Britain’s Best Charity Shops For Finding Pre-Loved Treasure

The British high street is an Aladdin’s cave of pre-loved and vintage clothing. There’s nothing more satisfying than trawling through rails and boxes of clothes to come home with unique vintage pieces bought at staggeringly low prices. 

With many shops closed during lockdown, this Second Hand September – an Oxfam initiative to encourage buyers to shop sustainably – is the best financial and eco-friendly opportunity to revamp your closet while donating to a good cause.

So, what are you waiting for? From Pimlico to Glasgow, Cardiff to Brixton, discover Miss Vogue’s guide to the best charity shops in the UK. Don’t thrift without it.

London

One of the many FARA charity shops in London that supports disadvantaged children in Romania, Pimlico’s Retromania is the best for eclectic finds. There’s something for everyone here: ski gear, period costumes, rollerblades, and a good helping of designer apparel, too. We challenge anyone to walk past the shop’s beautifully decorated exterior without taking a peek. And it’s not the only charity shop in the area worth visiting. We also recommend a browse in the local branches of Oxfam (15 Warwick Way), Octavia Foundation (58 Wilton Rd), and Royal Trinity Hospice (85 Wilton Rd) in Pimlico, too.

After your visit to FARA Retromania, follow the Pimlico charity shop circuit for seven more brilliant charity shops: Oxfam, Crusade, Trinity Hospice, Sue Ryder, Hospice of Hope, and Fara Kids.

You’ll find a wealth of vintage designer pieces at retail expert Mary Portas’s generously-proportioned boutique charity shops across London, but this Primrose Hill branch is a particularly good one. Shop windows are thoughtfully dressed, and the rails are frequently packed with high-end pieces, some donated by high-profile supporters.

Out of all the TRAID shops across the capital, the ones in Westbourne Grove and Brixton are our personal favourites. TRAID aims to reduce waste by recycling donated clothes into new garments, in addition to selling donated clothes as they are. Funds go towards international projects that seek to improve working conditions in the textile industry. You can buy or donate clothes (or arrange for a collection from your home if you have lots to give away) at all TRAID outlets. Plus, branches regularly host clothes swap events.

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There’s a good chance of finding any brand you can name on the rails at the Oxfam shop in Westbourne Grove. Located just off Portobello Road, this charity shop is a haven for bargain hunters who also happen to love labels.

This Shelter store in King’s Cross may look like a trendy boutique store with its spacious interiors and Brooklyn-meets-Nordic aesthetic, but inside you’ll find handpicked one-off vintage and designer pieces from every fashion label imaginable – all at unbelievably low prices.

Selling on Depop and Vestiaire Collective, this Shop From Crisis branch in Finsbury Park is the crème de la crème and could easily be mistaken for a hip boutique selling a good mix of high street, vintage and designer pieces. Our advice? Head over during London Fashion Week for the best steals.

From Valentino to Prada to Celine, broadcaster Miquita Oliver’s wardrobe is a vintage designer haven, hand picked over the years from charity shops across London. Her favourite? The Salvation Army in Hackney. Expect jumble sales and bargain steals from all your favourite designers. 

Marylebone is packed full of charity shops that are well worth your time, including branches of Oxfam and Cancer Research UK, all of which are fertile ground for designer vintage at knocked-down prices.

Read More: The Best Vintage Shops In London

Bristol

Bristol’s Gloucester Road is teeming with charity and vintage shops. For those seeking designer and high street labels as well as one-of-a-kind buys, Clic Sargent, Cancer Research UK, Brandon Trust and Cats Protection should all be top of your list.

Stroll around Cotham Hill and stop by its local branch of CLIC Sargent – it’s home to some of the biggest collections of denim, bridal wear and ’70s and ’80s vintage in the area.

Designer jeans, trophy coats, statement bags – find all this and more at Mary’s Living & Giving in Clifton Village, and for as little as £30.

Bath

Just by Pulteney Bridge you’ll find all your soon-to-be-favourite costume and vintage pieces by the likes of Laura Ashley, Nicole Farhi, Katharine Hamnett and Marimekko.

Brighton

We say, the messier the charity shop, the better the haul. Dig through the overflowing rails at Friends Shop, which supports healthcare services across Brighton, and you’re bound to stumble across a gem or three.

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Tucked away from the bustling city centre is ALALA (All for Love And Love For All), which supports children orphaned by natural disasters. Determined shoppers will be able to source designer finds lurking in the vast jumble of goodies inside.

Cambridge

This store has everything under the sun – from ski gear, hats and sunglasses to CDs, DVDs and shoes – and prices start from as little as £1. There’ll be something here for you regardless of your budget.

Nottingham

Home to books, trinkets, jewellery, hats, and all things vintage, funds raised in this quirky charity shop go towards helping vulnerable children.

Sue Ryder Vintage & Retro is wonderfully kooky and packed with vinyls, books, clothing and haberdashery, plus some great, colour pop vintage pieces and even antique furniture. Proceeds go towards helping those living with a terminal illness and their loved ones.

Manchester

This RSPCA shop on Oak Street in the Northern Quarter is a must for vintage lovers in search of truly one-of-a-kind pieces. You’ll find feathers, frills, leather, suede, and pieces from the ’20s, ’50s and the ’80s.

Books, trinkets, jewellery, hats and all things vintage galore! Funds from this quirky charity shop go towards helping vulnerable children.

Birmingham

It’s impossible to leave empty handed from this supersize store that has its own bridal and evening wear section, as well as furniture, homeware and the lot.

Cardiff

Find great deals on women and men’s pieces from brands including Ralph Lauren, Prada and Tommy Hilfiger at the Oxfam Boutique in the city’s Castle Quarter.

Edinburgh

A busy shop is always a good sign, and this cluttered treasure trove in Stockbridge is constantly crowded with new and loyal customers digging through boxes and rails in search of stylish vintage, records, books, paintings, trinkets or homewares.

Not only are the rails in this Stockbridge store chock-full of designer goods, they’re colour-coded to make finding what you’re looking for that little bit easier.

Books, vinyls, sheet music, maps, textbooks, plays, antiques, prints – you’ll find all this and more at the Raeburn Place branch in Stockbridge. It’s well worth visiting other charity shops dotted around this area, too.

Glasgow

Next to the much-loved Cafe Strange Brew is Glad Rags Glasgow, a not-for-profit thrift shop that regularly hosts kilo sales selling some of Glasgow’s finest pre-loved gear. Think of the most idiosyncratic items possible – sharply-tailored pastel suits, ball gowns, evening dresses – and you’ll have some idea of what to expect at Glad Rags.

This Shelter Branch is situated in the heart of Glasgow’s hip West End, and is supported with donations from many a stylish residents. You’ll even find the occasional piece donated by BBC Scotland’s costume department. Very convenient for students in search of rare, retro garms.