London's best car-boot sales

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Hunt for second hand treasures at the capital's finest car-boot sales

Whether its a high-end fashion steal or a cut-price antique, everyone loves a bargain. That's why we sent Yasmin Eshref in search of London's best car boot sales. Luckily for late starters, she discovered, in this town you don't have to drag yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn to get your hands on a secondhand gem.

If you think we've missed out one of London's best car-boot sales, let us know in the comment box below.

Wimbledon Car Boot Sale - © Celia Topping

Wimbledon car-boot sale

Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane, London, SW17 0BL

What For three days a week the stadium is filled with 2000-plus stalls selling a wide range of items from clothing to crockery to silverware and gold jewellery, so bring a big bag and expect to fill it. Entry fee £2 early-bird entry (usually the first hour of the sale), 50p thereafter. See more details

Battersea car-boot sale

Battersea Park School, Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 5AP

What Not the cheapest of its kind, but more high-end than most. If you're a seasoned fan of vintage and not simply in search of a car-boot bargain, this is the sale for you. Entry fee Early-bird entry £3 from noon, 50p after 1.30pm. See more details

Capital car-boot sale

Pimlico Academy, (Chichester St entrance), London, SW1V 3AT

What Freelance stylist and personal shopper Faye Marriott was bored with London's car-boot sales, so she set up her own in 2010. Her modern approach (she's one of the few car-boot organisers who is Facebook- and Twitter-savvy) has attracted a generally younger crowd, many of whom deal in vintage fashion and collectibles. Brands like Isabel Marant, Mulberry and the odd Luella handbag have all been plucked from her car boots since the sale's inception. Entry fee Early-bird entry £5 from 11am, £1 after 1pm, under-tens go free. See more details

Holloway car-boot sale

Holloway Road, opposite Odeon Cinema, London, N7 6LJ

What Because of its proximity to both London Metropolitan University and City and Islington College, some stalls offer students a discount of up to 20 per cent, but even without this the prices are still very reasonable – we picked up a pair of tan Chelsea boots for a meagre £8. Entry fee Free. See more details

Hounslow West car-boot sale

Hounslow West Station Car Park, Bath Road, London, TW3 3DH

What There's very little vintage to be found at Hounslow but you'll find a great mix of secondhand clothing and brand new goods at tiny prices. Look out for occasional items of furniture and the wonderful on-site butchers and green grocers for fresh local goodies. Entry fee Free. See more details

Nags Head car-boot sale

22 Seven Sisters Road, London, N7 6AG

What There's a fantastic mix of antiques and artifacts to be had, with recent specialist finds including a Victorian decorative knife set and a stamp collection dating back to the 1920s, though if you're looking for something a bit more modern, DVDs can be picked up from 50p to £1. Entry fee Free. See more details

Rotherhithe car-boot sale

Fisher Football Club, Salter Road, London, SE16 5HL

What A recent trip provided us with bountiful loot, including handcrafted crochet blankets for 25p a piece, a vintage mini pinball machine for £6 and an Yves Saint Laurent suit jacket for £3.50. Entry fee Free on Sat, £1 on Sun between 9am-1pm and 50p thereafter. See more details

Shepperton car-boot sale

New Road, London, TW17 0QQ

What The stallholders are knowledgeable and attentive, so it's a great starting out sale for newbies on the car-boot scene, as well as seasoned booters who are willing to travel in search of the perfect secondhand find. Entry fee Early-bird entry from 7.30am £3, 50p thereafter. See more details

St Augustine's car-boot sale

St Augustine's School, Kilburn Park Road, London, NW6 5SN

What According to her best pal Henry Holland, Agyness Deyn used to shop at this sale for clothes, and there's definitely some quirky finds to be had if you're willing to root around for them. If that doesn't wear you out, St Mary's car-boot sale is within walking distance for double the fun. Entry fee Early-bird entrance fee before 11am £3, 50p thereafter. See more details

St Mary's car-boot sale

St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Quex Road, London, NW6 4PG

What St Mary's is run by the London Car Boot Co which hosts the prolific Princess May and nearby St Augustine's sales. It boasts a great spread of vintage vinyls, magazines and textiles, and the sale is also a Mecca for wannabe interior designers who'll be spoiled for choice with the range of retro light fittings and quirky home furnishings. Entry fee Early-bird entrance fee before 10am £3, 50p thereafter. See more details

Stoke Newington car-boot sale

Princess May School, Princess May Road, London, N16 8DF

What Forget the idea that car-boot sales are fusty and dusty – the Princess May draws an uber trendy Stoke Newington crowd, at its lively vintage and valuables sale. There's a great choice of vintage costume jewellery and collectable coins, and in the summer you'll also find a delicious barbecue on site. Entry fee Early-bird entrance fee before 9am £3, 50p thereafter. See more details

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I have been going to Battersea car boot sale since it opened. I have had some really great bargains. About 10 years ago I brought a bag for Â£3.00 when I got home I found Â£760.00 in the bottom of it. I brought a solid gold bracelet for Â£1 and sold it to a dealer for Â£190.00 I know a ladie who brought a Cartier ring for Â£1 and had it valued for Â£2500 so keep your eyes open if your going there you never know what you will end up with. Be careful as a lot of people go to this bootsale and there are a lot of people that push and shove, and there have been a few rows between buyer in the few weeks before christmas. At the end of the day this is a great bootsale and the girls that run it do a great job. The facilities are good as well.

lynn Tue Dec 30 2008
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Hi Elise, I've just re read you previous comment and realised you said you don't drive? I know there are some traders on foot at Battersea and apparently they only pay Â£10 for a pitch (much cheaper than a car) Lucy

Lucy Wed Dec 3 2008
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You can call Battersea Boot on 07941 383 588. I'll warn you though, it can be VERY exspensive to get a pitch there!!! I find it's well worth it cos there's no 'risk' factor. My time is money to me and I don't want to queue up for hours at 5am to try to get in a boot sale only to be turned away at the gate (which has happened to me lots!) Battersea book you a guaranteed pitch and then hold it for you, there's no 'first come first served' nonsense, no time wasted. I turn up bang on my booked time and drive in the gates, it's amazing organisation! I pay Â£30 cos I like to get in first and set up before the buyers come in. I make most of my cash selling stuff to the dealers who have the real money to spend but I gather prices start at Â£20 which is better for first timers maybe? I don't want to say too much about Battersea on here cos things turned really nasty a few weeks ago when their prices went up, some bitter people started getting a bit heated about it which puzzles me cos we all have a choice don't we?! Give Battersea a call though, I love the place, the people who run it are great, really friendly nice people. Good Luck Lucy

Lucy Wed Dec 3 2008
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the battersea carboot, what time and how much is it if you want to go and sell? I have a mountain of stuff that needs shifting and sounds like batterseas the place to do it. details plz!

elise Mon Dec 1 2008
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Thanks Lucy, thats really helpful. I found a table in Wickes for Â£7.99 but seeing as I will be going to Battersea Car Boot I will try out the table service. Cheers

Saarika Sat Nov 29 2008
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Most carbooters use 'pasting' tables, they're foldable and about Â£10 available in most DIY stores (B&Q, homebase etc) There are cheap rails in Ikea or Argos. Some boot sales do a table hire service, they do at Battersea Boot where I go, it saves taking up space in the car with a table, I can get more stuff to sell in the car.

Lucy Sat Nov 29 2008
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Can anyone tell me where I can get a cheap folding table and a clothes rail?

Saarika Fri Nov 28 2008
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there's the chiswick car boot sale its on the 1st sunday of every month, it is absolutely massive. I bought gucci shows for Â£2! came away with a mountain of stuff. One lady there is a supplier of a vintage shop marshmellow mountain in kingly court W1, but sells everything for under a fiver. depends on the weather, if raining then no. Its from 7am-1, get there for 8, you'll get the bargains. I don't drive but get off at turnham grn and take the E5 bus outside right to the end.

elise Wed Nov 19 2008
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Battersea Car Boot on sundays is the only sale worth getting up for.Its not the same old tat week in week out like many others.Ive bought fantastic textiles there which i coudnt find in new shops at bargain prices.There is a really nice busy buzz to this boot too.

Angie Barker Mon Nov 17 2008
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You want to go to Battersea!!! They guarantee you a space when you book and give you a time slot to get in, soooo civilised , well organised and MEGA BUSY, we make at least Â£400 everytime we go there.. .At Chiswick you need to be in the queue at 3AM to get in!!! who wants to queue up for 4 hours? MADNESS!!! BATTERSEA BOOT IS THE BEST IN LONDON!!! they've just put thier prices up but now there are less sellers there is also less competition for sales and that equals MORE MONEY for meeee!! I'll go to Battersea forever, it's the best/

Lucy K Mon Oct 27 2008
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