Is it really the best car-boot sale in London?
- Where? Harris Academy Battersea, 401 Battersea Park Road, London SW11 5AP.
- When? Every Sunday 1:30pm-5pm
- How Much? £1 at 1:30pm (£5 if you wish to come earlier at 12pm)
London is not shy of a good car-boot sale, with buyers and sellers lining up on both the north and south side of the river to find the best bargains. Admittedly, I am fairly new to the car-boot scene and as a result, I have had to rely on the well seasoned thrifters of TikTok to point me in the right direction. Whilst there are many options available, my research led me to both Peckham car-boot & Battersea car-boot, rivals in the competition for the best car-boot sale south of the river.
I have now visited both Peckham and Battersea multiple times, and feel as if I am finally in a position to voice my opinion on the matter. If I am completely honest however, it really all depends on what exactly you are looking for…
Peckham is slightly larger and has significantly more on offer, particularly if you are looking to buy some clothing. Heaps of clothing, accessories and shoes are piled high from car to car, with feral shoppers rummaging their way through. Prices vary from door to door, however, I often find that a handful of sellers here unreasonably boost their prices. Whilst I am yet to come across any authentic vintage designer at Peckham car-boot, I have found some beautiful pieces by Karen Millen, Jigsaw, Linea and DKNY. It is also a haven for footwear, from vintage cowboy boots to dazzling heels. All in all, Peckham car-boot is a great place to source some vintage clothing for a reasonable price: rating 4/5.
By general consensus online, Battersea car-boot takes the initial lead, but is it really the best car-boot in south London? By scale, I would say there is slightly less on offer than Peckham, with significantly more homeware items available on sale. However, in terms of the quality of the items available, Battersea has far more vintage designer on offer. The prices tend to be lower across sellers at Battersea, and I have managed to source some genuine vintage Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni and Cavalli. Whilst I love Peckham car-boot, on this basis, it is Battersea that slightly steals the win for me, with a rating of 4.2/5.
My journey to discover London’s best car-boot has not yet come to a close however, and I am interested to hear your own thoughts and recommendations! I absolutely recommend taking a look at both car-boots for yourself as like I mention, they both have very different items on offer and who knows what you may find – that’s all part of the fun!
Calendar Girl 