Where to Go Thrift Shopping in Leeds

Never let a bargain go to waste – Leeds is home to an array of charity shops where you can pick up a ton of vintage treasures at wonderful prices.

Pre-loved, second hand, vintage – call it what you like, but thrift shopping is the best way to get a bargain in Leeds. The city is awash with brilliant charity shops, whether you’re digging in the city or rummaging in the suburbs, so get ready to go digging, sifting and rooting to your heart’s content, as we’ve rounded up the very best for you to look around.

British Heart Foundation. With seven shops across Leeds, from the Merrion Centre to Crossgates, Headingley and Armley, British Heart Foundation is a surefire-hit on your next charity shopping spree in Leeds. You can find all the usual gems in their shops, from clothes and toys to books, records and homewares, but if you want old school furniture, pay a visit to their New Market Street home.

Cancer Research UK. There are five of them dotted around Leeds, but Cancer Research UK on Lands Lane is a little bit special. This shop’s contents have been specially curated from their donations to stock the finest quality clothes, furniture and ornaments – the prices are slightly higher here, but so are the finds and the brand names you’ll end up taking home with you.

OXFAM. There’s a quartet of OXFAM charity shops in Morley, Moortown, Headingley and Yeadon, each one jam-packed with pre-loved goodies for you to root through. Records, CDs and entertainment are a particular forte of the Headingley shop, but you can always guarantee a few good finds regardless of which one you visit across clothing, homewares and accessories.

OXFAM Books. OXFAM also has a speciality charity bookshop in Headingley and people come from far and wide to rummage through the shelves. All their new arrivals are stocked on one shelf so you can beat the hoards to the latest donations, but if you wander from the fiction racks through to the music, sport, history, language and reference areas, you’ll find your next must-read in a jiffy.

Sue Ryder Vintage & Retro. If you’re looking to dig through one of the best collections of vintage clothes in Leeds, make a beeline for Sue Ryder’s charity shop. There are seven in Leeds, each one a wonderland of old-school finds, from suits and dresses to coats, shirts and accessories. But that’s not all – you’ll find a massive selection of second-hand records to flick through and all kinds of trinkets.

The Feel Good Furniture Shop. If you’re looking to rejuvenate your home with finds that are old and new at the same time, The Feel Good Furniture Shop is a must-visit. There’s one in Armley and another in Hunslet, but both have gems to uncover. From bureaus and chests of drawers to wardrobes, beds and sofas, they have the lot, as well as an excellent electrical appliances section.

St Luke’s Cares. The Dewsbury Road warehouse of St Luke’s Cares is one of the best places for thrift shopping in Leeds. Manned by local volunteers, you can furnish your home quickly, cheaply and with quality pieces. It specialises in low-cost furniture, electrical and white goods, but if they don’t have what you’re looking for one day, check in the next because they get deliveries daily.

St Vincent de Paul Society. With eight shops across Leeds, St Vincent de Paul is a must-visit for thrift shopping on the cheap. All proceeds go to helping disadvantaged communities across the city and their stores are always jam-packed with bargains. Clothes are their strong suit with new stock out daily, alongside toys, books and bric-a-brac with a small selection of furniture too.

St George’s Crypt Furniture & General Store. Helping the homeless across Leeds, shopping at St George’s Crypt is a way to give back to the local community while finding gems for your home and wardrobe. Their Armley and Pudsey charity shops stock loads of vintage furniture and electrical goods, while their smaller Roundhay shop is a find for clothes, toys and collectables.

St Gemma’s Hospice. There’s not one, not two, but 24 charity shops run by St Gemma’s Hospice across Leeds. From Alwoodley to Yeadon, Beeston to the Merrion Centre, you can have a rummage around their well-stocked stores for all kinds of bargain finds. Clothing is constantly refreshed, but you’ll never struggle to pick up anything from books to CDs, toys to kitchenware.

St Gemma’s Hospice Furniture Shop. One St Gemma’s Hospice shop is a little different to the others – in Chapel Allerton, they have one dedicated to larger furniture items making it a must for price-savvy thrift shopping in Leeds. Sofas, wardrobes, desks, dining tables, beds, you name it, they get it. They also run a furniture collection service if you have something you want to donate too.

Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice. Found near their palliative care centre in Meanwood, this charity shop funnels proceeds directly to helping the people who need it most. It’s a huge store which allows them to take all kinds of bulky furniture and electrical goods – if you need fridges or cookers, wardrobes or sofas, this is the one to visit. It’s great for clothes, bric-a-brac and toys too.

Mind. Headingley or Moortown or Garforth, there’s a Mind shop ready and waiting for you. The mental wealth and wellbeing charity provide the perfect places to go thrift shopping across Leeds – all items are donated then cleaned and organised by their volunteers. There are second-hand clothes, old records, pre-loved toys, vintage crockery and more to be found – get stuck in!

Emmaus. Just on the edge of Leeds city centre near Mabgate, you’ll find a thrift shopping wonderland. Everything within Emmaus’ mega warehouse goes to helping their community of formerly homeless people and the quality of their daily donations is high. They have a huge collection of furniture alongside racks-upon-racks of clothes, records, books and bric-a-brac – get rummaging!

Barnardo’s. Helping vulnerable children since 1866, Barnardo’s are one of the best known charity shops in Leeds. There are five stores across the city, from Meanwood to Morley, and each one has an abundance of pre-loved gems for you to dig through. There are clothes and toys for the little ones in abundance, alongside adults’ clothing, homeware, books, accessories and more.

Samaritans. Helping prevent suicide and emotional distress, the Samaritans’ work is boosted by the donations given to their shops, one of which you’ll find in Headingley. It’s a pandora’s box of pre-loved goodies, with racks and shelves full of clothes for both adults and children. You’ll also find plenty of perfect gifts with toys and games aplenty for little ones, books and CDs for grown-ups.

Revive Leeds. Promoting reuse and sustainability across Leeds, Revive take direct donations and good condition items people drop off at local recycling centres to sell at their well-stocked Kirkstall and Seacroft shops. There’s all kinds of treasure for sale from shelves of books to racks of records, rails of clothing and tables full of games, collectables and toys.

Martin House Children’s Hospice. As a children’s charity, you can be sure that the Martin House shops in Garforth and Yeadon are great for finding gems for the little ones, with proceeds going to help families in need. From clothes to toys, you’ll find the lot as well as plenty of garbs for adults and a great record offering. Need furniture? They have a specialist charity shop in Wetherby.

Leeds Hospitals Charity. You’ll find tons of pre-loved goodies at the shops of Leeds Hospitals Charity. There are three to choose from – one at St James’ Hospital, one in the Merrion Centre and another in Crossgates Shopping Centre. There’s an impressive selection of thrift shop bits and bobs on offer, including clothes and shoes for all ages and sizes, plus homeware, children’s toys and books aplenty.

Salvation Army. The Salvation Army, Sally Ann to some, has one charity shop in Leeds – and it’s a real gem on Meanwood Road, chockablock with donations. The tables are stacked with books and knick-knacks, but there’s even more on the shelves around this sizeable shop. The walls are covered with everything from mirrors to frames, and you’ll even find the odd bike or piece of furniture, alongside plenty of clothing.

RSPCA. The RSPCA shops in Morley, Rothwell and Roundhay each support Leeds’ local rehoming centres. The rails are packed with clothes vintage and new, while the shelves promise plenty of unique gems, whether you’re after a clock for your wall, a mug for your tea or a pair of boots for your feet. Fancy thrifting a new board game or lampshade? These charity shops have well and truly got it all.

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