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Vintage Shopping in Leeds

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Whether it’s RUN DMC sweaters or 1930s flapper dresses, we all love a bit of vintage. And vintage shopping in Leeds is one of the UK’s best experiences for shoppers who like their clothes ‘pre-loved’, with a whole bunch of options for the thrifty buyer.

Leeds has been a hub for vintage fashion since the 1980s when Pop Boutique first opened its doors, and when the trend for preserving and repurposing classic clothing took off. Blue Rinse, Ryan Vintage and many more now compete for attention. TV and film costume departments regularly descend upon Leeds looking for their character’s defining hat and shoes, and the young people of said city are known for being slightly more dapper than average.

If you – or perhaps your kids or grandkids – are interested in being a Mod or a Rocker, or some even more niche subcultural figure, hard-to-find but essential pieces can be tracked down and had for a good price in these vintage stores. Or perhaps you’re looking for an extra-special dress for an extra-special occasion – weddings and key birthdays come to mind … or dispense with the excuse all together and just slay on the dancefloor any weekend! Classic ball gowns line the racks along with enough costume jewellery to set off an entire squadron of Las Vegas backing dancers. Now that the 1980s are vintage themselves, you might find the perfect Blade Runner shoulder pads … or a suit that wouldn’t look out of place on one of Miami Vice.

Don’t fall into the trap of buying online – it’s always cheaper in a brick and mortar vintage store, before the scalpers get hold of that Debbie Harry leather jacket. You’ll find plenty of offers, and a made-to-last vintage piece will hold its value.

Here are the best places to go vintage shopping in Leeds – go forth and purchase!

Our top picks

Blue Rinse

Blue Rinse, 9-11 Call Ln, Leeds, LS1 7DH - Visit now

Blue Rinse are one of the big boys of vintage shops, with outlets scattered all across the North. And for good reason, their shops are piled high with excellent quality items at a reasonable price.

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Blue Rinse Leeds
Blue Rinse Leeds

Best Leeds

Best Leeds, 22-24 New Market St, Leeds , Yorkshire, LS1 6DG - Visit now

Best is one of the biggest vintage shops in Leeds. It offers a large selection of styles for Men, Women and Unisex. Since opening in Leeds in 2007 Best has branched out to Newcastle and Liverpool, proving that they are a Northern fashion house to take note of.

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Best Leeds

Pop Boutique Leeds

Pop Boutique Leeds, 12-14 Central Rd, Leeds, LS1 6DE - Visit now

Another semi-independent, semi-chain vintage shop is the bright and cheerful Pop Boutique, crammed to the gills with cute and quirky clothes, shoes and the odd bit of kitsch. It even has its own retro fashion range, subverting the very concept of ‘vintage’ itself. Snazzy.

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Pop Boutique Leeds
Pop Boutique Leeds

Ryan Vintage

Ryan Vintage, 13 Duncan Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, LS1 6DQ - Visit now

Ryan Vintage is like some kind of old-school bazaar, with skirts, shirts and trousers all piled high as far as the eye can see. If you’re looking for something unique (and maybe even worn by someone now dead, excitingly), you’ll be sure to find it here.

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Ryan Vintage Leeds
Ryan Vintage Leeds

Johnsons Of Leeds

Johnsons Of Leeds, 2, Vulcan Foundry, Haigh Park Rd, Leeds, LS10 1RT - Visit now

This huge army surplus store can give you that military look minus all the sweat and hard-work. They’ve clothed everyone from Robson & Jerome to the Chippendales and the cast of Emmerdale.

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Johnsons Of Leeds

Where to go in Leeds

On The Wall is a funky independent shop that sells a wide range of creative and artistic items including, posters, art prints, canvases, greeting cards and merchandise/gifts. They also offer a bespoke framing and canvas printing service and a screen printed t- shirt service. If you are looking for something more unique and inspiring they also sell work by local artists.
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On The Wall

Bright, bold and full of character, On the Wall pairs expert framing with prints, posters and gifts inside Leeds Corn Exchange.

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Canned Heat

Canned Heat is an independent bottle-shop & bar in the heart of Chapeltown, Leeds. Born out of a passion for Music, Art and Community.

We sell comics, graphic novels, manga, role playing games, board games, collectible card games, merchandise, apparel and much more besides!
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Travelling Man Leeds

A quirky little shop for comics, graphic novels, role-playing and board games, with frequent in-store events.

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Springwell

The home of North, with a beautiful taproom over looking the brew house, on Buslingthorpe Lane. Every weekend we open the doors to our brewery and pour incredibly fresh beer next to the tanks where it was brewed!

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Standing proudly on the busy shopping hub of Albion Street, Waterstones Leeds is a bookshop that also hosts a variety of events

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The Bookish Type

An independent bookshop specialising in literature across the LGBTIQA+ spectrum.

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Truman Books

Truman Books is an independent bookshop and cafe in Farsley, West Leeds.

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