I went to the UK’s biggest charity shop – I couldn’t believe the bargains and there’s a unique feature

The first thing I noticed upon entering the UK’s largest charity shop was how far the bargains stretched in front of me.

In my time, I’ve visited quite a few thrift stores, but none of them are of the same size as this one.

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There’s a line of everything you might want or need, from your favorite second-hand furniture to exercise bikes.

The British Heart Foundation’s supermarket in Kingston, London, is 17,000 square feet – larger than any other charity shop in the UK.

It’s bigger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool and 17 times the size of the typical charity shop you’d find on the high street.

Throughout the year, the store handles 35,000 customer transactions and sells more than 200,000 items.

It is one of five lesser-known “superstores” by the BHF, with other branches found in Coventry, Edinburgh, Peterlee and Castleford.

But aside from the size, there is one major selling point about its biggest store to entice customers.

Anything the British Heart Foundation sells in its stores can be found at the Kingston branch, making it a one-stop shop.

‘Something for everyone’

Manager Christine Edwards, from Surbiton in South West London, has run the Kingston branch since 2019.

She prides herself on the fact that it has “something for everyone”.

That means that while the prices offered are not lower than other, smaller BHF stores, you can get anything you’ll ever find in one place under one roof.

At any given time, there are tens of thousands of items for sale, with new arrivals arriving every day.

In fact, three trucks of merchandise are delivered to the store every day, and store space is constantly being replenished.

It indicates when you first enter the branch, with the central area filled with sofas, armchairs, etc., surrounded by different zones.

The sheer size of the store is overwhelming at first – imagine walking into a high street branch and multiplying that number by 10.

But the department store feels useful, with a rectangular path guiding you around until you’re back at the front door.

Along the way, there’s a section dedicated to each product group, including new and vintage electronics, bedding, furniture, exercise bikes and sports equipment, men’s and women’s clothing, and footwear. , accessories, DVDs and CDs, books and vinyls.

While the prices are the same as other BHF stores, the Kingston branch has a section you’ll definitely want to check out – “last chance to buy”.

There you will find items with little wear and tear and massive discounts to prevent them from going to landfill.

Christine said she has seen armchairs for £3, sofas for £5 and glass TV stands for just £1.

Showcases are also on sale for £4.

Maximize the experience

It’s worth noting that, unlike trunk fairs and antiques fairs, you can’t haggle at the Kingston branch because they’re fixed.

That said, the store regularly discounts its merchandise throughout the year.

The two main sales days are late December to early January and July to August.

There is also a sale on household items around Easter and late August.

You’ll want to get there at certain times to avoid the crowds of shoppers and give yourself the best chance of snagging a bargain.

Christine says their busiest days are Friday through Sunday, and throughout the week, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. is when traffic is highest.

So if you want to maximize your shopping experience, it’s best to go Monday to Thursday in the morning.

How to find a supermarket near you

Some charities run superstores like those in Kingston, albeit on a smaller scale.

Cancer Research UK operates 30 – you can find your nearest facility using the ‘find store’ tool on the agency’s website.

Meanwhile, the Salvation Army has two megastores, based in Northampton and Banbury.

You can always try visiting the four other major branches of BHF in Coventry, Edinburgh, Peterlee and Castleford.

The British Heart Foundation was established in 1961 and any money it makes is used to fund research into heart and circulatory disease.

The charity saves more than 56,000 tons of goods from going to waste each year, including more than 180,000 sofas.

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