The 16 Best Vintage Shops In London For Hidden Gems
If you care about the planet, small businesses, and pride yourself on individual style, then visit these vintage shops in the capital
For this Second Hand September and beyond, engaging in circular fashion is easier than ever. Both clothes rental services and online vintage stores ensure you can consume more mindfully (and safely) from the comfort of your home. However, for some, it's the physical rifling through of racks that gets them going. For those people, the great British charity shop is of course a ripe hunting ground, but, if you prefer a slightly more refined search, then vintage shops are for you.
Here, we've rounded up 16 of the best vintage shops in London...
Found & Vision
We say: A mecca for true vintage lovers.
They say: 'There are three of us at Found And Vision, and we rely on our individual tastes when sourcing our stock - everything is hand picked by each of us. We love unusual, fun and rare pieces. You can find many different things at our shop: from 30s dresses to 70s platforms, from Ossie Clark to Galliano, and from classic YSL to rare Judy Blame.'
Where: 318 Portobello Rd, London W10 5RU
Retrouvé
We say: With two locations, on Broadway Market and Wilton Way (which also sells kids' and men's clothes), we always leave these curated stores with a wearable vintage purchase.
They say: 'Our shops are special because we offer a personal, tailored service - we’ll take the time to help you find what you’re looking for -and we frequently deal with very specific requests for dresses for weddings, theme nights, awards ceremonies and more.
'We can make sure that they fit perfectly too as we do in-house alterations, which is a key element to the business. Customers keep coming back because of our unique and ever changing collection and the personal shopping experience we offer and, we hope , because of the personal connection we make with everyone who shops with us .'
Where: 23 Broadway Market, Hackney, London E8 4PH
61 Wilton Way, London E8 1BS
Rokit
We say: A London staple of the vintage scene, Rokit also offers deadstock clothes.
They say: 'Rokit started as a single market stall in Camden in 1986, we specialised in vintage denim from the states, not only selling the iconic 501 jeans but also taking flared denim and straightening them. (We now take straight denim and turn them into flares). The demand was so high, we quickly took over a three-story building at 225 Camden High St thus the brand was born.
Where: 101 Brick Ln, London E1 6SE
42 Shelton St, West End, London WC2H 9HZ
Portobello Green Market
We say: Give yourself an authentic vintage shopping experience by hunting the stalls and hanging out with traders at Portobello Market.
They say: 'Portobello Green Market is home to London's best midweek Friday Vintage Market. You'll find London's most prestigious vintage dealers, stylists, collectors, designers and traders here. Our #VintageFashionFriday market is frequented by the most famous fashion houses whose designers come to the market to find inspiration for the catwalk's next fashion trends. We believe that fashion trends are born here!.'
Where: Under the Canopy, Portobello Road. W10, London W10 5TD
SK Vintage
We say: An eclectic mix of nineties leather to seventies Laura Ashley.
They say: 'SK Vintage provides hand selected vintage and designer pieces, spanning multiple eras to enhance the modern wardrobe through colour, pattern and style.'
Where: 51 Fortess Rd, Kentish Town, London NW5 2HH
Paper Dress Vintage
We say: A local favourite where East London influencers find their vintage treasures.
They say: 'Paper Dress Vintage not only sells hand sourced vintage dating back to the 1920's, it also has an on-site tailor to create that bespoke fit and it is a fully licensed bar so you can enjoy your browse with glass of wine or coffee to hand.'
Where: 352a Mare St, Kingsland, London E8 1HR
Serotonin Vintage
We say: The place to go for nineties logomania.
They say: 'Serotonin Vintage was established as a bricks and mortar store in 2016 on London's Brick Lane. We have offered a true personal selection of the cutest designer and one of a kind vintage pieces since our inception, catering to the Marilyn Manson meets Cher Horowitz clientele we know and love. '
Where: 194 Brick Ln, London E1 6SA
Modes & Modes
We say: A celebrity favourite, opened in 2014, full of designer treats.
They say: 'We have an extensive selection of vintage clothing and accessories from the 1900's to the 2000's. Wonderful for wearing or design inspiration.'
Where: 48a Moreton St, Pimlico, London SW1V 2NH
One Scoop Store
We say: This reasonably-priced haunt is a cult store for those in the know.
They say: 'Expect to find something for everyone - affordable true vintage, designer labels and luxury pieces, plus the best of the high street, designed to suit all budgets.'
Where: Pod 20, The Factory, 21-31 Shacklewell Ln, London E8 2DA
282 Portobello
We say: Opened in 2009, 282 Portobello is the place to go for fantastic, and sustainable, outerwear.
They say: '282 Portobello is a labour of love - hand chosen quality vintage classics, English focused, full of natural fibres, dry cleaned and ready to wear for everyone .'
Where: 282 portobello rd London W10 5TE
Laura Von Behr
We say: A mecca for prairie dresses, Von Behr's intimate studio mimics a high-end boutique.
They say: 'An edit of good time vintage dresses featuring florals and frills, all available to try during a relaxed studio appointment.'
Where: 12C Blackstock Mews, N4 2BT
House Of Vintage
We say: Hidden off just off Brick Lane in London lies one of the capital's best vintage clothing shops. With both men's and womenswear available, there is always a perfect white t-shirt, glamorous beaded bag and delicate silk shawl to hand in this treasure trove.
They say: 'House of Vintage first opened it's doors in Toronto, Canada in 2003. Now located at 1239 Queen Street West, our Toronto store store still boasts over 1,000 sq. ft of quality vintage.
Our first London Store opened in 2010 in Shoreditch, East London and in 2018 we opened our second location in the heart of Hackney Central. Both stores stock a carefully curated selection of Menswear and Womenswear from the 1920s through to the 1970s, with
particular emphasis on the rare and unique.'
Where: 4 Cheshire St, London E2 6EH
28 Amhurst Rd, London E8 1JN
Beyond Retro
We say: Where many began their vintage clothing journey, Beyond Retro retains its role as one of the most impactful shops around.
They say: 'We pride ourselves in inspiring individuality in a sustainable way, offering mass exclusivity by giving our customers the chance to shop 1000s of one-off wonders that are all handpicked, on trend, affordable and desirable! From statement pieces to wardrobe staples, we love making vintage fun for everyone to express themselves and their style.'
Where: 110-112, Cheshire St, London E2 6EJ
58-59 Great Marlborough St, Soho, London W1F 7JY
92-100 Stoke Newington Rd, Hackney Downs, London N16 7XB
The 2nd Look
We say: Mixing preloved and vintage for you, this is a one-stop-shop for your secondhand needs.
They say: 'As a mother and daughter team our different styles allow us to curate a unique collection of preloved and vintage pieces for all ages. The focus is always on design, cut, quality and detail at really reasonable prices. Expect to find anything from Isabel Marant, Toast to vintage Aquascutum and also a great range of contemporary brands - but it's essential that you love to browse.'
St Cyr Vintage
We say: The place to go for casual staples.
They say: 'St Cyr Vintage provide high-quality vintage clothing and accessories with an emphasis on easy-to-wear classics and unique items. We are proud to be a part of the sustainable fashion circle.'
Where: 56 Saddle Row Camden Market, Camden Town, London NW1 8AH
Somewhere In Hackney
We say: A place with something for everyone.
They say: 'I like to call what I do "modern vintage" as it's a mash up of high street brands and vintage from all eras.'
Where: 389 Mentmore Terrace The Arch, London E8 3PN
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
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