The Bookbug is a second hand bookshop sitauted in that marvellous Hitchin institution - The Arcade…read more It's been there as longa as I can remember and it's great to see it still thriving. It's not a large shop and it's absolutely stuffed with books. But it's a great place to browse and while away a bit of time. while the mix of books is quite eclectic they do seem to speciliase in Sci-fi and Fantasy novels - which is handy as that's the genre I often read. They will of course buy books from you for sale onwards in the shop. I've quite often taken a cardboard box of books down there when I'm having a clear out to see if they are interested in any of them. Beware that they are quite choosy, anything too worn, too big (!) or too obscure will be rejected and anything they are interested in won't net you much in the way of cash. I usually exit again with many of the books unsold and then go straight to the nearest charity shop and dump the rest there. The staff are friendly and helpful and this is a great shop to have in Hitchin town.

Stuffed full of tacky and useless books.read more

I could spend a lot of time (and money!) in Reign. The layout of the shop makes it feel bright and…read morespacious and the different items are sorted not just by type but also by colour. The most interesting things they have to offer appear to be placed in highlighted locations around the room and they really are beautiful pieces. Compared to the quality and prices of vintage in London, everything in Reign is a complete bargain, with most items in great condition and ranging from £5-£30. Apparently frequented by Emma Watson, Reign is a gem in the midst of Cowley road.

I was recommend this shop by a friend and had previously never noticed it was there after having…read morelived in Oxford for 2 years. And boy had I been missing out! Full of your typical glitzy and floral vintage dresses, but also casual jumpers and retro tees. I snapped up a funky vintage beige vest top with brown airmail stamps across it for the bargain price of £4.50! They also have great quality leather shoes, clutch bags and your usual vintage accessories. Worth a look if your craving a classic

They were really friendly, with a good range of clothes, and good prices! Certainly vintage and not…read morejumble sale. Staff very knowledgable. Spacious shop

Down Memory Lane is a truly delightful, magical shop, or should I say treasure trove :). There are…read moreso many wonderful things to browse through from rolling pins, lace tablecloths, garden ornaments, beautifully crafted furniture and, my personal favourite, lots of lovely jewellery plus so much more. The owners are always so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. I cannot recommend this shop highly enough and so worth a visit.

From the owner: An aladdins cave of vintage and new eclectic items , cool Christmas shop from Octoberread more

THis is a charity shop which supports people with addiction problems, it also has a branch in…read moreStevenage. The shop is well laid out and colour coordinated, it is almost like stepping into a boutique. The goods are excellent quality and the prices are low. This is an ideal place to pick up a new outfit or some stuff for the house, and beat the credit crunch at the same time. The staff are chatty and helpful.

Think you can open a new vintage shop eh? Think you're special do you? "Vintage Heaven indeed!" I…read morewas prepared to scoff after leaving this new store. I had to eat these words before they even came out of my mouth. Vintage Heaven does live up to its name by being not only very competitively priced but also stocked to the brim with goodies. They even have bloomers and although some people might draw the line at second hand pants, I say if you're going to do it, do it right. You could actually get an entire outfit here from bloomers to coat and hat for under £100 although you might be put off trying it on in their skanky cupboard of a fitting room. Despite that little inconvenience, I have to say, I am rather impressed and this shop might even make it possible on a rainy day to knock off walking all the way down Cheshire Street to Beyond Retro.

"I started wearing vintage as I'm a cheapskate" - A quote made by one of my friend's. Ah yes 'tis…read moretrue I am I am I am a c.s lol A simple shop with a touch of vintage, this shop IS what it said it is "Vintage Heaven" (excluding the white fluffy clouds, golden pavements and Angel's). They sell/stock classical menswear, ladies wear, kids wear and accessories at reasonable prices. The members of staff are polite and very helpful. If you want to experience the true essence of vintage then Vintage Heaven is the place to be.

Small shop. Shady shopkeeper…read more I found a brooch of a rose that I really liked on a dress that was about a foot taller than I was, and asked the woman if I could just purchase the brooch without the dress. She was hesitant, and tried to charge me £18 for it, rather than £12 "Just because I hate to separate it from the dress!" Eventually, as I was getting ready to leave, she goes, "If it makes it easier, I can sell it to you for £12 because that's how much the rest cost!" Gee, THANKS. I then asked how old she suspected the brooch was and she said "oh probably about 1950s, since it came from that dress and thats how old the dress was." I was a bit skeptical, but didn't argue since she'd already put the dress back across the room, and I figured she'd looked at it. About 20 seconds after I left the store, curiousity turned me around and I went back in to check the dress tag anyway. It said 1936. The woman was looking at me, so I explained that I had been curious and wanted to double-check. She goes, from across the room "Oh yeah, it Did say 1930's!" Really? Then why would you tell me it was 20 years older? Weird, really... The only reason I am giving it 2 stars is because the store did have a decent selection of scarves and pins. Don't trust the owner though, and watch your back.

Annie's vintage is nothing short of spectacular. Rumored to feature in every 'Vintage Tour of…read moreLondon' - yes they exist - this remarkable vintage boutique along pretty Camden Passage is itself reason enough to make a foray into at times pedestrian Islington. Specialising in superb quality older vintage garments, Annie's has a fine selection of silk tea and wedding dresses alongside delicate victorian blouses, ornate old opera coats and chic forties suits.

There are treasures to be found here, but I warn you it is not for the faint of heart. Heed my…read moreadvice, you need to be both mentally prepared and determined to emerge with a successful find here. Racks are overburdened to the point that if you manage to pull something out, you will not be able to shove that hanger back in. The shop pieces are mostly better for women than men, unless you're looking for nice blazer, jacket, or costume. There are quite a few nice menswear pieces in there. And if you have a specific style in mind, for example, a nice tweed, the the owner lady definitely has some kind of mental catalog of her stock. So if you feel overwhelmed, she can pick some stuff out for you if she has an idea of what you're looking for. Prices aren't the cheapest, but this place is a treasure trove of vintage one-offs if that means any added value to you. Also, no price tags. She prices items as you ask her. From what I gather, it depends on the age and value of the brand.

Like walking into a giant dressing up box. Fancy dress, tea dresses, jazzy shirts and net skirts. A…read morevintage wonderland. You will need to rumage as there are bundles of clothes EVERYWHERE and only really space for 3 people to stand. I brought a black waistcoast with silver hearts from the 60's for £15 :) The reason i'm not giving 5/5 is because its frusting when you find one great shoe- but not the other! One very sweet lady who works there. If you are looking for something in particular she will tell you if she has it or when she thinks she will have. Opening times: MonSat 10am5.30pm

I love browsing old antique shops. I rarely buy anything, but I love the feeling that hundreds of…read moreyears of history are in one room. Antiques on High has the proper smell of old things and has an interesting range of antiques. Rather than focusing on big pieces of furniture, which so many antique shops do, it uses its space wisely to host: Jewellery, books, records, clothes, ornaments, pictures, maps and various collectables. The condition of the goods varies, but they're priced fairly reasonably. I find it's best to go in without the aim of buying something in particular, but just to browse. I can't say anything has ever caught my eye enough to want to buy it, but I've seen plenty of other people who have found the perfect addition to their home or the ideal gift. The best bit is the craft section, where there's a gallery of jewellery, leather, pottery, glass and art in general, all produced locally and all promising to be valuable antiques in the future. There's a great range in here and you can get something for less than a pound or spend hundreds of pounds. Equally, you can pop in for a few minutes or spend hours browsing - it's almost like a mini museum. If you like antique shops, this won't disappoint; if you've never been in one, try approaching it. Don't be put off by the prison-like bars in the windows; the staff are friendly and it's a different world inside.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my yearly visits to this shop. There are superb finds. Beautiful pieces…read moreof jewelry and vintage items in every case. My favorite is Caroline. I have bought wonderful treasures from her. They are all truly nice charming people. I miss this place.

I love coming in here for a browse and often end up buying something. I haveonly just discovered…read moretheir website whilst recommending the shop on a Yahoo site and can tell you that there is lots more to see! The shop also has some vintage clothing, jewellery and general knick-knacks. The staff are lovely and don't mind people wandering around and having a good nose! They are very happy to chat to you about items that you might have to sell and this is definitely a "must see" shop. Wyenot

From the owner: Second hand furniture, antiques, retro and vintage furniture, professional paint service, Delivery…read moreservice and courier service. 3000sq ft show room packed full of thousands of quality and curious items.