By Aimee Wheeler
In this series, Revival visits some of the most renowned charity shops in South and East London. Finding those hidden gems and diving into what makes them so popular. We uncover those rare deals that you don’t want to miss!
Founded in 1961 by doctors, the British Heart Foundation is one of fourteen charities that make up the Richmond Group of Charities. Most of us know our local charity shops as places to find affordable bargains and unique treasures. So what sets the British Heart Foundation apart from the rest? Exploring Peckham’s beloved British Heart Foundation store, holding a solid 3.5-star rating on Google, its eye-catching Valentine’s Day window display made me stop in my tracks. What makes this a decent charity shop and is it worth a visit?
With the sale rack to my left and dresses to my right, I quickly moved aside for a woman pushing a pram through the door. The sale prices were impressively low, ranging from £6.50 to just £2.50 for a dress. It was a bargain, no doubt, even if the styles weren’t quite to my taste. But at £2.50, it’s hard not to be tempted. It got me thinking: when buying preloved clothing, are we drawn to quality or simply tempted by the low prices? The affordability is certainly appealing, but even then, I couldn’t convince myself to go for the bold neon floral print. For the love of fashion, I left it on the rack. Charity shops have always been a bit of a gamble; you never quite know what you’re going to find. But that’s part of the charm, right? The thrill of the hunt, the potential to stumble upon a hidden gem. Even if the sale rack was a bit underwhelming, the low prices made up for it.
Moving past the shoes, I found myself casually browsing through the jacket rail when an eye-catching turquoise bomber caught my attention. It was a little on the pricey side at £17.00, but considering it was from Vans, the cost made sense. A bold mix of primary colours made it stand out, but for a charity shop, £17.00 still felt like a bit of a stretch. That’s the tricky part with branded items in charity shops, you’re paying for the name, even if the item’s preloved. But for a good cause and less than the retail price, is it that bad? Maybe one day I’ll cave and buy a brightly coloured jacket.
As I continued through the shop, I couldn’t shake the feeling of a watchful gaze following my every swipe of the rail. There’s no information about a shoplifting crisis in Peckham’s charity shops, so it makes you wonder what’s behind the cautious surveillance. Then again, maybe they were just curious about what I’d pick up next. I was giving them the benefit of the doubt but it was still irritating to have someone follow you around a shop from a distance. It’s that feeling when you’re in a changing room, and you know someone’s waiting right outside not saying anything, just lingering.
Nonetheless, onto the men’s section, I went further into the depths of the shop. They had a smaller range of clothes, with many a shirt and dress trousers waiting eagerly to be picked for someone’s Sunday best. Despite the limited selection, I found more pieces that suited my style. But as always, I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the prices. A plain button-down shirt for £8? When the Sense charity shop down the road has tops for £3, that’s more like it in my eyes. Charity shopping is supposed to be about the thrill of the bargain, and some of the pricing just didn’t match that vibe.
So, would I go back? Honestly, yes because I am a sucker for the possibility of a hidden gem. But that’s the thing with charity shops: you don’t go for the certainty; you go for the excitement of discovering something different regardless of the price. The thought that next time I’ll be walking out with that Vans jacket after all brings an excitement that no other shops can. And if not? Well, that’s just another reason to keep coming back. Because even if you leave empty-handed, there’s always the promise of next time a new rail of clothes, a fresh batch of someone nans clothes. Although I did have some observant eyes, it doesn’t take away my love for a charity shop one I’ve had since I was young.