London Travel Guide

Ultimate Guide to Vintage Shopping in London

November 15, 2019

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London is home to plenty of vintage boutiques and charity shops where you can pick up some pre-loved attire. As well as knowing your look is 100% unique, it’s the most eco-friendly way to shop. Have a rummage around some of our favourite vintage shops and then show off your new look over a gin and tonic in your Marble Arch hotel!

Unisex

Beyond Retro

58-59 Great Marlborough Street, Soho W1F 7JY

King of vintage shopping, Beyond Retro in fact have five stores in the UK, three of which are in London. From your hotel in Marble Arch, Soho is the closest and easiest branch to visit, although they also have premises in Shoreditch and Dalston. Beyond Retro has a specialised buying team who scour fashion catwalks, track global street style, follow edgy editorials and engage with their customers to suss out the next big thing in fashion and ensure their collection reflects this. They stock vintage, contemporary designer and reworked clothes. Hangers and rails are brimming with womenswear and menswear and they group their collection by theme – sportswear, Disney, festival or animal print! You’ll be the envy of everyone else staying in the luxury hotels of London once you’re kitted out head to toe from Beyond Retro.

Reign Vintage

12 Berwick Street, Soho W1F 0PN

Reign Vintage opened in 2002 with the mission to give fashionistas a credible, more affordable alternative to mass-produced high street offerings. They have a Soho branch as well as a good online store so you can have a browse before you rock up. A lot of their stock is imported from Europe, so it oozes continental cool. Shoppers can expect to find fun logo sweatshirts and kitsch dresses mixed in with Gucci loafers and Versace blazers. They cater women by offering retro playsuits, pretty dresses, chic blouses and all the accessories. Men can pick up ties and waistcoats among day-wear. They even offer cosy knits aimed at skiers!

Retromania

6 Upper Tachbrook Steet, Victoria SW1V 1Sh

This store in Victoria is run by FARA, a charity supports orphaned children in Romania so anything you buy will go towards their efforts. Their collection works on donations, and they pool all vintage pieces donated to FARA stores and sell them at this Victoria branch. The staff are trained in vintage fashion and price the pieces accordingly, so the prices are fairly mixed. You’ll find women’s and men’s clothes and accessories, and the collection changes daily depending on what donations have been received.

Women’s wear

ATIKA

55-59 Hanbury Street, Shoreditch E1 5JP

ATIKA is housed in a historic, Victorian warehouse which in the past was Europe’s largest cobbler’s. The shop holds over 20,000 pieces of used and vintage womenswear, including designer labels and leading sports brands. You can pick up bright, funky dresses in all the colours of the rainbow, edgy blazers and oversized tees. REMIX by ATIKA is the interpretation of seasonal fashion trends paired with vintage clothing, remnant and reclaimed fabrics to create a wholly unique look. Prices are reasonable so you can spend more on your room in one of the hotels nearby.

Pelicans & Parrots

40 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston N16 7XJ

The stash at Pelicans & Parrots is a mixture of classic tailored pieces and trend-aware vintage fashion, curated by Juliet Da Silva and her partner Ochuko Ojiro. Every single item of clothing is vintage and about 90% of the stock is sourced from Italy. You’ll find 1960’s Italian swimsuits among Versace skirts and Gucci blouses. They have designer dresses from the likes of Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent which are perfect for wearing to afternoon tea in London.

Other eye-catching pieces include head-dresses and masks from Africa. The store is female-orientated but men might be able to snap up an accessory or two, such as wallets and belts, depending on the stock. Pelicans & Parrots also sell furniture and interiors!

Pennies Vintage

41a Amwell Street, Islington EC1R 1UR

If you’re seeking a relic from the roaring ’20s, flirty ’50s or swingin’ ’60s look no further than Pennies Vintage! They supply unique vintage clothing and jewellery including one of a kind wedding gowns with veils and prohibition-era dresses draped in beads and sequins. Pennies Vintage also stock delightful cocktail dresses which are perfect for those with planning a night out and chic suits which will command the attention of business associates when you step into any of your meeting venues in London. For something to set a contemporary outfit alight, you can pick up clutches and handbags for around £40. These will add some vintage glam without breaking the bank.

Menswear

Old Hat (formerly David Saxby)

60-62 Fulham High Street, Fulham SW6 3LQ

This Fulham-based emporium is perfect for men who want to invest in vintage British attire on a budget. Among the hats, tailcoats, silk scarves, overcoats and wallets you can find Savile Row suits for around £100. Owner, David Saxby also produces his own line for which he uses vintage designs and fabrics – in the neighbouring shop. Saxby also has a range of tweed coats, silk waistcoats, classic overcoats and corduroys. You’ll be able to pick up something stylish perfect for work or a special occasion like afternoon tea in London.

The Vintage Showroom

14 Earlham Street, Covent Garden WC2H 9LN

Occupying the old FW Collins & Sons ironmongery, the Vintage Showroom is the brainchild of Roy Luckett and Doug Gunn. They stock menswear with an emphasis on classic military, British style and Americana. It’s the place to come to stock up on denim, motorcycle jackets, British army parkas and retro worksheets! Pieces from the Vintage Showroom collection are often hired out to big-name designers and vintage obsessives, or you can browse the stock and buy upfront. Prices are steep, it’s rare to find anything priced under £100, but the garments will certainly turn a few heads as you step into a business meeting at one of the venues in London.