Here are five of the best places to thrift around Nottingham
Because we’re all tired of scrolling for hours on Shein
If you’re anything like me, when you first arrived in Notts you probably weren’t enthralled with the options for shopping.
And sure, finally managing to find the Victoria Centre was a game-changer, but sometimes it just doesn’t cut it when you’re looking for good quality clothes on a student budget.
But not to worry, here are five of the best places to thrift to stop you going broke while still nabbing some excellent finds:
Beeston High Street
Maybe it’s a bit of a trek for those of us living in the city and Lenton, but it’s always a trek that’s worth it because the second you step off the bus, it’s charity shops galore.
I personally recommend the British Heart Foundation near the Pudding Pantry—it’s got a really great vibe for a charity shop, and I found a couple of things there that will be a staple in my wardrobe for a while.
If what you find there is not your speed, no need to worry—there’s a good extra half-dozen charity shops to check out.
How to find it: Hop on the 36 bus from Derby Road or just outside Lenton Hall, and get off at Jessamine Court. You’ll find the treasure trove just past the Tesco—if you head all the way down the street, there’s another bus stop at the end, so you don’t need to trek all the way back!
Cow
Don’t fancy heading all the way down to Beeston?
Most Read
There’s plenty of opportunity in the city centre too, and Cow has pretty much all of the things you could ever want on a thrifting trip.
Amazing vibe in-store? Check. Great quality vintage clothes? Check. Stuff you’d actually want to wear? Check.
And on top of all that, it’s located on Carlton street, which in my humble opinion, features some of the best cafés Notts has to offer. Next time you’re in the city, I’d definitely recommend you check it out.
How to find it: Hop off the tram at Lace Market. You’ll see it near the top of the street.
White Rose
I’ll be honest, this place confused me as a fresher.
You’d be walking through the city, see a White Rose, remind yourself to pop back in later, keep walking, and… another three White Roses?
However, there might just be a reason why this place is everywhere—it’s got good fashion, it’s environmentally friendly, and the prices aren’t out of this world.
I’ve spent many an hour browsing the racks and with so many stores, it might be a little hard to keep holding onto that student loan.
How to find it: If you’re in the centre, you’re pretty much there already. There’s a big one near the Old Market tram stop, but whatever your destination, you’re likely to find one.
Bookwise
If you’re a nerd like me, you’re going to absolutely love this place.
It’s full of interesting secondhand books and music, and you’re bound to find something that strikes your fancy.
Might be a good thing to get away from all that course reading for a while with a good novel…
How to find it: If you head up past Bodega and Carlton Street, this place will catch your eye. Again, it’s surrounded by some great food spots, so make sure to check the area out!
Wild Clothing
This place is said to be the best by students all around Notts.
It’s full of vintage and secondhand clothing with good brand names at a reasonable price, and getting lost in the clothing racks is almost painfully easy.
If I’ve got one thing to say about this place, it’s to go in with your wits about you or you’re definitely likely to leave with one too many shopping bags.
How to find it: Head on up Carlton Street and turn right at Hockley Kitchen. It’s pretty easy to spot as the shop is bright red.
And one more thing: It’s not a year-round opportunity, but keep an eye out for vintage kilo sales and the other clothing sales featured on campus.
More often than not, they’re selling name brands for much cheaper than you’d find them in-store.
If you’ve ever got an hour between classes when these sales are happening on campus, head on down and see what you can find.