Bristol is among the best places in the UK for vintage clothing
(Image: James Beck/BristolLive)
Bristol is one of the best places in the UK to go vintage shopping because of the shops dotted around.
The city has a long history of vintage and charity shopping, and Gloucester Road is at the heart of it. It is the longest road of independent shops in the UK.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of our favourite vintage shops around Bristol to help you on your next thrift trip:
RePsycho
Where: 85 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AS
RePsycho is an independent vintage clothing, homeware and vinyl retailer. As one of the oldest vintage stores in the area, stock includes clothing from decades gone by, as well as new garments and homewares and new additions are added almost every day.
They also sell stock online now.
Opening times are 10am-5:30pm every day.
Uncle Sam’s Vintage
Where: 54A Park St, Bristol BS1 5JN
Uncle Sam’s Vintage sells a vast array of ‘Americana’ clothing items, as well as records(Image: Kate Territo)
Uncle Sam’s is a vintage clothing store, with décor to match the clothing. The store has a range of US attire – from Western shirts, varsity jackets, biker jackets, pattern shirts, Hawaiian shirts, denim belts, bandanas, footwear and more.
After 40 years, it announced it would be closing down earlier this month.
Opening times are 12pm – 6pm, Monday to Friday, 11am – 6pm on Saturday and 12pm – 5pm on Sunday.
Cow X Thrift
Where: 37 Park Street, Bristol, United Kingdom BS15NH
Cow X Thrift on Bristol’s Park Street is full of unique handpicked vintage and reworked items, with hundreds of new items added each day. The store used to be called The Vintage Thrift Store but since collaborating with Cow, they have updated their name.
Opening times are 10:45am – 6pm, Monday to Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday.
Beyond Retro
Where: 20 Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3HA
Beyond Retro in Broadmead(Image: Jon Kent)
Beyond Retro is situated in the heart of Broadmead and is packed with some 10,000 one-off wonders – from street-style staples to retro rarities. The store also offers the Beyond Retro Exchange programme, which allows customers to exchange their old pre-loved pieces to help solve the problem of fashion waste.
They even have an online store, too.
Rhubarb Jumble
Where: 56 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8BH
Rhubarb Jumble is a recent addition to Gloucester Road and specialises in 1950s-1970s clothing and homeware. The shop moved from South Bristol to the city centre in 2024, where they expanded their shop.
They offer a large selection of clothes and try to keep size inclusive items in stock.
Opening times are 10am-5pm, Monday to Saturday and 11am-4pm on Sunday.
Sparks Bristol
Where: 78 Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3DS
(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
Sparks is a department store with everything from second hand fashion to food and event spaces. Inside you can find different second-hand brands like the Sloth Shop, Campervan Vintage, Flaming Moth and many more.
Opening times are 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday.
Cancer research superstore
Where: Unit 2B, Brislington Retail Park, Brislington, Bristol BS4 5NG
The Cancer Research superstore in Brislington is a huge charity shop that sells clothes, furniture, electrical items and gifts. It is on the outskirts of Bristol but has a huge selection of things to chose from.
Opening times are 9:30am-6:30pm, Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday.
Urban Fox
Where: St Nicholas Market, 58 Corn St, Bristol BS1 2AZ
Urban Fox
Urban Fox sells a range of quality vintage and retro clothing and accessories, in the heart of one of the oldest parts of the city.
Specialising in 80s and 90s vintage, there are still a variety of decades to choose from. The shop itself is situated in a Grade II listed building, opposite the registry office and opening times are 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday and 12pm to 4pm on Sundays.
Flamingos Vintage
Where: 33 Wine St, Bristol BS1 2BQ
Flamingos Vintage offer a range of retro clothing, with a pay by weight system. Flamingos have stores in Exeter, Cardiff, Swansea and Reading too.
Opening times are 10am-6pm Monday to Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday.
Shelter
Where: The Promenade, Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AL and 12 Regent St, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4HG
Shelter have two different charity shops in Bristol, one in Clifton and the other on Gloucester Road. This store is a classic charity shop but there are some great clothing, homeware and more at the shop.
Opening times are 9:30am-5:30pm, Monday to Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday.