This is one of the best charity shops on the city! It's great! It's like a jumble sale, but with…read morethings you would actually want. On the summer days, like today, they put boxes and racks of stock outside the front of the shop; making it feel like a garage sale. I challenge anyone to walk past on a day like today and not be forced to stop and have a look at the piles of stuff. It's a large charity shop as far as they go, with a huge variety of bits & pieces, like cameras and electronic goods to clothes, furniture and books. I already found a great old cannon camera I'm thinking about going back for tomorrow. The staff I met were all very young and will help you look for things that you can't find on the shop floor. They will also go and check the mountains of donations in the back room for you as well.

This particular charity shop intrigued me on my first ever walk down Cotham Hill and still draws me…read moreinside no matter how many times I walk past determined not to go in...again! The shop has the most colourful display window I have ever seen and a mountain of cuddly toys at the front of the shop ensures that mothers will be dragged in by their children. Most charity shops have racks of clothes to browse but this charity shop makes the whole process so much easier. The shop is divided into colours -an orange rack, a green rack, a yellow rack etc. Shirts, trousers, skirts and dresses of the same colour are held together which is extremely useful, especially if looking for a particular colour for fancy dress or for a top to match your new shoes. I definitely recommend this brilliant rainbow shop!

absolutely love this shop, they have such good prices & are so friendly, really love the vibes in…read morethere & the music is good, recommend a lot definitely worth going to!

From the owner: Vintage Clothing, Retro Clothingread more

Walking through the doors of shop is like literally taking a step back in time. Everything from the…read morefurniture to the shop assistants look as though they've come from the swinging sixties. This is a little slice of retro happiness on the Christmas Steps. They stock everything from home ware to jewellery making it a vintage girl's paradise. Not only is Shop one of the best shops that Bristol has to offer, but they also hold gig and film nights where they'll serve you hot buttered pop corn and cups of tea. Keep an eye on the website for an event that takes your fancy and then try it out for yourself.

A lot of shops have come and gone on Christmas Steps, but this little vintage shop has kept its…read morechirpy little doors open. Focusing on modern vintage ('70s to '90s with a few nods to '50s and '60s) the first room has carefully displayed homeware and little nick-nacks. Owners Jayne and Brett are always there with a 'hello' - they always look so damn happy! - and the lounge music will usher you in smoothly to the back room. Here you will find some good retro clothes, particularly nice are the accessories and brooches available. TOP TIP: Pick up a 'shop-fir-mation' from the bowl at the back, a pick-me-up fortune cookie message in SHOP's unique style.

Situated just two seconds away from another Oxfam shop, this particular branch specialises in…read morefashion and bric-a-brac. With plenty of charity shops to choose from in Clifton Village there's a lot of competition, and this Oxfam fairs well. They tend to get a lot of student donations, so the quality and make of the clothes varies wildly, but I've managed to bag a bargain quite a few times here. It's slightly off the beaten track but definitely worth a visit if you're doing the charity shop rounds.

Oxfam is not my usual charity shop of choice, unless it comes to books, because Oxfam bookshops are…read morejust, well, quite frankley, I just can't find the words.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................AWESOME! So when popping into this one I was a little down hearted as it's the books I usually head to, but I gave it a good slice of my attention, saw it has potential, picked up a cranberry bar (you know, those very tasty fair trade ones they have, has to be one of my favourite snakcs) and thought to myself, you've given me enough (in regard to my shopping experience) i'll be back to visit here again.

This is the kind of vintage emporium in which it's possible to lose whole afternoons as you rummage…read morethrough racks of incredible dresses, shirts and velvet jackets in colours you never thought possible and 1970s patterns that make your eyes go funny, and shelves of incredible aviators, braces, gloves, belts and badges, every item more mesmerising and tempting than the last. And that's before you reach the glorious, plush nook at the back of the shop where dozens of fur coats, leather jackets and bags brush against each other, giving a rustling call for you to drape them over your shoulders. It's hard to leave RePsycho, mainly because it is, actually, quite hard to leave; it's very cramped and stuffed with stock from ceiling to floor, wall to wall, and it can become a bit of a slalom if more than two people are inside. It's also awkward getting out if you're the only person in there and you haven't bought anything. It's the kind of small boutiquey environment that's staffed by people who are intensely passionate about what they're selling, so you can't really slip out empty-handed without offering a slightly grovelling "thank you", wearing your best "I'm sorry" expression as you open the door. Of course, as with any vintage shop, you get the best experience when you're prepared to invest time looking through all the racks and all the shelves and battling through lots of questionable stuff in order to find something gorgeous at a price you're willing to pay. RePsycho is one of those shops that can provide hours of silly fun if you take a friend and play dress-ups (and do your best to stop worrying about the shop assistant hearing you talking about how hideous some of the things are), but it's also good for intensive, solitary shopping when you're on a quest for those perfect Betty Draper-esque white court shoes.

I usually loathe vintage clothing shops. They make me feel more frumpy than a royal and further…read morefrom the likes of Alexa Chung and Agyness Deyn than a square meal. However, RePsycho manages to be kooky, great value and truly a beacon of style rather than just pretentious. It is not for those who like to cruise well-ordered rails and peel pristine items off their hangers, however, as there is something of a jumble sale feel to the mess within. But there are great bargains to be had, from cool Paddington Bear-style bags to amazing 80s garb and just lived-in enough cowboy boots. As usual I never emerge from here looking remotely cool but if you do have an eye for how to put a good outfit together, or a really cool Mod party to go to then this is the must-see haunt for you.

A great idea, staff were friendly and helpful and I grabbed several bargains. I would recommend a…read morevisit as it's a unique and excellent charity.

From the owner: The Compass Project Bristol is a volunteer scheme set up for people with a history of substance…read moremisuse. We offer work experience, training and team building skills to those showing a willingness to start on a journey of recovery from addiction. The Project was set up by recovering addicts, the shops are run by volunteers - all of whom are working towards a new, clean life.

Now this is the sort of charity shop I can really dig…read more I do enjoy the standard ones with their old crockery, random selections of attire and musty smell but for me the real juice lies here - in books and music. Charity shops aside - these are probably my two passions in life anyway! Based entirely on donations they can't compete with bookshops in terms of availability, quality or succession but they can boast originality! The selection here is as haphazard as it is wonderfully colourful with titles ranging from Nigel Mansell's Racing Years to Wind in the Willows to Jane Austen. There really is something for everyone here. They even have a kid's section. Now the music may not be the latest beats on MP3 but you've got your snazzy new phone for that. This is the place for Bohemian Rhapsody, Bon Jovi and Thin Lizzy on cassette! Considering most cars still have tape players, this place is worth the drive.

Another fine little charity shop along a fully stocked street this is CLIC Sargent - with much more…read moreof a country-living vibe about it. The clothes are mostly tweed, waist coats and such like. The books are about healthy living and the pre-loved crockery and kitchen items actually pretty good. I had always assumed charity shops were impartial to local trends but clearly not. This is Cotham area and even the charity shops sell tweed. Hilarious.

Clifton village isn't short on charity shops, but Clic is definitely one of my favourites. Even…read morethough it does sell clothes and bric-a-brac, the best thing about this charity shop is the books. One look over their pristine best sellers and you'd be forgiven for thinking this is a book shop. I don't know whether they're in cahoots with a bookshop that's recently gone into administration, or their donators get given books they don't read - but I have bought several brand new books for 75% off. The volunteers who work here are friendly and helpful, so if you're looking for something specific - don't hesitate to ask.

Wandering with the 80s lycra masses is all very well, but what if you don't want to look like a…read morecomplete high street clone?? I was intrigued by this lil' vintage shop, stuffed to the gills with alternative, retro and hippy clothes and sporting a rather lovely hand painted sign. Inside, psychedelic patterns and velvet fabrics took over my brain. Denim, leather, gorgeous 60s flat boots, strappy sandals and rows of handbags. The thing they do best is hats (though not strictly a miliners). There are loads of different types from sun visors to full on Bogart hats - get the distinguished look! The guy behind the counter will give you his opinion on which one looks good, if you should so wish! What I didn't expect was the selection of retro velvet curtains on offer (I thought it was a fashion shop!!) which they'll alter on site. They come in every colour and smell a tiny bit musty - but I guess that's part of the appeal. I ended my visit with an obligatory look through the super rummageable bargain bin full of material and random clothes/tights/beaded necklaces. Needless to say, my wallet did not leave unscathed.

Up the top end of Gloucester road and well away from much other competition from vintage clothing…read moreboutiques, Billie Jean Clothes offers a dedicated service of providing clean presentable vintage clothes. The inside of the shop is pretty small, but I've always managed to find the odd vintage shirt or t-shirt in here. A lot of my female friends rave about this shop too. They're forever picking up scarves and bags here and I've managed to find the odd present after quite a lot of rifling through. If you're looking for something in particular though, make sure to ask, as the staff are really helpful and know exactly what they have in store. This is definitely a great alternative if you have exhausted the city centre vintage shops such as Uncle Sam's and Re-psycho.