It’s not just Bristol and Brighton boasting chic antiques.
It should come as no surprise that London has an abundance of shops to cater to all things vintage and antique, the difficulty, however, is knowing where to look.
We’ve compiled a list of some of London’s best hidden gems to help you scratch that treasure-finding itch.
Start by making sure to Think Vintage (£)
Nestled in the Worcester Park borderlands of South London and Surrey, Think Vintage is easily overlooked, and remains criminally underrated.
Boasting a vast selection of all-things mid-century, you’ll find anything from go-go boots to a new synthesizer.
Half their warehouse is dedicated to furniture, where you can satiate your thirst for all things teak, as well as vintage musical equipment, and the other to clothing, both curated and kilo sale.
Upstairs you’ll also find a haberdashery, so if you’re in the market for vintage textiles then look no further.
Feel a million bucks at Little Sister (£££)
Though much cosier than the warehouse scale of Think Vintage, Little Sister proves the best things come in small packages.
The Peckham shop boasts an impressive curation of vintage corduroys, suits, dresses, and everything in-between.
Though at a more premium price point, you can expect a warm welcome with personal, friendly service, your own bespoke fitting, and can find those grail pieces that don’t appear anywhere else.
Pay a visit to The Shop for all things retro tech (££)
Neatly tucked away under Deptford station, the nondescript ‘The Shop’ caters to lovers of film photography, computers, and music.
Grab a coffee behind the counter while you rummage through old vinyl, stacks on stacks, of used flashes, lenses, and synthesizers – or maybe pick up a CRT screen to live out your Matrix fantasies.
Who knows, maybe you’ll leave with a trumpet, a Walkman cassette player, and a compilation record of Zambian psychedelic blues.
Get lost in the curious halls of Alfie’s Antique Market (££-£££)
The sprawling complex of Alfie’s Antiques is one of the largest in London; the range of curiosities available is hard to beat.
If you’ve ever thought your home was missing rare taxidermy specimens, Christmas baubles from the former USSR, or massive oriental vases then look no further.
This is not all they stock, of course.
You can find all conceivable home furnishings, jewellery, dinnerware, and a fantastic selection of clothing – especially in the department of vintage fur.
Get your reading done at Archive Bookstore (£)
Archive is how one would picture the quintessential source of classic literature.
Here you’ll find stacks on stacks of vintage reading material at very reasonable price points.
Beware clumsy visitors, however, as every new turn reveals precarious stacks of dusty old books hiding even dustier, older books.
It is certainly a shop to take your time in, and the owner is rich in knowledge so they’ll be happy to help you trifle through their stock
Flick through rare vinyl at Sounds of the Universe (££)
Beginning as a small market stall in Camden town in the early 90s, the now Soho-based shop has become a place of legend.
Pilfer through reams of vintage records, with some new pressings to accompany.
The shop was closely associated with Dingwalls club in Camden, and as such, stocks a vast array of Jazz, Latin, Soul, Funk, and Brazilian music.
If that’s not your style, their selection of punk, hip-hop, and alternative music is nothing to turn your nose at either.
Find your flare at Blackout II (££)
Have you ever taken a walk down Dean Street and wondered where the jazz men get their zoot suits? – It was probably from here.
Blackout II is easily missed, sat on a quieter street between Soho and Covent Garden.
It’s contents, however, are unforgettable.
Stocking dead-stock and used clothing from the 1920s-1970s, this shop boasts some truly unique pieces.
If you’re in the market for a flared suit, wide brimmed hats, vintage purses or dresses, there is no better place to go.
Be enchanted by Watkins Books (££)
On the famous Cecil Court, you’ll find one of London’s most unique selections of vintage reading material.
Watkins Books is London’s oldest esoteric bookshop, opened in 1897 and saved from bankruptcy in 2010.
Here you can find all things eastern mysticism, Jungian psychology, Crowley occultism, and everything in-between.
In between flicking through ancient tomes in the basement, you can get your fortune told upstairs, making this a truly unique shopping experience.
Relive old memories at Marchpane Bookshop (£££)
Just across from Watkins, sits Marchpane Bookshop, stocking the most impressive selection on vintage children’s books you will find in the city.
Though charged at a premium price point, here you’ll find collectors items of all the great classics – making a wonderful souvenir or gift for friends or family with young ones.
If the selection of great classics here is not enough for you, no shop found on Cecil Court is a dull experience.
Finish your trip at Perfect Lives (££)
This is a relatively new shop, having only just moved from their old location Deptford to their new site in Hackney.
Another shop that boasts an impressive supply of vintage records, here they specialise in international tunes, with a particularly good supply of Maghrebi rock and Eastern jazz.
What sets this shop apart is the rest of their vintage media.
Their selection of mid-century long forgotten counter-cultural magazines and photography collections are second-to-none.
You can also find them doing a monthly radio show on NTS.
Featured image credit: George Gardner
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