The UK's Best Vintage Clothes Shops

Bath

The Guildhall Market - Best for Craft

The people you see in the Guildhall market are a funny lot. Yummy mums on the lookout for cool kitchen things; pasty students seeking out 70s night outfits; tourists cooing over Jane Austen tea towels. It's a magical place where you can get everything from haircuts to fake pearls, from beads and material to old fashioned sweets. (The Guildhall Market, Northumberland Place, Bath BA1 5AW, 01225 477 000)

Brighton

Snoopers' Paradise - Best for Freaky Finds

A maze of kitsch stalls stocking oddities like Kinder Egg toys, comics, sailor hats, shabby chic antiques, LPs, faded photos and pawn shop jewellery. The exterior is grotty but go inside and you'll soon be beguiled. Looking for a gold-framed mirror? Or a mismatched 50s tea set? Maybe a handful of retro jewellery at good-time prices. Warning: do not go on a Saturday, particularly if you're a) hungover b) claustrophobic or c) afraid of dead people's stuff. But if you can handle the crowds and cold sweats, you'll be rewarded with some real beauties.(Snoopers’ Paradise 7-8 Kensington Gardens, Brighton, BN1 4AL, 01273 602 558)

Dublin

Epoch Boutique - Best for Bags

So it's not quite thrift but oh my is this online shop lovely. They describe themselves as 'Dublin's first recycled fashion and independent design boutique'. Their attitude that 'fashion should last a lifetime' makes a real change from the buy-it-now-and-watch-it-disintegrate mentality of the high street. They stock beautiful shoes (about 25 Euros) and some gorgeous leather satchel handbags (65 Euros) à la Alexa Chung. You can also pick up a "Kodak Brownie" if you dare. (Epoch Boutique)

Edinburgh

Shelter - Best for Posh Guff

A charity shop in a posh area equals classy clobber, and this Shelter certainly shifts a good amount. There are talks of this place being so heaving that there's very little left if you're not quick. Definitely one for the early/posh birds, you'll need to queue in advance to get hold of the best finds, else face a bit of a scrap heap. (Shelter, 106 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, EH4 1HH, 0131 315 022)

Leeds

Community Shop - Best for Jolie-Laide

A prince among thieves, this is a real gem. Admittedly, it's off the beaten track but its worth it. The unintentionally kitsch window display reveals chintzy tea sets, 70s crockery and coloured glass vases. Inside this tardis there's plenty more to feast your greedy eyes on and all at proper charity shop prices. (Community Shop 14-16 Green Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS6 4JP, 01132 753 533)

Liverpool

Quiggins - Best for Style

Quiggins is the Liquorice Allsorts of thrift - there's a bit of everything, but some are a bit ming. It's similar to Manchester's Affleck's Palace in that it houses lots of independent retailers - some cheap, some not but you'll always find something good. A mecca for arty and musicy types with whom it has a huge following. (Quiggins 352 Aigburth Road, Liverpool, L17 0BL, 0151 727 3925)

London

The East End Thrift Store - Best for Crazy Sh*t

Set over two floors of a warehouse down a back alley in Stepney Green, TEETS is a lot of fun. Think 'thrift' not 'vintage' which means you get all the groovy gear of yesteryear at respectable prices. Most of the stock is around the £7-£20 mark, but if you splash out £30 you could get the one-of-a-kind Barbara Cartland-esque red evening dress to trip the light fantastic. Best buy? A green Jackie O-style halterneck dress for £20. (The East End Thrift Store Unit 1a Watermans Building Assembly Passage, E1 4UT, 020 7423 9700)

Manchester

Oxfam Originals - Best for Quality Stuff Without the Rooting Around

There are loads of amazing shops in Manc, particularly round the Northern Quarter, but this one is a treat. More vintage than thrift, Oxfam Originals is a brilliant place to pick up quality pieces. You'll know you're there because there'll be some trendsetter kid on the counter, a phat record playing and some pretty frocks on the rails. The bonus here is you don't have to rifle through tat. The minus is you pay for the luxury. But it's worth it. They have great scarves, handbags, jewellery and other nice bits (for blokes too), all guaranteed to set you apart from the Market Street hordes.(Oxfam Originals Unit 8, Smithfield Buildings, 51 Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JR, 0161 839 3160)

Newcastle upon Tyne

Thrifty Beatnik - Best for Men

The shop owner is described as "neither a fat Mick Jagger wannabe or a slutty attempt at a 50’s american housewife". With that nugget of insight in mind, said shop owner stocks some pretty impressive stuff. Don't go looking for the shop – it's now an e-tailer supplying the BBC Props and Costumes department and Latitude Festival, no less. And if it's good enough for them... (Thrifty Beatnik)

Swansea

Hobo's - Best for Mini-Prices

A real local secret - if you love thrift you'll love Hobo's. They sell things like chairs, pillow cases, lamps, blouses, jumpers, leather jackets and even fisheye cameras. Prices are dirt, from £5 jumpers, £10 dresses and £30 leather jackets. The shop, like the prices, is small but packed full of rails of fab stuff. Friendly staff too - always a bonus. (Hobo's
214 Oxford Street, Swansea, West Glamorgan SA1 3BG, 01792 654 586)

York

Deep - Best for Girlie Dresses

Skip past the shops on the high street and head for dodgy-monikered Deep and kit yourself out in hot charity couture at bargain basement prices. Bursting with men's and women's attire, Deep has a lot to offer the stylista. Not everything is tasteful but when did fun ever equal taste? A white 1950s dress for £20? Add a brown belt a la Chloe for £5, a leather bag at £6, shoes for a fiver, and hey presto, you're hot to trot. (Deep Vintage Clothing 26 Fossgate, York, YO1 9TA, 01904 633 102)

Know a good thrift shop in your area? Don't be a tightwad and squirrel it - post it in the comments box below and you too can bask in a warm glow knowing you've single-handedly saved our fashion souls.