London Shopping On A Budget: Bargains, Boutiques, & Markets

London is well known for being one of the most expensive places to live in the UK, but despite this there are so many ways to find incredible bargains, no matter where you reside in the city. From grocery shopping to hunting for clothes and cosmetics, LHA London have created this guide on how to save money when shopping in London to get you set up with everything you need when you relocate.

Where to find bargains in London

High street brands

High street brands are probably one of the first places you’re likely to look when scouting out your local area for bargains and this is for a reason. Whether you’re on the hunt down Oxford Street, hitting up High Street Kensington or Carnaby Street, you’ll find some of the biggest fast fashion names at your disposal ready and waiting with affordable, trendy and sturdy styles.

Choose from places like:

• Primark
• H&M
• Uniqlo
• Boots
• Superdrug
• Flying Tiger
• TK Maxx

Vintage shops

The word vintage might imply old and dusty but it has recently taken on new life, applying its name to current trends. Vintage shops bring classic styles and old favourites into modern wear, and because vintage and charity shops sell pre-loved clothes, you can get comfy, cool and current items at truly incredible prices.

Let’s not forget that buying second hand is a more sustainable way to shop.

1. Rokit

Rokit was born in Camden Market and has grown into a well known seller of handpicked vintage clothing, hub for creativity and beacon of culture that thrives in the well-recognised town. At this independent brand, you’ll find well-loved pieces that reflect your personality and bring defining fashion favourites from decades past into modern day styling.

2. Beyond Retro

Beyond Retro is a beloved vintage retailer and possibly one of the most well known second hand clothing chains in London. After first opening in Dalston, they have expanded to iconic shopping destinations like White City, Coal Drops Yard and Oxford Street and sell clothing across the ages, from retro 60s knitted vests to classic 90s denim at an affordable price.

With these statement pieces, you’ll walk tall knowing you have a truly unique style.

3. Atika

If you’re closer to Spitalfields and looking for budget vintage clothing then head on down to Atika on Hanbury Street. This famed road is a haven for bargain hunters looking to fill up their wardrobe with new clothes and their bellies with good food, and Atika is at the heart of it all.

4. Brick Lane Vintage Market

The Brick Lane Vintage Market invites boutiques that sell clothes from the 20s to 90s. From vinyl records to vintage feather capes, wedding dresses and opportunities for fancy dress, this underground clothing cornucopia is designed for everyone.

Outlet shops

Outlet shops are a spectacular place to find cheap items when you want high quality, designer or even simply stylish clothing at a discounted price. Brands and designers will send their old, faulty or reduced stock to outlets where they’re sold at a lower rate than you’d find in their high street stores. This makes them a beacon for bargain buys.

There are plenty of options to upgrade your wardrobe for less including:

1. London Designer Outlet

Marked as London’s largest designer outlet, London Designer Outlet offers up to 70% off the biggest brand names all year round. From clothing retailers like Levis and Tommy Hilfiger to health and beauty brands like Holland and Barrett, and even homeware companies like Denby ProCook that are vital for building your home in the big city, this shopping centre offers everything you need at a price that’s hard to beat.

2. Icon Outlet at the O2

Whether you’re on the way to a concert or fancy sampling some bargains close to home, Icon Outlet at the O2 brings you the latest deals from big brand names with the addition of Student Offers that help young people afford their favourite wares whilst keeping within budget. This includes Jack Wills, Calvin Klein, Beauty Outlet and Cineworld.

Street markets

As well as being one of the top student hubs in the country, London is known for its street markets that combine culture with incredible prices. Truly, the London market atmosphere is unlike any other in the city.

1. Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields Market provides an authentic array of stall holders that create wonderfully hand-crafted, unique treasures that are there one day and gone the next. Each visit is different. You’ll find ornaments, clothes and street food in this historic location that brings independent traders and artists to the forefront of London’s community.

Quirky boutiques and crafted oddities are available to explore, and with everything in one place it’s so easy to compare prices and find those truly special items that are worth keeping within your budget.

2. Brick Lane Market

Brick Lane Market is the staple location for hunting down affordable antiques, fashionable fabrics and cool home decor from one of many stall holders. For young people, finding distinctive furniture that is low-cost and high quality can be a tough task, but Brick Lane is the place to look.

3. Petticoat Lane

Petticoat Lane Market brings the vibrancy to cheap accessories, homewares, textiles and clothing. This is an amazing space to not only go shopping for things you need, but to browse and spend time when you’re not in the mood for spending money.

4. Camden Town

From the mildly bizarre to charmingly indie, Camden Town is impossible to ignore as the market to hunt for curios, trinkets and bargains. Camden market has gained a reputation for being the gothic and indie centre of the capital but it is certainly not to be missed as a spot to find amazing clothing and homewares that don’t fit into these categories.

This is also the ideal spot to find deals on authentic foreign groceries, pet supplies, upcycled clothes and furniture, jewellery, luggage, art, watches and so many other spectacular things.

Money-saving apps

One of the best ways to find bargains in London is to have the right money-saving apps on your phone.

UNIDAYS

If you’re a student in London, you’ll have access to student discounts across a wide range of shops, restaurants and cafes but you’ll need to prove you are eligible for it. The easiest way to do this is to show your student ID at the checkout.

However, some shops and online retailers will insist on seeing a UNIDAYS ID. For this, you still need to enter the details of your student ID.

Here are just a few of the fantastic places you can get discount at using your Unidays account:

• ASOS
• Levis
• PureGym
• Beauty Pie
• Vodafone – yes! Discount off your phone contract!
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Domino’s
• Deliveroo

vouchercloud

vouchercloud sends money-saving offers straight to your phone. This app is completely free and gives you discounts on high street shops, supermarkets, restaurants and even entertainment.

It also has a huge range of vouchers and codes that you can use online if going out to the shops is just a bit too pricey.

Too Good To Go

Too Good To Go is the breakthrough app that lets you find unsold but still perfectly tasty food at a discounted price before it’s thrown out. You can find food from your local favourite spots whether that’s a restaurant, grocery shop or cafe. You can save surprise bags of food that cost you less than day time prices because it’s all ready to go at closing time.

As well as providing a cheaper alternative to finding snacks and evening meals, Too Good To Go is a great way of discovering new restaurants and meals that you might not have tried before, as well as getting a good hot meal that would have cost you more in ingredients to make from home.

Depop

Whilst London is rich with a broad variety of shops, boutiques and bargains, sometimes the best way to find cheap clothes for you is to go hunting online. Apps such as Depop give a person-to-person service that allows you to buy second hand clothing, homeware and accessories from their previous owner.

Whilst it might not seem like the most glamorous way to shop, it definitely is thrifty and you’ll find some incredible wares from other people who’s style echoes your own.

How to ethically shop on a budget

If you’re an eco-conscious shopper then you might be concerned that shopping for cheap clothing might be more detrimental to the planet than it’s worth, but this simply isn’t true. In fact, looking for pre-loved clothes is one of the most sustainable ways to shop as well as one of the most affordable.

By supporting thrift stores, charity shops and apps like Depop and Vinted, you can live ethically even on a tight budget.

Charity shops span the length of London, popping up in every borough, every high street and every local community. Wherever you live, go for an exploration and see what you can find.

Food markets in London

Food Markets are one of the best ways to experience culture whilst finding top-quality food for excellent prices. From street food markets to farmers markets, you can find a plethora of options to sample.

Spend a day perusing a few of the following markets to discover exactly what they have to offer:

• Borough Market
• Greenwich Market
• Portobello Road Market
• Mercato Metropolitano
• Market Hall, Fulham
• Broadway Market
• Pop Brixton
• KERB
• Real Food Market at Kings Cross
• Marylebone Farmers Market
• Alexandra Palace Farmers Market
• Growing Communities

How to stick to your budget

We all know the feeling of finding a shop that offers one of a kind bargains, stacking up our trolley with amazing finds and before we know it, we’ve spent more than we intended to. It’s so easily done, but when you’re on a tight budget, you can’t afford to lose track of your spending.

So how do you stick to your budget?

• Know where the best places to shop are
• Buy things when you need them, not just because you want them
• Set aside money specifically for food/clothes/rent
• Put the rest in a savings account if possible
• Use grocery store meal deals and offers
• Buy supermarket brand food over branded food
• Set yourself a daily spending limit
• Travel off-peak
• Utilise your student discount
• Visit free attractions

Your budget should never be a barrier to living in London, whether you’re shopping for groceries, clothes or hunting for affordable accommodation.

That’s why, at LHA London, we take the burden off living costs so you can use your money more wisely wherever you need it. Our charity offers a wide range of youth hostels across the capital city for young working people, domestic students, international students and interns & apprentices.

For more information about how we can help you get set up in the big city, take a look at our available accommodation and don’t forget to check out our offer to discover what we can offer you.