Vinyl Vanguard London

Small but packed with second-hand vinyl (and a growing selection of new releases) and always likely to have plenty worth buying. Rewards those with time on their hands as, due to the cramped nature of the unit, many albums are packed into crates or filed on low shelves with only their spines on show, so unearthing gems can take time. However the knowledgeable owner maintains a spreadsheet of his stock so may be able to establish quickly whether a sought-after record is available. Not the cheapest but not a rip-off either: eg, Joni Mitchell Dog Eat Dog £14, Yazoo You And Me Both £12, Eurythmics Savage £8. About half the store has non-mainstream music including jazz, folk, country and film soundtracks. Was previously in Wood St indoor market but since 2019/20 has been in the “crate park” round the corner from St James’s St train station (London Overground).

I had a lovely time going through boxes of bargain 45s and very well organised other 7 inch treasures which is my thing - I was not disappointed! Very friendly and relaxed - perfect way to spend an hour on a sunny afternoon.

Expect the usual sweep of genres in reasonable depth/variety but somewhat handicapped by space constraints. Stocking both new/used vinyl, mostly in good condition with a few (collectible) offbeat and rarer items - priced accordingly. Noteworthy selection of jazz that holds its ground with any store in London. Noticeably light on dross here and the prices be ‘competitive.’ Friendly, approachable and savvy assistant. Recommended - worth the schlep, unlikely to go home empty-handed.

A tiny gem in The Crate! Mike the owner is so friendly and knowledgeable. It can be a little bit hard to find what you want, because it's so tiny, but the staff will always help you find what you need!

Really nice spot for vinyl’s. Got a lot of character and the owner was friendly. Not the biggest of spaces by any means but it’s being used very well!