Norwich tops UK list for thrift shopping as Brits 'embrace sustainable fashion'

Norwich has been ranked as the best city for thrift shopping in the UK, with four charity shops per square mile and 60 in total, as well as 13 antique fairs, 16 car boot sales and 973 Gumtree listings per 10,000 people.

That’s according to a new study by The Co-operative Bank, which says almost half of people living in England and Wales are turning to charity shops or are "considering second-hand alternatives" in this time of rising costs.

The research examined data on the number of charity shops, antique fairs, car boot sales, and online Gumtree listings across 30 UK cities – judging by size and population.

Nottingham came in second and boasts over four charity shops per square mile and 127 citywide. The city also has an impressive 43 car boot sales.

Manchester came in third for charity shops with 102. It also ranked as the best city for online thrifting, with nearly 45,000 Gumtree listings for second-hand goods (1,123 listings for every 10,000 Mancunians).

Cambridge came in fourth place. Despite it being a smaller city, it boasts 2.3 charity shops per square mile (36 in total) and had over 500 Gumtree listings per 10,000 people.

Rounding out the top five came Oxford, which provides bargain hunters with just under 50 charity shops, seven antique fairs, and 22 car boot sales.

With over 11,200 charity shops across the country, thrifting is becoming an increasingly popular way for people to save money while embracing sustainable fashion.

Speaking on the benefits of thrift shopping, Sophie McHale, Public Relations Lead at The Co-operative Bank, said: "Thrifting is a great way to save money while also helping the planet. Every week, 13 million items end up in landfill, and second-hand shopping can prevent more landfill waste from accumulating."

Data relating to the amount of Gumtree listings under each category are as of 20 November 2024.

Image credit: Charity Super.Mkt