Mary Portas © Elisabeth Blanchet
London's best charity shops
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By Time Out Editors
Posted: Mon Jan 22 2007 -
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 SunCrusaid, 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. Feature continuesAdvertisementBritish 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.- Add your comment to this feature
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78 comments
David .. looks to me that all you have to do is find a shop.. get people to donate clothes and other goods.. and sell them for very high prices! and bobs your uncle! another charity shop where the needy cant afford to shop in!
hello,I would like to open a charity shop,red cross etc...I have nothing to do...do you have anybody any idea how to do it?thanks
whaaat...!!! Primark - yep in the sales but otherwise still too expensive for the needy - used to be cheap but is going up all the time but yep you can still grab a bargain in the sales which is why it is usually mobbed. Hve u noticed that it is the cheaper shops that are surviving this recession!!
Note: Poundland are opening more stores and Primark still seem to be making good. There is a lesson to be learned here. The mighty have the biggest fall and all that
The needy can no longer afford to shop in charity shops.. they now shop in Primark.
volunteers often price and don't know how much things are worth hence overpricing primark items. Rag men often pay between 50p and 1.00 (averaging 70p) per black bin bag of items full to brim - this is culled stuff too which may have been on shop floor for £20 or more. Most shops dont like sale rails and will let rag man have stuff instead of selling each item for cheap - crazy!!! and not in best interest of making money for charity. Rag men are getting richer - each item is worth less than 5p for what they pay per bag including big name stuff. All big charity shops will tell you they are a business not a charity shop. Charity shops used to be there to help the poor as well as making money for charity generally - this is no longer the case.
Do charity shops get a special rate for rent charges and business rates?
I used to manage a small charity shop in my local high street so I do have some knowledge of what I am talking about here. It makes me very angry when Charity shops sell clothes from places like primark or peacocks etc at a price higher than the original selling price but they do indeed do this. It is not correct to say that people won't buy and they will have to put the prices down because what will happen in reality is that people are buying enough of the other stuff for the charity shop to make its money and all the other overpriced stuff that should have been cheaper in the first place will get put out and taken by the rag man. In my shop we rarely charged more than a couple of pounds for any top or skirt and the result was that people bought from us freely, it didn't matter too much if you got home and found it didn't fit as you hadn't paid the earth for it and would just as likely take it back to the same or another charity shop as a donation. We used to get loads and loads of donations all given for free making 100% profit on goods, we also used to put a hug eamout out for rags as the turnover was so great. Personally I would much rather let something go for 1.00 less than the written price then see it hang around and then get put out for rags. When you can't even afford to shop in a charity shop in this life then something is seriously wrong!
yes i see what you mean jackie but just wanted to say I have been volunteering in charity shops for 3 years now
Is this a political site or a general site. Many people ask simple questions about where they kind find things and don't receive an answer but a few people are getting into political conversations. Work for a charity and you will find out yourself where the money goes!
Goga bond... i know marks & spencers will not let you off 50p if you ar short but a charity shop is selling second even third hand clothing...which they DID NOT PAY for! therefore they are making 100 % profit!
selling the item for £3.00 still gives them profit!
the trinity hospice in tooting is very good one of those outdated shops where you can always find well priced items and great finds unlike the oxfam next to it which isn't even really worth bothering with..found a fantastic shirt in trinity for like £3 and love it my friend also got a lovelly pair of black brogues for £3 also the something hospice on kingsland road is not bad some furniture and electronis bric a brac and shoes and clothes but if you are looking for vintagey stuff its pot luck also the staff are a bit rude kept following me around the shop as if i was stealing then demanded that a belt was £3 despite the fact the other belts were £1
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!