London’s best thrift stores

Could this be London’s chic-est charity shop? With its industrial interior by Hemingway Design, art student fanbase and staff fingers firmly on the fashion pulse, Shelter’s flagship boutique can more than hold its own alongside its trendy neighbours. You’ll find quality vintage, premium labels and ‘how did I miss that the first time round?’ high-street gems, all handpicked with care but priced reasonably. Coal Drops Yard might have earned the nickname ‘Cash Drops Hard’, but all your wallet will find here is some serious bargs. 

Regular thrift shoppers will know the joy of stumbling across somewhere that feels more like a boutique than a jumble sale, and The Heroes Haven is a stellar example. Step inside from the raucous honking and bustle of Green Lanes and you’re greeted with a genuinely easy-to-browse and beautifully curated shop. There’s a grand wall of formal wear with as much vibrant tulle, eye-catching satin and twinkly bead work you could possibly want, as well as plenty of excellent quality and branded athleisure, knitwear, and denim. Head up the steps (past the til-come-coffee bar) and you’ll find a pleasingly arranged selection of great shoes, bags, and books.

Best for: Grabbing a coffee on your way out.

549 Green Lanes, N8 0RL

Posh charity shops are notorious for charging retail prices for vintage cast-offs, but Octavia in Hampstead feels like a rare anomaly to that rule. Because it sits right on the edge of the Heath, the rails are a steady pipeline to the wardrobe clear-outs of wealthy locals. There’s a sense that either someone’s glamorous NW3 grandma had absolutely no idea what she was donating, or an actor’s kid got bored of last season's Free People knits. I once walked out of here with a real Coach bag for 20 quid. Walking past without popping in? Not an option. 

So much more than just a charity shop, the vast space of Shop from Crisis is also a coffee shop and community arts hub. But the clothes are enough of a draw on their own. Luxe labels hang alongside quality high street and vintage bargains, with a bountiful shoe section and equally trendy menswear. Regulars stop by the shop daily, so don’t waste time if you spot something you like. Don’t leave without checking out the cabinet of designer accessories, the furniture and the superlative vegan brownie in the café.  

A lovely curated chazza shop that feels more like a boutique than a second-hand store. This Fara store is always well-stocked with a range of designers, unique pieces and high-street names (the good ones). The vibes are always great inside and the fitting rooms are excellent – they’ve even got flattering lighting which is practically unheard-of in the charity shop world. 

Best for: Labels, darling. 

A charity shop so comprehensive you can virtually rock up with a shopping list, Traid’s whole focus is on ditching trends for conscious, sustainable secondhand clothing (the name stands for ‘Textile Reuse and International Development’). But sustainability doesn’t have to be boring – the shop boasts stock from across the decades, plus regular seasonal restocks and big end-of-season sales. Enthusiastic staff are always on hand to validate your outfit choice.   

Best for ’90s denim, ’80s dresses, ’70s jackets, at charity shop prices. 

Breathing new life into the world of secondhand shopping, Mary Portas virtually invented the modern breed of upmarket charity boutique with her Living & Giving shops. Diehard bargain-hunters might not thank her for the price hikes, but Save the Children does. All the shops are carefully curated, but the Primrose Hill branch is one of the best for niche brands and fashion kudos. Enjoy a Narnia-style wardrobe changing room, and cross your fingers that your visit coincides with Victoria Beckham dropping by with a bulging bin bag (yes, she donates).  

Shopping here is not a casual browse, but a high-stakes endurance sport. While the front of the shop does a decent trade in bric-a-brac and accessories, the real reason to visit All Aboard is the £1 clearance rack in the corner. It is a multi-tiered mountain of fabric where 90 percent is fast-fashion landfill, but the remaining 10 percent is pure gold. Dedicate twenty minutes to the rummage and you could get as lucky as I did, unearthing vintage Diesel, Y2K Gap, and gym gear from brands like Lululemon that someone probably couldn't be bothered to sell on Vinted. It’s a bit out of the way, which might just be why the gems survive.