8 Best Charity Shops in London and where to find them

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If there is something that I like, it is a good bargain! When I first moved to London as an Aupair (11 years ago) I remember coming across these types of shops that sold a lot of clothes and books at a ⅓ of the retail price. My host mum at the time told me that those were called – read this with a proper posh British accent – CHARITY SHOPS. So today I will bring you a little guide on where to find the best charity shops in London.

Coming from Portugal this was a complete shock for me. I still remember the first piece of clothing that I bought in a charity shop and where I got it from – a funky tigerprint flowy skirt from Brand: TopShop, still with the tag for $3.99 in High Street Kensington Fara – WHAT?!  

Let’s go back to the fact that in Portugal TopShop was always a dream a) because of tennager-funds were limited $$ and b) because it simply didn’t exist in any of Lisbon’s high streets. 

So, you can imagine my excitement when I was able to buy something so “cool” as a TopShop second hand skirt, that in reality was not even used once for the price of a coffee at Costa! 

I think that was the day that I realised that I loved fashion and bargains. Since then a lot of my fashion spree transformed into lots of Saturday’s down the best high streets of London checking what people to use anymore, and what I really really would like to have. 

What are charity shops? 

Charity shops as the name says, are shops that sell items that revert to charity causes. The items that are sold in these shops are normally donated by people that either don’t want them anymore, people that moved out, lost and found property after months of waiting to the owners and so on.
The money reverted goes into a fund, partly to pay rentals of space and some salaries, and the other part to help causes.

All the charities support causes around the world and offer services accessible to the community. For example, CRISIS helps homeless people, FARA Children with less, Oxfam is associated with helping ending hunger around the world, British Heart Foundation helps people around the world in crisis, e.g during war, Cancer Research with research for cancer treatments and so on.

Charity shops are businesses, are aways of a charity to make money to fulfil its cause. 

Where to find the best charity shops in London 

Finding the best charity shops in London can be a forever search if you are not aware of London’s best neighbourhoods and what you want to find. 

London is divided by many neighbourhoods with interesting items of choice. When looking for the best charity shops in London I started by exploring its types. 

You can find clothes only at charity shops such as Traid; a mixture of clothes and small household shops such as Oxfam, Fara, Cancer Research; furniture like Cancer Research furniture and just books with Oxfam Books.

The quality of each shop and its items will vary with the neighbourhood you are. 

You should consider shopping in West and South West London areas such as Chelsea, High Street Kensington, Notting Hill, Wimbledon, Chiwsich, Crouch End, Primrose Hill and Greenwich if you want to find the best bargain: price x brand x quality.

If you are more of a trendy with some swag buyers, definitely consider the charity shops in North and East London: Angel, Islinghton, Camden, Notting Hill (as well), Shoreditch, Aldgate East, Hoxton, Finsbury Park, and Hackey. These neighbourhoods normally have very alternative people, the vibes are very different than the likes of West and South West London. North and East London have some of the best charities for antiques, vintage clothing and in general best bargains. 

Camden Town 

Camden Town is located in North London. It is easily accessible by tube (Norden Line). Known for being the rock and hipster part of London, the canals of Camden and the alternative vibes of this part of London makes it a must visit.
In relation to the rest of London, Camden is just behind Regent Park and London Zoo. This neighbourhood has a ton to offer, from great coffee shops and restaurants to amazing street art, markets and shops. 

Camden High Street has a bunch of charities, some well known such as Cancer Research, Mind and so on, but you can also find others shops that are also second hand/charity less known such as Scope. 

Camden is a great place to go on a charity shop hunt, the area is normally associated with Music and Rock stars specially with being the place where Aimy Whinehouse lived and started her gigs. It is great to look for related items, if you are not picky and like collectibles, there are charity shops where you can find brand new items such as Dr. Martens, Converse, Buffalos and alternative clothing. 

Another thing to consider is that not always charity shops will sell just clothes. A lot of charity shops nowadays also sell small items for the house and instruments. So, if you are looking for a second hand guitar, Camden is the right place for you and you may find a cool fender in Cancer Heart Foundation or Mind charity.

Notting Hill 

Notting Hill was the first ever neighbourhood in London that I adventured myself and where I found out what charity shops are all about. 

My first ever weekend out exploring London was in Notting Hill exploring the neighbourhood’s market. For those who have never been to London, the main Notting Hill market happens every Saturday in Portobello Road. 

I love Portobello Road market on Saturdays, it is so exciting, but it is very expensive. It is for tourists, but there are still some gems. Notting Hill became famous with the movie – Notting Hill with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant (great romance, watch it!). 

The area is characterised by its perfect little colourful houses, great cafes, and saturdays antique market. What not a lot of people realise is the amount of great charity shops that the area has, and I am not talking about Portobello road only. 

To get to Portobello road from Notting Hill station you pass all the antique shops, before the Electric Cinema you have Cancer Research UK, and the British Red Cross shop. They are good shops, but their items are a bit “chosen”. Sometimes you can find great bargains, but a lot of items have been taken and the prices are higher due to its locations.

My second favourite charity shop in Notting Hill is located just off Portobello Road, in Elgin Crescent (El-GIN ahah!). Mary’s living and giving to save the children is a bit more expensive than your normal high street charity shop, but the items are always, I mean ALWAYS, pristine, with tags and looking-like a shop. 

My two favourite charity shops in Notting Hill:

• Mary’s living and giving to save the children (Elgin Crescent)
• Oxfam (Westbourne Grove) 

High Street Kensington 

If you say to anyone that you shop in High Street Ken, people will think that you are doing fine. And really, you are. High Street Kensington is one of my favourite areas to shop in London after the Kings road in Chelsea. 

It was in High Street Ken that I first found that you can find designer clothing and accessories in charity shops for literally ⅓ of the cost. How, you may ask? Because the item was donated. 

Do you remember when I mentioned that to shop in charity shops you need to know what area you want to shop in? This is why. Charity shops sell what people donate. If you go to a charity shop in a neighbourhood where majority of the population dress PRADA, you are likely to have PRADA bags in the shop window because the owner just couldn’t be bother to sell it on vinted or just wanted to help a cause – lucky you if you like a good bargain. 

Here are the top 4 neighbourhoods where you will find the best charity shops in London for designers clothes and bags: 

• High Street Kensington
• Chelsea
• Wimbledon
• Notting Hill

Chelsea 

There are a lot of charity shops around Chelsea, however Chelsea is a quite large neighbourhood. Considering Chelsea from Chelsea Stadium all the way to South Kensington and from Sloane Square to Worlds Ends.
Including charity shops from the whole Chelsea area and in between, I would be here reviewing an awful amount of shops. 

Chelsea is one of my favourite neighbourhoods in London. It has an amazing sophisticated atmosphere and it is the best place to randomly explore during all seasons of the year. I worked and lived in Chelsea/Parsons Greens for 2 years and I really enjoyed living in the area and I got to explore a lot of it as well.

When it comes to shopping it is one of my favourite places to go in London mainly because it has a small Department store (Peter Jones) and then all the best high street shops along Kings Road. If you are looking for designers brands you have Slone St where you find the likes of Hermes, Chanel, Valentino, Dior and so on, and if you don’t want to break the bank, you can also find some charity shops that are likely to have some of those items for almost nothing (in comparison). 

Charity Shops to try in Chelsea: 

• Octavia 
• Frock me
• Mary’s living and giving to save the children (Fulham Road)

Wimbledon

It was about 9 years ago that I visited Wimbledon for the first time. When I moved to London, part of my routine on weekends was to go to a neighbourhood, eat local food and check the shops. I moved when I was 19 years old to work as an aupair, so $$ was limited. 

Wimbledon was presented to me and it was cool, but with not too much to see – I though. Fast forward almost 11 years now. I live near Wimbledon and I was definitely not looking at the best part of Wimbledon. 

I am fortunate to live in this part of London for now and be able to spend my days exploring Wimbledon Village, the common and the amazing landscape of Wimnbledon. It is such a sweet area that it is hard to think that you are in London. Wimbledon village is really a village with petit mansions in the highstreets and cottage like houses in the back streets. 

The area has amazing restaurants, cafes, boutique shops and hotels. During the summer it goes to heaven with the Wimbledon Tennis Championship. The whole area all the way to Southfields becomes alive with Tennis. 

Recently I discovered that Wimbledon is great for charity shopping, in fact the whole area between Wimbledon to Southfields including Wimbledon Park. This is where I normally shop because it is so close to my house. 

Wimbledon is located in the district line (green line). Between Southfields and Wimbledon Station there is Wimbledon station which has a direct entry to the south entry of the park close to the Central Court.

Although I shop normally in Southfields, Wimbledon Village has the best charity shops along the district line. 

I was so impressed with the quality vs price. I assume because it is not so central London like High Street Ken, Chelsea or Notting Hill, the prices are lower, but the quality and the opportunity is as high as in those other neighbourhoods. I gues you compensate with the transport price. 

You see, High Street Ken, Chelsea or Notting Hill are located in zone 1, and you can easily commute between the three with just one tube line (central line), Southfields/Wimbledon Park/Wimbledon are in zone 3. 

I will tell you my funny story around my local charity shops, and my reasons to shop at charity shops. Last year, I was in my local charity shop in Southfield (Fara), and I noticed this pair of MoonBoots. I looked at them and I thought “I have seen so many influencers with these, they are a bit odd, but cool, how much?” for my surprise, the boots were brand new, still with a tag, and only $32.

Can you believe it?! It was a no brainer, I grabbed the boots, paid on my credit card and straight away put them on Ebay. 7 days later I sold them for $125 – a baigan for me and also a bargain for the seller because the RRP was $150!! 

8 best charity shops in London 

After reading 4 of my favourite neighbourhoods for charity shopping it is time to reveal which ones are the best. Although i have mentioning that charity shops will rank higher depending in a) your shopping needs b) what your neighbourhood, I have been noticing similarities in charity shops names/brands, although this might change from neighbourhood, by norm the characteristics and quality of the charity shops is evident: 

1. Mary’s living and giving to save the children
2. Fara
3. Oxfam 
4. Octavia Foundation
5. Traide
6. Cancer Research 
7. Mind 
8. Red Cross

So here is why I love charity shopping so much: 

• I love feeling that I am doing a good business, charity shops are cheaper, who doesn’t like to feel that is saving $$? 
• It slows down fashion. I love fashion and I am all up for it, but there are so many clothes all the time, everywhere! It is a bit overwhelming, I like to have different outfits and so on, but I like to be practical, especially when travelling. I don’t like to have more than I need and with charity shops I feel that I am giving a second chance to other people clothing 
• Part of my money goes to causes that I would give cash to. 

There are a lot more other neighbourhoods that I think are great for charity shopping, these are my favourites. You should definitely consider High Street Ken, Chelsea or Notting Hill for your neighbourhoods to explore as a newbie in London and combine with the thousands of activities that they have to offer and explore their shopping. 

I am keen to write more about other charity shops in other areas of London such as Greenwich, Crouch Hill, Chiswick, Ealing, Peckham, Angel and Highbury and Inslington. 

Let me know what you think 🙂 

Safe travels through London!

Miri x 

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