The 13 best vintage shops in London
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Slipped down cobbled alleyways or standing proudly in plain sight, the best vintage shops in London have refused to compromise on style, quality and experience in their endeavour to offer circular, sustainable options to the capital’s smartest eco-conscious residents. From cult vintage shops that count Rachel Zoe, Felicity Blunt and Karlie Kloss among their returning customers to treasure troves of glass beads, silk and tulle for brides-to-be to rummage through, the concrete jungle gives forth its second-hand secrets to anyone who wants to find them.
The best vintage shops in Central London
Retromania, Pimlico
Best for: feminine cuts
Admittedly, Retromania doesn’t look like much from the outside, but rummage in the rails long enough and Chanel tweed mini-dresses, Armand Ventilo velvet tailoring, silk chiffon Chloé dresses and Hermès scarves begin to emerge. Don’t miss the secret downstairs section (steps are next to the chunky knitwear rail), which is more recently second hand than vintage, and beside the till there are gorgeous leather goods such as well-loved luggage and distressed duffel bags at pleasingly low prices. Film and fashion students can often be found in the changing rooms – this is a grown-up dressing up box for creatives.
Address: Retromania, 6 Upper Tachbrook Street, Pimlico, London SW1V 1SH
Website: faracharity.org
The Vintage Showroom, Covent Garden
Best for: quality menswear
Portobello Road veterans Doug Gunn and Roy Luckett’s Covent Garden store is carefully designed and attentively styled. The focus is on menswear, but that doesn’t stop women trying on oversized, rough ‘n’ ready leather jackets, casual tailoring and starchy denim too. Many of the labels signify serious quality – find Levi’s jackets, Grenfell coats and Belstaff outerwear – as does military deadstock such as Navy overalls, British Army shorts and Land Army jackets that are well-worn but still look good. The immaculately-dressed Gunn and Luckett are often on hand and are extraordinarily knowledgeable about the fabric, fit, era and history of each item.
Address: The Vintage Showroom, Seven Dials, 14 Earlham Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9LN
Website: thevintageshowroom.com
Rokit, Covent Garden
Best for: affordable classics
Rokit requires some foraging and a visit here shouldn’t be rushed, as its reputation and high product turnover mean there are constantly new and exciting pieces circulating the shop. The atmosphere is relaxed – you won’t feel pressured into buying – and the staff are well-versed in their stock so can help you find different sizes and specific pieces swiftly. ‘The price point means you can buy a few pieces and not break the bank – which is also handy if something needs altering, as you don’t feel like you’re spending twice,’ says Condé Nast Traveller fashion director Martha Ward.
Address: Rokit, 42 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9HZ
Website: rokit.co.uk
The best vintage shops in West London
Portbello Road, Notting Hill
Best for: leather goods
There’s a competitive edge to Saturdays on Portobello Road – who can find the biggest steal? – but there’s also a friendly, community feel to the market, and plenty of regulars simply milling about. You might not know what you’re looking for until you spot a pair of rainbow-coloured cowboy boots, a handful of twinkling costume jewellery or a car-boot of rustic furniture, but the key is to barter, and to buy – things sell quickly, and you’re more likely to regret the things you don’t take home. Pandora Sykes, who is a regular here, says, ‘Nothing beats the physical hunt when you’re in a market – you can smell the vintage and all the tales it has to tell. My best vintage buy of all time was from Portobello Market and is a tan, wool blazer with gold buttons from Gucci. It was only £50 and is slightly over-sized. I wear it with everything and if I saved anything from a fire, this would be it.’
Address: Portobello Road, Chelsea
Website: portobelloroad.co.ukRellik, Ladbroke Grove
When we think of a relic, we imagine something outdated, to be displayed on our grandmother’s mantelpiece. But this shop isn’t that. Reinventing the idea of the relic – and not just in the changed spelling of the word – this accessories, footwear and 1970s-inspired ensembles specialist is an Aladdin’s cave of treasures and trinkets. Does it stock the average get-up you’d expect on the well-heeled streets of Ladbroke Grove? No. Will you want to buy everything? Yes.Address: Rellik, 8 Golborne Gardens, London W10 5NW
Website: relliklondon.co.uk
The best vintage shops in North London
Pennie's Village, Angel
Best for: occasion-wear and precious fabrics
Brides-to-be, this is the place to find your ‘something old’. Last time we were in Pennie’s, there was a stunning oyster-white Twenties wedding gown covered from shoulder to hem in hand-stitched glass beads (it weighed a ton). You’ll find this kind of unconventional, early-20th-century style on all the padded silk hangers. It’s worth noting that the shop charges £10 to try on wedding dresses, but everything else is reasonably priced (and free to try on), such as the rainbow of cashmere jumpers for £25 each or hand-embroidered organza shirts for £50 that we spied. It’s a fine, feminine space full of Edwardian lace, Maribou feather trims and Forties prints.
Address: Pennie’s Vintage, 41A Amwell Street, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 1UR
Website: penniesvintage.comAnnie's Vintage, Angel
Best for: petite sizes
A few minutes’ walk from Angel tube, Camden Passage is known for its antiques and independent shops. Annie’s stands out for its quirky, eccentric collection of clothes, such as petite pin-striped suits, giant wool scarves and broderie anglaise camisoles. Prices are decent and negotiable – Annie is charming and will happily guide you into the makeshift changing room laden with hangers. Opposite Annie’s is Atomic, a vintage vinyl store with a something-for-everyone approach to its collection, and nearby on Islington Green is antique homeware shop Modern Times where you can pick up a pretty antique tea set and one-off ceramics.
Address: Annie’s Vintage, 12 Islington High Street, London N1 8ED
Website: anniesvintageclothing.co.uk
Leonardo TommasinThe best vintage shops in East London
Nordic Poetry, Shoreditch
Founded by Swedish-born entrepreneur Ameli Lindgren, Nordic Poetry is a vintage shop created for the Instagram generation but with more depth and meticulous thought than its picture-perfect pink interiors belie. The rails are stocked with a carefully curated mix of beautiful designer pieces from every decade and major brand. Perhaps the second-hand shopping world’s worst-kept secret, the shop has a fiercely loyal and fast-growing cohort of fans, as well as an easy-to-use website packed full of outfit inspiration for anyone who doesn’t have a trip to the neighbourhood on the cards anytime soon.
Address: Nordic Poetry, 141 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E2 7DG
Website: nordicpoetry.co.ukBeyond Retro, Shoreditch
Best for: nostalgic streetwear
Paradoxically, Beyond Retro manages to stay one step ahead of the trends, filling its stores with leopard-print coats just before the powers-that-be announce animal print as the hottest must-have this season. Furthermore, it sources all its stock from charity shops and recycling companies, so it has both style and eco credentials. Loyal customers swear by the original store on Cheshire Street (near Brick Lane) for floral shirts, Levi 501s, dungarees, flannel shirts and Americana bomber jackets. ‘It’s an Aladdin's cave of clothes and accessories,’ says Martha Ward. ‘It’s inexpensive, which is crucial, and has endless rails of pieces from all eras so the depth and breadth of range is immense’.
Address: Beyond Retro, 110-112 Cheshire Street, London E2 6EJ
Website: beyondretro.comMero Retro, Dalston
It should come as no surprise that the achingly cool streets of Dalston are clad with vintage shops and independent boutiques, and Mero Retro certainly merits its place among them. Particularly noteworthy for its collection of Asian-inspired garments that includes kimonos, printed tees, shirts and accessories – all of which are fair trade and handmade – the shop is well-loved for good reason.
Address: Mero Retro, 2 Bradbury Street, Dalston, London N16 8JN
Website: meroretro.com
Paper Dress Vintage, Hackney
Step off the streets of Hackney and back in time as you traverse the rock-and-roll inspired rails of the Paper Dress Vintage shop. Their eclectic collection, with all pieces sourced from the 1920 to-80s, is complemented by the black-and-white chequered floors and supremely knowledgeable staff. And though by day the space is a vintage shopping experience, by night the shop becomes a music and arts venue, with craft beers, classic cocktails and outdoor space to soak up the balmy summer evenings.
Address: Paper Dress Vintage, 352a Mare Street, London E8 1HR
Website: paperdressvintage.co.uk
Atika, Shoreditch
Best for: lesser-known labels
Formerly BLITZ, Atika is half-concept, half-vintage store. As well as MA-1 bombers, neon ski jackets and graphic shell suits, the exposed-brick, cowhide-strewn shop also presents up-and-coming independent designers such as Baby Girl by BF, whose bespoke, hand-illustrated collection of vintage T-shirts and jeans are a hit with the Instagram fashion pack. An up-cycled range, Remix by Atika, also reworks vintage clothing that might otherwise end up in landfill, and alterations, pattern changes and embellishments are made either in-house or in Atika’s East London factory, reducing the product’s air miles and doing its bit to keep London’s creative scene thriving.
Address: Atika, 55-59 Hanbury Street, London E1 5JP
Website: atikalondon.co.ukSerotonin, Shoreditch
Best for: Nineties nuts
On catwalks and sidewalks, highly branded fashion recently made a big comeback on everything from stiletto straps to suitcases, and Serotonin’s second-hand logo tops and big-label handbags are set to keep customers coming back again and again for year to come. ‘The general movement leans towards archive pieces, re-issues and heritage styles,’ says manager Jack Mitchell. ‘The owner Rachael Cook and I bonded over our love for emo, movies like Clueless and old Vivienne Westwood tees.’ Serotonin has the best of Nineties style down to a monogrammed tee – beneath Marilyn Manson posters, look for the sort of Burberry checks, Versace two-pieces, Patrick Cox kitten heels and Moschino mini-dresses that Cher Horowitz would kill for.
Address: Serotonin, Brick Lane, Weavers, London E1 6SA
Telephone: +44 20 8089 4101
Website: serotoninvintage.com