Manchester’s Northern Quarter: A Vintage Lover’s Paradise
- dcclarke4
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
Thinking of heading to Manchester in search of vintage treasures? The Northern Quarter is one of the best spots in the city to discover pre-loved fashion gems. Just a short walk from Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly Train Station, it’s easy to reach by bus, train, or tram.
As well as vintage shopping, the area is packed with cafés, bars, restaurants, and independent stores - perfect for a break between bargain-hunting sessions.
Here’s a roundup of some of the best vintage and charity shops in the Northern Quarter, all worth a visit.
Oldham Street: The Heart of Vintage Shopping
Oxfam Emporium
A treasure trove of vintage clothing, homeware, vinyl, CDs, and DVDs. You’ll also find a full range of Oxfam’s fair trade products like cards, gifts, food, and eco-friendly cleaning goods.
Address: 8-10 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JQ
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am-6pm | Sun: 12pm-5pm
Blue Rinse
A favourite for reworked, branded, and vintage sportswear. They also host kilo sales - check their social media for dates.
Address: 29-31 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JG
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am-6pm | Sun: 11am-5pm
Pop Boutique
Two floors of vintage clothing, plus an in-store hair salon (Barbarella) and a café called Nibble - a full retro experience.
Address: 34-36 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JN
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am-6pm | Sun: 11am-5pm
Gone Fishing
Located at the lower end of Oldham Street, this stylish store also offers styling and rental services.
Address: 95 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LW
Opening hours: Daily: 11am-6pm
Afflecks
A Manchester institution and an absolute must-go if you happen to visit Manchester.
Afflecks is full of independent traders, quirky vintage shops, cafés, and tattoo and piercing studios. Explore stores like Pop Boutique, Beg Steal and Borrow, American Graffiti, Milner & Son and many more!
Address: 52 Church St, Manchester M4 1PW
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10:30am-6pm | Sat: 10am-6pm | Sun: 11am-5pm
COW Vintage
Directly opposite Afflecks, this two-floor shop is packed with great vintage finds. They also run regular kilo sales - check their socials to know when and where their next kilo sales are.
Address: 61 Church St, Manchester M4 1PD
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10:30am-6pm | Sun: 11am-5pm
Oxfam Originals
Smaller than the Emporium, but full of carefully curated vintage and designer pieces.
Address: 51 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JR
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm
Other Spots to find Vintage Gems
Bags of Flavor
Tucked away on Tib Street, this store is easily missed - but definitely worth visiting if you like branded vintage clothing.
Address: 33 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LX
Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 12pm-5pm
Concept NQ
Located behind Get Baked on Spear Street, this vintage clothing shop is full of one-of-a-kind pieces. The shop is from the team behind Suzy Loves Milo, known for personally handpicking all streetwear and vintage items stocked on their shelves, instead of bulk buying from wholesalers.
Address: 40 Spear St, Manchester M1 1AS
Opening hours: Daily 12pm-6pm
RSPCA Charity Shop (Oak Street)
Next to the Manchester Craft and Design Centre, this lovely shop offers a great selection of clothing, books, and homeware.
Address: 15 Oak St, Manchester M4 5JD
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am-5pm | Sun: 11am-5pm
Classic Football Shirts
The place to visit for all football fans! This shop is packed with vintage football kits from clubs around the world. Located on Dale Street, it’s near Mala, a great place to stop for a bite.
Address: 25-27 Dale St, Manchester M1 1FY
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am-6pm | Sun: 11am-5pm
That's it for a "taster" of what vintage shops you can find in Manchester's Northern Quarter! This area is probably one of the best place to shop vintage items across the UK.
New shops pop up all the time, so there’s always something fresh to discover. To stay up to date with the latest vintage gems and openings, check the Ganddee app - it's like "google maps" curated for second-hand shopping!
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