Record Shops in Kent

Kent makes an easy, rewarding vinyl trail, with shops spread from Canterbury’s cobbled streets to the Thanet coast and the market towns in between. In Canterbury you can double up on Sounds Records and Vinylstore Jr for everything from global grooves and reggae to indie staples and tidy used finds, while Faversham’s Saturnalia Records and Deal’s Smugglers Record Shop suit slower browsing and the thrill of stumbling on something unexpected. Head to Margate for Ghost Papa, where second-hand records sit happily alongside music books and comics, then carry on to Ramsgate for Vinyl Head’s big, broad-ranging stock that spans everything from punk and metal to jazz, hip-hop and soundtracks. Inland, Tunbridge Wells is ideal for making a longer stop: Even Flow Records pairs crate-digging with café comfort, and nearby Tunbridge Wells Record Exchange / Sugarbush Records keeps the selection varied and well organised. Add in detours to Sevenoaks, Ashford, Orpington, West Wickham or Folkestone and you’ve got a county that rewards train hops, seaside strolls and unplanned turns down the high street—browse the Kent listings, pick a couple of towns, and build your own route.

Our directory currently lists 14 record shops across Kent, ranging across town-centre shops and tucked-away local gems, with shops in Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, West Wickham, Ramsgate, Orpington, Folkestone, Ashford and Deal. Between them you will find new and second-hand vinyl across every genre, from rare original pressings and audiophile reissues to the latest releases, plus turntables, accessories and knowledgeable staff happy to point you towards your next find.

Several of these shops take part in Record Store Day and host their own gigs, signings and listening nights, so there is usually something happening for vinyl fans. As hours and stock change from one shop to the next, it pays to check each listing first and build a route that takes in two or three stores while you are in the area.