Shopping

London's top auction houses
Whether you're after fine art and antiques or sold-as-seen motors and items recovered by the police, there's a London auction that covers it.

How to get what you want at auction
Tips from a professional on how to make the most of your auction experience, whether buying or selling.

Behind the scenes at an auction house
From Wandsworth scrapyards to West End elegance, auctions are all about the buzz: we try and pick up a bargain at Bonhams.

Confessions of an auction addict
Time Out art editor Ossian Ward comes clean about the fatal appeal of Alvar Aalto furniture in West Norwood.

Feature continues

London's top auction houses
Art and antiques
Bonhams
The world’s oldest British-owned auction house provides an eclectic mix of auctions from decorative art to antiquities and vintage cars.
Bonhams, 101 New Bond St, W1 (020 7447 7447/www.bonhams.com) Bond St tube.

Christie's
Founded in London in 1766, Christie’s is a leader in art auctions worldwide.
Christie's, 8 King St, SW1 (020 7839 9060/www.christies.com) Green Park tube.

Criterion
Weekly sales feature thousands of items of antiques, jewellery and contemporary furnishing, meaning the auctioneers’ two locations in Islington and Wandsworth are always packed with great finds.
Criterion Auctioneers, 53 Essex Road, Islington, N1 (020 7359 5707/www.criterionauctions.co.uk) Angel tube or Essex Road rail. Viewing times Fri 2pm-7pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm, Mon 10am onwards. Auctions every Mon 5pm.

Lots Road Auctions
Sells a mix of antique and modern furniture and textiles alongside pictures and objets d’art. Weekly auctions for modern pieces and monthly auctions of ‘fine’ and 'continental’ lots.
Lots Road Auctions, 71-73 Lots Road, Chelsea, SW1 (020 7376 6800/lwww.lotsroad.com) Fulham Broadway tube. Viewing times Wed 6pm-8pm, Thur 10am-6pm, Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 10am- 4pm, Sun 10am onwards.

Luckner’s
The first internet-based auction house, Luckner's frequently sees antiques, collectibles, fine art and modern design pieces featuring in its lots. Low commission rates make this a popular choice for buyers and sellers alike.
Luckner’s, 128 Druid Street, SE1 (020 7252 3507/www.luckners.com) London Bridge tube. Open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 12noon-5pm.

North London Auctions
Auctions are weekly and lots tend to include furniture, rugs, clocks, ceramics and other homewares as well as cameras and jewellery.
North London Auctions, 9-17 Lodge Lane, North Finchley, N12 (020 8445 9000/www.northlondonauctions.com) Woodside Park tube. Viewing times Sun 9am-1pm, Mon all day. Auctions every Mon 4pm.

Rosebery’s Quarterly Select Auction
A wide range of decorative arts, ceramics, glass, jewellery, paintings, maps and rugs go under the hammer.
Rosebery’s Quarterly Select Auction, 74-76 Knights Hill, SE2 (020 8761 2522/www.roseberys.co.uk).

Sotheby’s
A wide-ranging collection of art and antiques is sold by this 260-year-old auction house.
Sotheby's, 34-35 New Bond St, W1 (020 7293 5000/www.sothebys.com) Bond St tube.

Cars
British Car Auctions
With auctions three times a week, there’s always a wide range of cars, vans, caravans and more to bid on.
British Car Auctions, 620-640 Great Cambridge Road, Enfield (020 8366 1144/www.british-car-auctions.co.uk) A10. Viewings on the day of the auction from 9am-10am. Auctions Tue, Thur & Sat 10am-2.30pm.

General Auctions Ltd
Selling anything and everything, this auctioneer specialises in no one item. It does however reserve a weekly slot for vehicle lots.
Garrat Mills, Trewint Street, Wandsworth, SW1 (020 8870 3909/www.auction.u-net.com)Earlsfield rail. Viewings Sat 10am-3pm. Auctions Mon 11am (general) & 2pm (vehicle).

Manheim Auctions
Specialising in cars, vans, HGVs and motorbikes, Manheim features three auctions a week at its Waterside Way location.
Manheim Auctions, Waterside Way, Plough Lane, SW17 (0870 252 0415/www.manheim.co.uk) Haydons Road rail. Auctions Wed 10.30am & 6.30pm, Fri 10am.

Property
Allsop & Co
Buying property at auction is definitely one way of avoiding the hassle of estate agents, and in the case of Allsop, it’s not just the auction house that sells, but also independent property consultants who know a bit about it.
Allsop & Co, 27 Soho Square, W1 (020 7437 6977/www.allsop.co.uk) Tottenham Court Road tube. Auction dates vary.

Barnard Marcus Auctions
Selling a range of properties, not just in London but also across the rest of the country; worth checking out.
Barnard Marcus Auctions, held at The Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, W1 (020 8741 9990/www.barnardmarcusauctions.co.uk) Oxford Circus tube. Auction dates vary.

Strettons
One of the UKs largest property auctioneers, it holds bi-monthly auctions in central London.
Strettons, held at New Connaught Rooms, Queen Street, Covent Garden, W1 (020 8520 8383/www.strettons.co.uk). Auction dates vary.

Police auctions
Bumblebee Auctions
Dealing in the sale of property seized by the police, Bumblebee lots feature everything from jewellery to luggage to militaria.
Bumblebee Auctions (www.bumblebeeauctions.co.uk).

Vinyl Auctions
Buying vinyl at auction tends to be more of an internet-based shopping experience. There are several different sites where you can go to bid on those elusive records and which ones you use depend on your taste in music.
DJ Auction (www.thedjauction.co.uk), eBay (www.ebay.co.uk), Vinyl Connections (www.vinylconnections.co.uk), More Music (www.moremusic.co.uk).