Planning a thrift trip to Birmingham but don’t know where to start?

It’s no surprise the city is great for thrifting and charity shopping. But it’s also huge, and (shock horror) full of shops. That’s great - until you realise you’ve got no idea which ones are actually worth your time.

So instead of wandering the streets aimlessly, here are the best areas in Birmingham for second-hand shopping, area by area. We’ve checked every shop below against our directory of Birmingham charity shops, which lists more than 100 of them.

Vintage stalls inside Red Brick Market in Digbeth, Birmingham

Birmingham’s best thrifting areas at a glance

AreaBest forGetting there
DigbethVintage clothing, indie markets and mid-century homewareAbout 10 minutes’ walk from New Street
HarborneQuality charity shops and the award-winning Reloved Brum superstoreAbout 25 minutes by bus from the city centre
Moseley and Kings HeathA charity shop crawl along Alcester Road, plus vintage on York RoadSouth of the city centre along Alcester Road
ShirleyA calmer charity shop crawl along Stratford RoadSouth-east of the city, in Solihull
Sutton ColdfieldCharity superstores, Boldmere Road and the occasional record fairAbout 20 minutes by train from New Street

Digbeth

If you’re going thrifting in Birmingham, Digbeth is the best place to start. It’s only about a 10-minute walk from New Street Station. It’s where you’ll find some of the city’s best-known vintage spots, plus plenty of street art and independent places to browse.

The main stops are Cow Vintage and Red Brick Market:

  • Cow Vintage (82-85 Digbeth) is a big vintage store with one-offs, designer pieces and reworked clothing. It’s open every day: 10:30am-6pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am-5pm on Sunday.
  • Red Brick Market (119 Floodgate Street) is a huge warehouse filled with independent sellers, so you can find pretty much anything here - vintage clothes, furniture, jewellery, cameras, records and plenty of random one-off finds. It’s also open seven days a week. What more could you want?

Digbeth is also home to regular vintage pop-ups. Birmingham’s Midcentury Home Market on River Street is the one to watch for retro furniture, lighting and homeware - the next one is on Sunday 6 December 2026, 11am-4pm, with entry from £3. Find the latest dates on our page for second-hand events in Birmingham.

Harborne

About a 25-minute bus ride from Birmingham city centre, Harborne is the place to go for quality. Often ranked as one of Birmingham’s most desirable places to live, it probably won’t surprise you that the charity shops here are some of the best around. If you’re looking for nicer clothing, furniture and more curated finds, head to Harborne High Street - where the charity shops are also really reasonably priced.

Inside Reloved Brum, Birmingham Hospice's charity superstore on Harborne High Street

The standout has to be Reloved Brum, the Birmingham Hospice Harborne Superstore at 48-50 High Street. This is not your typical charity shop. It feels much more like a boutique, with a well-organised, colour-coordinated layout and high-quality clothes and furniture. It was named Charity Shop of the Year at the 2024 Charity Retail Awards. There’s a café space upstairs too, though the hospice was looking for a new café operator in summer 2026, so check it’s open before you go.

At the other end of the scale is Headway at 58 High Street - a smaller charity shop, but don’t overlook it. The prices are really reasonable, and the clothing selection is great.

Harborne High Street has around ten charity shops in all, so it’s easy to make a morning of it. Others worth a look:

Moseley and Kings Heath

Moseley and Kings Heath sit next to each other on Alcester Road, south of the city centre, so they’re easy to do in one trip. Start in Moseley village and walk south - it’s about a mile to Kings Heath High Street.

Moseley is small but has a laid-back, independent feel. Stop at the Oxfam shop on St Mary’s Row and the Acorns Children’s Hospice shop at 135 Alcester Road.

Kings Heath is where the real crawl is. The High Street has a good run of charity shops within a few minutes of each other:

Carry on to Alcester Road South for Barnardo’s and PDSA. Then duck down York Road for Top Banana, a pre-loved clothing and accessories shop (closed Mondays and Tuesdays).

Shirley

Yes, Shirley is technically in Solihull - not Birmingham - but it’s close enough that we’re including it anyway. And honestly, if you’re looking for good charity shops, it’s worth the trip.

Charity shops along Stratford Road in Shirley, near Birmingham

It’s one of the best charity shopping spots near Birmingham. Most of the shops are lined up along Stratford Road, making it perfect for a charity shop crawl rather than trekking between random locations. The bonus is that it’s calmer than the city centre. You’re still close enough to add it to a Birmingham day trip, without the crowds.

On Stratford Road you’ll find:

There’s a second Barnardo’s in the Gateway Mall nearby. If you still have energy, Solihull town centre is a short hop away, with Oxfam, Blue Cross, Cancer Research UK and more - see all charity shops in Solihull.

Sutton Coldfield

Perhaps not on everyone’s list (but it should be) is Sutton Coldfield. This large town on the northern edge of Birmingham is about 20 minutes by train from New Street, and it has its own mix of charity shops, superstores and second-hand events. It’s perfect if you want variety.

The two big stops are out of the town centre, so they’re best by car:

  • The ReUsers on Norris Way is a charity department store run by the Jericho Foundation, an employment charity. It sells donated and restored items - from clothing to furniture and bikes - and has free parking. Check opening times before you go: its own website lists Wednesday to Sunday.
  • Barnardo’s superstore at Princess Alice Retail Park is a big one, with clothing, books, homeware and electricals. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday.

In the town centre, there’s Oxfam and Birmingham Settlement on Birmingham Road, Cancer Research UK on The Parade and the British Heart Foundation in the Red Rose Centre. For a proper crawl, head to Boldmere Road, which has five charity shops close together: Acorns, St Giles Hospice, The Birmingham Settlement Shop, Age Concern and Women’s Aid.

Record collectors should also keep an eye out for the record fair held at Holy Trinity Church every few months. Dates vary, so check before you travel. Find every shop on our page for charity shops in Sutton Coldfield.

Also in the city centre

Short on time? You don’t have to leave the centre. Birmingham Hospice opened a boutique pre-loved shop in Grand Central, right above New Street Station, in August 2026. There’s also a British Heart Foundation on Bull Street and a British Heart Foundation Home Store on Corporation Street for furniture and homeware.

Tips for thrifting in Birmingham

  • Pick two areas, not five. Digbeth and Harborne make a great day out. So do Moseley and Kings Heath.
  • Go on a weekday if you can. Shops are calmer, and many put out new stock through the week.
  • Bring cash and a tote bag. Most shops take cards, but some market stalls and events don’t.
  • Check opening times first. Some smaller shops close on Sundays or early in the week - our directory has the latest hours.

For more advice, read Charity Shops 101: 5 Top Tips for Scoring Second-Hand Gems.

Thrifting in Birmingham: FAQs

Where is the best place for charity shops in Birmingham?

Harborne High Street has around ten charity shops, including the award-winning Reloved Brum superstore. Kings Heath High Street is another great crawl. Just outside the city, Stratford Road in Shirley and Boldmere Road in Sutton Coldfield are both worth the trip.

Where are the best vintage shops in Birmingham?

Digbeth. Cow Vintage and Red Brick Market are a short walk from New Street Station, and Digbeth hosts regular vintage and mid-century markets. For pre-loved clothing south of the centre, try Top Banana in Kings Heath.

Are there charity shops in Birmingham city centre?

Yes. There’s a Birmingham Hospice pre-loved shop in Grand Central, plus British Heart Foundation shops on Bull Street and Corporation Street.

Are there car boot sales near Birmingham?

Yes. See our page for car boot sales in Birmingham, or find one this weekend.

Birmingham is one of the best cities in the UK for second-hand shopping - you just need to know where to look. Find every charity shop, vintage store and second-hand event in the city on Ganddee. We map them all, so you never miss out.

Happy thrifting!

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