There’s something very gratifying about shopping in charity shops, aside from helping a brilliant cause, of course. Imagine combing through the racks of clothing, to no avail, then suddenly coming across the perfect cashmere jumper and snapping it up for a fraction of its original price tag.

If you enjoy charity shopping or fancy testing the waters to see if it’s for you, you’ll be glad to hear that Edinburgh has an abundance of excellent charity shops! To help you navigate through them, we’ve created an Edinburgh Charity Shop Guide. So keep reading to discover three of the best areas in the city for charity shopping, complete with some of our favourite shops.

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Stockbridge

Shelter Scotland – 104 Raeburn Pl

A favourite area among many seasoned charity shoppers is Stockbridge, located north of the city centre and easily accessible on foot or by bus. Stockbridge has more than a dozen charity shops – the majority of them located on Raeburn Place. As well as plenty of other independent shops, you’ll find many cosy cafés and restaurants dotted along its high street, making Stockbridge an excellent place to spend an afternoon.

Another great thing about the Stockbridge charity shops is the quality of the donations they receive as they are located in an affluent postcode. With so many charity shops in such a small space, we recommend wandering in and out of them all. To help you get started, here are some of our favourites.

Our Stockbridge Favourites

Shelter – One of the biggest charity shops in Stockbridge, Shelter is a treasure trove of everything from vinyl records to designer clothing.

Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland – Possibly the most eye-catching charity shop in Edinburgh, the interior is reminiscent of a quirky vintage shop.

Oxfam Music Shop – A second-hand music shop offering a wide selection of CDs, DVDs and vinyl, and it’s the only charity music retailer in Edinburgh.

British Red Cross – Any brides-to-be, take note! The back of this shop is dedicated to an impressive selection of secondhand wedding dresses.

Mary’s Living & Giving Shop (Save the Children) – This shop stocks items of excellent style and quality and is a favourite among Edinburgh charity shoppers.

The Bethany Shop – Tucked away just off the main road, this stylish charity shop could be mistaken for a vintage furniture store.

Stockbridge is one of our favourite areas in Edinburgh. We’ve dedicated many a blog post to this lovely spot, including this ‘Places To Stay’ guide with some of favourite things to do (and eat!) in Stockbridge.

Morningside & Bruntsfield

Photo: Local Life Community & Lifestyle Magazine – Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland – 344 Morningside Rd

About a mile south-west of the city centre you’ll find the popular neighbouring areas of Morningside and Bruntsfield. Like Stockbridge, Morningside is a treasure trove when it comes to excellent charity shops with quality stock.

Admittedly, Bruntsfield doesn’t have many charity shops but nevertheless, is well worth a visit. Because of its many fantastic eateries and gorgeous independent shops, Bruntsfield is another one of our favourite Edinburgh areas. Before you head out and start exploring, take a look at our favourite things to do in Bruntsfield.

Our Morningside & Bruntsfield Favourites

Birthlink (Bruntsfield) – One of the oldest charity shops in Scotland, with lots of interesting finds.

Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland (Morningside) – Like its Stockbridge branch, it is evident that a lot of thought and care has gone into designing a lovely interior and pleasant browsing experience.

Cancer Research UK (Morningside) – You’ll find clothing, accessories, and quality homeware in this popular shop.

Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home Charity Shop (Morningside) – A shop for animal lovers! This place is full of stylish clothing.

Shelter (Morningside) – You never know what you’ll find in this shop, which sells a little bit of everything.

Newington

Photo: Oxfam Scotland

With the University of Edinburgh central to this part of the city, the whole area has a bustling and energetic atmosphere. It’s also bursting with a variety of good coffee shops, and therefore the perfect place to take a break from trawling through the many charity shops. And you’ll definitely need a break as the Newington area has the highest concentration of charity shops in the city!

We recommend starting on Nicolson Street, where you could spend all afternoon perusing through the many charity shops. And when you’ve exhausted all your options there, head over to Forrest Road, where you’ll find a couple more!

Our Newington Favourites

Shelter (Nicolson Street) – Right in the heart of student-ville, you’re likely to find some recently donated and no longer needed homewares here.

Oxfam (Nicolson Street) – There are two branches of Oxfam on Nicolson Street, an extensive bookshop and their ‘general store’, where you’ll find an impressive selection of Fairtrade goods and food.

British Heart Foundation (Nicolson Street) – There’s a wide range of products here, from clothing and accessories to books, music, greeting cards and homewares.

Shelter (Forrest Road) – Small and cosy, this well-stocked shop is full of quality items.

The Salvation Army (Forest Road) – This little shop is filled with books, clothes, and trinkets. Even the odd wedding dress has been known to pop up here!

While you’re in the area, pop into Armstrong & Son on Teviot Place. Though not a charity shop, it’s one of the UK’s oldest vintage stores and is a treasure trove of clothing and accessories from a bygone era.

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This gorgeous private courtyard is all yours when you stay in our Stockbridge home.

Carlton Street

This charming Stockbridge home is a one-minute walk from the beautiful Water of Leith walkway. It’s been furnished and decorated with a wonderful sense of style throughout. Comfort has been thought of everywhere here, from the beautifully crisp white sheets to the mug you’ll sip your morning coffee from. The living space is wonderful with lots of comfortable chairs to sink into and a charming private garden is ready to be enjoyed with lush plants and outdoor furniture. The kitchen is well-equipped for dining at home, allowing you to make the most of the brilliant local food shops and Sunday market.

Read more about this lovely flat in our featured blog post: Our Homes From Homes – Carlton Street

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