Charity shops have become one of the best spots on the high street to uncover real bargains.
Whether you’re hunting down something specific for the house or simply love the buzz of rummaging through a rack and unearthing a brilliant hidden gem, second-hand shopping has shed its old image completely. With fast fashion prices climbing and quality on the high street slipping, turning to pre-loved rails is no longer just about saving a few quid; it’s about finding better-made pieces with plenty of character.
With more than 11,000 charity shops dotted across the UK, each packed with stock that changes almost daily, dropping into your local branch on a regular basis can pay off. From solid wood furniture and vintage cookware to designer labels tucked away among everyday jumpers, there’s a serious amount of value waiting on the shelves. Here’s a look at some of the best treasures to keep an eye out for on your next rummage.
Board games are worth hunting for.
Board games have become expensive in recent years, with plenty of popular titles now costing over £20 brand new. Keeping an eye out in charity shops can turn up something the whole family will enjoy for just a few pounds instead, making it an easy way to save.
Before buying, it’s always a good idea to check a box thoroughly to make sure all the pieces are actually there, since discovering a missing piece once you’re home can be frustrating and puts a dampener on game night before it’s even begun.
Vinyl records tend to be a treasure trove.
For anyone who loves analogue sound, charity shops can be a rich source of vinyl records. While new pressings are still being made for both fresh releases and reissues, buying secondhand tends to save a fair amount of money, and occasionally turns up something rare in the process.
Producing new vinyl also creates a fair amount of waste and uses considerable energy, so buying secondhand is a more sustainable way to enjoy music too. Original pressings can also let you hear an album exactly as it was originally intended, rather than through a modern remaster. When browsing, a bit of dust between the grooves is nothing to worry about, but check for scratches running across the grooves or any visible warping, since both can affect sound quality.
Designer clothing sometimes hides on the rails.
You shouldn’t necessarily buy something purely because it carries a designer label, but keeping an eye out for recognisable brands while browsing can pay off. Designer pieces tend to be a reasonably reliable indicator of quality, often made from more durable, higher end materials than mass market alternatives.
Spotting any brand or logo, designer or otherwise, gives you something to quickly check online for reviews, or compare against pieces you already own from that same label. With unbranded clothing, quality can be harder to judge, and there’s more risk of buying something that falls apart after just a few wears. Charity shops in more affluent areas also tend to receive a higher volume of designer donations, so consider branching out beyond your immediate local high street if you’re specifically hunting for label pieces.
Glassware is often better value than expected.
Charity shops frequently stock a wide range of glassware, from vases and carafes through to pint glasses and whiskey decanters, offering a way to fill your cupboards for a fraction of the cost of buying new. Feeling the weight of a piece in your hand is a useful quick test, since heavier glassware tends to indicate better overall quality.
Holding a piece up to the light also helps reveal any cloudiness or flaws, though small imperfections like bubbles aren’t necessarily a bad sign, and can sometimes indicate you’ve found a real antique. For anyone specifically after crystal, a gentle tap with a fingernail should produce a distinct, bell-like chime, and crystal will also cast a small rainbow prism when held up to sunlight. Many charity shops now sell items online through their own websites or platforms like eBay too, making it possible to browse for deals without even leaving the house.
Children’s toys are worth checking regularly.
Anyone who’s recently bought toys for a child will know just how expensive they’ve become, with action figures, dolls and larger playsets often running into tens or even hundreds of pounds. Since children tend to grow out of toys quickly, plenty end up donated to charity shops after only light use, sometimes still in their original packaging.
If there’s a birthday coming up, or you’re getting ahead on Christmas shopping, have a wander through your local charity shops regularly for toys. Visiting early in the week tends to work best too, since shops are typically quieter on Mondays and Tuesdays, and stock is often freshest then following weekend donations.
Vintage typewriters make for an interesting find.
Though largely replaced by computers in everyday use, vintage typewriters haven’t lost their appeal entirely, and you should definitely check charity shops if you have any interest in history or mechanical engineering. Restoring one to working condition can become a rewarding hobby in its own right.
Even without restoring it fully, a vintage typewriter can work brilliantly as a decorative piece, adding a retro touch to a shelf or desk. If you’re planning to actually use one, though, make sure it’s in proper working condition before buying, unless restoration itself is part of the appeal.
Secondhand books offer great value.
Books have become fairly expensive to buy new, but charity shops regularly offer titles for just a couple of pounds, ranging from genre fiction and comics through to coffee table books and educational textbooks. Selection varies considerably between shops too, with some specialist charity bookshops offering a wide range compared with a smaller shelf found in a more general charity shop.
Some specialist bookshops will even take your details and let you know if a specific title you’re after comes in, alongside offering an online ordering service for anyone searching by title or author. Approaching charity shop book browsing with an open mind tends to be the best strategy, since you might not find exactly what you came looking for, but you’ll often stumble across something great to read anyway.
Maternity and baby items are good to keep an eye out for too.
Maternity clothing and baby gear tend to get used for a relatively short window before being outgrown, which means charity shops often receive a steady stream of good quality donations. If you’re expecting, or know someone who is, it’s check your local shop for items like maternity dresses, stair gates or buggies.
Beyond general charity shops, some dedicated baby and children’s charity outlets exist too, often carrying an even wider selection of preloved baby items specifically, making them a great buy if you’re stocking up ahead of a new arrival.
Secondhand furniture keeps getting more popular.
Buying furniture secondhand has become an increasingly popular choice, both for the environmental benefit of keeping usable pieces out of landfill and for the savings on offer compared with buying new. Several charity organisations run dedicated furniture and electrical stores specifically, often stocking a wide range of larger items.
Remember that a piece doesn’t need to be in perfect condition to be worth buying, since small, learnable repairs can often bring an older item back to life. An antique chair with a frame you love but fabric that clashes with your decor, for instance, could easily be reupholstered into something that suits your home far better. Having your room measurements ready before shopping helps too, since good pieces tend to sell quickly, and popping back later to measure could mean missing out entirely.
Picture frames and leather goods round out the list.
Picture frames do more than simply look attractive, they also help protect artwork and photographs with sentimental value. While cheap new frames are widely available online, quality tends to be fairly poor, making charity shops a good source for sturdier, better made alternatives, even if finding a perfectly matching set proves tricky.
Leather goods, particularly boots, are another category to look for regularly, especially given how durable leather naturally is. Plenty of leather shoes end up donated after an owner simply discovers they don’t fit quite right, meaning barely worn pairs turn up fairly often. A professional clean can ease any hygiene concerns, and buying secondhand leather also avoids the environmental and ethical cost tied to producing something new entirely from scratch.
With stock constantly rotating as old items sell and new donations arrive, it’s a good idea to pop into your local charity shops regularly rather than just once, since you never know what might turn up on any given visit.
