My husband LOVES to go record shopping when we travel to other countries, and Sound of the Universe…read morewas on the top of his list of London record shops. It also has the advantage of being located down the street from two other record shops, so it's like a three-fer. Anyway, Sounds of the Universe is in the most picturesque lovely building standing tall on a corner with an understated yellow "Records" sign pointing people towards the door. They have a wide selection of records that are really nicely organized, and the shop is really bright and clean. My husband said they were very smart because they had the type of record collection that encourages people who are into one style of music to explore and find additional albums that are related within easy reach.

I know it is a thing here to have a photocopy of the album cover instead of the actual album out;…read morebut I don't like it. Other than that, this shop is average at best. Was underwhelmed by the selection and organization of the shop. Didn't really find anything unique or desirable. The prices also reflect the higher end of the market. There are better deals to be had elsewhere.

Discretely tucked away at the entrance of Camberwell New Road (Camberwell Green entrance), there…read morehides a little treat for record geeks. When you first see the faded blue and yellow sign that simply says "CDs", you could almost be forgiven for mistaking the second-hand record store Rat Records with the cheapo discount stores that stock multiple variations on 80's hits compilations, or "Songs That Your Nan Used To Sing"; but, as you will find out, one shouldn't be so dismissive. Having known Camberwell for quite sometime now, Rat Records has become a little perk every time I visit. Although the décor doesn't really dispel the myth of the faded sign, and perhaps you could say it is a little "cosy" at best; if you are willing to invest some time rummaging through the broad selection of honestly priced vinyls, you will soon find something that will turn these "quirks" into "nice little character traits". In true audiophile fashion, albums are neatly filed under handy sub-genre based headings, such as; "UK Psychedelia", "US Indie", "Hip-Hop", "Classic Rock", "Jazz", and so on. However, despite the sign's invitation, Rat Record's selection of CD albums is somewhat limited. I think it's also worth a mention that, if you're like me and like to "try before you buy", be sure to have £10 to pay the deposit to borrow the headphones. Barring these factors, Rat Records makes for an excellent little store; you may also want to try your luck selling them some of your own old records, as thet always seem interested to see what you've got.

Awesome place. I knew as soon as I walked in that this place rocked. You better love vinyl. Even if…read moreyou don't have a turntable though, there is a great selection of used CD's. My only gripe about Rat Records is the size. It could take up a shop at least twice the size. The guys behind the counter are super cool. The prices are great. I knew when I walked in and saw the B-52s, Michelle Shocked, The Who and The Jam straight away that this place was the real deal. I left my CD collection back in the States. I will re-build it with the help of Rat Records. You guys rock.

You know that oft-quoted line from the movie High Fidelity that goes "I agreed that what really…read morematters is what you like, not what you are like... books, records, films -- these things matter"? The truth of this is up for debate, but are you someone whose eyes light up (and ears perk up) at the mention of The Smiths, Belle and Sebastian, Arcade Fire, and The Strokes (who were all signed to Rough Trade at one point or another), even though you're loath to admit that you read Pitchfork occasionally...? Go on. This is just the place for you. Make a pilgrimage to Rough Trade because we both know that you're the kind of person who'd wander around Brick Lane anyway. Rough Trade makes me feel like that this is probably what an everyday record store looked like back in the heyday of college radio back in the '80s and '90s. (Recent former college DJ here, confirming that absolutely no one listened to our station because we were online.) There's something for every music fan here, from indie to underground CDs and vinyl to hip music memorabilia such as posters and clothing. Browse to your heart's content and remember to stop by when there's a free gig going on. Soak up the cooler-than-you vibes that'll help boost your indie cred, fork out some money for the trendy black-and-white photo booth (you know you can't resist it), and brag to all of your friends back home that you discovered a cool new band here that they've probably never heard of before.

I loved getting to check out Rough Trade Records. As a vinyl junkie, it was like a music pilgrimage…read morefor me while I was in London. I wanted to check out the original location, though I read it was not in the original location/building any more and we were never quite close enough to it while on our trip to make it a convenient stop. So this one became the one for me given that I read it had the best overall selection in the city. Loved this place. Active, vibrant, folks everywhere checking out records. There's a coffee and bar up front so after shopping I sipped a pint and continued to listen to the great music they played throughout. Prices were fair, a lot of new sealed vinyl at "2 for 50 (pounds)" or even 13-20 pounds single. I loved the notes and "essentials" stickers pointing you to different music. I picked up several albums, focusing on ones I don't often (or ever) see on the rack in the states, a book, some rough trade branded merch. I love that they sell quality turntables and stereo gear, etc.--but sadly none of that would fit in my carry-on! The only thing that keeps this from being a "5 star" record shop for me is that if I lived here, it couldn't be my "go to" given that there are no used/trade-in options. I popped in one other Rough Trade location on our trip and guess that is standard, these are sealed/new record sellers only. But it's such a cool spot and I'm glad I went. Saved my Rough Trade cloth bag for display.

DO NOT PRE ORDER FROM ROUGH TRADE IF YOU WANT RELEASE DAY STUFF…read more Pre ordered the Springsteen Nebraska 82 set as I wanted to get it the day it came out. It didn't arrive, it's now days later and I've had no news about when I'll get it either. I've tried contacting them via customer service messaging and emails and have been ignored. According to the Shop app, my package is still 'being prepared' which means absolutely nothing

I first learned about the iconic Rough Trade record store through my love for The Smiths, and I…read morecouldn't resist the magnetic pull of this indie vinyl haven. My friend Robert and I had to visit it while on a long layover in London. Despite its dilapidated state and small size, Rough Trade's undeniable charm was evident in every corner. It's a treasure trove for indie and obscure music! However, I must admit that the physical state of the store left me longing for more. It's not as impressive as the one in New York! We didn't buy anything though, we've never heard of some of the bands that were on display. lol

Visiting from out of town, the set up to this place is unique, only cds on the floor and all the…read morevinyl is behind the counter. I also walked in a minute from closing time at 6pm, and thought I might buy a shirt, but was rudely told that they were closed. Will spend my money elsewhere like Reckless Records who are open until 7pm. Cheers!

Sister Ray is a super cool record store (and conveniently down the street from a few other great…read morerecord stores). My vinyl crazed husband spent some good time in here. So first, this is a two-story store with vinyl downstairs and CDs upstairs. The downstairs is IMPRESSIVELY organized, which just tickled my fancy because I love it when things are organized. All of the sleeves are empty - the records are kept behind the counter downstairs. And even when you walk up with a stack of records, the organization is so good that they can easily locate all of the albums you wish you wish to purchase in a flash. The staff was great and friendly and they really knew their music too. The young man helping us had a deep discussion with my husband about some artists I don't know. It was a really good stop. And bonus points for the cool vintage cassettes painted on the stairwell.

Haven't thought of this place in years but it just popped in my mind so wanted to leave a review…read more Spent a week in London in 2010 and felt I needed to seek out something punk while I was there. Left my group that I was with and took off to the other side of the city and found this place. It was perfect. Spent a bunch of time talking to the staff and some other patrons about punk in the US and the UK and got some great local recommendations from them (though wish someone had recommended Frank Turner to me then - I was practically on his doorstep and now I love him lol). Would love to come back and explore again.

Someone just told me about All Ages so this was the first time I've visited on my many trips to…read moreLondon. So glad I know about it, perfect place for those who like punk, hardcore and garage. The fact that you can see a Snazzy Boys poster in the photo says it all for me. Found a nice sale bin of 7"s that were buy 2 get 1 free, can't beat that. A good stop after you hit the market (or before).

I stopped by here to search for some hard to find LPs. Been searching for a cheaper album by The…read moreSundays, but unfortunately couldn't find any. The staff was helpful, though, and suggested that I check out second-hand stores since the stuff I was looking for is already out of print! Selections here are still pretty good. I was able to find some rare records such as Joy Divison and New Order. Stuff you can't find in America. The record store sells mostly pricey brand new LPs, but CDs are still affordable.

I'm one of those people that loves the streaming aspect of digital media, but also miss perusing…read morestores like Tower Records for music, movies and books. When we stumbled into Fopp in Covent Garden, I was immediately in love. Not only did they have a ton of vinyl, band tees and movies on display, they had an impressive selection of really great books at super reasonable prices. I ended up picking up a copy of A Clockwork Orange and American Psycho on the cheap - something that I've been wanting, but now had no excuse. There are multiple floors to explore. Though it's on the smaller side, it still packs a punch!

Backyard market and London Artisian is awesome! Period!…read more Big huge indoor venue, lots of food and shops to choose from, and super classy area, with lot of trendy things! You can easily spend a good half day there! Will let my photos speak for itself!

I recently bought a bling collar from a stall at backyard market. I also recently felt like a Kanye…read morewest douchebag, as recently as the last sentence I just wrote. I always loved this market on sundays- just because it's always a bit quieter than the upmarket and the stalls are a bit more bling-y, like bling phone cases, and bling necklaces, interspersed with some good old vintage glasses and hand drawn artwork. ALSO there's a good few food stands outside too! The collar I even haggled for and damn, i got tonnes of compliments- so it shows that you don't need to pay crazy prices for UNIQUE statement jewellery.

I absolutely loved this bookstore and wish we had more like it where I live in the US. While I…read moredidn't NEED more books, I took advantage of getting a few from authors that are harder to get at home. Loved every single part of this place.

This bookstore is really cool! The staff are neat and helpful. The book arrangements are fun and…read moreinviting. We ended up purchasing a book for my husband and some stationary that was themed. One said 'When the bard plays a banger on your birthday' and we cracked up at that one. It was a worthy buy. It was fun to walk around and just be near books. Thanks for having us!