Charity Shop UK

Charity shops directory

The UK's charity shops, in one place

Reviewed — chains, locators and collection notes checked · Editorial policy

Compare 18 major chains, typical donations and collection options — and a link straight to each store locator.

What do UK charity shops accept?

Nearly all of the UK's more than 9,900 charity shops (Charity Retail Association, June 2026; checked 25 September 2026) take clean clothes, books, homeware and bric-a-brac; furniture and electricals go to the specialist stores run by British Heart Foundation, Sue Ryder, Age UK and Emmaus — collection coverage and accepted items vary by branch. Looking for your nearest shop? Use the charity shop near me page — every chain's store locator in one place.

Opens charity shop results in Google Maps. Confirm hours and donations with the shop.

Open a charity shop map

Your search, or location if you choose to share it, goes to Google Maps. Charity Shop does not store it. No location permission is needed to type a town or postcode.

Not fussy about the cause? The Charity Retail Association’s Find a shop searches member charities’ shops by postcode, and Hospice UK’s finder locates local hospices, most of which run their own shops.

Who should skip this: Skip this directory if you wanted to donate a bag of goods to this website — we have no stockroom. Use the router for clothes, furniture and electricals, or give a costed animal gift if you only have money.

Charity shop questions

What do charity shops accept?

Nearly all accept clean clothes, shoes, books, homeware and bric-a-brac. Furniture and electricals need specialist stores — British Heart Foundation and Emmaus run them — because upholstery needs fire labels and electricals need safety testing. When in doubt, check the chain’s donation guidance before you go.

How does Gift Aid work when I donate items to a charity shop?

If you’re a UK taxpayer, sign up for retail Gift Aid at the till. The shop sells your items as your agent, and the charity can then claim 25p for every £1 of the net sale proceeds, at no cost to you. You usually register once per charity. See GOV.UK guidance on Gift Aid for donated goods.

Which charity shops collect furniture for free?

British Heart Foundation and Sue Ryder take online bookings for free collection by postcode. The Salvation Army books collections through local donation centres, Cancer Research UK collects from its furniture superstores, and some Age UK, Barnardo’s, British Red Cross and Emmaus shops collect locally. Save the Children and Marie Curie do not collect. Upholstered items usually need fire safety labels.

Do charity shops take electrical items?

Some do — British Heart Foundation and Emmaus accept electricals at dedicated stores, where items are safety-tested before sale. Smaller high-street shops often can’t, so check the chain’s donation guidance first.