2ND HAND classical music shops in London

[bergonzi]

I have one free day in London. Where can I go to look for classical LPs and cds in London? Which are the most reccommended shops where to catch 2nd hand classical music LPs and cds? Tks.

[Roasted Swan]

I have one free day in London. Where can I go to look for classical LPs and cds in London? Which are the most reccommended shops where to catch 2nd hand classical music LPs and cds? Tks.

I haven't lived in/near London for a few years but sadly I cannot think of ONE specialist CD shop now anywhere in the centre of town.  Foyle's Bookshop (Charing Cross Road near Tottenham Court Road Tube station) had one of the last moderate-sized classical departments along with music books and sheet music but I can't remember if they had a 2nd hand section.  HMV have reopened their flagship store near Bond Street Tube station but I doubt the Classical department will be up to much and they never had 2nd hand.  All the "great" 2nd hand shops - Gramex being the best example again are long gone. 

No idea if there are any good Charity Shops near the centre of town specialise in music/CD's.  Oxfam tend to have specialised "bookshops" which often include decent music and CD offerings - but probably not in the main centre of London - but worth searching.  It is a joke that the capital city of the UK does not have one serious/good music/CD shop any more.

EDIT:  Just remembered one!  Travis & Emery 17 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ.  Mainly known for 2nd hand sheet music and books but the last time I was there they had a couple of stacks of CD's.  Not bargain cheap and not anything that rare/interesting (but of course that can change by the day!) but worth a visit and Cecil Court itself is rather charming......

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I have one free day in London. Where can I go to look for classical LPs and cds in London? Which are the most reccommended shops where to catch 2nd hand classical music LPs and cds? Tks.

You might also try posting this in the vinyl thread ["Thirty three and a third" in the General Music Discussion area]--in case others might not see it here?

PD

[ritter]

I have one free day in London. Where can I go to look for classical LPs and cds in London? Which are the most reccommended shops where to catch 2nd hand classical music LPs and cds? Tks.

I spent a couple of days in London last week. Foyles still has a decent selection of new classical CDs, but their offer of used CDs is limited to just one cabinet with about four shelves. Nothing caught my fancy TBH.

I did not have time to visit it, but a friend of mine said there was some interesting stuff at the Music & Video Exchange in Notting Hill.

https://mfeshops.com/pages/classical-music-exchange

[bergonzi]

Tks everybody for your helpful advices. I went to Music and Video Exchange at Notting hill gate and it was a good experience. Nothing special as Gramex in the past but some good bargains.

[lunar22]

It is a joke that the capital city of the UK does not have one serious/good music/CD shop any more

I lived in London over three decades ago. In those days there was the likes of Harold Moores, Farringdons and huge HMV's as well as the above mentioned Record and Tape Exchange I'm amazed is still going. I haven't been back since 2000 and it's no real surprise that all the great shops have gone. Scotland hasn't had a record shop worth the name since my friend closed his (Matheson McAllister music). Stuttgart where I now lived until recently had a quite good classical store but they have now stopped selling CD's and only do musical instruments. Likewise the main source of sheet music closed just weeks ago. Munich still has Beck's -- the 5th floor of a department store which, although the selection is rather reduced from 20 years ago is still not that far short of the fine record shops of old.

Is there anywhere in the UK with a proper classical record shop still? Of course there's Presto but I don't think that's particularly designed for visits from the public.

[DaveF]

Definitely not London, but this is a must-visit place for anyone finding themselves lost in the Welsh borders between Hereford and Shrewsbury: http://yarboroughhouse.com/

Bishop's Castle also has a very good independent brewery (Three Tuns) and was recently in the news in these parts thanks to a successful local campaign to save its small hospital.  Splendid place all round.