever anyone says on here!
Battersea Boot Info line; 07941 383 588
The battersea one is 25 pounds not 10 pounds?? to have a table there to sell. I did read that lucy said is 10 pounds, could you let me know where did you get this price so I can conact them also.
many thanks
Hi, there's a busy car boot sale at Brentside High School, Greenford Avenue, Hanwell W7 every Sunday 9.30-3.300pm. I've bagged a few bargains there and traded too! I think the set up time is from 8.00am.
Why not use a search engine,like Google,its all out there if you can be bothered
hi every body plece tell me about car boot sale near the east london or out of london many thanx
HI,
Also if anone knows of any jumble sales in the area would appreciate it.
thanks
Hi,
Can anyone tell me if there is a good car boot near wembley.I am a student therefore no money. Please help. I am looking for retro clothing and jewelley.Thanks.