Thrift stores in Chelmsford
Chelmsford, Essex has 343 thrift and charity shops on the map right now. 334 of them are charity shops and 9 are independent second-hand stores, so Chelmsford gives you both flavours of thrifting in one trip. Stock turns over fast in all of them, so the shop that had nothing last month might have your thing this week.
This guide covers every thrift store we could verify in and around Chelmsford (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include Samaritans and Oxfam, plus Isabel Hospice Sawbridgeworth Charity Shop — each with its own personality, which is half the fun. If a shop's missing from Chelmsford's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet — the scene is bigger than any single dataset.
The Chelmsford thrift lineup
343 mapped within about 40 km — showing 60:
Samaritans
Charity shop
Samaritans is a charity shop on Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff-on-Sea.
Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff-on-Sea
Oxfam
Charity shopRun by Oxfam
Run by Oxfam, Oxfam is a charity shop, found on Hamlet Court Road in Westcliff-on-Sea.
Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff-on-Sea
Isabel Hospice Sawbridgeworth Charity Shop
Charity shop
Isabel Hospice Sawbridgeworth Charity Shop is a charity shop on 1 Forelands Place, Sawbridgeworth.
1 Forelands Place, Sawbridgeworth, CM21 9QD
Havens Hospice Charity Shop
Charity shop
Havens Hospice Charity Shop — a charity shop.
Friends of lions Charity Shop
Charity shop
Friends of lions Charity Shop — a charity shop.
British Heart Foundation
Charity shop
British Heart Foundation — a charity shop, found on 86 The Mall in London. Also worth knowing about British Heart Foundation: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
86 The Mall, London, E15 1XQ
Phone: +44 20 8555 6967
Muscular Dystrophy Shop
Charity shop
Muscular Dystrophy Shop is a charity shop on 3 Warwick Parade, South Woodham Ferrers.
3 Warwick Parade, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5JT
Second Coming
Second-hand store
Second Coming — an independent second-hand store.
Barnardo's
Charity shop
Barnardo's — a charity shop.
Barnardo's
Charity shop
Barnardo's is a charity shop on George Lane.
George Lane
The Children's Society
Charity shop
The Children's Society — a charity shop on George Lane.
George Lane
Cancer Research UK
Charity shop
Cancer Research UK is a charity shop on George Lane.
George Lane
Helen Rollason Cancer Charity
Charity shop
Helen Rollason Cancer Charity — a charity shop on 136 George Lane. Also worth knowing about Helen Rollason Cancer Charity: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
136 George Lane
Phone: +44 20 8989 9897
Oxfam
Charity shop
Oxfam is a charity shop on 149 High Road, London. Oxfam also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
149 High Road, London, E18 2PA
Traid
Charity shop
Traid is a charity shop on 106 A-B High Street, London.
106 A-B High Street, London
The Salvation Army
Charity shop
The Salvation Army is a charity shop on 108 Byron Road, Chelmsford. The Salvation Army also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
108 Byron Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6HJ
Phone: +44 1245 344850
Oxfam
Charity shop
Oxfam — a charity shop, found on 42 Market Hill in Sudbury. Also worth knowing about Oxfam: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
42 Market Hill, Sudbury, CO10 2ER
Phone: +44 1787375809
Barnardo's
Charity shop
Barnardo's is a charity shop on High Street.
High Street
Scarlet Vintage & Retro
Charity shopRun by St Clare Hospice
Scarlet Vintage & Retro is a charity shop run by St Clare Hospice on 3 Broad Walk, Harlow. Scarlet Vintage & Retro also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:30-17:00; Su 10:30-16:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
3 Broad Walk, Harlow, CM20 1HX
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-17:00; Su 10:30-16:30
Phone: +44 1279 412516
British Heart Foundation
Charity shop
British Heart Foundation is a charity shop on 1 East Walk, Harlow. British Heart Foundation also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
1 East Walk, Harlow, CM20 1JH
Cancer Research UK
Charity shop
Cancer Research UK is a charity shop.
Sue Ryder
Charity shop
Sue Ryder — a charity shop.
Cancer Research UK
Charity shop
Cancer Research UK — a charity shop, found on 217 Moulsham Street in Chelmsford. Also worth knowing about Cancer Research UK: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
217 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0LR
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Phone: +44 1245 492922
Barnardo's
Charity shop
Barnardo's is a charity shop.
Ecco Environmental Charity
Charity shop
Ecco Environmental Charity is a charity shop on East Road, Harlow. Ecco Environmental Charity also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
East Road, Harlow, CM20 2SX
Phone: +44 1279 444244
British Heart Foundation
Charity shop
British Heart Foundation — a charity shop, found on 50 High Street in Chelmsford. Also worth knowing about British Heart Foundation: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:30-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
50 High Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1DE
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
Phone: +44 1245 676370
Sue Ryder
Charity shop
Sue Ryder is a charity shop on 4 The Broadway, Woodford Green. Sue Ryder also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:30-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
4 The Broadway, Woodford Green, IG8 0HL
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-17:00
Sense
Charity shop
Sense is a charity shop on 41 Crouch Street, Colchester. Sense also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
41 Crouch Street, Colchester, CO3 3EN
Age UK
Charity shop
Age UK — a charity shop, found on 9 Crouch Street in Colchester. Also worth knowing about Age UK: it has a website with more detail.
9 Crouch Street, Colchester, CO3 3EN
Sue Ryder
Charity shop
Sue Ryder is a charity shop on 195 Manford Way, Chigwell. Sue Ryder also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
195 Manford Way, Chigwell, IG7 4DJ
Phone: +44 20 8501 3242
Barnardo's
Charity shop
Barnardo's is a charity shop on 183 Manford Way, Chigwell. Barnardo's also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
183 Manford Way, Chigwell, IG7 4DN
Phone: +44 20 8500 8972
Havens Hospice
Charity shop
Havens Hospice — a charity shop.
British Heart Foundation
Charity shopRun by British Heart Foundation
British Heart Foundation is a charity shop run by British Heart Foundation on 45 Market Place, Romford. British Heart Foundation also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:30-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
45 Market Place, Romford, RM1 3AB
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Phone: +44 1708 914900
PDSA Witham Shop
Charity shop
PDSA Witham Shop is a charity shop. PDSA Witham Shop also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
CM8 2AP
Saint Francis Hospice Shops
Charity shop
Saint Francis Hospice Shops — a charity shop, found on 125 South Street in Romford.
125 South Street, Romford, RM1 1NX
Ahava Community - Liberty
Charity shopRun by Ahava Community
Ahava Community - Liberty is a charity shop run by Ahava Community on 1, Romford.
1, Romford, RM1 3RL
Sense
Charity shopRun by Sense
Run by Sense, Sense is a charity shop. Also worth knowing about Sense: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
SS17 7LJ
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00
Phone: +44 1375 671556
Helen Rollason Cancer Charity
Charity shop
Helen Rollason Cancer Charity — a charity shop, found on 14 Maldon Road in Chelmsford.
14 Maldon Road, Chelmsford, CM3 4QQ
Chelmsford Cancer Charity
Charity shop
Chelmsford Cancer Charity — a charity shop, found on 8 Maldon Road in Chelmsford.
8 Maldon Road, Chelmsford, CM3 4QQ
British Heart Foundation
Charity shop
British Heart Foundation is a charity shop. British Heart Foundation also notes on the map: it has a website with more detail.
Saint Francis Hospice
Charity shop
Saint Francis Hospice — a charity shop.
Barnardo's
Charity shop
Barnardo's is a charity shop.
Barnardo's
Charity shop
Barnardo's is a charity shop on 6 Market Row.
6 Market Row, CB10 1JZ
St Elizabeth's
Charity shop
St Elizabeth's — a charity shop on 37-39 King Street.
37-39 King Street, CB10 1EU
Oxfam
Charity shop
Oxfam — a charity shop on 16 King Street. Also worth knowing about Oxfam: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 09:30-16:30; Mo 10:00-16:30; it has a website with more detail.
16 King Street, CB10 1ES
Hours: Tu-Sa 09:30-16:30; Mo 10:00-16:30
Cancer Research
Charity shop
Cancer Research — a charity shop on 7 King Street.
7 King Street, CB10 1HE
British Heart Foundation
Charity shop
British Heart Foundation — a charity shop on 14 King Street. Also worth knowing about British Heart Foundation: it has a website with more detail.
14 King Street, CB10 1ES
Sense
Charity shop
Sense — a charity shop.
Haven House Children's Hospice
Charity shop
Haven House Children's Hospice — a charity shop on 192 High Road.
192 High Road, IG10 1DN
British Heart Foundation
Charity shop
British Heart Foundation — a charity shop on 200 High Road. Also worth knowing about British Heart Foundation: it has a website with more detail.
200 High Road, IG10 1DN
Cancer Research UK
Charity shop
Cancer Research UK is a charity shop on 246B High Road. Cancer Research UK also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00; it has a website with more detail.
246B High Road, IG10 1AH
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Cancer Research UK
Charity shop
Cancer Research UK — a charity shop. Also worth knowing about Cancer Research UK: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Strood, Rochester
Phone: +44 1634 715634
Wisdom Hospice
Charity shop
Wisdom Hospice is a charity shop.
Barnardo's
Charity shopRun by Barnardo's
Barnardo's is a charity shop run by Barnardo's.
St Nicholas Hospice Care
Charity shop
St Nicholas Hospice Care — a charity shop, found on 8 Gainsborough Street in Sudbury. Also worth knowing about St Nicholas Hospice Care: it has a website with more detail.
8 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, CO10 2ET
Wood Green
Charity shop
Wood Green — a charity shop, found on 29 Market Hill in Sudbury. Also worth knowing about Wood Green: it has a website with more detail.
29 Market Hill, Sudbury, CO10 2EN
British Heart Foundation
Charity shop
British Heart Foundation — a charity shop. Also worth knowing about British Heart Foundation: it has a website with more detail.
St Clare Hospice
Charity shop
St Clare Hospice — a charity shop. Also worth knowing about St Clare Hospice: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00.
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
PDSA
Charity shop
PDSA — a charity shop.
Farliegh Hospice
Charity shop
Farliegh Hospice — a charity shop, found on Colchester Road in Maldon. Also worth knowing about Farliegh Hospice: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-16:00; Su off; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Colchester Road, Maldon, CM9 4GD
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-16:00; Su off
Phone: +44 1621 879674
What the map tells us about thrifting in Chelmsford
55 of the 343 shops list their opening hours, which is unusually helpful for Chelmsford — thrift stores are notorious for surprise closures. Still, call ahead if you're making a special trip to Chelmsford; volunteer-run shops sometimes close early on quiet days.
146 shops have websites listed, worth a look before you go — some post new arrivals or sale days online.
Thrift shops cluster a little: 13 of them sit on High Street, so you can string those into one walk and hit the rest by car.
The Chelmsford thrift circuit
Making a day of it in Chelmsford? Work this order: Samaritans on Hamlet Court Road, Oxfam on Hamlet Court Road, Isabel Hospice Sawbridgeworth Charity Shop on 1 Forelands Place, Havens Hospice Charity Shop, Friends of lions Charity Shop, British Heart Foundation on 86 The Mall, Muscular Dystrophy Shop on 3 Warwick Parade, and Second Coming. That's 343 stops, and if you hit them in sequence you won't backtrack. 335 more are listed below.
Thrifting tips for Chelmsford
Thrifting in Chelmsford goes better with a little prep:
- Visit at opening time at Samaritans. Serious pickers arrive at opening. You don't have to be one of them, but the first hour has the best pick of the day's restock.
- Cash still talks at Oxfam. Some small shops prefer cash and a few will deal a little on big items if you're paying cash. Worth having some on you.
- Bring cash for the small shops. Card minimums are common at volunteer-run tills. A few small bills keep a bargain from getting awkward.
- Go often, buy rarely. The regulars' secret: short frequent visits beat rare long ones. Ten minutes twice a week outperforms a monthly expedition.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around Chelmsford — that covers the town itself plus the surrounding communities you'd reasonably drive to for a thrifting run. Listings come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by local volunteers, so a brand-new shop in Chelmsford can take a while to appear. The 343 above are only as current as the community map. A shop that's shut, or a new one nobody's added yet, gets fixed with a single OpenStreetMap edit.
Prices at Chelmsford's thrift stores are set by each shop and change constantly, so we don't list them. As a rough rule, charity shops are the cheapest, independents sit in the middle, and anything labelled vintage costs more everywhere — Chelmsford included.
Thrift store listings for Chelmsford: 343 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.