Car boot sales are cool again! Where to go for the best designer clothes, homeware and vinyl

Attend a car boot sale this weekend and you'll discover that they're cool again. Young people are breathing a new life into the weekend activity, whether they're actively trying to live more sustainably, are more conscious of their spending amid the cost of living crisis, or they're simply after a one-off bargain that nobody else has.

Car boot sales are a thing of beauty: there are few other places in London where you can sift through vintage 70s furniture, potentially past it toys, second-hand designer garments and piles of bulky technology from the 90s and 00s (with varying levels of functionality), all while scoffing a ketchup-smothered sausage sandwich.

A regular weekend activity in the UK since the 1980s, car boot sales offer their sellers the chance to shift years worth of clutter, while buyers are given an opportunity to haggle to their heart’s content. A cheaper way to shop, car boot sales pool together people from all walks of life, and London is suddenly brimming with them.

But which of the city’s car boot sales is the right one for you — and how can you make the most of them as a buyer? Here’s our guide to the best:

Peckham

Where : Harris Academy

When : 10 am - 2 pm every other Sunday all year round

Best for : Cheap designer clothing and unique homeware

Every other Sunday, the playground of Peckham ’s Harris Academy transforms into a marketplace for south east London’s trendiest twenty-somethings. Y2K-obsessed students and young creatives are the main clientele, likely due to the sale’s reputation for cheap designer clothing, abstract homeware and vintage sportswear, which it’s earned since beginning in 2019. This dog-friendly car boot sale is one of the city’s larger and most crowded options, so if you’re after a deal it’s best to bite the bullet and pay the extra early bird £7 entry fee, which gives you access from 10am. Entry is £5 between 10:30 and 11 am and £1 afterwards, but be prepared to queue.

Stoke Newington

Where: Princess May Primary School

When : 7:30 am - 2 pm every Saturday and Sunday all year round

Best for : Vintage clothing, accessories and technology

A short walk from Dalston — once dubbed the city’s coolest area — it’s no surprise that Princess May Car Boot also attracts a younger, trendy crowd. Making home in a much smaller school playground than its Peckham sister, Princess May, which is both indoor and outdoor and is a little more jampacked. It is a safe bet if you’re looking for cheap high street clothing, secondhand accessories (jewellery, sunglasses) and technology, including cameras, computers and various electrical bric-a-brac. For bargain hunters arriving before 9 am entry will cost a more affordable £5, which drops to £1 anytime afterwards.

Kentish Town

Where: Gospel Oak Primary School

When: 11:00 am - 2 pm, every Sunday in February – December

Best for : Antique furniture, records, homeware

While you’ll still be able to find the odd piece of vintage Vivienne Westwood or Nike, Kentish Town ’s award-winning car boot is known for its wide selection of vinyl records and antique furniture and homewares. A two-minute walk from Gospel Oak station, the family-friendly sale has its own onsite cash point (charging 75p per transaction) which cuts out the often headache-inducing pre-car boot sale ATM hunt. With a later, more relaxed opening time, Kentish Town’s offering feels less frantic and hurried than the likes of Peckham and Stoke Newington, and it’s cheaper, too. Entry is only £1 and under 16s get in for free.

Battersea Boot

Where: Harris Academy

When : 1:30 pm - 5 pm, every Sunday all year round

Best for: Toys, toiletries, bric-a-brac

A weekend staple for many since 1999, Battersea Boot is more reminiscent of your traditional car boot sale, selling just about anything: toys, cheap toiletries, and occasionally, samples of high-end brands like Ganni and Acne Studios. Battersea is noticeably cheaper and more accessible than some of London’s other options – it’s rare to queue, attracts (mostly) locals and is open far later, avoiding the morning rush. Extra keen buyers can start shopping from 12pm for a hefty £7, or wait and pay £3 from 12:30 pm and £1 from 1:30 pm.

Denham

Where: Denham Court Drive, Main A40

When : 8am - 2pm, every Saturday from March

Best for : Furniture, appliances, organic produce

For what Denham Car Boot lacks in a central location it certainly makes up for in its size. Found next to an A40 roundabout and nicknamed Denham Giant Car Boot (it’s thought to be the biggest car boot sale in Greater London), you can peruse a myriad of furniture, kitchen appliances, bicycles, flowers, fruit and veg, toys and clothing here every Saturday from March onwards. Offering a free car park, cheap entry (£3 pre 10 am and £1 from noon onwards) and a bouncy castle to keep the kids entertained, there’s something here for everyone, so it’s no surprise that buyers travel from all over to visit.

Kilburn

Where : St Augustine’s School

When: 7:30 am - 2 pm, every Saturday all year round

Best for : Antiques, eclectic jewellery, fancy homeware

Another old timer on the car boot scene (it started in 1996), St Augustine’s attracts a mixed crowd of young Portobello Road browsers and older antique fanatics. Perfect for opulent knick-knacks, eclectic jewellery, second-hand sportswear and arty homeware, it resembles a flea market more than a car boot. £5 to enter between 7:30 and 10:30 am and £1 thereafter, after rummaging through its indoor and outdoor areas shoppers can enjoy a well-deserved coffee and homemade cake at the sale’s café.

Capital Car Boot

Where : Pimlico Academy

When: 10 am - 2:30 pm, every Sunday all year round

Best for : Designer clothing, antiques

A stone’s throw from Pimlico station, Capital Car Boot has earned a reputation for boujiness thanks to its affluent location. Expect the finest designer brands – Dior, Burberry and Prada – and an especially plentiful Jimmy Choo selection. Larger than most of its inner-city counterparts, a range of antiques, vintage books and antiques can also be found here. Capital Car Boot is so popular that eager buyers must purchase the £7 early bird entry online before visiting, and tickets are limited. On the day, walk-ins can expect to pay £7 between 10:15 and 11am, £5 between 11 and 11:30 am and £1 until 2 pm.

Crystal Palace Car Boot Sale

Where: Crystal Palace Coach Park

When : 7 am – 12 pm, Wednesdays and Sundays. Opens intermittently throughout the year – so best to check the website

Best for : Antiques, sporting equipment

Although it’s not as regular as some of the city’s other options, Crystal Palace Car Boot is one of the most varied. You name it, someone’s selling it: antiques? Check. Fishing rods and golf clubs? Check. Enough indoor and outdoor furniture to fit out an entire street? Check. With more space to play with, it doesn’t feel as stressful as Battersea or Dalston’s car boots and typically draws an older crowd. According to the website, so-called “VIPs” can pay £6 entry between 7 and 7:30 am, which reduces to £4, £2 and £1 as the morning goes on. But be aware that due to its focus on sustainability, there’s no on-site parking available to buyers.

Car boot tips for buyers

• Have a budget in mind: with so many deals around, it can be easy to splash more than you were initially anticipating. Take out a set amount of cash and stick to it.
• Know (roughly) what you’re looking for: of course, one of the beautiful things about car boot sales is that you can chance upon just about anything. Arriving with a rough idea of what you need can stop you from splurging on things that you don’t.
• Arrive early: although you might have to pay a higher entry fee, the saying ‘the early bird gets the worm’ is especially true at car boots — especially if you have a specific list of wants.
• But still stay until the end: as time wears on, sellers desperate to shift their belongings will always lower their prices — giving you more bang for your buck. If you see something you like but you’re unsure on the price, tell the seller you’ll come back. If it’s still there when you do, they’ll drop the price for you.
• Decide on a haggling style: while asking directly might get you an answer faster, appearing nonchalant (“I only have three pounds on me”, for example) in front of a seller might be a more convincing way of getting the price you want.
• Carry change: this is essential for any car boot, as many don’t give change at the entry gate. Plus, the more change you have, the lower you can haggle.
• Check an item before you buy it: stumbling on a real find is exciting, but don’t get caught up in the adrenaline and forget to check it for damage, wear or - if it’s a designer item — its authenticity.
• Go around a few times: car boot sales are not made for those in a rush. Give every stall a proper rummage (you’ll never know what you can find) and don’t limit yourself to one loop, as you’ll likely spot something different each time (sellers also often put out items throughout the day).

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