I write a lot about the best charity shops in London here, and lately, I’ve told you about a few good areas for charity shops in London that I’ve personally lived in at one point or another.
One area I pass by a lot is Kentish Town, and it just made sense that I’d write about the best charity shops in Kentish Town sooner or later.
If you’re looking for really good charity shops in Camden, Kentish Town Road has a concentration of charities that is unreal.
Actually, there are exactly eight charity shops in Kentish Town.
They’re some of the most famous charities in the UK, like Oxfam, the British Heart Foundation, Age UK, Mind,…
And Kentish Town Road seems to be one of the coolest, most hippy and colorful places in London; thus giving way to some of the best charity shops in London – with secondhand items at a very affordable price.
I write a lot about the best charity shops in London, because I’ve lived a big part of my life in London on a budget.
Plus, there’s something extra-cool about the experience of going charity shopping in London.
8 Best Charity Shops in Kentish Town – Charity Shops Camden
What are the best things to buy in London charity shops?
If you’re asking me this, then it’s probably one of your first times visiting the best charity shops in London.
We all start somewhere, but if I had to answer precisely, I’d say: clothes, accessories, books, and homeware.
Whether you’re visiting charity shops in Kentish Town, North London, or Bethnal Green, you’re sensibly going to find the same type of clothes and objects.
However, depending on the area in London you’re going charity shopping, you will find some secondhand designer clothes in some areas like Chelsea that you wouldn’t near Brick Lane in East London.
Since charity shops in London survive on donations, the area you’re visiting means that people from this area are most likely to donate unworn and unwanted clothes.
In the charity shops in Kentish Town, I have noticed that the secondhand clothes and books are quite good condition.
The vibe is more ‘hippy’, trendy, and colorful.
However, for secondhand designer clothes and shoes, that is not the first area for charity shops in London I would personally visit.
Best Charity Shops in Kentish Town: Amnesty Bookshop
The Amnesty Bookshop is one of the best charity shops in Kentish Town if you’re looking to browse long racks of used books.
This is the charity shop most closely located to Kentish Town Road station, and the Amnesty Bookshop is a charity that supports human rights.
If you’re after secondhand bookshops in London, the Amnesty Bookshop is a very clean charity shop that hosts everything from fiction to literary classics, politics, history, social sciences, and even rare books.
Worth visiting if you’re on a spree for the best charity shops in Camden borough.
Read: The Best Charity Shops in Bethnal Green
Charity Shops Camden: Octavia Foundation
The Octavia Foundation, part of the Blustons shop, is one of the most surprisingly set charity shops in Kentish Town.
If you’re a lover of fashion history, you will love that the Octavia Foundation charity shop in Camden is located in the ‘iconic former Blustons ladieswear shop’, a grade II listed building.
This is a very famous fashion shop in London, which is why you’ll find sensibly interesting secondhand models at the Octavia Foundation.
The focus is put on female clothing, and you will find some classic clothes there, as well as exquisite secondhand dresses that you wouldn’t find in any other charity shop in London.
Now, if you’re looking for charity shops open on Sunday in London, the Octavia Foundation is one of the charity shops in Kentish Town that is open on Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm, and every other day from 10 to 6.
Perfect hours for whoever is after interesting charity shops in Camden.
Read: The Best Charity Shops in Muswell Hill
Best Charity Shops in Kentish Town: Oxfam
I love Oxfam shops – always have, always will. I have recently written a full guide to the best Oxfam shops in London.
Although there is no Oxfam in the charity shops in North Finchley, where I currently live, there are two on Kentish Town Road.
Plus, if you’re looking for charity shops in Camden Town, there’s another one on Camden High Street that is worth taking a glance at.
The Oxfam shop is one of the charity shops in Kentish Town that is most colorful and eclectic.
All Oxfam shops have the same interesting, lively vibe; a dreamer’s den if you’re deep into fashion.
Some of the best things to buy in London’s Oxfam shops are the clothes, usually among the cheapest secondhand clothes in London, the books, and the jewelry (for some reason, Oxfam always has a good offer of jewelry available).
Read: The Best Charity Shops in North Finchley
Charity Shops Camden: Oxfam Book & Music Shop
For years, I’ve been chasing the best secondhand bookshops in London, and the Oxfam bookshops sit among the most famous charity bookshops.
The Oxfam Book and Music shop is another one of the charity shops in Kentish Town that focuses mainly on books, music, and a few other bits like the Amnesty Bookshop.
I remember the first time I ever visited London in 2014 – the first charity shop I came across was the Oxfam bookshop on Bloomsbury Street, near Soho and Tottenham Court Road.
Definitely another one of the best Oxfam shops in London, and the branch on Kentish Town Road is also perfect for any type of topic.
It’s a decently sized charity shop, and you’ll find there a great range of fiction and non-fiction used books, along with vinyl, CDs, and DVDs.
If you’re ever looking for another Oxfam charity bookshop not too far, there is one Oxfam bookshop in Muswell Hill in North London as well which is even bigger.
Read: The Best Hidden Gems in London
Best Charity Shops in Kentish Town: British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation slowly is becoming one of the very best charity shops in London in my opinion.
The shops are usually very clean, and large, and you can always find some amazing bits and bobs from secondhand clothes to homeware and a really good selection of secondhand books.
The British Heart Foundation is one of the biggest and best charity shops in Kentish Town, and you’re bound to find there something to suit your taste.
They have an immense selection of shoes for men and women, racks full of amazing clothes, books, kidswear, and lots of other bits that are worth you passing by, honestly.
Defo one of the very best charity shops in Camden, especially due to its size and cleanliness.
Read: The Most Secret Places in London
Best Charity Shops in Camden: Age UK
Age UK is one of the charity shops in Kentish Town that is very well-organized, and clean, but still has this charity shop vibe more than the aforementioned British Heart Foundation.
There’s really lots to shop there, with a good focus on accessories and secondhand clothes, as well as some really cheap used books.
If you’re looking for charity shops in London open on Sunday, Age UK on Kentish Town Road is open every day of the week.
However, be aware that often, the charity shop closes a bit earlier than shown on the shop.
A handful of times, I’ve passed by for my usual round of charity shops on Kentish Town Road to find Age UK already closed.
Read: The Best Free Rooftops in London
Best Charity Shops in Kentish Town: PDSA
The PDSA really is one of the charity shops in London I am not too acquainted with, but it is one of the charity shops in Kentish Town that offers some of the best secondhand clothes.
The PDSA focuses on raising funds to provide a better life for animals; provide them with proper care, medicine, and housing.
If you’re ever after secondhand designer clothes in London, then the PDSA is the Kentish Town charity most likely to have something for you.
There’s a huge range of clothes, as well as really beautiful accessories, and all in all, you’re bound to find something at the PDSA charity shop.
Even if it takes some time, which it sometimes does – after all, that’s the fun of visiting charity shops in London, isn’t it?
Read: The Most Beautiful Bookshops in London
Best Charity Shops in Camden: Mind
Usually, Mind charity shops are some of my favorite charity shops in London.
The Kentish Town shop is probably one of the most underrated charity shops in Kentish Town, and you’ll find there an endless number of secondhand clothes in really good condition.
To be honest, I prefer the Mind charity shop in Muswell Hill, since this one has more secondhand designer clothes at an affordable price.
However, if you’re just after some new cool preloved clothes, and don’t really care about the brand, you’ll find some really cool things at Mind Kentish Town.
It is definitely one of the charity shops in Camden to visit, even if you’re just browsing the area’s charities and not even planning to buy anything specific.
Read: The Best Things to Do in Camden Town
8 Best Charity Shops in Kentish Town – Charity Shops Camden
There you have them, all the best charity shops in Kentish Town.
Most of these charity shops in Camden are located on just one street, Kentish Town Road, which makes it absolutely easy and enjoyable to go charity shopping.
And, since most of these charity shops are open on Sundays, you can pay them a visit after a full week of being productive at work to relax.
Later on, I will write about the best charity shops in Camden Town, the best charity shops in Notting Hill, and the best charity shops in Chelsea – all three of these guides are currently in the works, so bear with me!