Vintage London: A Tour of the City's Best Retro Shops

London has been the stage for some of the past few decades' most important cultural moments, oozes retro swagger, and was associated with all things hip throughout the 1960s and 1970s. London has always led the way for tastemaking, from the incredible music coming out of the capital to its undeniable run as a beacon for fashion.

While London is as cool as ever, there’s still a massive appeal for the styles of yesteryear. With so many countless boutiques and designers operating in London, there’s also a glut of used apparel and vintage fashion floating around. From a shopping standpoint, one of London’s strengths is the thriving scene of vintage shops that populate London’s many bohemian neighbourhoods.

Whether you want to find a statement piece or simply explore a hip neighbourhood, hitting vintage boutiques and record stores is a great way to experience London’s local culture. And when you need a place to store those extra shopping bags or a cumbersome suitcase, head to a London luggage storage facility to drop everything off. Here are a few of the best vintage shops in London:

Beyond Retro

With locations throughout the UK and even Sweden’s coolest neighbourhoods, you can find a Beyond Retro wherever the hipsters roam. Popular London outposts are in Coal Drops Yard, Dalston, Oxford Street, and White City, but Brick Lane is the OG Beyond Retro flagship spot. You’ll find a wide variety of men’s and women's fashion that span a few decades. Aesthetics lean towards quirky and artsy, but there are upscale fashion finds from the top designer brands’ past output. If you can’t make it to one of their locations, shop their online selection. 

Retromania

While this vintage shop’s name may sound like a wrestling event, you can shop for retro threads knowing you’re contributing to a good cause. Retromania is associated with the FARA charity that supports abandoned and orphaned children in Romania. While the business model feels more inclined toward altruistic endeavours rather than aesthetic ones, you can score incredible finds here. There are plenty of designer items and high-street brands on offer, all of which have been donated by well-heeled Londoners looking to do a little good. The staff are highly knowledgeable about the merchandise, which makes the shopping experience even easier.

One of a Kind Fashion Archive

Fashion-conscious Londoners will be familiar with Portobello Road for its posh boutiques, but this well-curated vintage store brings lightly used designer items from designer brands like Vivienne Westwood and Gucci.

The quality is top-notch, as the expert staff is highly selective about the merchandise they bring in, and there’s a strong emphasis on carrying sought-after items and rare finds. Their reputation has earned them business from London-based celebrities, and the store is so in demand that the store is accessible by appointment only.

Little Sister

Most travellers rarely make it to Peckham, but this charming neighbourhood is quickly becoming a trendy destination for in-the-know travellers. A major reason is Little Sister, which has become one of the most well-respected vintage shops for London fashionistas and hipsters. Head to the delightful Holdrons Arcade to window shop and people watch.

Blackout II

Situated on a posh street in Covent Garden, Blackout II stands out amidst a sea of designer outlets and upscale boutiques. That’s not to say you won’t find the good stuff here. Blackout offers a wide selection of vintage threads that focus on older eras of fashion. Cocktail frocks you’d find on a flapper or retro tweed from the 50s might not be everyday pieces, but you can find value buys that will really take your wardrobe to the next level.

Modes and More

Another ultra high-end celebrity favorite, Modes and More quickly outgrew its original stall at Grays Antique Centre in Mayfair to settle into its luxurious boutique in Pimlico. You can expect sleek pieces from as far back as the 1920s, but everything will complement a stylish contemporary outfit.

Rellik

The stylish Ladbroke Grove stretch runs adjacent to Portobello, making Rellik an easy stop on any shopping spree. This explains this minimalistic vintage boutique’s popularity with luxury shoppers. It’s small, so the selection is somewhat limited. But The quality is undeniable, especially if you’re looking for unique jewellery, watches and shoes.

The Best Record Stores for Used Vinyl

London has always had a solid scene when it comes to record stores. With the recent resurgence of vinyl, London’s top shops are more popular than ever. While new records are coming hot off the press and sold everywhere, there are a few stores with particularly excellent selections of used vinyl. Here are a few of the best:

• Flashback Records: With two floors of dusty records to choose from, Flashback is the perfect spot for discovering old jazz, soul, and rock records. There are crates upon crates of solid finds. Fans of psychedelic music from the 1960s will have to restrain themselves for the sake of their credit card. You’ll find yourself elbow-to-elbow with travelling and local DJs looking for rare finds, which is never a bad sign.
• Reckless Records: The London location of this Chicago company is tucked away on Berwick Street in Soho and offers a wide array of new and used vinyl. They have designated bins for “new arrivals” of used records that you’ll want to show up early to flip through. The prices are solid, even for some of the more sought-after records. If you’re looking to make room on your shelf for new purchases, Reckless offers the fairest prices of any London record store.
• Casbah Records: For real rockers, you’ll want to head to this slightly fashionable stretch of Greenwich Church Street to dig through Casbah Records’ aisles of throwback garage, psychedelic, and punk rock titles. Their particularly excellent selection of 7” singles brings punks and DIY music snobs in from all over London.

If you’re shopping around London’s trendiest vintage stores, having your luggage with you isn’t an option. For one, you’ll need maximum mobility heading between vintage shops. You’ll also want to be able to scour the crates of records or handle shopping bags with ease. If you’re trying to fit your shopping spree on a travel day, heading to the hotel will only waste time. That’s why a luggage storage service like Bounce is so useful.