If there’s a vintage and antique shop that has it all, it’s definitely The Vintage Emporium in Stockport. It has everything you need, such as fashion items you can still wear and collectables that would look terrific in your home.

The selection here is massive! That’s not a shock, though, given it has over 65 independent traders selling all sorts of vintage stuff.

We did notice during our visit, however, that the items were on the pricier side compared to other antique shops we visited. But given the good-quality vintage products, we concluded that the prices are understandable.

On the upside, looking for unique finds is fun because everything is nicely laid out. We like that it also caters to a wide range of interests, like a life-size Dalek and trendy fashion items.

The location makes it accessible, too. It has parking, disabled facilities, and an on-site restaurant and tea shop.

Real gem of a place

“Our first visit and will not be the last. A real gem of a place with plenty to look round very friendly staff and excellent disabled access via a lift which is situated around the back. There is a wonderful cafe with once again very friendly staff prices we found were very reasonable and a large selection of cakes,the sausage sandwich and Biscoff cake I had were amazing plenty of seating and a nice vibe.”

-artiexr222, Google Review

So many amazing, wonderful things to look at

“Wow, what a place. The second you walk in this place is mesmerising. There are so many amazing wonderful things to look at. You don’t know where to start. This place definitely brings back loads of memories from my childhood. It’s like Aladins cave. Well worth going, it’s a must. And the vintage  cafe is adorable. Will definitely be going again. 😍”

-Kellie Mottershead, Google Review

The Old Potato Store is a fancy kind of vintage and antique shop in Manchester. That’s to be expected because the owner, Karen Barlow, is an interior designer and stylist.

Basically, everything is curated, including the bits and bobs. All of the vintage items, which are decently priced, feel personally sourced, such as furniture, art, and decorative items—I would like to add that all of her items are absolute beauties!

Now, here’s the small issue: there’s only a small collection. This isn’t your typical mish-mash of vintage stuff since everything is carefully chosen.

You should know that she only offers a modern type of vintage shopping—online only, so no shop visits. We do appreciate that shipping is fast in the UK and she accepts pickups in Manchester, which you need to book an appointment for.

The thing about online shopping is you get discounts, which applies here! First orders receive 10% off, which is a good deal.

Packaged safely and delivered quickly

“I have always been so delighted with my purchases from The Old Potato Store. The shop is full of unique and beautiful finds sourced with Karen’s talented eye. I love this beauty of a painting that sits in our living room, it was delivered quickly and packaged up all safely. I’ll definitely be purchasing again in the future, thank you!!”

-Lily Smallwood, Google Review

Most amazing eye for beautiful items

“I have bought a variety of items from Karen over the years, including flower and twig wreathes, a beautiful wooden and leather piano stool and some stunning antique french grammar prints/boards. Karen has the most amazing eye for beautiful items and it is well worth subscribing to get a sneak-peek at upcoming stock so you don’t miss out! My absolute favourite site for gorgeous vintage treasures x”

-Clare Heggs, Google Review

Old Mill Antiques knows how to elevate homes… through vintage furniture! They specialise in buying, selling, and renting out furniture for TV, film, and theatre—dealers are welcome, too!

They specialise in antique furniture, but it’s nice that it doesn’t limit their selection. You’ll still find random bits in this 3-storey warehouse, which has tenants selling other items, like vinyl records and other collectibles.

What you’ll mostly see is a bunch of decently priced vintage furniture, like bookcases, chairs, and apothecary tables. It’s awesome to see upholstered or upcycled items, which makes them safe to use at home!

Vintage shopping here is disabled-friendly, which we commend (a lot!). The toilets are on the ground floor and the building has lifts and ramps.

It’s a bummer they’re closed on Saturdays. But they compensate for their on-site cafe if you fancy handmade cakes and coffee, which isn’t something you usually see in vintage shops.

No pushy salesmen

“What a great place. It has such a great selection of things, you could spend a day here! No pushy salesmen, very friendly. Just bought a couch on a Sunday, getting delivered on Tuesday. If you are looking for something quirky and different or antique, pop down. The only bad thing is you will find something you didnt realise you needed and buy it!”

-Simon Harvey, Google Review

Great customer service

“Great customer service, very knowledgeable and helpful. Always got time for people. They even have some old cars in now. They deal with trade and private sellers too.”

-Jason Shaw, Google Review

Going to Insitu Architectural Salvage will make you want to remodel your house. It focuses on classic and architectural salvage pieces, which will surely add lots of character to your home.

The vintage and antique pieces at this Manchester shop are truly unique—mostly reclaimed and refurbished stuff. It sells lots of items, like doors, furniture, stoves, fireplaces, radiators, hardware, windows, and more!

We also love the styles you’ll find here, such as Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco. It’s awesome that you’ll find something unique and quirky here, and it’s impressive how well laid out everything is.

Sometimes, beautiful things come with high price tags. Make sure you have the cash when you visit because they’re not the most affordable, but they’re a treasure trove of quality pieces, so that’s understandable.

Sadly, they’re closed on Sundays, which limits their availability. The location is incredible, though, because they’re in a Grade II listed Victorian pub—even the building is vintage!

Fashionistas will love Bare Necessities Thrift, a neighbourhood vintage clothing shop in Piccadilly. The store is packed with display racks filled with a wide array of styles and sizes that are still good quality!

Even though there are loads of items, the place is still organised, which is refreshing to see in a vintage clothing store. We also like the variety of brands (there are over 100), which include expensive stuff like Levi’s and Ralph Lauren.

Their focus on sustainability reeled us in. Sure, that’s what most thrift stores do, but here, they save over 1000 items weekly from going to landfills and they plant trees through Ecologi, an environmental organisation.

The other thing that made us love this place is the bargain prices! You can find a designer item for a tenner!

However, their website isn’t often updated with new stocks, so a visit to the shop is required. That’s fine since they’re open 7 days a week!

Well worth the price

“I passed by and noticed a charming sign, so I decided to stop in—and I’m glad I did! The clothes were incredibly stylish and well worth the price, and the staff was very friendly. I’ll definitely be coming back. Thanks!”

-Bintang Tng, Google Review

Amazing collection

“Definitely is going to revisit the store soon, Got quite a lot to see at Bare Necessities Thrift, during the limited short stay due to our late arrival near to the store’s closing time, still really enjoyed browsing through various types and brands of vintage clothings, ended up to find what I am looking for, got a surprisingly amazing collection here!”

-Trevi Yeung, Google Review