What a lovely charity shop! My Mum and I had gone for a wander in Meanwood on our return to Leeds…read moreand we nipped in here, drawn in by the delights in the window. They had a number of gorgeous tea sets, bowls and other things in the window so we nipped in for a proper rummage. I managed to pick up a huge coffee pot set for five pounds and a large fruit bowl for three pounds, all specially wrapped up by the lovely staff. It has to be said they were particularly helpful and friendly, which is wonderful given that I'm assuming they're volunteers. The shop was abuzz with folks looking for a bargain, and whilst the majority of the space is taken up with clothing, there's plenty of ornamentals, kitchen ware, games, and other oddments to pick up. If you've the patience to rummage through you're sure to find a fab new frock, pair of trousers, tea set and much more. A delightful find and I shall be back soon!

This is an absolute gem among Leeds' charity shops. A quick glance in the window revealed an…read moreamazing display of vintage china ornaments, crockery and trays with some very unusual and charming pieces. Darting straight in I wasn't disappointed as there was many an OTT vintage hat displayed high on the walls and a determined search through the rails and shelves yielded yet more bargainous finds. The Community Shop does have many average charity shop items, but within them you're guaranteed to find some lovely bits and bobs - a treat for any junk shop enthusiast!

I thought I'd give this five stars because as charity shops go it really is a great shop. It is…read morevery large for a charity shop and has a good range of stock. In the foyer area there are women's clothes, accessories, shoes and jewellery. The main room houses men's clothes, shoes, children's toys and clothes and a large range of crockery, home ware and other bits and bobs. I found many a cute vintage-style china ornament, some lovely jewellery and two pairs of shoes I liked - in most charity shops I find none! The products were mainly of very high quality and you got the impression the staff, who seemed lovely, really take pride in their shop. The beautiful old historic-looking building and large easily visible signage also gives the shop bonus points.

Everyone must have heard of the good old Salvation Army. They are a church and a registered charity…read morethat have been running for nearly 50 years. Now working in over 117 countries worldwide, with over 1.6 million members they have grown immensely and are providing huge support for those who need it. They run programmes helping places such as drug rehabilitation centres, schools, hospitals, community centres and medical centres. Their shops are like any other charity shop, raising that extra bit of cash towards their cause. They are full of random bits and bobs and somewhere you are bound to find something you could do with, and usually for very cheap. I love charity shopping and will be returning to this place in the New Year.

As a fanatic of second hand and vintage clothing it's almost my duty to provide information…read moreregarding the best charity and second hand shops in Leeds, simply as a matter of course. Here is one of those gems folks! Oh yes, this place has been set up by the Leeds Jewish community as a small charity shop based in Moortown, which sells all manner of bric a brac, games, clothes, shoes, glassware, ceramics, oddments and more. I came here recently on another one of my galavants around Leeds, I've become quite the gadabout these days, and I had the best little shopping trip ever. I realise that my definition of 'best ever' will be quite different to say, a 50 year old gentlemen's, so I shall elaborate. In my rummaging I found some of the most awesome hand made and random clothes ever! It seemed like this place had been donated tons of one-off odd little pieces, which were perfect for me, it was like finding a treasure trove of unique things! There is obviously every chance that this was a one off but if I know my charity shops, which I do like to, they usually fall into a system of loyal donaters - so here's hoping whosoever donated my beautiful teal/cosmos blue egyptian-style hand made halter dress has plenty more up her sleeve for me - it was even my perfect fit!

The Wellfair Shop on Harrogate Road is a charity shop set up to raise money for Leeds Jewish…read moreWellfare Board, who provide valuable support services to people throughout the community, including older people, children and families, people with learning and physical disabilities, home care for those who need it and support for people with visual or hearing impairments. So you know that any money you spend here is going to a good cause. All items sold there are second hand and donated by the public. The range of items is what you'd expect from a charity shop, including clothing for men, women and kids, toys, books, CDs and DVDs, home ware and bric-a-brac. The window display on my last visit was very retro, with a Jackie annual on display and a brilliant vintage mannequin. Also among the display were some vintage style crockery and vases. I found a few pieces of clothing worth a purchase, which I admit I don't usually find in most charity shops. Overall I liked The Wellfair Shop and it seemed to have just enough unusual bits an bobs to make it stand out from your average charity shop. I'll definitely be popping in next time I'm in the area!

It used to be PDSA, I think, and it was a vintage charity shop before, but the guys at Sue Ryder…read morehave done an incredible job of making this charity shop a consistently excellent source of vintage goods. When ever I'm in Headingley I pop in, no matter what schedule I'm on, as there's always a quick, amazing bargain to be had. I love their window displays -- they always catch my eye, and more than once I've bought something from the mannequin. If you're in any way a fan of vintage clothing, this place has to be on your list of spots to have a browse. As well as great threads (often with really ace old school labels or handmade items) they have some really great antique bric a brac -- leather handbags, scarves, ornaments, crockery, records, sewing machines, and all sorts. The staff are always lovely too! If you're about town, pop in and have a rummage. It's a feel-good buy all round!

This is my favourite charity shop in Headingley. I usually nip in to most of them if I'm walking…read morethrough and have a spare hour, but this one I will always check out. On first glance you could think it's a dead loss - inside there's not always a lot to see. But once you delve a little deeper the substance becomes apparent. For a start, their window displays are second to none for creativity. They always have wonderful sign writing on the glass, and change the visual management of the window area every week to something new, exciting and themed. It is always themed, halloween, christmas and even more specific things like harvest or autumn. They also have offers on, which in some ways is almost ridiculous since when it comes to charity people shouldn't squibble over a few pounds. Nevertheless often when I go in I notice they have the "All clothes £1" sign up - and I can tell you, when you rumage to find a MaxMara jumper for a quid, you are going to be pleased as punch. Finally, I think that this shop gives everything a nice personal touch. I went in once looking for beads to make some jewellery and found a bag of broken necklaces. I told the lady how useful it was and she said that she would tell the other volunteers and that it would be a regular thing - if the necklaces went unsold for an amount of time, they'd be broken up and put into a bargain bag that I should look for on a regular basis. How kind! And sure enough, they are still doing it. Of course, now I've given away my supply source, but hey. They are so awesome it was worth talking about it.

Until recently I'm ashamed to say I didn't even realize The Martin House Shop was a charity shop!…read moreAll the products in the window look so squeaky clean and brand new that a quick glance when walking past led me to believe it was some sort of gift shop. This shows the effort the staff put into the window displays - they take pride in their stock. The Martin House Shop is a great little charity shop with some interesting finds to be found! They have some unusual pieces of crockery and home ware and a large selection of picture frames of different sizes and styles. For anyone with babies soon to be appearing in their lives there's a whole rail of delightful hand-knitted baby jumpers and cardigans, each one unique! And much cheaper than a similar item on the high street (which would actually be pretty difficult to come by!). And in case you felt like making your own they sell loads of wool as well as various balls of cotton and craft materials. The Martin House Shop seems to sell all the usual charity shop items but with a bit of added character. They had a few vintage items in the clothing section and most of their stock seems just that bit more unusual than your standard charity shop. I think I'd agree with Rowena - Martin House is my favourite Headingley charity shop!

I love St. Gemma's Hospice shops in general, but there are a few in particular that I have a…read morespecial fondness for and this is one of them. St. Gemma's Hospice was opened in Leeds in the 70s and is a hospice that specifically cares, and helps to care for terminally ill patients, so you couldn't really find a more worthy cause. The difference this charity shop makes in Chapel Allerton is quite important - it certainly breaks up the theme of gift and knick knack shops that are almost wall to wall here! Since Chapel A is a rather up market little town the items donated are of a much higher quality than most places, so there are always really good bargains to be found. It also makes quite a positive alternative to the many gift shops near by - often I've gone to purchase a hand bag or similar and ended up buying one a little cheaper here than in the boutiques not so far away - plus it all goes to a good cause! The staff are amicable and will offer advice too if you need some ideas! For an ethically good and usually bargainous find, this is a grand little edition to Chapel A living.

Sometimes I feel I take way too often. I'm greedy and materialistic. Okay I've said it. So now and…read moreagain I try to give something back and a very little way of doing so is by using one of the many St Gemma's Shops. St Gemma's does amazing work and should be supported in the fullest. The amount of people they've helped in their darkest hours cannot be highlighted enough. So I spend what I can in the Chapel Allerton branch when I'm in the area. It's not just doing your bit for charity; they also have some cracking stuff too. You've got a nice mixture of second hand clothes, books, bric-a-brac and some hidden delights that you'd just not think of. I've actually picked up a retro jacket from there and had many remarks on it when I've donned the number. I also like to stock up on some bedtime reading and hate spending the cash at faceless chains when I can get a nice, worn book which is actually going towards helping someone in need rather than a fat cat director. The shops are sprinkled around the city so if you pass one go in and have a look. They are also always crying out for more goods, so rather than ebay or cat boot them, think about donating here. Exceptional work that I'll continue to support in my own little way.

I don't like giving charity shops poor ratings because ultimately they do a good job. But this…read moreOxfam is really disappointing, and given it's about four doors down from a Cancer Research shop it could do with having a bit of a rethink. Reasons I didn't like it: 1) There were hardly any clothes on the rails 2) The clothes that were there weren't in any kind of size/colour order 3) There were a couple of items on the floor, from rails directly in front of the till, and the till dude (ok I know he's not getting paid but come on, if you're going to volunteer, do it properly) didn't seem bothered at all 4) The window display was full of 'DO NOT TOUCH' signs. It's not Tiffany's. It's Oxfam. Get over yourselves.

This Oxfam shop in Moortown is a good size and is well-stocked with a large book section rather…read morelike a mini Oxfam Books and a small, slightly unloved-looking furniture section in a room right at the back with a few armchairs, a small desk, some bedside tables and other bits and bobs. In the first and largest room is the standard range of second-hand items you might expect from an Oxfam shop, with women's, men's and kids clothing, shoes, accessories and home ware. They also sell new greetings cards, gifts and a range of Divine chocolate products. The size of this shop means there's just that bit more choice, especially in the book section. The clothing is of decent quality, though I didn't find anything that particularly jumped out at me. If enjoy a good charity shop rummage you're bound to find something here...even if it ends up being a bar of Divine chocolate or a pretty greetings card.

Big thanks to Gab behind the counter, super sweet and helped me get all fitted up for cowboy night…read moreim going to!!

Ingeniously situated in one of Leeds' most bohemian and effortlessly cool areas, Hyde Park, Retro…read moreBoutique provides customers with vintage items from many eras with which to wear and furnish. Like any retro shop, you have to root around for ages before you find anything worth buying, and sometimes you won't find anything worth purchasing at all. There are heaps of clothes on offer, but they are more geared towards women than men, which is a bit disappointing if you have a Y chromosome. Unlike most of the other vintage shops in Leeds, however, this place does offer plenty of quirky items of furniture as well as its clothing selection. So if you're a woman, or in need of some bizarre bric-a-brac, I'd recommend Retro Boutique. If, like me, however, you want to find a 1980s Adidas tracktop, I'd recommend Blue Rinse in town.

Well, I was expecting/hoping for a some awesome little treasures to be tucked away in this shop,…read morewith the grade of personage that live round here that is. However, I was a little disappointed with this charity shop. Although nothing was actually wrong with the shop per se I could find nothing to satiate my desire for a cheap gem, a nugget of excellence or just a decent top for steal of a deal. The china was pretty poor too and the amount of goods present was a little on the thin side. Nice people though.

As charity shops go this isn't an extraordinary one due to the goods on offer, the staff however is…read moredelightful. Always very friendly and willing to chat it gives the shop a great atmosphere. If you look really hard there is normally a great bargain to be had. The book section is always my favourite place to go in charity shops and this one is no different. The selection of men's suit I always find to be great.

There is an abundance of charity shops in Headingley but Oxfam clearly rules the roost! Whilst…read moreanother branch a few doors down sells books, this one has everything else - clothes, electrical items, a few pieces of furniture, bags, puzzles, vases, shoes, and a range of fair trade and 'ethical' items that are not second hand. If you are not a regular charity shop scrambler then this latter section may interest you the most. Here you can find fair trade jewelry, complete with a picture of an African lady on the label - did she make it I wonder? There are note books made from recycled materials, chocolate, coffee, gardening things and books on how to save-the-world. Despite all these really great products that people might otherwise not be aware of if Oxfam didn't promote them, I have mixed feelings about this charity shop. Firstly, is it trying to disguise itself as something more than a charity shop? I sometimes think the people of Oxfam know they are a cut above the rest but resent this when I see Primark clothes being sold for a similar price to the one they are sold for when brand new. On the other hand, I love Oxfam for providing second hand electrical items as I was able to get some hair straighteners for less than a fiver! Especially when many charity shops are unable to sell electrical goods. When in Headingley its always worth a visit.

The Oxfam of Headingley has to be my least favourite of all the charity shops. It's true that there…read moreis always a lot to browse, certainly when it comes to jewellery as they always have a big selection on display, but I just can't stand the fact that they bump up their prices so incredibly. Nothing makes Oxfam seem more like a corporate business than a charity than when you see, for example, Primark items going for sale at virtually more than they would cost originally. Gah indeed. It seems, unfortunately, that a lot of cool and quirky clothing does indeed get donated here over some of the other charity shops so if you're a keen oddments collector it's worth popping in but you've got to be happy to pay the fee for such items. I'll admit, I bought it anyway, but I found an Indian dress for about £15 which I think is a tad steep for charity shop prices. Better that Oxfam have my £15 than Primark, but how much further would that £15 go in St. Gemma's Hospice I wonder? Who can say. Nevertheless, it's of course worth mentioning that the Oxfam here is the largest charity shop in Headingley, and so it's always worth having a poke around. They've a separate music and electricals section, with loads of vinyl, CD players, TVs and such, as well as a number of chocolates, sets, clothes, jewellery, accessories, kids items, games and more in the main area. Certainly bric-a-brac heaven! All kinds of bits and bobs, as you might expect!