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The best record shops in London

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By South Western Railway May 22, 2023 7 min read
In this article, you'll learn the following:
With vinyl sales skyrocketing, Britain’s love for vintage records has never been more apparent. And nothing beats the experience of exploring an independent record store for yourself.
 
A hub of all things creative, it’s no surprise that London has some of the best vinyl shops. Dotted around just about every area of the capital, there’s plenty of choice –so which one will you visit during your next trip to London? To help you decide, we’ve pulled together some of the best record stores in London.

Sounds of the Universe, Broadwick St 

An image of records at a record store

If worldwide music is your jam, Sounds of the Universe will be right up your alley. Offering everything from Reggae, Dubstep, House and Disco to Funk, Soul, Brazilian, Latin and African, it’s the best place to go for a taste of music from around the world. The store has a fantastic selection of books, CDs and DVDs on offer, many of which are imported and rare. But it’s the original vinyl that takes centre stage, with many popular classics and indie numbers to choose from.
 
How to get there: Sounds of the Universe is a 27 min walk from London Waterloo, or you can catch the 15-minute Northern or Bakerloo tube to Piccadilly Circus. The address is 7 Broadwick Street, Soho, London W1F 0DA.

Sister Ray, Berwick Street

An image of records at a record store

Said to be one of the best vinyl shops in London, Soho-based Sister Ray has everything you could ask from a record store. From the moment you walk in, you’ll be greeted by toe-tapping tunes and enthusiastic staff who are happy to share their music knowledge. Offering new releases and in-store exclusives, there’s something for every music lover at Sister Ray.
 
How to get there: It’s a 28-minute walk from London Waterloo to Sister Ray. Alternatively, hop on a 15-minute northbound Northern or Bakerloo tube to Tottenham Court Road. The address is 75 Berwick St, London W1F 8TG.

All Ages Records, Camden Town 

An image of a person looking at records at a record store

All Ages Records is well-known in London’s punk and hardcore music scene and caters to a very specific niche. Located in Camden Town, its records range from 70s hits to present-day tunes, and you can even browse a collection of vintage cassette tapes. Looking for merch of your favourite band? All Ages Records offers shirts, posters, books and badges for various bands and artists.
 
How to get there: From London Waterloo, hop on the northbound Northern line and get off at Camden Town. The address is 27A Pratt St., London NW1 0BG. 

Banquet Records, Kingston upon Thames 

An image of a person looking at records at a record store

Born out of the previous Beggars Banquet record shop and label, Banquet Records is the epitome of an independent record shop and one of the early pioneers of Record Store Day in the UK. 

This small but mighty record shop certainly packs a punch; it’s at the centre of South West London's music scene and a favourite of many, pulling in shoppers from across not just London and the surrounds but across the country. 

More than just a record shop, there are regular instore intimate gigs with artists of all genres. The store also hosts gigs for a selection of stadium-filling artists in venues across Kingston.

If you love live music, check out our guide to the best live music in London.

How to get there: Banquet Records is just a seven-minute walk from Kingston station. The address is 52 Eden St, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1EE. 

Flashback Records, Islington 

An image of multiple records stacked next to each other

Nothing beats a vintage, secondhand vinyl, and Flashback Records has a whole shop full. The Islington store is the oldest in the Flashback chain, so there’s a real sense of nostalgia as you walk through the door. The ground floor is dedicated to CDs of all genres, while the basement houses an exciting vinyl collection, ranging from old-school hip-hop to progressive jazz.
 
How to get there: To get to the Islington branch of Flashback Records, catch the train to Vauxhall, then switch to the Victoria line to Highbury & Islington. It’s then a 14-minute walk. The address is 50 Essex Rd, London N1 8LR. 

Eel Pie Records, Twickenham

Image of people scrolling through records at a record store

Selling everything from records to merch, Eel Pie Records has everything a music lover could ever need. But this Twickenham-based store is much more than a record shop, as proved by their weekly socials. Eel Pie Records hosts an in-store gathering every Thursday to showcase new music. It’s a great way to discover new bands and meet like-minded people, and you can enjoy 10% off any album played on the night.

How to get there: Eel Pie Records is an 11-minute walk from Twickenham station. The address is 44-45 Church St, Twickenham TW1 3NR.

Reckless Records, Berwick St 

Image of someone picking out a record from their collection

Established in 1984, Reckless Records is an independent record shop in the heart of Soho. As the first to open on Berwick St, it’s got a reputation as one of London’s most established record stores, so it’s well worth a visit. Reckless Records stocks mostly secondhand vinyl in various genres, though you can also find CDs, merch and new releases.
 
How to get there: Catch the northbound Northern tube service from London Waterloo and get off at Piccadilly Circus. It’s then just a couple of minutes’ walk to reach Reckless Records. The address is 30 Berwick St, London W1F 8RH.

Rough Trade East and West, Talbot Rd and Brick Lane  

 An image of records at a record store

Rough Trade is one of London’s most popular record stores, selling a vast collection of vinyl, vinyl accessories, books, merch, stereos, posters, prints, and more. But in true Rough Trade style, the stores are much more than just a place to buy music. Both the East and West Rough Trade stores are at the heart of the live music scene in London, hosting music and signing events throughout the year and welcoming some of the most celebrated artists. Providing such intimate venues, Rough Trade is a great place to see your favourite artists perform and even meet them afterwards.

How to get there: To get to the Brick Lane branch, catch the District line tube from Waterloo station to Aldgate East and walk 10 minutes to Old Truman Brewery 91, Brick Ln, London E1 6QL.  To get to the Talbot Road branch hop on the Bakerloo line tube from Waterloo to Baker Street. From there, get a Circle line tube to Ladbroke Grove, then walks 8 minutes to 130 Talbot Rd, London W11 1JA. 

More of the best record shops in London

An image of someone looking at records at a record store

If you can’t get enough of record stores, here are some more to check out in the UK’s capital:

Phonica Records, Soho – New and used records, t-shirts, vinyl cleaning products, turntables, headphones, speakers, books & magazines.
Casbah Records, Greenwich – Necords, CDs, memorabilia & new releases.
Maestro, Peckham – Peckham’s oldest record store selling vinyl, CDs, books, DVDs, merch & gig tickets.
Palace Vinyl, Crystal Palace – Set in the heart of Crystal Palace Triangle, this record emporium has over 30,000 records on offer, mostly in the dance music genre.
Roan Records, Teddington – Vinyl records in a variety of genres with an onsite coffee shop.
Supertone Records, Brixton – Brixton’s oldest record shop and the place to go for reggae records.

If you’re a fan of independent record stores, you might also want to check out London’s top independent bookstores.

Travel with South Western Railway

Whether you’re a London local or travelling from beyond, the South Western Railway service can help you reach your destination. Discover cheap train tickets to your nearest record store by going off-peak. Passengers with a Railcard could save even more, while those travelling in a group could benefit from GroupSave or a Family and Friends Railcard. 

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