Stretch your student budget: The best second-hand markets in the UK

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Numerous hidden antique and vintage finds make their way to second-hand markets and car boot sales across the UK. As second-hand shopping gains momentum, opting for a vintage treasure is becoming increasingly common, with 69% of Gen Z and 67% of Millennials having made second-hand purchases in the last year.* 

  • Hackney Flea Market in London has been crowned the best second-hand market in the UK 
  • The best second-hand market in the South West has been revealed as Bath's Saturday Antique and Flea Market 
  • Lewes Flea Market emerged as the top choice to find second-hand jewellery 

    • In response to the surge in thrift shopping, South Western Railway has revealed the top 10 second-hand markets in the UK and the South West. The research analysed the best flea markets and car boot sales across the UK and scored each one out of 100. The scores were determined by assessing the sentiment expressed in reviews for each spot. 

    Find the results here: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/where-next/things-to-do/best-second-hand-markets-in-london-and-south-west 

    The top 10 second-hand markets in the UK 

     

    Rank

    Name

    Location

    Shopping sentiment

    1

    Hackney Flea Market

    London

    99

    2

    Lewes Flea Market

    Lewes

    98

    3

    Bath Saturday Antique and Flea Market

    Bath

    96

    4

    Department

    Brighton

    95

    5

    Haynes Lane Market

    London

    94

    6

    Pevensey Bay Boot Sale

    Eastbourne

    93

    7

    Great Amwell Car Boot Sale

    Great Amwell

    92

    8

    The Kelham Flea House Clearance

    Sheffield

    90

    9

    Wood Street Indoor Market

    London

    89

    10

    Cardiff Indoor Flea Market

    Cardiff

    88
     

    Hackney Flea Market, London 

    Topping the charts is London's Hackney Flea Market, offering a rich assortment ranging from vintage fashion, retro furniture, and antiques to classic vinyl records. With 30 carefully curated stalls featuring handpicked vintage traders, the market promises diversity and quality, boasting a shopping sentiment of 99. Through analysis of Google reviews, Hackney Flea Market also emerges as the top choice for books, clothes and furniture. Located at Hackney Bridge, it welcomes visitors every Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00.

    Lewes Flea Market, Lewes 

    Lewes boasts its own esteemed flea market, ranking as the second-best in the UK with a remarkable shopping sentiment score of 98. Spanning two floors, the market showcases a delightful array of diverse and intricate trinkets, from pottery to garden furniture, visitors can expect to pick up an exciting treasure. If you have a taste for the sparkly stuff, the research reveals Lewes Flea Market is the top choice for perusing pre-loved jewellery. Open all week, the market welcomes shoppers from 10:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and 10:30 to 17:00 on weekends and bank holidays.

    Bath Saturday Antique and Flea Market, Bath

    Concluding the top three markets in the UK is Bath's Saturday Antique and Flea Market, with an impressive shopping sentiment score of 96. The Flea Market has been a fixture on Walcot Street for over four decades, drawing in both visitors and locals every Saturday. Here, thrifters can explore stalls brimming with vintage records, jewellery, second-hand tools, and a diverse assortment of bric-a-brac. The market extends a warm welcome to visitors from 8:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays. 

    The top 10 second-hand markets in the South West 

     

    Rank

    Name

    Location

    Shopping sentiment

    1

    Bath Saturday Antique and Flea Market

    Bath

    96

    2

    Department

    Brighton

    95

    3

    Haynes Lane Market

    London

    94

    4

    Shepperton Car Boot Sale

    London

    87

    5

    Brighton Flea Market

    Brighton

    85

    6

    Crystal Palace Car Boot Sale

    London

    83

    7

    Flea London Vintage & Makers Market

    London

    81

    8

    Easter Compton Car Boot Sale

    Easter Compton

    79

    9

    Brighton Marina Giant Boot Fair

    Brighton

    74

    10

    Chiswick Car Boot Sale

    London

    71
     

    Bath Saturday Antique and Flea Market, Bath 

    Once more, Bath's Saturday Antique and Flea Market features in the research, emerging as the top choice in the South West. 

    Department, Brighton 

    Brighton's Department Flea Market rises as the runner-up among the top second-hand markets in the South West, after achieving a modest 95 shopping sentiment score. Spread across two floors, the market caters to all tastes with its diverse array of offerings. Fresh vintage and antique items arrive daily, ranging from retro vinyl records to art, books, and beyond. The emporium extends a warm invitation to visitors from 10:00 to 17:00 every Monday to Saturday, and from 11:00 to 16:00 on Sundays.

    Haynes Lane Market, London 

    Rounding off the top three markets is South London's Haynes Lane Market, after earning an overall shopping sentiment score of 94. Visitors can pick up a vintage collectable from the market 11:00 to 17:00 Thursday to Sundays. Conveniently situated next to the Crystal Palace Food Market, it offers a delightful combination of shopping and refreshment options, with the food market operating every Saturday.