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    Shelter

    4.5 (10 reviews)
    Closed 9:30 am - 6:00 pm

    Shelter Photos

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    Robert L.

    A review of the Shelter bookshop: The pricing system they operate with here is hard to fathom and it's certainly not in line with the systems used elsewhere in Edinburgh. As far as I can tell the newer it is the more expensive it is with the result being that a paperback Bobby Charlton England Years (£6) is three times the price of a hardback Charles Dickens (£2). Don't get me wrong I like Bobby Charlton and have his hardback Manchester United Years but that only cost me £2 from elsewhere. The result of this is that you are likely to get some bargains that have simply been undervalued just so long as you are vigilant and know what you are looking for. Other than this though, the books here aren't particularly cheap and for second hand books are very much overpriced. I personally am more likely to shop elsewhere.

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    Review Highlights - Shelter

    Can't speak to the other half of this charity shop but oh lordy, if you're a bookworm, pop yourself in here.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Herman Brown - Party boys take you to the edge of heaven

    Herman Brown

    4.6(9 reviews)
    1.0 miOld Town
    ££

    Take an individual piece of clothing out of Aladin's cave it's probably the worst thing you've ever…read morebought. According to everyone who's older than me this is one of the oldest established vintage clothing boutiques in Edinburgh. Lots of animal prints, lots of sequins and polyester, like any second hand shop really. but for some reason Herman Brown seems to be slightly uglier (which as we all know, is a great thing) having never found an excuse to wear a 150kg dress I'm sad to say I've bought NOTHING in the 800 times I've been in but it's still great fun trying stuff on.. Shop owners everywhere are shaking their heads, right?

    I got so excited the first time I stumbled upon Herman Brown…read more It's a vintage store with originality, and packed full with well sourced stock. There was granny jumpers aplenty, batwing sweaters, suede jackets and a decent selection for the boys. It's not overwhelmingly busy with stock, leaving you free to browse without your brain being bombarded with a ton of information. There is definitely enough to satisfy your vintage cravings however, and loads of accessories for you to dig into your wallets for. There is a good supply of boots, buckles and bangles, not to mention half a ton of gorgeous brooches in a glass cabinet underneath the cash desk. You can always tell vintage suppliers who hire experienced staff, and Herman Brown has that. They are a very approachable bunch who are informative if you want to find out more about an item. Herman Brown is full of goodies, and being established for over twenty years it's safe to say they didn't jump on a bandwagon - they built it!

    Photos
    Herman Brown - Logo from official website

    Logo from official website

    Herman Brown
    Herman Brown - The cat crochet is a keeper!

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    The cat crochet is a keeper!

    Rusty Zip - logo from official website

    Rusty Zip

    4.0(7 reviews)
    1.3 miOld Town
    £

    Rusty Zip is a spin off of Armstrong's, and has all the quality of the vintage outlet crammed into…read morethis compact shop. Armstrong's is sprawled out in a vast space, but I quite liked being able to pick through the packed railings in here without having to travel too far! Garments are nicely ordered, well displayed (as you would expect from an Armstrong's store) and have the same fun, frilly vintage appeal. There are spangles galore, not to mention a decent selection of beaten up cowboy boots. It's worth noting that the clothes shipped off to this outlet are considerably cheaper than in Armstrong's proper, with sparkly 70s disco boob tubes coming in at a fiver! They had some nice leather jackets cheaper than I've seen elsewhere, and a good selection of clothing for guys. They had some great offers on denim shirts - if you buy a denim jacket you get one for free! The shirts were dirt cheap as it was and with denim making a big comeback this season, I can see their Lee shirts selling out faster than a speeding bullet. The staff were friendly and relaxed, going about their business while leaving me free to browse. It's a bit more laid back than Armstrong's and with more bargains. Love it!

    As previous reviewers have mentioned, the Rusty Zip is a little sister of Armstrong's, one of the…read morebiggest vintage clothes stores in the City. The Rusty Zip is quite small but crammed full with garments, trinkets and accessories. I personally am a fan of their leather post man bags.My flatmate loved their shoes, which were in very good condition, and not to mention affordable, considering they were leather boots. Their cashmere jumpers are quite nice, and they have a good selection of men's clothing as well. Prices vary depending on the garment in question, and their are some true vintage pieces in here. Whether or not you would ever wear them, or if you question if vintage shops are just over-priced second-hand shops I will leave that to you. I still like the quirky finds in this shop and it's down-to-earth attitude to it's stock. (they even have 70's disco glitter boots for your Abba fever party- not just brand stuff)

    Photos
    Rusty Zip
    Rusty Zip - From official website

    From official website

    Rusty Zip - Rusty Zip

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    Rusty Zip

    Those Were The Days Vintage

    Those Were The Days Vintage

    4.0(4 reviews)
    0.3 miStockbridge, New Town
    ££

    I'm a huge fan of vintage but I HATE being lured into a shop on the promise of vintage and being…read morefobbed of with repro rubbish. Those were the days is the real deal. One if the best ranges of authentic 50's dresses I have found to date, gorgeous fabrics and properly constructed. These beauties are priced under the £200 mark. Some great deals on proper vintage clothes from the 50's, 60's and 70's at reasonable prices and some name items here, including a gorgeous, full length black Ossie Clark for Radley piece - sadly not my size and out of my pre-pay day price range :-( Well worth a visit for vintage fans!

    On first impression, this was a really beautiful shop. We were only in for a short visit but I…read morecouldn't help but be dazzled by the glamorous dresses in the window display. On closer inspection, it all seemed a little over-priced. I've seen similar pieces at vintage fairs for a fraction of the price. There was a light peach camisole cropped throw-over for £35, which I'd honestly seen in Barnardos recently, only in a slightly more pink colour, for just £5. Vintage, is understandably, a pricey business because there's a lot of special things to be found and I don't mind paying that bit more for a vintage dress or a really special piece of clothing. But when it comes to second-hand sweaters and cardigans, they really shouldn't amount to Topshop prices. I can get similar items at vintage fairs and charity shops for far, far better prices. That's not to say Those Were The Days wouldn't be great for a special occasion but this time round, we just wanted a quick browse and found even the cheaper, more basic items to be overpriced. I like my vintage shop music to be vintage too! So a bit of 1920's jazz or swing would have made for a better atmosphere over the Coldplay thay had playing. Regardless, we were given a friendly welcome and I'm sure it's somewhere I'd give another chance if in that part of town and looking for something special.

    Grassmarket - Grassmarket Edinburgh_yelp_Sanju-3

    Grassmarket

    4.4(39 reviews)
    1.1 miGrassmarket, Old Town
    ££

    It's 5 stars all the way! It's just a great spot that connects you to many different parts of Old…read moreTown. The views of the castle from here are also incredible. Especially if you want to see the volcanic plug under the castle. The best views of it are from here. It's also where you can make your way up the Vennel Steps to see the old defensive walls of the city. There are even two or three different ways that you can get to the castle from here. The Granny Green Steps are located on the west side of the square. It will take you up to Johnston Terrace where you can take another set of stairs called Castle Wynd North up to the castle. The second option is to take the Castle Wynd South path in the middle of the square which will lead into the Patrick Geddes Steps and directly to the North Steps. Another way is to walk up West Bow from the square to Victoria Street (also in Grassmarket). Take the stairway up to Victoria Terrace and then make your way up to the steps at Castle Wynd North or to the Royal Mile. You'll get a different perspective of the Grassmarket area and the castle from all angles. We visited it daily. We even passed through it on our way to Greyfriars Kirkyard via Candlemaker Row. The National Museum of Scotland is also easily accessible from here. The square in Grassmarket is the perfect meet up location. There's a lot of dark history here as well. It was one of the public execution sites that included the unsuccessful one of "Half-Hangit Maggie Dickson" in 1724. There's a bar at the square named after her. You'll also see a memorial written on the stones of the square for the last person (James Andrews) to be hanged at the gallows there on 4 February 1784. All creepiness aside, it's a very lively and active place that you'll pass through at some point. I mean, how could you not? It's an area full of beauty and history. *Updated on 5/5/2026 to correct a name.

    Grassmarket is located in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, just behind Edinburgh Castle. It's one…read moreof the oldest parts of the city, dating back to the 14th century. it is a popular area of the city today, just as it has been for many years. The Grassmarket is one of the most vibrant and charming neighbourhoods in Edinburgh and it's not a place you want to miss. However, one of the best parts about visiting this area are the views you'll get of the castle! Lined with buzzing bars, restaurants with worldwide flavours, delicious coffee shops and eclectic shops, the area's winding streets are a delight to explore at your leisure. Take a historic walking tour. Free historic walking tour maps are available from the local pubs and shops in the area. You can read or listen to the audio history of the area here. OR Visit the Greyfriars Bobby monument and grave site of a devoted little dog.

    Photos
    Grassmarket - Grassmarket Edinburgh_yelp_Sanju-1

    Grassmarket Edinburgh_yelp_Sanju-1

    Grassmarket - Grassmarket Edinburgh_yelp_Sanju-10

    Grassmarket Edinburgh_yelp_Sanju-10

    Grassmarket

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    Bliss Boutique

    Bliss Boutique

    4.3(4 reviews)
    0.1 miStockbridge
    ££

    This is a sweet little boutique, with lovely gifts and a selection of toys and accessories for…read morechildren. I noticed they're also started selling clothes - some of them vintage! - on one rail outside the shop and another inside. There's a great selection of candles, cards and other lovely things that would make an excellent gift or treat for yourself. There's an abundance of gift shops to to choose from in the area and, whilst this isn't my first choice, I really enjoy popping in as its a pleasant wee shop to browse and staff always say hello and offer help if you need it. I also like having a peek in their ever-changing window displays!

    What a sweet little shop!…read more This place caught my eye a few weeks ago, when I stopped dead in my tracks and found myself wandering in to utter: "How much is that Dalek in the window?!" I'm such an adult. The Dalek turned out to be the coolest bubble bath that ever there was and was a sweet price of £7.50. Unfortunately, I hate baths and not even the super cute container could justify my purchase. So I left, knowing that soon, the universe would give me the necessary excuse to buy nerd soap. Enter #SocialMediaSanta. If you're not familiar, this is a very nifty initiative run by Shelter Scotland to give families that otherwise could not afford them, presents for the holiday season. They ask for unwrapped toys and then distribute them throughout the city. You know what is an unwrapped toy? DALEK BUBBLE BATH! Yes, just a week after my window love fest, I found myself gleefully skipping back to this spot to take a Dalek to a nerdy kid in need. Along the way, I realized they stock a ton of other amazing toys - from neat craft kits (paint your own trucks!) to super cute baby bath gloves (the hungry caterpillar! nostalgia bonus!) and everything in between. What started as a one toy purchase turned into fifteen and I swear, I had more fun buying them then the kids who will soon receive them. This place gets a little bonus love from me because the lovely lady behind the till threw in some soap and lotions (for Moms!) free of charge to pay it forward to the folks in Edinburgh. I am the Evil Auntie to two little ones back home, so I dare say i'll be popping back here again to find them unique toys and nerdy giftables, even if it'll cost me a bomb to get them back across the point. But if you have local little ones (or ones on the way!), you should definitely poke your head in here. The prices might be a bit higher then your big box options but the cool factor is worth the price tag.

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    Bliss Boutique
    Bliss Boutique

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    Shelter - thrift_stores - Updated May 2026

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