8 of The Best Stores To Shop Preloved In London
In Partnership With In Good Company
Secondhand shopping is not only good for the environment but it is a great way to expand your wardrobe and find unique pieces.
There are some brilliant online sites out there that make shopping from the comfort of your home easier than ever, but we still love the thrill of IRL secondhand shopping – you never know what gems you’re going to find.
The UK has a LOT of fantastic secondhand and vintage hotspots including Brighton, Manchester and Edinburgh. And whether you’re hunting for a one-of-a-kind vintage jacket or looking to build a more sustainable wardrobe, the capital’s secondhand market is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.
We have tried and tested these stores and here is our list of eight of the best that need to be on your radar:
Mary’s Living and Giving Shop – Various
With locations across London, Mary’s Living and Giving boutique shop sells a curated selection of pre-loved and vintage clothes and accessories. From designer finds to jewellery and shoes, it’s the place to go if you’re looking for mid-luxury and designer pieces that are perfect for special occasions. 100% of their profits go towards Save the Children UK. We’re big fans of their Bermondsey Street store.
👉 Find out more and plan your visit here
Give Your Best – Islington
Give Your Best’s Thrift & Gift store in Islington Square is the first pay-it-forward clothing store, where every item purchased by you funds a person in need to shop for free, in the same store. When shopping here you’ll find pre-loved second hand items to thrift as well as unsold stock and returns from fashion brands and retailers, available for sale at low prices. You can also donate your pre-loved clothes in the store, and give someone what they need to restart their lives.
Give Your Best currently focuses on supporting women and children who are refugees, seeking asylum, victims of trafficking, escaping domestic violence, with no recourse to public funds or struggling with clothing poverty.
👉 Find out more and plan your visit here
Paper + Cup – Shoreditch
Paper + Cup is an award-winning not-for-profit social enterprise coffee shop with a unique feature; it doubles as a secondhand bookstore, offering a curated selection of pre-loved books! They provide barista training for people in recovery from addiction and all profits from the store support their local parent charity, Spitalfields Crypt Trust.
This combination of coffee culture and sustainability reflects their mission to encourage eco-friendly practices and reduce waste. By embracing secondhand goods, Paper + Cup promotes a slower, more conscious way of consuming, inviting customers to enjoy a mindful moment with a good book and a cup of coffee, all while contributing to sustainability efforts!
👉 Find out more and plan your visit here
Shop from Crisis – various
Also with a number of locations across London, Shop from Crisis sells great quality secondhand clothing, accessories, books, vinyl and homeware along with furniture, restored by Crisis members accessing their services. Everything is carefully quality-checked and curated by their staff, so you tend to find stock in each store reflects the vibe of the area and tends to be on the cooler side.
National charity Crisis helps people directly out of homelessness and campaign for the changes needed to solve it altogether.
Their Peckham branch is the one for us.
👉 Find out more and plan your visit here
Beyond Retro – King’s Cross, Soho & Dalston
Beyond Retro, the leading vintage retailer in the UK, Sweden, and Finland, has been curating the best in vintage fashion since 2002. With a strong emphasis on sustainability and a mission to rescue unique pieces from ending up in landfills, Beyond Retro offers a diverse selection of handpicked, one-of-a-kind items for fashion-conscious individuals.
Their circular mission, including initiatives like their own Beyond Remade, a line of clothing made entirely from discarded garments, underlines their dedication to creating a more sustainable fashion landscape.
👉 Find out more and plan your visit here
Re’Store – Acton
Re’Store, a remakers hub in Acton was established to inspire no-waste living. Dedicated to repairing, restoring, reuse and recycling household goods. Re’Store aims to bring people together to encourage circular living and through workshops they teach skills in making, mending and creating new things out of waste. Once a month they open for pop-ups selling (often designer) secondhand and sample items, collaborating with like-minded brands and members of the local community, so this is one to have on your radar.
👉 Find out more and plan your visit here
Little Sister – Peckham
Little Sister is an independent vintage clothing shop in Peckham. The shop offers high-quality pre-loved clothing for both men and women. With unique pieces and timeless styles, they cater to fashion enthusiasts seeking sustainable alternatives to fast fashion.
Little Sister offers high-quality pre-loved clothing for both men and women. With unique pieces and timeless styles, they cater to fashion enthusiasts seeking sustainable alternatives to fast fashion. The shop’s commitment to preserving Peckham’s character while fostering a sustainable shopping culture allows customers to find distinctive, quality items in a vibrant local community.
👉 Find out more and plan your visit here
Boutique by Shelter – Various
Boutique by Shelter is a unique charity shop that offers a vibrant shopping experience with a distinct focus on sustainability and supporting efforts to combat homelessness.
Boutique by Shelter sells high-quality secondhand clothing, accessories, and homewares. By promoting the reuse and recycling of pre-loved items, the store reduces waste and encourages sustainable fashion. The profits from sales directly support Shelter’s mission to provide advice, services, and support for individuals and families facing homelessness.The shop also fosters community engagement by offering volunteer opportunities, allowing locals to contribute meaningfully to the fight against housing injustice!
👉 Find out more and plan your visit here
For even more secondhand shops in London, plus other ethical and sustainable places to go, head to https://ingood.app/ or download the In Good Company app on iPhone or Android for free now.