London is a place that is famous for its beautiful and distinguishable music opportunities. Vinyl records have always been the most popular all over london. These days, the London vinyl scene is currently at its peak. So, if you are one of the vinyl fans, then London is the right place for you to come and complete your dreams.
You would also want to know about the top record shops in London. So here, By keeping in view your purpose of knowing about the best record shops in london, we have marked the most prominent and distinguished London record shops. It will be a guide to London’s best record shops in which we will discuss the most prominent record shops, their history, specifications and their locations in London.
So, without any further delay or waiting, Let’s explore the top 10 record Shops in london that you would want to explore and visit.
10 Best Record Shops In London
1. Rough Trade
A true legend of the record store scene comes in first on this list of the top record stores in London. It was at the centre of the early punk explosion when it first launched in 1976, and since then, it has released a body of work that nearly entirely defines the independent music genre.
After French punk band Métal Urbain entered the store and requested assistance with promoting their music, Rough Trade made its first record on its own for the first time. Together with other independent record shops in the UK, the store organised a record distribution network known as “The Cartel” in 1978. Small record labels like Factory Records and 2 Tone Records were able to sell their albums across the country because of this network. It specialised mostly in the late 1970s and early 1980s European post-punk and other alternative rock. Additionally, it distributed and sold a variety of current British fanzines, including Attack on Bzag, Ded Yampy, Vague, Acts of Defiance, Love and Molotov Cocktails, Sniffin’ Glue, and Alternative Sounds.
Rough Trade, which has several sites throughout London, likely has the largest collection and offers a lot more services than just music sales. Its East London location even features a specially constructed stage for regular performances, with a standing area in front thoughtfully planned into the design.
2. Sounds Of The Universe, Soho
Sounds Of The Universe (Sotu), the headquarters of the Soul Jazz record label, is run by Stuart Baker, a creative businessman whose passion for music from Latin America, Jamaica, New Orleans, and west Africa, as well as jazz, dubstep, house, disco, funk, soul, early punk, proto-rap, country rock, and more, fuels the releases of his label (and Soul Jazz’s book publishing arm) and supplies the shop with a large portion of its inventory (new upstairs, used downstairs – LPs, 45s, CDs, books). Sotu is an eclectic and expansive emporium whose stock feeds heads while keeping feet dancing, upholding the fine Soho tradition of a specialist record shop that primarily honours the music of African origin.
3. Intoxica Records
This speciality store is jam-packed with all the records you could ever want, including reggae, funk, and ’60s beat, exotica, and easy listening, as well as a wide variety of alternative and new wave from the 1970s to the present, a superb soundtrack collection, and tonnes of soul, blues, and jazz.
Previously based on Portobello Road, Intoxica Records currently conducts business from Kentish Town via the internet. If you want to browse in person, you can do so, but you must schedule an appointment beforehand. More details are available here.
Intoxica Records can be found at 97 Cressfield Close in London, NW5 4BN. The closest stations are Kentish Town West and Gospel Oak.
4. Out on the Floor Records (Record shop in Camden town)
They carry a huge selection of 12″ and 7″ vinyl albums, ranging from vintage House and Blues to Ska and Motown. Reggae albums are where this place truly pulls out all the stops. Owner Jake is passionate about the genre, and the store has “as much original press Reggae as any shop in the UK.” Fans of reggae now know where to go.
Out on the Floor Records, a Camden Town-based company founded thirty years ago, gets its name from Dobie Gray’s iconic Northern Soul song.
You can discover Out on the Floor Records in London, NW1 7HJ, at 10 Inverness Street. Camden Town is the closest station.
5. Honest Jon’s, Ladbroke Grove
Two of the best record stores in the world are located in Ladbroke Grove. The original punk rock store, Rough Trade, is still open at 130 Talbot Road, despite being dwarfed by the enormous Rough Trade East in Brick Lane. There is also Honest Jon’s. This modest store, founded by Jon Clare in 1974 and run by Mark Ainley and Alan Scholefield since 1992, has always focused on unusual imports and underground sounds, promoting music that is rarely featured in the media. The Honest Jon’s record label is responsible for several ground-breaking reissues, including gospel, southern soul, Congolese rumba, and pioneering Black British recordings.
The people who work here are disciples of sound; prior employees went on to found the record labels Mo’ Wax, Blood & Fire, and World Circuit. Honest Jon’s is crowded with brand-new LPs, 45s, and CDs and is eclectic and lively. You ought to be a devoted consumer like Joe Strummer, Courtney Pine, Neneh Cherry, and Damon Albarn have been over the years.
6. Third Man Records
Jack White, Ben Blackwell, and Ben Swank are the founders and owners of Third Man Records, an independent record company with a broad musical focus on vinyl. The business has offices in three cities: Nashville, Tennessee; Detroit, Michigan; and Soho, London. It has a number of divisions that go beyond what a traditional record label would offer, including a number of live music venues; a vinyl pressing plant, a film studio and darkroom; a company that sells guitar pedals and equipment; a mastering studio and a vinyl subscription service.
Additionally, they have a token-operated lucky dip book machine, the only one of its kind in the world, and a recording booth where both professionals and regular people may record their own content directly to vinyl.
Third Man Records can be found in Carnaby, London, W1F 9BA, at 1 Marshall Street. The station closest to you is Oxford Circus.
7. Sister Ray
This list of the top record stores in London continues with the next entry, which is a true institution. Sister Ray, which calls itself “the world’s most visited record store,” has more than 30 years of expertise and had a significant role in the creation of Record Store Day.
One of the most recognisable vendors of high-quality vinyl and CDs, they carry both new releases and vintage and rare recordings. You may find yourself lingering here looking over documents much longer than you expected, so don’t be startled.
Sister Ray can be found at 75 Berwick Street in London, W1F 8TG. The station closest to you is Oxford Circus.
8. Phonica
The best independent record store in the city for both dance and electronic vinyl is Phonica, another favourite in the heart of London. The helpful staff here, many of whom are DJs, will be pleased to assist you in finding whatever you’re looking for throughout a wide range of genres, such as Techno, Dubstep, and Nu Disco.
They operate a record store and a record label in addition to hosting free internal events and ticketed club nights.
Phonica is located at 51 Poland Street in London, England, W1F 7LZ. Oxford Circus station is the closest.
9. Stranger Than Paradise Records
Stranger Than Paradise Records, an independent London record shop located in the heart of Hackney’s Mare Street Market, is named after the 1984 Jim Jarmusch sardonic comedy film of the same name. Everything is represented here, including Post-Rock, Indie, Psych, Garage, Hip Hop, Bass, and Dubstep.
They sell books and merchandise here as well as weekly new release titles, re-stocks, and frequent fresh reissues.
At 117 Mare Street in London, E8 4RU, you can discover Stranger Than Paradise Records. Hackney Central is the closest station.
10. Crypt of the Wizard
One of the metalheads among you concludes this list of the top record stores in London! They have over a thousand new and used records, as well as cassettes, for “the discerning Heavy Metal freak” just a short stroll from Columbia Road Flower Market.
The pricing is reasonable, and the staff is friendly and pleasant. So this is one of the top record shops in London to visit if you enjoy this style of music.
Crypt of the Wizard may be found at 264 Hackney Road, London, E2 7SJ. Hoxton is the closest station.
There you have it—a list of some of London’s top record stores. No matter what genre of music you enjoy, london has it all. Grab your money, and prepare to expand your music collection.
Conclusion
After discussing the best of London’s record shops, you surely have understood their importance and uniqueness in the specific music culture of London. If you are a music lover, or if you are one of the fans of vinyl records, then you will definitely be able to fulfil your expectations in London. We have tried to explain 10 of the best record shops in london that you would want to visit and enjoy during your visit to London.
