'Remote controls? We've got 'em'
Top ten car boot sales around London
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By Phil Howarth
Updated: Mon Jul 7 2008 -
Despite the rise of eBay and its ilk, the car boot sale is alive and well, and still a good place to bag a bargain, potter about or just laugh at tat. Time Out gets the low-down on some of Greater London's best sales from a seasoned carbooter
Battersea
A lively sale attracting a mix of house clearance vultures and local residents having a de-junk.
Where Battersea Tec College, Battersea Park Rd, (entrance in Dagnall St) SW11 (07941 383 588) Queenstown Road/Battersea rail.
When Sunday from 1.30-5pm except Christmas and New Year
Entry fee 30p
Cuffley
A large sale with well over 100 pitches selling a varied selection of secondhand and antique items.
Where Just north of Potters Bar at the junction of Cattlegate Rd and Northaw Rd, EN6 (01707 873 360) Potters Bar rail from King’s Cross.
When Every Sunday and bank holiday Monday from April to September from 7am.
Entry fee 50p Feature continuesAdvertisement
A Super 8 camera and original Ed The Duck puppet Hatfield
A huge sale that is strictly secondhand, which means no men in white vests selling bog roll. Bargains aplenty.
Where Birchwood Leisure Centre, Longmead, Hatfield, Hertfordshire (01992 468 619) Hatfield rail from King’s Cross.
When Every Sunday from April to October from 12noon.
Entry fee Free.
Hewitts Farm, Orpington
This well-established sale has a high quantity and quality of stock thanks to its affluent location. It’s mainly secondhand, with 75 pitches.
Where Hewitts Farm, Court Rd, Orpington, Kent BR6 (01959 532 003) Orpington rail from Charing Cross.
When Every Sunday from 9am.
Entry fee Free.
Holloway
A small but popular sale attracting a vibrant mix of buyers and sellers, from regulars peddling DVDs, electrical goods and fake perfume, to local homeowners getting rid of their stuff. Well worth a rummage.
Where Opposite Odeon Cinema, Holloway Rd, N7 (01992 717 198) Holloway Road tube.
When Every Saturday from 8am and every Sunday from 10am (sellers need to arrive about two hours earlier to get a place).
Entry fee Free.
Hook Road Arena, Epsom
The daddy of bank holiday car boot sales has a massive 700 pitches selling both new and secondhand gear, so expect a a huge mix.
Where Hook Road Arena, at the junction of Hook Rd and Chessington Road, Epsom (01372 724 568). Epsom rail from Victoria.
When Every bank holiday Monday from 7.30am, except Spring bank holiday at the end of May.
Entry fee Adults £1 before 8am, 50p after, kids free.
'It's a genuine reproduction' Kilburn
Huge car boot sale with a wide variety of new and secondhand stock. Attracts a mix of people, including north and west Londoners getting rid of junk.
Where St Augustine’s C of E Primary School, Kilburn Park Rd, NW6 (020 8440 0170) Kilburn tube.
When Every Saturday from 8am.
Entry fee £3 before 11am, 50p after
Wimbledon Stadium
A nice big, spread-out boot sale with a good mix of sellers peddling secondhand goods. Great for bargains on furniture and crockery.
Where Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane, SW17 (01932 355 538) Tooting Broadway tube or Haydons Road rail.
When Every Saturday and bank holidays from 7am.
Entry fee £2 before 8.30am, £1 after.
Wood Green
A small (only 65 pitches) but lively car boot with a mix of new and secondhand goods sold.
Where New River Sports Centre, White Hart Lane, N22 (01992 468 619) Wood Green tube.
When Every Friday (except Christmas and New Year) from 6am.
Entry fee Free.
A great sale beyond the M25…
North Weald/Harlow
New and secondhand sold at over 150 pitches.
Where Bluemans Field, A414 Road to North Weald, Talbot Round, North Weald, Essex ( 01992 468 619) J7 of M11.
When Every Saturday from 10.30am.
Entry fee £3 before 11am, £2 before 12noon, free after 12noon.
We have listed the entry fee for buyers. The cost for sellers varies, but is usually £10-£15 per pitch.
For more information:
www.carbootcalendar.com (also has a magazine available at newsagents)
www.carbootjunction.com
www.countrysidepromotions.co.uk
www.bootfairs.com
www.ibootsale.com- Add your comment to this feature
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206 comments
I am certainly not connected to any car boot, but like to try different ones in london which is why i looked at this thread. There's no need to be so rude Rob, we are only stating our views as you like to state yours, this thread is not for your sole use!!! Battersea is the most expensive one in London for sellers and that is the point we are making! We are not rival organisers, just keen booters.
I wish I was on commission but I am just a regular visitor/buyer who is into decent car boots having been a street trader and a seller at Battersea in the past.I am also a helpful person with time on his hands willing and able to contribute my knowledge on this thread even to people like you who I suspect are connected to other boot sales,so please piss off as I dont need your slurs on my goodwill.
Ye I agree. Rob seems to know an awful lot about battersea and plugging it all the time so he must be on a commission!! All car boots are the same in that you have to make money to cover your pitch fee but £20 to £25 is taking the mickey!
sounds like you will be on the gate taking the money bob as you seem to know so much about it!!
Yes Jessica ,£20 to £25 depending on the size of the car so you need to bring enough stuff to make it worthwhile and to pray that it does not rain as it will this Sunday.People pay this because you dont have to get there at the crack of dawn to get a space and can pay and book up in advance.Its only worth it if you have enough stuff to sell at a value price, its as simple as that and this applies to all car boots.Battersea gets the punters in which helps as it is well established, open all year on Sundays and full of genuine car booters so there ia always a chance of picking up bargains as previously highlighted.
Hi guys, ive read over a few posts and think i read that battersea car boot is £25!!! with a car? am i seeing right? because i was really hoping on going that one from what i have read so far ( that its quite good and not to big) but 25 pound to get in, doesnt seem worth it?
Does anybody know of any busy car boots in East London - I've sold at the one at Princess May but wasnt that good. any suggestions would be appreciated
Looks like a new carboot is opening up in the NCP car park at the southern end of Hammersmith Grove.It will be every Sunday from 7am to 4pm with further details availabile on 07983987952.It backs onto the tube station where you get the Metropolitan trains and the Circle Line trains the latter from December 13th and the open air floor space looks to be around the same as at Battersea.If it opens this Sunday I will provide further information before making my usual visit to Battersea.
Just to say that it was virtually full at Battersea yesterday with the sellers having a very good day.It seems that this may have been due to the buyers staying at home on Saturday because of the rain.Did not buy anything myself but did see some antiques from professional looking sellers ie men in brown shoes with decent cars.Overall 80% of the stuff on sale is crap but its the other 20% which makes it worthwhile.
The car queue for the Kilburn Car Boot Sale is in Carlton Vale, London NW6 at 7.15. You will be sent from there onto the school where the Car Boot Sale is at Christchurch Ave. Please call if you require further details 07956 312131
Hey - we are hoping to sell with cars at the Kilburn Car Boot Sale this Saturday - can anyone shed any light on where it is? if we have to register in advance? where we go on Sat morning? what time we need to get there? etc etc
I have to agree with debbie in times like these the bigger the carboot the more chance there will be bargains to find
how anyone can complain that denham is too big really gets to me. surey the idea of going to a car boot is to find bargains the more sellers there is the better chance you have of finding a bargain. I have to say I have been to both Battersea and Denham you cannot compare the two denham wins by miles thats why so many peop[le go to it
Too true Josie why go to Denham when you can go to Battersea every week of the year to find genuine car booters selling bargains and cast offs.Last week I bought a SAD light for £10 when the going rate in the shops is between £35 to £60.The going rate for new and nearly new items is around 25% of the usual shop price with CDs selling for £1 to £2.Everyone should be able to find something there
That's a matter of opinion. Denham is too too big. You cannot possibly get round the whole thing and a lot of sellers complain that if you're at the wrong end you dont get any buyers as they're too tired to get all the way round! Also it's become more like a market with too many traders selling new goods. The actual feel of a boot sale with people selling 2nd hand things has gone.