London Charity Shops | This Is London Town | Abbey Court's Tourist Guide

BEST CHARITY SHOPS BY AREA

CENTRAL
Central London is surprisingly good for charity shops - Marylebone High Street, Victoria and Pimlico are hot spots - but most are hidden away in clusters, so you need to know where to go.

British Red Cross, Victoria
This branch is packed with designer labels thanks donations from wealthy locals. Brands currently in stock include Ralph Lauren, Armani for men and women (lots of it), Gucci and Christian Dior, plus Manolo Blahnik shoes. A selection of bric-a-brac, handbags and hats are also up for grabs alongside a range of ballgowns.
British Red Cross, 85 Ebury St, SW1 (020 7730 2235) Victoria tube/rail.
Open Mon-Fri 10am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-4pm.

Cancer Research UK, Marylebone
A high-quality selection of fashion and accessories, many of them in mint condition, can be found here. The shoes are particularly noteworthy.
Cancer Research UK, 24 Marylebone High St, W1 (020 7487 4986) Baker St tube.
Open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat, Sun 11am-5pm.

FARA
A small shop with an overbearingly pushy shopkeeper (don't let that put you off) selling goods in aid of Romanian children. It specialises in an excellent range of kids and baby wear along with prams and buggies at bargain prices. There are two other FARA branches, including Retro Mania at 6 Tachbrook Street,
FARA, 40 Upper Tachbrook St, SW1 (020 7630 7730) Pimlico tube.
Open Mon-Fri 9.15am-5.15pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

Oxfam Menswear
London's sole menswear-only charity shop, selling a range of quality and designer items, including classic Savile Row and Italian designer suits. Recent brands found include Herbie Frogg of Jermyn Street, Hugo Boss and Gieves & Hawkes.
Oxfam Menswear, 71 New Bond St, W1 (020 7493 5115) Bond St tube.
Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-5.30pm.

Salvation Army
Two floors of sublime thrift. On the ground floor you can find brilliant shoes, including designer labels like Charles Jourdan and great old ladies' sandals. There are lots of faux-fur jackets, an abundance of 1970s dresses and skirts, and a fine selection of secondhand denim. Upstairs is a little more boutiquey, with luxurious finds such as floor-length fake-fur coats and glam evening bags - the latter can be snapped up for less than a tenner.
Salvation Army, Princes St, W1 (020 7495 3958) Oxford Circus tube.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm.

NORTH
North London's posher areas, like Belsize Park, St John's Wood, Hampstead and Highgate Village, are good hunting grounds for thrifters, but there are charity shop gems in Islington. Muswell Hill and less salubrious climes such as Camden High Street and Kilburn, which has a cluster of well-stocked shops.

Cancer Research UK, Islington
A treasure trove of clothing, accessories and general bric-a-brac where you might even find the odd antique. Clothing ranges from designer labels, including recent Hugo Boss and Moschino, to cheaper high street items, all still in good condition.
Cancer Research UK, 34 Upper St, N1 (020 7226 8951) Angel tube.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

North London Hospice, Muswell Hill
This charity shop is stuffed with interesting books and clothes. Recent finds include a Bakelite phone. The volunteers are friends and helpful too.
North London Hospice, 44 Fortis Green Rd, N10 (020 8444 8132) East Finchley or Highgate tube then 134 bus.
Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm.

North London Hospice, Crouch End
Another branch, and another good charity shop selling a bit of everything at bargain-basement prices.
North London Hospice, 21 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, N8 (020 8340 3269) Finsbury Park tube then W7 bus.
Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm.

Norwood Charity Shop
This shop, which supports children with learning difficulties, sells everything except furniture. Clothes are the main draw, though, and if you rummage, you might even come across a designer gem.
Norwood Charity Shop, 84 Golders Green Rd, NW11 (020 8201 9426) Golders Green tube. Open Mon-Fri, Sun 9.30am-5pm.

Oxfam, Hampstead
An excellent range of fiction and non-fiction books, designer clothes, shoes and accessories, as well as good quality toys and bric-a-brac, such as plates, cups, antique guitars, scales and ceramics.
Oxfam, 61 Gayton Rd, NW3 (020 7794 4474/www.oxfam.co.uk) Hampstead tube.
Open Tue-Sat 10.30am-4.30pm.

SOUTH
Northcote Road in Battersea is a great place to go charity shopping, as is nearby Clapham, where you'll find many a well-stocked thrift store. Venture further afield for the real gems, however - from Wimbledon's glorious Oxfam to the richly stocked shops of affluent East Sheen.

Barnardo's, Brixton
A vast and lively charity shop with an exciting, unpredictable mix of clothes and accessories, stocking all kinds of high-street brands with the odd designer bargain. A Dolce & Gabbana suit was recently snapped up for £50.
Barnardo's, 414 Brixton Rd, SW9 (020 7274 4165) Brixton tube/rail.
Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm.

British Heart Foundation, Balham
This clean (it reeks of Mr Sheen) and brightly lit branch sells a good selection of high-street and mid-range brands at very good prices - £2 for a foxy pencil skirt. The shoes and jeans are well worth a look here. They're all sold alongside a range of new, cheaply priced accessories, including necklaces, earrings and hairbands from £1.99.
British Heart Foundation, 184 Balham High Rd, Sw12 (020 8675 5401) Balham tube/rail.
Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm.

British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical
A great charity shop to know about if you're after secondhand furniture or electrical appliances. Selling everything from washing machines and fridges to sofas and dining-room tables, it's the perfect place to pick up things for the home at bargain prices. The shop works with a company called Remploy to ensure that all electricals are serviced and in proper working order. A washing machine could set you back £100-£180. Its collection service will also come to your house.
British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical, 211-219 Old Kent Rd, SE1 (020 7740 1668) Elephant & Castle tube/rail.
Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm.

Marie Curie Cancer Care
A must if you're after designer labels. At the moment it's stocking Chloe, Prada and Gucci trousers and Valentino men's suits. There's also always a great selection of designer accessories, including Mulberry handbags in near mint condition. Look out for good quality bric-a-brac as well.
Marie Curie Cancer Care, 1 Lichfield Terrace, Richmond (020 8940 1800) Richmond tube/rail.
Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm.

PAWS
A down-to-earth favourite among Claphamites with a good mix of clothes, books and ornaments. All proceeds go to the worthy animal charity.
PAWS, 62 Clapham High Street, SW4 (020 7720 9962) Clapham North tube.
Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 12noon-5pm.

Scope
Another goodall-rounder, but especially worth checking out for its mix of clothing, including some good-quality designer pieces, and brand new shoes and handbags.
Scope, 69 St Johns Rd, Sw11 (020 7801 0746) Clapham Common tube.
Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm.

Trinity Hospice, Clapham
This charity shop sells a good selection of everything and is a great place to rummage through mountains of bric-a-brac. As for its clothing, it's a mixture of high street and designer. On our last visit we spotted an Alberta Ferretti suit.
Trinity Hospice, 40 Northcote Rd, SW11 (020 7924 2927) Clapham Common tube.
Open daily 10am-5pm.

EAST
East London may not boast the richest neighbourhoods, but it still has a good crop of charity shops, many of them fuelled by local creatives - so expect good record collections, interesting fashions and good books at lower prices than in north or west London.

Barnardo's, Wanstead
Best known for its wide selection of books, both educational and fictional, this branch of Barnardo's also boasts a good clothing section and always has a few designer names and high-end high-street brands. Most recently it's had Gucci and Karen Millen items on the shop floor. Barnardo's head office often sends batches of new and secondhand CDs and DVDs to the shop as well.
Barnardo's, 70 High St, E11 (020 8989 3641) Wanstead tube.
Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm.

Help the Aged
This Walthamstow shop is great for household items, such as kitchenware and ornaments. There's also a good selection of DVDs and CDs.
Help the Aged, 36-44 High St, E17 (020 8520 9462) Blackhorse Rd tube/rail.
Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm.

Oxfam, Dalston
This branch of Oxfam used to be a cinema in the 1950s, which accounts for its ample floor space. Men's and women's clothing, books, records and homewares are all up for grabs with the average garment priced at a modest £2.99. There's a huge choice with a hotchpotch of serviceable separates, dresses and curios, plus decent plates, teapots and the like, as well as grander pieces such as suits, ballgowns and wedding dresses in the melee. It has something of a cult status in the area; there's even a local blogger known as Dalston Oxfam Shop who rummages the music section for obscure tapes.
Oxfam, 570 Kingsland Rd, E8 (020 7923 1532/www.oxfam.co.uk) Dalton Kingsland rail.
Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.20pm, Sat 9.30am-6pm, Sun 12noon-4pm.

Sense
Bargains abound in this excellent Hackney charity shop that sells clothes, crockery, jewellery and electrics.
Sense, 307 Mare St, E8 (020 8986 0494) Hackney Central rail.
Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm.

WEST
West London's charity shops have an impressive reputation - some of the best-stocked stores are here and, thanks to pockets of ultra-affluent residents, they are some of the best places to pick up designer labels and real bargains. You can expect to pay slightly above-average prices, particularly in Kensington and Notting Hill but then, you are often talking names such as Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent.

Age Concern
Clothing, both high-street and designer pieces, as well as unusual bric-a-brac.
Age Concern, 522 Harrow Rd, W9 (020 8960 9527) Westbourne Park tube.
Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm.

British Red Cross, Chelsea
The British Red Cross shop in Chelsea also happens to be the place that many designer neighbours - Manolo Blahnik and Catherine Walker, for example - donate unwanted items. A recent look uncovered a fabulous Chanel bag, an Yves Saint Laurent shirt and a Catherine Walker wedding dress. One to keep checking out.
British Red Cross, 67 Old Church St, SW3 (020 7351 3206), Sloane Square tube.
Open Mon-Wed, Fri 10am-5.30pm, Thur 10am-7pm, Sun 1-6pm.

Crusaid
A gem of a charity shop stocking great clothing, and lots of designer items. In particular, look out for Nicole Farhi, which every couple of months gives a generous donation. The shop also has a good reputation for books and music - before Christmas the record label EMI donated more than 1,000 jazz CDs. There's also a fine selection of vinyl.
Crusaid, 19 Churton St, SW1 (020 7233 8736) Victoria tube/rail.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-3pm.

Notting Hill Housing Trust
This Notting Hill institution has branches across London, yet it's the Notting Hill shop that stocks the best selection of designer gear - Kiera Knightley's burgundy taffeta Oscar gown was sold for thousands on eBay after being exhibited in the window here.
Notting Hill Housing Trust, 57 Kensington Church St, W8 (020 7937 5274) High St. Kensington tube.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1-6pm.

Oxfam Music and Audio, Ealing
Top charity music shop offering bargain CDs (many new), plus vinyl, videos, DVDs and electrical items such as turntables, music systems and CD players. It specialises in world and classical music.
Oxfam Music and Audio, 23 The Green, W5 (020 8810 1932) Ealing Broadway tube/rail.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm.

Traid
A favourite of fashion stylists and journalists alike and with mentions in Japanese and British Vogue, this is the charity shop to head to for superior secondhand clothing. Raising money for international development, the shop has a small, boutiquey feel, making it a great place to rummage. In particular, check out the vintage section, where you'll find quirky one-offs. There's also its renowed remade clothing to look out for.
Traid, 61 Westbourne Grove, W2 (020 7221 2421) Bayswater tube.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

Trinity Hospice, Kensington
Renowned for its ladies' clothing and accessories, this is a great charity shop where you're bound to unearth designer pieces. Last week staff sold a beautiful Jean Paul Gaultier fur-trimmed umbrella and there's always a good selection of handbags and shoes, including Louis Vuitton bags and Ferragamo courts.
Trinity Hospice, 31 Kensington Church St, W8 (020 7376 1098) High St Kensington tube.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-4.45pm, Sun 11am-5pm.