Have you ever wanted to go antiques shopping but had no idea where to start? I’ve received a few emails recently asking for suggestions and I spent a long time putting together a list of the places I have been to and I thought it might be nice to share this with you.
Now, unfortunately, this list is very much based around London, so apologies to all my lovely followers from America, Australia, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, India (the list goes on – I LOVE checking out the locations of visitors to the site! It always amazes me that someone from Indonesia or Iceland has found my little blog). However, to all of you from other parts of the UK and the world, please do leave a comment and tell us all the best antiques shops or markets near you just in case we visit your part of the world soon. One of my favourite things to do on holiday is to spend the day wandering around flea markets, brocantes and antiques shops.
So here goes (in no particular order)…
1. The Old Cinema – 160 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 1PR
Huge shop with a variety of antiques, vintage finds, upcycled furniture and reproductions.
The Old Cinema
2. Alfie’s Antique Market – 13-25 Church Street, Marylebone, London, NW8 8DT
Church Street is a treasure trove with shop after shop filled with all sorts of antiques.
3. Bermondsey Square antiques market – corner of Long Lane and Bermondsey street, London, SE1 3FD
Right up the street from me, this market is open every Friday – get there early as a lot of professional buyers pick up all the good stuff. Each stall is filled with different antiques from jewellery to cutlery. This market isn’t about fine antiques – think more car boot sale.
4. Lassco – 30 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2LG and 41 Maltby Street, Bermondsey, London, SE1 3PA
This is one of my favourite places ever. It’s an enormous Georgian manor house slap bang in the middle of the Vauxhall roundabout. Every room in the house is filled with different antiques: baths, sinks, radiators, salvaged floorboards, door knobs, apothecary bottles, furniture, street signs etc. There is also a cafe and all the furniture is for sale! Love it.
Lassco’s cafe.
5. Stella Blunt – 75 Broadway Market, London, E8 4PH
This shop is full of lovely vintage finds: 1950’s Formica tables, G-Plan, 60’s glasswear, handpicked curios, art deco mirrors, Victorian kitchen tables.
Stella Blunt
6. Kempton antiques market – Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5AQ
A sprawling mass of antique market stalls. Go prepared with a keen eye, car/van, comfortable shoes and stamina.
7. Bleu – 327 Railton Road, Herne Hill, London, SE23 0JN
Mid-century and modern vintage furniture and lighting.
8. Barn Antiques Centre – Station Road, Long Marston, Warks, CV37 8RP
This is near my mother-in-law’s house and it’s a huge barn divided into smaller sections filled to the brim with all sorts of affordable antiques.
9. Vintage Heaven – 82 Columbia Road, London, E2 7QB
Based on Columbia Road I love popping in here whenever I go to the flower market. Overflowing with vintage china, pottery and glass wear.
Vintage Heaven
10. Crystal Palace Antiques – Junction of Westow Hill & Jasper Road, London, SE19 1SH
Four floors of antiques and vintage finds.
11. Two Columbia Road – 2 Columbia Road, London, E2 7NN
Mid-century heaven!
12. Eltham Palace Art Deco fair – Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, London, SE9 5QE
The Art Deco fair happens here twice a year and the Great Tudor Hall is filled with beautiful Art Deco pieces as well as a marquee. Well worth a visit as you can see the Art Deco house and beautiful gardens at the same time.
13. Northcote Road Antiques Market – 155a Northcote Road, London, SW11 6QB
This is a bit of a tardis as it opens up into different sections run by different dealers. There’s also Braemar’s just up the street.
Northcote Road Antiques Market
14. Modern Shows – various locations around London
These fairs show case the best of mid-century and modern vinatge design. This October they head East to the recently refurbished Grade II listed Haggerston School, Erno Goldfinger’s only secondary built between 1964 and ’65. Buy tickets in advance or on the door.
15. The Modern Movement at Brockwell Lido – Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PA
For the last six years the recently refurbished 1930’s lido at Brockwell Park has hosted the Modern Movement. Sellers bring their mid-century furniture and sell it around the pool. Pop into the cafe there, too.
Brockwell Lido Modern Movement
15. Home Barn – Wilton Farm, Marlow Road, Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 3RR
A gorgeous barn filled with vintage and rustic pieces. A really lovely place to visit.
Home Barn
16. RE-found objects – Bishops Yard, Main Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5LA
If you can’t visit here, make sure you check out the online shop. A collection of vintage pieces that you won’t be able to resist.
RE-found objects
17. Tower Bridge Antiques – 71 Tanner Street, London, SE1 3PL
Reasonably priced antique furniture. Can take a bit of effort finding the gems here but there are definitely some to be found.
18. Camden Passage – Islington, London, N1 8EF
This collection of vintage and antique shops, along a cobbled pedestrianised street, is the perfect weekend visit.
19. Arch 389 – Mentmore Terrace, London, E8 3PN
An arch under a railway filled with retro furniture and knick knacks. Good for a dig around.
20. Cobbled Yard Vintage Store – 1 Bouverie Road, Stoke Newington, London N16 0AH
A rough collection of Victorian, retro and industrial furniture – hunting is required here!
Please, please, please leave your favourite antiques shop, market or fair in the comments section (no matter where you are from) – would be AMAZING to build up a personally recommended directory! x
There’s a really good place in Manchester: http://www.insitumanchester.com/. It’s in a bit of a random place near cornbrook tram station, but has three floors and great value vintage furniture, clothes and trinkets x
This looks great, Amy. Thank you!
I am from Buenous Aires and I must tell you about San Telmo market. It is magical. Hope fully you can visit there one day! I love your blog by the way. x
Eeeek! Maria, I went to San Telmo about six years ago. It is one of the most amazing places I have ever been. I bought beautiful tiles, vintage film posters, linens. I love everything about Buenos Aires: the style and culture is wonderful! I hope to be back soon x
I always love dropping in to Gray’s antiques centre when I’m
in central London: http://www.graysantiques.com/. Good for fine antiques and jewellery. I really like the look of Lassco – may have to pay a visit soon!
Thanks, Hannah. Will need to check that one out!
My mother-in-law used to live in Ross on Wye. Full of good antiques shops. Also my favorite salvage yard for Victorian fireplaces ‘Focal Point’, Eardly road, Streatham Common. Apparently Hastings is amazing for antiques shops and much cheaper than London. Ooh and there’s always e-bay.
Ooooh, I wish I knew about more salvage yards. Thanks for the comment, Farah.
Bonjour! If you’re ever in France you should come to Bordeaux and visit Rue Notre Dame. It is lined with antiques shops a bit like Portobello road (I grew up in London). ☺
If I told you I went there last summer and arrived at lunchtime and every shop was shut, would you believe me?! Totally gutted!!!
Delightful little antiques shop on Great Oak Street in the small town of Llanidloes in mid-Wales… I visit every time I’m there. My most recent purchase was some traditional Salter scales. Lovely.
Deeeelightful! X
Great post! I love visiting brockwell park! Will check out your other suggestions!
Totally worth a visit ☺
Your suggestions are spot on! The flea market in the centre of Lewes is always worth a visit and I do like to go to the basement in Selfridges which sounds strange but they do great, vintage, one-off pieces – really unusual and special.
There are a couple of shops in Clapham Old Town: Quirky Dovetail and Places and Spaces (more about modern scandinavian stuff but delightful). Also really love Rye in East Sussex – rife with antique and vintage finds.
Thanks, Jules! I like the sound of Places and Spaces x
Living Vintage is another good place on Wakehurst road, just off Northcote road – no.113. It sells vintage furniture, fabrics, quilts, home accessories and clothes. It’s one of my favourite shops. Great post!
A couple of my favourite haunts are Modern Metropolis, Garratt Lane, Wandsworth great for mid-century, The Vintage Store in St Ives, Cornwall – great for ercol & other mid-century furniture. The Ardingly Antiques fair – good for vintage, antiques & quirky stuff. Just visited the Lille Braderie a weekend fair in early September that takes over the whole centre of Lille (northern France) with a mix of antiques, collectibles, vintage, car boot & modern tat, we visited between 6am & 2pm on the Sunday – it was great, interesting stuff & buzzy atmosphere.
Love your list & plan to visit some of the places soon as I am always on the lookout for chairs which I refurbish & reupholster. Check out my website: chairsonthestreet.co.uk
Thank you so much for these suggestions, Julia. I will definitely check out the one on Garratt Lane as that’s not far from where I live. I’ll put the others on my ‘to visit’ list. I’m going to check out your website right now! x
Hi,
I have been meaning to comment on this post for a while – Emilia has kept me busy!!
When i’m out and bout prop buying for films, as well as nearly all the places you have mentioned above i have a few more treasures to add to your list!!
Any of the big IACF (International Antique & Collectors Fairs) fairs are really good – especially Ardingly and Newark – although they are also held at Swinderby, Newbury and Stoneleigh http://www.iacf.co.uk/
There is also another large market, the Shepton Mallet Antiques Fair. These are all outside London and are best served when you arrive early and wear comfy shoes as they are all really big. Rent a small van if your looking to get bigger items although a lot of the traders do offer delivery/pick up services, but they are full of treasures small and big.
If you fancy going even further afield France has some really good markets. Buying trips in Paris is always fun! The main market is Clignancourt – you can get really lost in here and keep your eye our for famous faces – ive spotted Michelle Pfeiffer there!!
Heres a good link to markets in Paris:
http://www.parisperfect.com/paris-flea-markets.php
If you need to stay a bit closer to home don’t forget car-boot sales – these are now not only full of people selling their household junk but some antique traders do the rounds of the car boot sales – you can always pick up good bargains and having a good rummage through others peoples junk can be fun – if you’re really lucky you can get some brilliant pieces for not much at all!!! My local one is Chiswick Car Boot, run on the first sunday of each month – this one is quite large but there are plenty of them around you can search online to find ones near you – they are often held at weekends which is good for people who work monday to friday.
Let me know if you find anymore good spots to find great vintage and antique pieces I always like to add new spots to my contacts for work and pleasure.
Becky xxx
Thanks Becky! Advice from a true profesh is always the best xx