17 Best Charity Shops In London: Big Ben, Big Hearts, Big Savings

If you’re looking for good charity shops in London, FARA should have at least one that suits your fancy.

With 40 thrift shops located in the heart of 26 vibrant London communities—Balham to Teddington—FARA shops stock a variety of items, many in specialist shops. FARA Kids stores, for instance, are brilliant for used kids’ clothes, toys, nursery items, and maternity clothes and slings.

FARA is particularly keen on changing the fast fashion shopping habits of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and they highlight how they plan to do that in their report: ‘The Devil is in the Retail.’

If you’d rather shop from the comfort of your armchair, visit the FARA Charity Shop eBay store, lovefarashop, which is stocked with high-quality new and second-hand items, all priced at affordable cost.

Take your pick from items such as a Sweaty Betty abstract pattern women’s co-ord set of top and leggings, Christian Louboutin black patent leather court shoes, Hasanovo black and white tweed women’s skater dress, and much more.

Their mission is to ‘transform the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people living in Romania, giving them a sense of family’. Over the last 30 years, 10k beneficiaries have been supported through FARA’s numerous centres and programmes.

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Stella Lucas MBE founded the All Aboard chain of thrift shops, which raises funds for more than 70 UK-registered charities.

Their goal is to help create a more sustainable world by providing a platform where pre-loved possessions can be enjoyed by others and, at the same time, support local charities.

From their original shop founded on Finchley Road in 1987, their portfolio includes 22 shops across London and Manchester.

Inside the many shops, you’ll find a range of clothes, homeware, bric-a-brac, and small electronics.

You don’t have to shop in person, either. Their eBay store contains some of the more premium pieces, including brands such as Ralph Lauren suits, a pair of fringed Russell & Bromley mules, Barbour jackets, and more

As well as helping others lead a more sustainable life All Aboard has stopped using single-use plastics, switched to energy-efficient LED lighting, started moving its fleet of 6 vehicles to all-electric power, and is taking steps to reuse and recycle 100% of items received.

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As well as getting your charity shopping fix at one of the many British Heart Foundation locations across London, you’ll also be helping fund research into heart and circulatory diseases and the things that cause them.

If you’re having a clear out, donate your unwanted clothes, furniture, and homeware to a BHF charity shop near your home.

Visit one of the best charity shops for furniture London offers and discover antique dining sets for your next family gathering, plush and posh sofas for a cosy night in, and beds for a blissful night’s sleep.

As well as a fantastic selection of British Heart Foundation furniture in shops from Old Kent Road to Cricklewood Broadway, you can shop online or visit their eBay shop. Why not snap up a Fortnum and Mason wicker hamper/picnic basket ready for your summer outings?

And if you’re looking to replace furniture you already have, the British Heart Foundation furniture collection service makes it easy. Just schedule an appointment and they’ll come right to your door.

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Run by a charity known for its textile recycling scheme, TRAID also sells second-hand clothes in all kinds of colours and styles for enlivening your wardrobe. If you’re outside of London, you can donate clothes by post for free via any Collect+ location in the UK.

In one year, Londoners have passed on one million garments to TRAID for someone else to use. That’s a water saving of 412,800,000 litres of water and 2,451 tonnes of CO₂e.

The projects TRAID funds from the clothes donations benefit the people and places making our clothes.

TRAID has 12 shops all over the city, including Walthamstow, Lewisham, Brixton, and Camden, many of which are worthy of being called the biggest charity shop in London.

As well as a selection of charity shops in central London, TRAID has an eBay store and sells on Depop.

Alexander McQueen leather pumps, a Dolce & Gabbana fitted silk dress, and a Massimo Dutti cornflower blue trench coat are just some of the top brands you’ll find—minus the as-new luxury price tag.

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As well as charity shops in Covent Garden, Marie Curie also has shops across London and the UK where you’ll find some great bargains, from clothes to books to bridesmaids’ dresses.

Any items donated are helping support people living with a terminal illness.

If you’d rather shop without leaving home, Marie Curie has an eBay store and an online shop. All profits from the online shop go towards helping people at the end of life, whatever the illness.

Want to buy something special for a loved one at Christmas?

The Marie Curie Sparkle Hamper is the perfect eco-friendly gift, filled with tasty treats all packaged in a reusable Christmas tote bag.

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When it comes to Marylebone charity shops, the Cancer Research shop is in a prime location.

It’s not too far from other Central London shopping hubs, like Oxford Street and Selfridges.

What this means for someone looking for a bargain is that some of the city’s most fashionable people are likely donating their cast-offs to this branch. The Marylebone specialises in high-quality and designer items at reasonable prices.

In addition to numerous other locations across London, you can also shop for designer bargains online and at the Cancer Research eBay store, where you can score anything from a Burberry trench coat for venturing out into dreary London weather, to a pink cable knit jumper for getting cosy at home.

Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales. They organise various charity events to raise funds for their research and to support cancer patients. These events include the Big Hike 2024, Shine Night Walk, Thames Path Challenge, 12 Dips of Christmas Challenge, and London Winter Run 2024.

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Mary Portas breathed new life into the world of secondhand shopping in the UK when she helped set up Mary’s Living and Giving shops.

Rather than the usual rummage you might expect in a charity shop you’re treated to more of a boutique shopping experience in one of more than 20 locations in London, including charity shops in Chelsea.

If you’re not in London and don’t want to wait until your next visit, you can find Mary’s Living & Giving online and on Depop.

In addition to the usual clothing, accessories, and homewares, they offer lots of specific and seasonal shopping categories like sustainable Christmas decorations. Stunning hand painted glass bauble ornaments, anyone?

All products in the online shop are sourced from independent, ethical producers and 100% of profits go towards helping change the future for children in 122 countries.

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The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (AKA PDSA) thrift shops sell a fantastic range of preloved and brand-new items. Every purchase helps fund the charity’s Pet Hospitals and keep pets free from pain and suffering.

The PDSA accepts donations of pre-loved and select new overstock clothes, books, eco-friendly toys, and homewares.

Add a touch of rustic elegance to your flat with a wooden “HOME” sign on your mantle piece.

Founded in 1917 by animal welfare pioneer, Maria Dickin CBE, PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity. It operates through a UK-wide network of 48 Pet Hospitals, providing free veterinary care to the sick and injured pets of people in need.

As well as charity shopping in person, you can also support PDSA by attaching them as your charity of choice on AmazonSmile.

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YMCA has over 100 stores in England and Wales, and while it might not have any charity shops in Central London, it does have several dotted around the Greater London area.

Money raised in their stores helps YMCA intensively support 572,000 young people every year, ensuring each of them has an opportunity to belong, contribute, and thrive.

You’ll find an amazing range of items including second-hand retro, high street and designer clothing, shoes and other accessories, books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl, bric-a-brac, electrical goods, furniture, homewares, games, sports equipment, and jewellery.

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There are almost 100 Shelter shops across the UK, including London’s Wimbledon Village Boutique, Streatham Community Shop, St John’s Wood Boutique Shop, and Primrose Hill Community Shop.

Shelter’s flagship boutique is in King’s Cross, and many consider it London’s chic-est charity shop.

It’s considered best for understated swagger and statement shoes, from a stylish twist on the London essential platform rain boots to metallic gold strappy heels.

Shopping is also possible online, and the ranges include women’s and men’s clothing, books and music.

Perhaps you should bolster your vinyl collection with albums by Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello and The Attractions, or a classic Pink Floyd The Wall 1979 Double vinyl.

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Oxfam estimates that over 11,000,000 garments end up in landfill in the UK each week, and it’s trying to do something about it with its thrift shops dotted around the UK.

It has also been estimated that more than two tonnes of clothing are bought each minute in the UK, producing 50 tonnes of carbon emissions from growing materials and globally fractured production processes. Such research reveals the extent of Britain’s addiction to fast fashion.

From their best charity shops in East London, to their Notting Hill charity shops, and countless others dotted across the capital, you can shop for books, clothes, home and collectables, and entertainment items such as video games, CDs, and DVDs.

Curl up and read Eddie Izzard’s or Michelle Obama’s memoirs, or order them online if you live far from one of their locations.

Oxfam is a global community of people who believe in a kinder and radically better world that is less divided by borders, money, race, or gender.

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Mind is a charitable organisation with charity shops spread across London.

However, if you’re looking for something quirky, cool, or weird, head to Mind in Camden. In typical fun and funky Camden Lock style, you’ll find an excellent selection of second hand clothing, displayed according to the season.

Get in early enough and you might find that colorful Gucci handbag to perfectly complement your new dress.

It’s got a reputation for being the cheapest of the charity shops in Camden, which is quite a feat considering the area’s reputation for affordable street markets—and that it’s one of the best areas in London for charity shops, period.

Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They also campaign to improve services, raise awareness, and promote understanding.

The range of services they provide includes supported housing, crisis helplines, drop-in centres, employment and training schemes, counselling and befriending.

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Shop at Crisis Charity Shops, and you’ll be helping provide a place for people experiencing homelessness to rest their heads. In addition, you’ll be helping them upskill, navigate housing, access healthcare, and much more.

Considered one of the best Hackney charity shops by designer Mary Benson, you’ll find inspiring pre-loved finds that look, feel, and do good. All their donated stock is carefully quality-checked and curated for visitors.

If you can’t make it to your local Crisis charity shop, spend some time perusing the many items available to buy online.

If you’ve got a party coming up, why not choose a Naf Naf pink baby doll style dress, coupled with a Helen Moore x NRBY deep pink faux fur headband?

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Visit one of Barnardo’s numerous charity shops across London and you’ll find unique items, be able to embrace sustainable fashion and homeware, donate your pre-loved items or volunteer all while supporting the work this charity does with children, young people, and families.

All kinds of people cross the threshold of these stores, from bargain hunters to vintage clothes enthusiasts, and eco-conscious shoppers.

Encourage your family members to drop the fast fashion, swapping it out for pre-loved designer labels that are virtually new.

One of the many available Bardot dresses is bound to be a new minimalist wardrobe favourite. There’s also Baker by Ted Baker and Zara brands.

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Among many other Knightsbridge charity shops, you’ll encounter the flagship of the Octavia Foundation.

The location might be considered the best place for charity shops in London, with plenty of wealthy and generous neighbours dropping off their pre-loved items while at the same time supporting people and community projects in the UK.

Octavia Foundation charity shops are a gold mine of good finds so don’t miss out on a rummage for treasures at your local Octavia boutique.

If you’ve got a wedding to attend, there’s a great choice of hats of all styles, shapes, and sizes. Or how about a pair of stylish red polka-dot shoes?

“Good homes, better lives” is their mission statement.

They work supporting people affected by unemployment, ill health, social isolation, or low incomes in central and west London, providing opportunities for positive change.

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From Balham and Brixton to Streatham Hill and Wimbledon, Royal Trinity Hospice is on a mission to be “London’s answer to sustainable fashion”.

They were actually one of the first charity retailers to be actively talking about ‘pre-loved’ fashion, and they now have 22 of the best London charity shops across central and southwest London.

Resale of second hand, sustainable fashion in their charity shops has helped save over 300 tonnes of goods from landfill every year.

Just this year, the charity won the Environmental and Sustainability award at the Charity Retail Association conference for their Sustainable 7 programme.

They work with East London Textiles (ELT) to dispose of clothing that the shops are unable to sell. Usable and wearable items are cleaned, vacuum-packed, and then sent to Africa and Eastern Europe. Heavy soiled or unusable items go to recycling for fibres which are used to produce items such as carpet underlays and mop heads.

Royal Trinity Hospice is the local hospice for central and south west London. They provide free specialist palliative and end-of-life care for people living across seven London boroughs, 365 days a year to patients and their families.

Every penny of profit from their charity shops goes towards providing vital funds.

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Chelsea is not the only location for British Red Cross charity shops but a good rule to follow if you’re a fan of vintage shopping is to go to wealthier boroughs.

According to the local grapevine, this better than average charity shop regularly takes delivery from local house clearances, so this might be the best opportunity you get to take your pick from a selection of haute couture pieces.

But any of their other charity shops sell ample preloved clothes, furniture, vintage clothes, books, and more.

If you can’t get to a local store, there’s always the option of shopping online at the British Red Cross eBay shop or their ASOS Marketplace vintage shop.

All money raised through BRC charity shopping helps people in crisis in the local community and around the world.

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