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West
West London’s charity shops have an impressive reputation – some of the best-stocked stores are here and, thanks to pockets of ultra-affluent residents, they are some of the best places to pick up designer labels and real bargains. You can expect to pay slightly above-average prices, particularly in Kensington and Notting Hill – but then, you are often talking names such as Chanel and
Yves Saint Laurent.
Age Concern
Clothing, both high-street and designer pieces, as well as unusual bric-à-brac.
Age Concern, 522 Harrow Rd, W9 (020 8960 9527) Westbourne Park tube. Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm.
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British Red Cross, Chelsea
The British Red Cross shop in Chelsea also happens to be the place that many designer neighbours – Manolo Blahnik and Catherine Walker, for example – donate unwanted items. A recent look uncovered a fabulous Chanel bag, an Yves Saint Laurent shirt and a Catherine Walker wedding dress. One to keep checking out.
British Red Cross, 67 Old Church St, SW3 (020 7351 3206) Sloane Square tube. Open Mon-Wed, Fri 10am-5.30pm, Thur 10am-7pm, Sun 1-6pm.
Crusaid
A gem of a charity shop stocking great clothing, and lots of designer items. In particular, look out for Nicole Farhi, which every couple of months gives a generous donation. The shop also has a good reputation for books and music – before Christmas the record label EMI donated more than 1,000 jazz CDs. There’s also a fine selection of vinyl.
Crusaid, 19 Churton St, SW1 (020 7233 8736) Victoria tube/rail. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-3pm.
Notting Hill Housing Trust
This Notting Hill institution has branches across London, yet it’s the Notting Hill shop that stocks the best selection of designer gear – Keira Knightley’s burgundy taffeta Oscar gown was sold for thousands on eBay after being exhibited in the window here.
Notting Hill Housing Trust, 57 Kensington Church St, W8 (020 7937 5274) High St Kensington tube. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1-6pm.
Oxfam Music and Audio, Ealing
Top charity music shop offering bargain CDs (many new), plus vinyl, videos, DVDs, and electrical items such as turntables, music systems and CD players. It specialises in world and classical music.
Oxfam Music and Audio, 23 The Green, W5 (020 8810 1932) Ealing Broadway tube/rail. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm.
Traid
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. There’s also its renowned remade clothing to
look out for.
Traid, 61 Westbourne Grove, W2 (020 7221 2421) Bayswater tube. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm.
Trinity Hospice, Kensington
Renowned for its ladies’ clothing and accessories, this is a great charity shop where you’re bound to unearth designer pieces. Last week staff sold a beautiful Jean Paul Gaultier fur-trimmed umbrella, and there’s always a good selection of handbags and shoes, including Louis Vuitton bags and Ferragamo courts.
Trinity Hospice, 31 Kensington Church St, W8 (020 7376 1098) High St Kensington tube. Open Mon-Sat 10am-4.45pm, Sun 11am-5pm.
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22 comments
well, the charity IS the business, an i do not understand why should somebody expect to get price for £3, if original price is $3.50!! do you go to the Marks & Spencer and ask for lower price??
Charity this day's is real business, and they pay real prices for renting!!! why they should care for some ,homeless people??? do M&S care?? NO!!! Charity shop also have to pay rent, electricity, watter, heating etc. etc....they dont open to help some costumer, they open to make money, and do the business! so "london calling" get real, and do some shopping elsewhere if you do not like charity's!!
Do you know any charity shop with huge amount of children clothing in London?
Thanks,Dorina
You can find charity shop addresses (and what stock they specialise in) using the Association of Charity Shops' online database: www.charityshops.org.uk
You can find places that will take and sell 2nd hand furniture & electrical on the website of the Furniture Reuse Network: www.frn.org.uk
i always have a look around in charity shops and i am amazed at the high prices being charged for utter crap! i have seen worn out clothing with Primark labels being charged for much more than Primark charges itself!
a charity shop i understood was for the poor & needy. i witnessed a customer at a store in west hampstead who looked a bit poor and definatly in need of some kind of financial help... he picked up a shirt priced £3.50 and he asked the shop assistant if he could have it for £3.00 because that is all he had till his next benefit payment. The shop assistant replied.. "WE ARE A BUSSINESS! NOT A CHARITY SHOP. WHY DONT YOU FIND ANOTHER SHIRT FOR £3.00 INSTEAD? " I was shocked! i had to say something.. so i said to the assistant "i think you will find that you are actually working for a big charity that helps children" why cant you let him off with the 50p? She told me to mind my own business! what a bloody cheek!
Anyone know where you can get good secondhand sofas or beds from
'I heard somewhere that...' Always a good start to any unqualified assertion. Charities have to publish their accounts, so it's easy enough to find out whether they really spend all their money on admin, wages, rent etc as is often asserted (often as an excuse for not parting with cash).
A site like intelligentgiving.com makes this even easier as you can compare charities directly. For example, Oxfam spends 71% directly on charitable work, compared to 80% at British Red Cross, both a little more than the 3% someone once told Mick.
As for the accusations of 'greed', it just doesn't make any sense to accuse a charity shop of this- they are they are there to make money for the charity and are therefore run like any other business, i.e. they will charge whatever people are willing to pay. If it is really true that you can get the same quality for cheaper at TK Maxx or wherever, people will soon stop buying and they will put their prices down. That's capitalism, and they have to operate within it just like anyone else.
Personally, I'd rather the profits from my purchase go to the beneficiaries of a charity than to the unaccountable shareholders of TK Maxx, whom I imagine are earning somewhat more than even the top brass of the biggest charities. However, unlike the charities, they aren't required to tell anyone what they spend their money on.
I don't know how true this is. I heard somewhere that one of the largest charity organisations, (who shall remain nameless), don't pass on all the money they make in their shops. Allegedly, only three(3) pence in every pound goes to actual charity work. The rest goes into running the charity and paying their top brass top wages.
Is any charity shop selling dining chairs?
cld u tell me which charity shop i cld get sewing machine thanks
i think it's a bit unfair to accuse charity shops of greed - if anyone is making money out of it, it's the charity. i've no idea what sort of rent they're paying, but maybe they aren't actually getting special deals and are paying the same as the starbucks next door.
yes i totally agree they're overpriced i've been charity shopping for years and am really into vintage the whole reason i got to the charity shops rather than the vintage shops is that they are meant to be cheaper but now they've all got vintage sections selling sometimes stuff that you wouldnt even find in vintage shops for those ridiculous prices, they think just cos they've put down linoleum flooring they can up the price by 50% its just greed and it seems they've completely lost sight of thier customers needs!!!
try the salvation army thrift shop opposite the william morris gallery in walthamstow, got some good stuff in there.
Are any of the charity shops actually worth visiting then or are they all over priced ?
You should definitely check out the Red Cross shop just off the Kings Road - 69-71 Old Church Street, Kensington, SW3 5BS - famous for selling designer items at low prices.
Visiting london nesxt week and will be staying in the Kensington area,can you let me know of a few charity shops in this area please,
many thanks.