Charity Shop UK

Charity shops directory

The UK's charity shops, in one place

Reviewed — chains and locators verified

Every major chain, what it accepts, who collects furniture for free — and a link straight to each store locator.

What do UK charity shops accept?

Nearly all of the UK's roughly 11,000 charity shops 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 — all four collect large items from your home free. Looking for your nearest shop? Use the charity shop near me page — every chain's store locator in one place.

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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 charity can then claim an extra 25% of whatever your donated items sell for, at no cost to you. You register once per chain and they track your items.

Which charity shops collect furniture for free?

British Heart Foundation, Sue Ryder, Age UK (larger stores) and Emmaus all offer free home collection for furniture and large items in most areas — book through their websites.

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.