Hackney is a great place to thrift in London. You’ve got a run of charity shops on Mare Street, proper curated vintage around Wilton Way and London Fields, and - if you’re willing to get your hands dirty - a bargain-bin warehouse that’s an experience in itself.

Here’s the route, from Hackney Central down to Cambridge Heath.

London Fields Overground station in Hackney, East London

Getting there: Start at Hackney Central for the Mare Street shops. Everything below is walkable from there, working south towards London Fields and Cambridge Heath.

Mare Street: The charity shop run

Three charity shops within a couple of minutes of each other, right by Hackney Central. An easy win if you’re short on time.

Sense

The disability charity’s Hackney shop, and a reliable one - pre-loved clothing, accessories, books and bric-a-brac, with stock moving quickly.

Spitalfields Crypt Trust

SCT’s shop supports their work with people recovering from addiction and homelessness. Good for second-hand fashion, and always worth a look for the unexpected. They also have a very cute cafe / charity shop in shoreditch next to their restoration station which is well worth a visit if you’re down for a walk!

Shop from Crisis

A few doors down from SCT. Crisis shops are known for well-curated stock and a properly nice browsing experience, and this one’s no exception.

Wilton Way: Curated vintage at Retrouvé

Just off Mare Street, Retrouvé is a lovely vintage shop - carefully chosen pieces rather than endless rails, which makes it a much more enjoyable browse than digging through a warehouse. If you like what you find, they have a sister shop on the other side of London Fields, on Broadway Market, so you can make a proper afternoon of it.

London Fields: Y2K Wholesale Events

If you’re after Y2K and 90s/00s pieces specifically, this is your stop. A wholesale-style spot near London Fields, so expect volume - come with an idea of what you’re hunting for and you’ll do well. You’ll usually need tickets for one of their “Big Thrift” event, so make sure to check their website or insta to book a visit!

Cambridge Heath: Thrift Factory (for the brave)

Let’s be honest about this one: Thrift Factory is hit or miss, and it’s not glamorous. It’s huge bins of clothes, outdoors, and finding the good stuff takes real effort - on a wet day, some of it will genuinely be damp. It’s not for everyone.

But if you’re up for rummaging, the bargains are excellent, and it’s an experience you won’t get in a tidy boutique. Go in with low expectations, old clothes and some patience, and you can come out very happy.

  • Address: Hare Row, E2 9BY (opposite the theory driving test centre)
  • Details: visit the shop page

A note on opening hours

Hours vary quite a bit across these - the charity shops keep fairly standard times (roughly Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm), but the vintage shops and Thrift Factory can be different, and some open fewer days. It’s always worth checking a shop’s current times on Ganddee before making a special trip.

From the Mare Street charity shops to the bins at Thrift Factory, Hackney covers the full range of thrifting - polished and curated at one end, proper treasure hunt at the other.

Find charity shops, vintage shops and second-hand spots near you by downloading Ganddee.