Record stores in St Albans
Vinyl hunting in St Albans, Hertfordshire? There are 114 record shops mapped here. That's 114 record shops mapped around St Albans. Every shop grades and prices differently, so the same record can be a bargain in one and a splurge in another — dig everywhere. The new-arrivals bin is always the first stop — that's where the good stuff lands before anyone else sees it.
This guide covers every record store we could verify in and around St Albans (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include Perfect Pitch and Islington Music, plus Metro Music. If a record shop's missing from St Albans's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet.
The St Albans record lineup
114 mapped within about 40 km — showing 60:
Perfect Pitch
Record store
Perfect Pitch — Record store, found on 72 The Broadway in Chesham.
72 The Broadway, Chesham, HP5 1EG
Islington Music
Record store
Islington Music is Record store.
Metro Music
Record store
Metro Music — Record store.
Travis & Emery
Record store
Travis & Emery is Record store on 17 Cecil Court, London.
17 Cecil Court, London, WC2N 4EZ
Hobgoblin Music
Record store
Hobgoblin Music is Record store on 24 Rathbone Place, London. Hobgoblin Music also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 12:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
24 Rathbone Place, London, W1T 1JA
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 12:00-18:00
Flashback Records Islington
Used record storeRun by Flashback Records
Run by Flashback Records, Flashback Records Islington is Used record store, found on 50 Essex Road in London. Also worth knowing about Flashback Records Islington: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 10:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
50 Essex Road, London, N1 8LR
Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-19:00
Phone: +44 20 7354 9356
Out on the Floor
Record store
Out on the Floor is Record store on 10 Inverness Road, London. Out on the Floor also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as 11:00-18:00.
10 Inverness Road, London
Hours: 11:00-18:00
Richard Reason Pianos
Record store
Richard Reason Pianos is Record store on 94 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin. Richard Reason Pianos also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
94 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, SG5 2DW
The Sound Garden
Record store
The Sound Garden is Record store.
Crescendo Music
Record store
Crescendo Music — Record store on 160 George Lane. Also worth knowing about Crescendo Music: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
160 George Lane
Phone: +44 7799 778565
Vinyl Revelations
Record store
Vinyl Revelations — Record store, found on 1B Cardigan Street in Luton. Also worth knowing about Vinyl Revelations: the map lists its hours as 10:30-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
1B Cardigan Street, Luton, LU1 1RP
Hours: 10:30-18:00
Phone: +44 1582 876391
Honest Jon's Records
Record store
Honest Jon's Records — Record store, found on 278 Portobello Road in London. Also worth knowing about Honest Jon's Records: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
278 Portobello Road, London, W10 5TE
Phone: +44 20 8969 9822
Markson Pianos
Record store
Markson Pianos is Record store on 5 Albany Street, London. Markson Pianos also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30.
5 Albany Street, London, NW1 4BU
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30
HMV
Record store
HMV is Record store on 27-28 Harvey Centre (Ground Floor).
27-28 Harvey Centre (Ground Floor)
Guitar Classics
Record store
Guitar Classics is Record store on 38 Webb's Road, London. Guitar Classics also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
38 Webb's Road, London, SW11 6SF
Phone: +44 20 7738 2974
Melody UK
Record store
Melody UK — Record store.
Langley Sound & Light
Record store
Langley Sound & Light is Record store on 100-104 Meadfield Road, Slough. Langley Sound & Light also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
100-104 Meadfield Road, Slough, SL3 8HR
Ancient Black
Record store
Ancient Black — Record store.
Empire Records
Record store
Empire Records is Record store on Heritage Close, St Albans. Empire Records also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 11:00-17:30; Sa 10:00-17:30; Su 12:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
Heritage Close, St Albans
Hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-17:30; Sa 10:00-17:30; Su 12:00-16:00
The Book and Record Bar
Record store
The Book and Record Bar — Record store, found on 20 Norwood High Street in London.
20 Norwood High Street, London, SE27 9NR
Banquet Records
Record store
Banquet Records — Record store, found on 52 Eden Street in Kingston upon Thames. Also worth knowing about Banquet Records: the map lists its hours as Mo-We,Fr-Sa 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-19:00; Su 12:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
52 Eden Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EE
Hours: Mo-We,Fr-Sa 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-19:00; Su 12:00-17:00
Phone: +44 20 8549 5871
HMV
Record store
HMV is Record store on Feast Street, Luton. HMV also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Feast Street, Luton, LU1 2LJ
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 843 221 0261
Massive International
Record store
Massive International — Record store, found on 43 Middle Yard, Camden Lock Place in London. Also worth knowing about Massive International: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 11:00-19:00 open; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
43 Middle Yard, Camden Lock Place, London, NW1 8AF
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-19:00 open
Phone: +44 20 7267 9490
Camden Lock Vinyl
Record store
Camden Lock Vinyl is Record store on 35a Middle Yard, Camden Lock Place, London.
35a Middle Yard, Camden Lock Place, London, NW1 8AF
Love Vinyl
Record store
Love Vinyl is Record store on 5 Pearson Street, London. Love Vinyl also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 11:30-18:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
5 Pearson Street, London, E2 8JD
Hours: Tu-Sa 11:30-18:30
Phone: +44 20 7729 8978
Records
Record store
Records — Record store on 70 Lee High Road.
70 Lee High Road
Alan's Record and CD Shop
Record store
Alan's Record and CD Shop — Record store.
Flashback Records Shoreditch
Record store
Flashback Records Shoreditch — Record store, found on 131 Bethnal Green Road in London. Also worth knowing about Flashback Records Shoreditch: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 10:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
131 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG
Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-19:00
Phone: +44 20 3780 1900
Supertone Records & CDs
Record store
Supertone Records & CDs is Record store on 110 Acre Lane. Supertone Records & CDs also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
110 Acre Lane
Phone: +44 20 7737 7761
Rise Above Records and Relics
Record store
Rise Above Records and Relics is Record store. Rise Above Records and Relics also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 11:30-17:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
London, N6 5AA
Hours: Tu-Sa 11:30-17:30
Phone: +44 20 8292 1572
Bulldog Music
Record store
Bulldog Music is Record store.
Next Door Records Two
Record store
Next Door Records Two is Record store on 182 Stoke Newington Road, London. Next Door Records Two also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-We 08:00-23:00; Th 08:00-24:00; Fr 08:00-00:30; Sa 10:00-00:30; Su 10:00-23:00; it has a website with more detail.
182 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 7UY
Hours: Mo-We 08:00-23:00; Th 08:00-24:00; Fr 08:00-00:30; Sa 10:00-00:30; Su 10:00-23:00
HMV
Record store
HMV is Record store on Union Parade, High Wycombe. HMV also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-We 09:30-17:30; Th-Sa 09:30-18:00; Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Union Parade, High Wycombe, HP11 2BQ
Hours: Mo-We 09:30-17:30; Th-Sa 09:30-18:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 843 221 0227
Aylesbury Music
Record store
Aylesbury Music is Record store.
Rye Wax
Record store
Rye Wax — Record store, found on 133 Rye Lane in London. Also worth knowing about Rye Wax: the map lists its hours as Tu-Su 12:00-22:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
133 Rye Lane, London, SE15 4ST
Hours: Tu-Su 12:00-22:00
Phone: +44 20 7732 3176
Zen records
Record store
Zen records is Record store on 69 Broad lane, London. Zen records also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 11:30-18:30.
69 Broad lane, London
Hours: Mo-Sa 11:30-18:30
HMV
Record store
HMV is Record store.
HMV
Record store
HMV is Record store.
Flashback Records Crouch End
Used record storeRun by Flashback Records
Flashback Records Crouch End is Used record store run by Flashback Records on 26 Tottenham Lane, London. Flashback Records Crouch End also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 10:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
26 Tottenham Lane, London, N8 8PT
Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-19:00
Phone: +44 20 8342 9633
Sacred Records
Record store
Sacred Records — Record store. Also worth knowing about Sacred Records: the map lists its hours as Sa 11:00-18:00.
Hours: Sa 11:00-18:00
Music & Video Exchange
Record store
Music & Video Exchange is Record store on 38 Notting Hill Gate, London. Music & Video Exchange also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
38 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3HX
Phone: +44 20 7243 8573
Rough Trade
Record store
Rough Trade — Record store on 130 Talbot Road. Also worth knowing about Rough Trade: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
130 Talbot Road
Phone: +44 20 7229 8541
People's Sound Records
Record store
People's Sound Records — Record store on 11 All Saints Road. Also worth knowing about People's Sound Records: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
11 All Saints Road
Phone: +44 20 7792 9321
Soul Brother Records
Record store
Soul Brother Records — Record store, found on 1 Keswick Road in London. Also worth knowing about Soul Brother Records: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 11:00-18:00.
1 Keswick Road, London
Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-18:00
Next Door Records
Record store
Next Door Records is Record store on 304 Uxbridge Road, London. Next Door Records also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-We 08:00-23:00; Th 08:00-00:00; Fr 08:00-01:00; Sa 10:00-01:00; Su 10:00-23:00; it has a website with more detail.
304 Uxbridge Road, London, W12 7LJ
Hours: Tu-We 08:00-23:00; Th 08:00-00:00; Fr 08:00-01:00; Sa 10:00-01:00; Su 10:00-23:00
Mike’s Record Shop
Record store
Mike’s Record Shop — Record store.
Ray’s Records
Record store
Ray’s Records — Record store.
Dr Vinyl
Record store
Dr Vinyl is Record store.
London
Peckings Records
Record store
Peckings Records is Record store on 81 Askew Road. Peckings Records also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
81 Askew Road
Phone: +44 7944 488191
Dreamhouse Records
Record store
Dreamhouse Records is Record store on 177 Francis Road, London. Dreamhouse Records also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
177 Francis Road, London
Eel Pie Records
Record store
Eel Pie Records — Record store, found on 44-45 Church Street in Twickenham. Also worth knowing about Eel Pie Records: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 11:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
44-45 Church Street, Twickenham, TW1 3NR
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 11:00-18:00
Phone: +44 7946 324970
Stranger Than Paradise
Record store
Stranger Than Paradise is Record store on 117 Mare Street, London. Stranger Than Paradise also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Tu 09:00-18:00; We-Su 11:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
117 Mare Street, London, E8 4RU
Hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-18:00; We-Su 11:00-17:00
Phone: +44 20 3745 2607
World of Echo
Record store
World of Echo is Record store on 46 Cheshire Street, London. World of Echo also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Th,Su 12:00-17:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
46 Cheshire Street, London
Hours: Mo-Th,Su 12:00-17:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-18:00
Phone: +44 20 4619 5721
Play Vinyl
Record store
Play Vinyl is Record store on 14 Ezra Street, London. Play Vinyl also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Fr-Su 09:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
14 Ezra Street, London, E2 7RH
Hours: Fr-Su 09:00-17:00
Phone: +44 7480 651744
Casbah Records
Record store
Casbah Records is Record store on 320-322 Creek Road, London. Casbah Records also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 10:30-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
320-322 Creek Road, London, SE10 9SW
Hours: Mo-Su 10:30-18:00
Phone: +44 20 8858 1964
Music & Video Exchange
Record storeRun by Music & Fashion Exchange LTD
Music & Video Exchange is Record store run by Music & Fashion Exchange LTD on 23 Greenwich Church Street, London. Music & Video Exchange also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 10:00-20:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
23 Greenwich Church Street, London, SE10 9BJ
Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-20:00
Phone: +44 20 8858 8899
Priory Records Ltd
Record store
Priory Records Ltd — Record store, found on Eden Way in Leighton Buzzard.
Eden Way, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 4FY
Black Salt Record Shop
Record store
Black Salt Record Shop — Record store.
Planet Wax
Record store
Planet Wax is Record store on 318 New Cross Road, London. Planet Wax also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu 12:00-19:00; We 12:00-23:00; Th 12:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-27:00.
318 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6AF
Hours: Tu 12:00-19:00; We 12:00-23:00; Th 12:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-27:00
Honest Jon's
Record store
Honest Jon's is Record store. Honest Jon's also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
London
What the map tells us about record stores in St Albans
53 of the 114 list their opening hours on the map, which is genuinely useful — record shops keep shop hours, so the listed times are usually reliable.
61 have websites listed. Worth a look for new-arrival posts and want-list services.
7 of the shops are tagged as selling used vinyl — the dollar bins and used wall are where the real digging happens.
The St Albans record crawl
The efficient St Albans record crawl strings these together: Perfect Pitch on 72 The Broadway, Islington Music, Metro Music, Travis & Emery on 17 Cecil Court, Hobgoblin Music on 24 Rathbone Place, Flashback Records Islington on 50 Essex Road, Out on the Floor on 10 Inverness Road, and Richard Reason Pianos on 94 Tilehouse Street — 114 stops, one logical order. 106 more are listed below.
Record digging tips for St Albans
How the regulars work St Albans's bins:
- Bring cash for the small shops at Perfect Pitch. Some independents prefer it, and a cash offer on a stack can occasionally move the price.
- Don't overlook cassettes and CDs at Islington Music. The tape and CD sections are chronically underpriced. The format revival hasn't hit them the same way.
- Ask to play it. Good shops have turntables for exactly this. If they won't let you listen, that's information too.
- Learn the grading. Mint, near mint, very good — and check whether the grade is visual or play-graded. A visual VG+ can play like an EX.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around St Albans — that covers the town itself plus the surrounding communities you'd reasonably drive to. Listings come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by local volunteers, so a brand-new record store in St Albans can take a while to appear. If you spot one of the 114 that's closed, or a great record store we missed, the fix is to update the map itself — that's where this guide reads from.
We don't list prices or stock — both change by the day. What we list is the where: real shops, verified by real mappers.
If you run one of the 114 listed here and something's wrong — a closure, a move, new hours — the fix is the same: update the shop on OpenStreetMap and the correction flows through to this page on the next daily refresh.
Record store listings for St Albans: 114 mapped from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos from Wikimedia Commons contributors; individual photo credits appear in captions. Listing data was last refreshed automatically — verify hours before visiting.