Secondhand Shopping In The City

This week London Living has been getting thrifty in London's colourful markets and second hand shops. With upcycling and sustainable fashion a steadily growing trend, there has never been a better time to grab a bargain at a car boot! Here's our Top 5 best places for thrifting in London.

Brick Lane Market

85 Brick Ln, London E1 6QL

Brick Lane Market is without a doubt one of our favourite London hangouts. It is a vibrant, bustling and diverse hub which always attracts a cool artistic crowd in search of second-hand furniture, unusual clothes and bric-a-brac. After hours of losing yourself in the eclectic array of quirky stores you can enjoy a slap up meal in one of the many restaurants and cafes lining the street, which include authentic Jewish bagel shops and Bangladeshi curry houses. The joy of this market is that you never know what you'll find; anything from cheap leather clothes, old magazines and kitsch collectibles to stunning silks and Art Deco furniture!

The best day to visit Brick Lane market is on Sundays, though the shops and restaurants are open every day. On Sundays the streets are lined with people hawking their second-hand wares, with some good bargains to be had if you look hard enough! As you can tell from our photos we just couldn't tear ourselves away from the buzzy, chaotic, cultural vibe of Brick Lane. it's an absolute must-visit for Londoners and tourists alike.

Flea London

Vinegar Yard, St Thomas St, SE1

Every Saturday & Sunday from 12 till 5pm Flea at Vinegar yard becomes the home to creatives and makers selling their ware. This place is full of curated treasures, vintage and other goodies from around the globe. You can find clothing, retro furniture, art, ceramics, new designs from up and coming artists and designer makers, spectacles, books, magazines and even vinyl. There's also a bar and scrummy street food stalls if you're in need of shopping fuel.

Camden Market

Camden Lock Place. London NW1 8AF.

Open 7 days week from 10:00am to 6:00pm and on bank holidays (very busy!) A shopping experience unlike no other, Camden Market has something unique and unusual for everyone. Street food from all over the world as well as arts, crafts and things “uniquely Camden”. The Camden Market we know today however, has come along way from how it was in the 1800s. In the 1790s the Earl of Camden began developing the land around what is now Camden High Street. Unlike today the Camden Town of of this period was merely a stop off point enroute to Hampstead. Echoes of the past can still be seen today: the pub now called “The Worlds End” was formerly the public house called the “Mother Red Cap”. In fact it wasn’t until 100 years later that the market area became anything more than undeveloped land. The Regent’s Canal was built during in the 1870s and this canal now forms the centre piece of the Lock market.

The Camden market of today has 4 distinct markets and is complimented by shops with clothes and merchandising from all around the world. It's a shopper's paradise! We spent hours there and left laden with shopping bags.

Battersea Sunday Afternoon Car Boot

Harris Academy Battersea, Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 5AP

The Boot Sale Dealers Try To Keep A Secret! There are many car boot sales in and around London but the Battersea car bootis by far the poshest! You can expect to find quality items including designer goods, vintage, shabby chic, even antiques and collectables, alongside general car boot goods. It is held every Sunday in the grounds of the Harris Academy and allowing for a decent Sunday morning lie-in, it's opening time is 11.30am. This boot has been run since 1999 by the Hobson family, Tracey, Martyn and their two sons Jak and Harry. Every Sunday, 1pm-5pm. Buyers £1 entry from 1pm.

Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico

The Pimlico Academy, Chichester Street Entrance, Lupus Street, Pimlico, London, SW1V 3AT

As seen in 'TimeOut London' and on ITV's 'The Martin Lewis Money Show' and 'Storage Hoarders'! Every Sunday see's The Pimlico Academy packed with car boosters. The main attraction of this car boot is vintage clothing. The stalls are packed with women's (and some men's) clothing of all kinds and styles It’s a total free-for-all, so you definitely have to do a little digging to find what you’re after, but there’s undoubtedly some treasures rot discover, providing you’ve got the time to hunt for them. Our tip is to get there early for first dibs on bargain vintage furniture, clothing and collectibles. Early bird tickets are £7.00, but if you arrive after 11.30 you can get info just £1.00. Do you really want to miss out on the good stuff though?

Happy Shopping from the London Living Blog!

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