Weekend Vinyl Crawl: Planning Your Ultimate London Record Shop Tour

This guide helps you make the most of a single weekend in London, highlighting independent shops, their opening hours, neighbourhoods to explore and insider tips on navigating the city quickly. You’ll leave with a fresh stack of vinyl and memories of London’s thriving record-shop culture.

Day 1: Saturday Morning – Soho and Covent Garden

  1. Sister Ray (13 Berwick Street, Soho)

    • Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00.

    • What to Expect: One of the world’s most visited shops, Sister Ray stocks new releases to second-hand rarities across all genres. Look for reggae and experimental electronic sections, curated by Soul Jazz Records.

  2. Sounds of the Universe (7 Broadwick Street, Soho)

    • Opening Hours: 12:00–18:00.

    • What to Expect: Focus on global genres—especially world beats, dubstep and rare pressings from Latin America and Africa. The basement is a treasure mine for DJs and diggers.

  3. Record Store Day Pop-Ups (Seasonal)

    • If your weekend coincides with Record Store Day (typically April), check for one-off pop-ups around Soho and Covent Garden. These often include exclusive vinyl drops and live DJ sets.

Tip: Remember that Berwick Street can be crowded on weekends. Arrive early to avoid long queues, especially if limited-edition releases drop.

Day 1: Saturday Afternoon – Shoreditch and Hackney

  1. Phonica Records (51 Poland Street, Soho)

    • Technically still in Soho but en route to East London, Phonica focuses on electronic, house, techno and left-field electronica. They carry many limited-press items from European and Japanese labels.

  2. Rough Trade East (91 Brick Lane, Shoreditch)

    • Opening Hours: 10:00–19:00.

    • What to Expect: Gig venue upstairs, café and extensive new/used selection. Brick Lane offers street food to refuel after digging.

  3. Flashback Records (175 Essex Road, Islington)

    • Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00.

    • What to Expect: Flashback’s Islington outpost stocks well-curated second-hand vinyl. Their bargain crates outside offer £1–£5 finds. Great for crate diggers.

Tip: Use the Overground from Shoreditch High Street to Highbury & Islington to reach Flashback quickly.

Day 1: Saturday Evening – Hackney to Dalston

  1. Atlantis Records (52 Kingsland High Street, Dalston)

    • Opening Hours: 12:00–14:00, 16:00–19:00 (Saturday).

    • What to Expect: A paradise of both new and used, with rare collections sold from DJ legends’ archives. Genres span from jazz to experimental electronic.

  2. Stranger Than Paradise Records (117 Mare Street, Hackney)
    Located at Mare Street Market, 117 Mare Street, Hackney, London E8 4RU, this shop has a dedicated “Dub / Reggae” section alongside world, jazz and other niche genres. It’s a good option if you’re already exploring central Hackney and want a wide-ranging selection of dub, reggae and related styles.

Tip: Hackney Union Chapel often hosts vinyl-focused events—check their schedule for in-store DJ sets on Saturday evenings.

Day 2: Sunday Morning – Camden Town

  1. Out on the Floor Records (10 Inverness Street, Camden Town)

    • Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00.

    • What to Expect: Northern Soul, Motown, Ska and Reggae. Known as Camden’s oldest record store, it carries original pressings and rare soul singles.

  2. Sounds on the Underground (Camden Market, 32 Inverness Street)

    • A second-hand vinyl stall within Camden Market. Prices range from £2 to £10, making it ideal for weekend warriors on a budget.

Tip: Arrive before 11:00 AM to beat the crowds at Camden Market. Weekends can be very busy due to tourists.

Day 2: Sunday Afternoon – King’s Cross and Islington

  1. Honest Jon’s (Unit 115, Lower Stable Street, Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DR)

    • Opening Hours: Sunday 11:00–17:00.

    • What to Expect: Northern Soul, Motown, Ska and Reggae. It carries original pressings and rare soul singles.

  2. Oxfam Books & Music Islington (48 Upper Street, N1 0PN)

    • Opening Hours: Sunday 11:30–17:00.

    • What to Expect: All stock is donated, so you’ll find an eclectic mix of genres—from rock and pop to classical—at budget-friendly prices, often under £5 per record. Because volunteers run the store, they frequently source unique or rare items from local donations, making each visit a potential treasure hunt. Frequent visitors praise its eclectic and literary ambience, noting the two-floor layout that separates books from music, with vinyl tucked into dedicated shelves alongside CDs and DVDs. Its proximity to Angel tube station makes it an easy stop for a Sunday afternoon crate-dig. Overall, Oxfam Books & Music Islington offers a budget-friendly alternative to commercial record shops for students and vinyl enthusiasts alike, with prices that rarely exceed £5—even for LPs and 7″.

General Tips and Logistics

  • Navigating London: A Hopper fare on buses/Tube (£1.75 per journey up to an hour) is ideal. Purchase an Oyster card or use contactless for best rates.

  • Walking Routes: Soho’s record shops are within a 0.5 mile radius; Shoreditch shops cluster around Brick Lane. Carry a lightweight backpack instead of suitcases.

  • Food & Drink: Shoreditch’s Boxpark and Camden’s Camden Market offer street food to refuel. Plan a coffee pitstop at Rough Trade Café in Brick Lane or Sister Ray’s coffee corner.

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