Where to Buy Antique and Vintage Collectibles in London

If you’re looking to buy antique and vintage collectibles in London, you’re in the right place. In this post, we have handpicked a list of the best London antique shops (as well as vintage), so stick around.

Though window shopping on the high street is always enjoyable, there is something special about discovering a hidden gem at a local vintage store and antique markets.

In addition to its abundance of street food hubs and flower streets, London is also home to some of the top antique markets and stores in the United Kingdom.

London’s extensive history (and colonization) means that the city is home to priceless artifacts that have been brought there over the centuries.

Collecting the belongings of others and displaying them in one’s own home became a popular pastime between the 14th and 17th centuries, giving rise to the term “antiqueing.”

This was, of course, a sport reserved for the wealthy.

Nowadays, however, the hobby of collecting antiques and relics is open to anybody who has the desire to do so.

A home or office outfitted with antique gains an air of quality, history, elegance, and grace. And that’s just one of the many reasons why they’re so appealing.

Antique and vintage shops in London are a treasure trove for those who can’t go past without wondering what’s inside.

Best Places to Buy Antique and Vintage Collectibles in London

Looking to explore London’s antiqueing scene?

Here’s a list of the best places to find antiques of varying eras, provenances, and geographical origins for you to peruse.

Keep reading to find out some of the best places to browse for souvenirs and find some genuine treasures.

• Alfies Antique Market

Located in Lisson Grove, close to Regent’s Park, Alfies Antique Market has an eye-catching Art Deco front that is sure to catch your attention.

Alfies Antique Market is a bohemian bazaar full of odd relics from the 20th century, with more than 100 sellers offering a wide variety of oddities.

Browse through a wide selection of vintage and antique goods, from 1950s lamps and unique clocks to movie posters and vintage Louis Vuitton bags.

Church Street is where many of the dealers have opened new locations, so that’s where you should start. Enjoy some coffee and cake on the roof of Alfies’ building after a productive day of antiquing.

• Camden Passage

Antiques are only one of the many things that can be found in plenty in Camden. And Camden Passage is the place to go if you’re in search of something novel and, most likely, a little bit offbeat.

Surrounding yourself with time-tested jewelry, vintage collectibles, and vintage memorabilia is a surefire recipe for a case of the nostalgic feels.

If you’re ever meandering around Camden or need a present for a quirky friend, this is the perfect place to stop.

• Grays Antique Centre

One of the largest collections of antiques in the world may be found at Grays Antiques Centre, which houses over 200 vendors under one roof.

The antiques-filled market, housed in a magnificent terracotta building in the middle of Mayfair, is a must-visit for any history buff.

Gray’s Antique Centre lives up to its rep as the sort of place where you’ll wonder, “Wait, how did they find that?” The place houses one of the largest and most varied collections of antiques anywhere in the world.

After taking a stroll through the antiques, it will be difficult to resist the urge to buy everything (although you should make an effort unless you have a deep wallet).

• Greenwich Market

Greenwich Market is home to some of the finest vintage, antique collectible, and culinary vendors in the city.

If you’re a collector, Greenwich Market is a must-visit. It’s open every week from Thursday to Sunday. The merchants are nice people who will do what they can to assist you.

The skill of the traders is what draws people to this market, where you’re sure to have a newfound respect for their expertise and commitment.

Quality goods and a pleasant atmosphere make a trip to the market enjoyable for people of all ages.

• Kensington Church Street

 London W8 4DS, UK

Connecting Notting Hill and South Kensington, Kensington Church Street is another must-visit antique hub.

The best ancient furniture from the Tang Dynasty to Art Deco can be found in the many shops that line the streets of this area, which has become famous for its abundance of stylish London antique shops.

As members of the British Antique Dealers Association, the stores on Kensington Church Street sell only the highest-quality antiques and display their wares at the prestigious London Masterpiece fair.

Beginning in Notting Hill, spend the morning exploring all of the shops before stopping for lunch in South Kensington.

• Bermondsey Antique Market

This fantastic antique market, also known as Bermondsey Market, is home to many local dealers selling a wide variety of antiques and collectibles.

If you’re in search of a good outdoor antique market in London, you’ve found it. Antique furniture, silverware, and clothing can be found among the stalls here as well as jewelry, dinnerware, and cutlery.

There are typically 15 to 20 stalls selling a wide variety of goods, from Victorian silverware to modern art.

• Portobello Road Market

Portobello Road is a London street that has been immortalized in both film and literature.

The pastel-colored homes that line this stylish Notting Hill neighborhood have served as the backdrop for countless Instagram stories, and the street’s weekly antique market has become a cultural symbol in its own right.

Portobello Road Market is an outdoor Aladdin’s Cave, with over a thousand stalls offering a wide variety of goods along a mile-long section of the road.

Where Chepstow Villas and Portobello Road intersect is where you should start exploring the antique district. Look through old cameras, cufflinks, African tribal art, vintage luggage, and Oriental pottery for several hours.

Rogers Arcade, a short walk off Portobello Road, is home to 50 additional vendors hawking highly sought-after antiques.

• Sotheby’s

The renowned auction house Sotheby’s is the only other place to go if you’re looking for breathtaking works of antiquity.

Sotheby’s has been connecting collectors with works by the world’s best painters since 1744, and their headquarters are located in a beautiful edifice on New Bond Street.

Collectors of fine art have a wide variety of works up for auction, from classic Old Master and Impressionist canvases to rare Fabergé objets d’art and Japanese Ando vases.

Sotheby’s is just across the street from Grays Antique Centre. They have auctions about three to four times a week if your budget can’t quite get a Monet or a Manet.

• The Antique Jewellery Company

1/F, 49 Maddox St, London W1S 2PQ, UK
www.antiquejewellerycompany.com

This family-owned business on Mayfair’s trendy Maddox Street brings in only the finest, most unique items they can find. You may check out Art Nouveau bracelets, gold Tiffany citrine pendants, and Edwardian moonstone heart rings here.

Appointments are required to shop at the boutique, where you may peruse Gerrish’s collection of stunning vintage jewelry.

• Farringdons Jewellery

Whether you’re looking for something from the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, or Art Deco periods, Farringdons has you covered.

When you buy a ring from them, they may resize it and polish it so that it fits perfectly and looks like it was fashioned for you. Classic jewelry is a specialty, so you’ll feel comfortable right away.

• Shapero Modern

This is a store that exemplifies the figurative meaning of the phrase “highbrow.”

Shapero Modern Gallery carries an extensive collection of antique and ornamental prints, some of which are about travel, natural history, art and architecture, transportation, sports and hobbies, and other topics as well.

In addition, there are a few original works on paper available for purchase. These make Shapero Modern truly one of the best vintage stores in London.

• Town House

5 Fournier St., London, E1 6QE
www.townhousespitalfields.com

Both a gallery and an antique store, you can find Town House in an early 18th-century building across Hawksmoor’s church in Spitalfields.

The majority of the artwork in the gallery is of British origin and dates from the 20th century, specifically between the years 1900 and 1960.

There’s also a nice little café downstairs, which it is the ideal place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Spitalfields.

How to Get the Most Out of Tour Antique Hunt in London

• If you plan on visiting an outdoor market, it’s best to see if the weather will be favorable beforehand.

• Don’t forget to bring your reusable bags.

• Be careful to double-check every antique shop’s website before you visit a market near London because operating hours are subject to change at any time.

• Keep your eye on the price tag; that antique clock may be lovely, but it’s not worth skipping supper over.

• Buying furniture? Grab an Uber or drive if you have the means. Trust me, it is not going to be a fun tube ride if you’re carrying a sofa with you!

Happy antiqueing!

PS: If you’re looking for unique London souvenirs, I have also written a list of the best things to buy in London. Check it out!