The 5 best shops for vintage clothing in London

This huge store in a palatial art deco building in Hackney is the flagship for the Beyond Retro brand, with smaller branches in Coal Drops Yard and central London. The stock is vast and there’s every chance you’ll find a bargain you didn’t realise you needed. The on-site cafe serves refreshments from vintage tea sets.

For nearly 30 years and from well before vintage clothing became the trend it is today, Blackout has offered affordable, high-end vintage fashions for men and women. The heaving stock is spread over two floors and is organised by period, covering the 1920s to 1980s.

282 is packed with stock that often spills out onto the pavement when the weather allows. The focus is on classic vintage styles that portray a particular English sartorial elegance. The leathers, tweeds, wax jackets, furs, ball gowns and the huge array of footwear, hats and bags attract a bohemian crowd.

Carefully and expertly curated by Ameli Lindgren, Nordic Poetry is one of the best places to find high-end, high-quality vintage pieces from the 70s to the 90s, with attention always paid to the latest trends. From edgy designer fashion brands to informal sportswear pieces, every garment offered is a considered pick.

From its origins in the Portobello Road and Camden markets Reign has become a top destination in central London for discerning and independent minded style lovers. Offering a wide range of high-quality vintage clothing for men and women, from kitsch to classic and designer, it is smartly organised over two floors, with much of the stock sourced from Europe.