Guide to Vintage Shopping in London

Posted by M Anus Raza on September 21st, 2022

I'm an incredible antique fan. Whether it's vehicle-booting, charity purchasing or visiting vintage emporia or antique markets , I love seeking a rarity or good deal.

And whilst I notion I knew vintage London pretty well, it's as an alternative dynamic entity. For instance, I've lately discovered that the East London scene has grown rapidly over the last few years.

There are even antique supermarket chains now - Rokit now has branches in Brick Lane and Camden in addition to Covent Garden vintage stores near me; Absolute Vintage has shops and Flashback is now in Crouch End in addition to Islington.

A vital address for anyone who wants to get dressed like a proper antique English gentleman is Hornets in Kensington Church Street. It has tweed jackets, Savile Row tailoring and Lobb footwear to name however some.

My flavour runs extra to antique jewellery and even though I can not find the money for a number of the portions, I'm going to ought to make a day trip to Rowan & Rowan in Grays Antique Market, which has a few scrumptious pieces, including Georgian lover's eye miniatures and an amuniquetuart skull and crossbones jewel.

I'm no longer so certain about crystal tiaras. Hirschfeld's in Hatton Garden is also precise for vintage jewellery; it has some adorable art deco and an exceptional Nineteen Sixties cocktail ring like a miniature glitterball.

Then there is the musical antique scene. Perhaps the most unusual shop is Duke of Uke on Hanbury Street - though it's especially for new units, it has a cupboard of vintage ukuleles and banjos - however, there are hundreds of secondhand document stores (even though I omit Caruso & Co, wherein I used to get opera information at good deal expenses). There's additionally Spitalfields marketplace with its document stalls.

For those looking for even more of a good deal, there are London's reclamation yards like LASSCO.

And a particular favourite of mine is Walden Books, Camden - a bookshop oddly marooned on a residential road, manner off the main drag and full of charming stuff.

Part of the fun of going to vintage shops is meeting the owners - a virtually true antique keep usually appears to have an interesting individual going for walks. So I'd advocate everyone who is making plans to move antique buying in London to be chatty and conversational with shop proprietors. It would possibly assist you to pick out even extra of a bargain.

Why do I love surfing vintage shops? I think it's to find out unique, eccentric and frequently amusing items. And nowhere is this more true than in London. Happy antique buying!

Timea Szabo is a London-based tour writer who enjoys advising readers on London's hidden gemstones and additionally helping them to discover cheap UK resorts like her preferred price range accommodations in Kings Cross - nicely-located for gaining access to some of the vintage shopping points of interest noted above.

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M Anus Raza

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M Anus Raza
Joined: June 2nd, 2021
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