Car boot sales first came around in the 1970s and ever since they have become a staple in British culture. An event, usually on a weekend, when people come together to sell or shop second-hand and vintage items.
You can expect to find all sorts of items such as clothing, books, CDs, and ornaments, and that’s just to name a few.
The top ten car boots to be found in London are:
- Battersea
- St Augustine’s Indoor and Outdoor Car Boot, Kilburn
- Capital Car Boot, Pimlico Academy
- Princess May School, Stoke Newington
- Denham, Uxbridge
- Chiswick
- Sutton, St Hellier
- Wimbledon
- Tottenham
- Pick’s Cottage
Contents
- 0.1 1. Battersea
- 0.2 2. St Augustine’s Indoor and Outdoor Car Boot, Kilburn
- 0.3 3. Capital Car Boot, Pimlico Academy
- 0.4 4. Princess May School, Stoke Newington
- 0.5 5. Denham Giant Car Boot Sale, Uxbridge
- 0.6 6. Chiswick Car Boot Sale
- 0.7 7. Sutton Car Boot Sale, St Hellier
- 0.8 8. Wimbledon Car Boot Sale
- 0.9 9. Tottenham Car Boot Sale
- 0.10 10. Pick’s Cottage Car Boot Sale, Chingford
- 1 Conclusion
1. Battersea
Entrance Via, 401 Battersea Park Rd, Dagnall St, London, SW11 5AP
07941 383588
Known as the original car boot sale in London. Battersea car boot first started out in 1999 and has been a hit with the public ever since.
As you weave in and out of the stalls and vehicles expect to find designer goods, vintage items, antiques, and shabby chic bits for your home.
One of the main perks of Battersea’s car boot sale is that they don’t have the same sellers every week. This means that no matter how many times you go back, there will always be something new for you to find and different sellers to explore.
If you’re looking to make an afternoon of it, you may find that the shopping becomes hungry work. You can find an assortment of burger vans, cake stalls and hot and cold drinks available. There are also facilities such as toilets and a car park on-site.
Battersea car boot sale is open every Sunday from 1.30 pm to 5 pm with an entry fee of £1. Please note that this car boot sale is cash only, so make sure to bring enough with you for the afternoon.
If you’re looking to come by public transport, the nearest train station is Battersea Park Station and the nearest underground station is Vauxhall on the Victoria line.
2. St Augustine’s Indoor and Outdoor Car Boot, Kilburn
Kilburn Park Road, North Maida Vale, London, NW6 5XA
07956 312131
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPVk611HPrj/
Both an indoor and outdoor market, St Augustine’s has now been successfully running for twenty-five years. Every Saturday, you can expect to find second-hand items for sale such as clothing, general bric-a-brac, and household items like unique ornaments and vases.
The car boot has two allotted times for its shoppers. You can arrive early at 7 am and shop until 10.30 am, or if you fancy a lie-in, you can arrive at 10.30 am and shop until 2 pm.
If you feel like a break after your exploring, why not head to St Augustine’s indoor café for a spot of breakfast or lunch?
With a variety of homemade cakes and sandwiches, they’ll be sure to fill your belly and keep you going for the rest of the day.
You’ll find this car boot at St Augustine’s school with the nearest tube station being Kilburn Park.
3. Capital Car Boot, Pimlico Academy
Pimlico Academy, Lupus St, Pimlico, London, SW1V 3AT
0845 094 3871
Capital Car boot is another indoor and outdoor car boot, making it perfect to shop rain or shine. Capital Car Boot has even been featured on ‘TimeOut London’ and even ITV’s ‘Martin Lewis Money Show’.
It has all the typical items you can expect to purchase from a car boot such as clothing, CDs, DVDs, jewellery and sometimes even furniture.
Entry into the car boot sale starts at 10 am (if you booked online) and from 10.15 am for the rest of the public.
The car boot is open until 2.30 pm, still giving you plenty of time for the rest of the day, especially if you feel like exploring the sights of London.
Entry starts at £7 for 10.15 and then goes down to £1 from 11.30 am. The car boot is cash only and make sure to have the right change for your entry, as Capital Car Boot has stopped giving out change.
If you’re arriving by public transport, the nearest underground stop is Pimlico.
4. Princess May School, Stoke Newington
Princess May School, Stoke Newington, London, N16 8DF
07956 312131
Princess May School’s car boot sale is open every Saturday and Sunday from 7.30 am to 2 pm. This car boot sale has everything to offer from retro furniture, vintage clothes, magazines and homely trinkets.
There are plenty of cafés surrounding Princess May School if you fancy a bite to eat after having a browse around the stalls. You’ll find a wide variety of places to eat on Stoke Newington Road.
Prices start at £5 if you’re thinking of arriving at 7.30 am for Princess May and go down to £1 from 9 am for the entrance fee. You can arrive at Princess May School’s car boot by taking the Overground to Dalston.
5. Denham Giant Car Boot Sale, Uxbridge
Denham Ct Dr, Denham, Uxbridge, UB9 5PG
07947 121336
You’ll find Denham Giant Car Boot Sale a little further out of London than other car boots, with the location being closer to the likes of West Drayton and London Heathrow Airport. However, it is still well worth the visit.
Described as being one of the busiest car boots in London, Denham car boot attracts buyers and sellers from all over the country.
Not only will you find hundreds of stalls from sellers, but also food and drink services, port-a-loos, children’s rides and a large car park if you’re making your way to the car boot via car.
Denham’s car boot is open every Saturday and is open from 8 am to 2.30 pm. Prices are also a little lower than the city centre car boots with entry fees starting from £3 before 10 am and going down to £1 from noon. Kids under twelve can also enter for free and parking is also free.
If you’re making your way over by public transport, then the nearest train station is Denham and the nearest Underground is Uxbridge.
6. Chiswick Car Boot Sale
Staveley Road, Chiswick, London, W4 3UN
A charitable car boot sale, Chiswick Car Boot has been running as a way to raise money for Chiswick School Parent Teachers Association. It is staffed by parents that have volunteered and all money raised goes straight to the school.
The car boot takes place on the first Sunday of every month, with the next one being on the 5th of June ’22. The car boot is opening earlier than others in London and you can start exploring everything Chiswick has to offer from as early as 6.30 am.
It also doesn’t close until 12.30 pm. Entrance fees are only £1 per person, regardless of the time you arrive and children under twelve can go free.
It is best to bear in mind that Chiswick Car Boot is an open air event and there is no cover available from the elements, so if there are a few grey clouds in the sky it’s best to take an umbrella, just to be on the safe side.
Food and drink services are available at the car boot, as well as port-a-loos and a car park.
Parking is, however, limited and Chiswick does ask their visitors to try their best to arrive by public transport. The nearest station is Chiswick and also there’s the option of the E3 or 190 buses.
7. Sutton Car Boot Sale, St Hellier
St Hellier Open Space Wrythe Lane, Opposite St Hellier Hospital, Sutton, Carshalton, SM5 1AA
07774 440774
Sutton Car Boot Sale reopens its doors for 2022 from the 4th of May. Expect to find a variety of trinkets to purchase such as vintage clothing, antiques, books, CDs and retro items.
Sutton’s car boot is also dog friendly. If you want to take your furry friend out to stretch their legs, just remember to keep them on their leash.
The car boot is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 6 am to 12 pm, making it one of the only car boots open on a weekday. Perfect for it you already have special weekend plans or have to work.
Entry fees onto the site start at £2 if you’re arriving from 6 am to 8 am and after this, they go down to £1. Children under twelve go free and if you’re arriving by car then parking only costs £2 before 9 am and £1 after.
8. Wimbledon Car Boot Sale
Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane, London, SW17 0BL
07785 706 506
Wimbledon Car Boot Sale is perfect if you’re in a thrifty mood, with over two thousand stores, you’ll be sure to find something that catches your eye.
Located in Wimbledon Stadium, you can rummage through stalls and expect to find items such as vintage clothing and jewellery, crockery and silverware.
Wimbledon is open every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Being open three days a week makes it one of the more convenient car boots, especially if you work full time or have a hectic schedule while visiting London.
You can get early bird entry if you arrive from 7 am to scoop up all of the hidden treasures before the rest of Wimbledon’s buyers come along.
Close to the city centre, Wimbledon Car Boot Sale is easily accessible by the London Underground, with the nearest stop being Wimbledon Park, or you can easily arrive via bus or taxi. Entry starts at £2 from 7 am and goes down to just 50p after the first hour.
9. Tottenham Car Boot Sale
701-703 High Rd, London, N17 8AD
01992 468619
Located in Tottenham’s community sports centre, this car boot has been running every Thursday since 1995. It’s an outside car boot but you can make sure it’ll always be open come rain or shine.
Tottenham Car Boot is only open on Thursdays and is one of the only car boots to be open on this day.
So, if you haven’t got any plans for a Thursday morning, or fancy a spot of shopping before you head out to catch London’s sights then it’s definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re a bargain hunter!
At the market expect to find your car boot staples such as clothing, housewares, books and CDs.
The market is open from 6 am to 1 pm. The nearest station is Northumberland park and if you’re arriving via the Underground then your closest stop will be Seven Sisters.
10. Pick’s Cottage Car Boot Sale, Chingford
Sewardstone Rd, Waltham Abbey, London, E4 7RA
020 8529 3922
Shop with a view at Pick’s cottage. This car boot overlooks the Lea Valley reservoir and out towards London.
The car boot has successfully been running for the past thirty-five years and is open every Sunday during the months of April through to October.
They have two fields to cater to all of your car boot needs including stalls of second-hand clothes and trinkets, as well as toilets and food and beverage places on site.
Pick’s Cottage is open from 6 am to 1 pm, with early bird entry starting from £3 and is then free from 9 am onwards
If you’re arriving at Pick’s Cottage via public transport you can catch the 215 bus to Lea Valley Campsite, otherwise, parking is available once you arrive.
Conclusion
Car booting is a great way to be environmentally friendly, with reusing one of the best ways to keep waste down. You won’t be short of finding a car boot sale to roam around in London.
The city has plenty to offer whether you want to visit one in the centre or make a day of it and head out from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Either way, you’ll be sure to find a few gems along the way. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s gold.
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