Guitar Shops in London

Vintage-T

So for some inexplicable reason, the wife has made the decision that for our first bit of time off in 18 months, we're gonna go to London for a few days.

So just thinking about hitting some decent guitar shops to pass the time, might try out a few R9's just for fun.

Aside from the Denmark street stores, any other place worth a drop in for a potential second hand bargain? We're staying in Waterloo, but mooching around for 3 days.

Anything with a decent selection of pedals too?

TIA....

sergio

Central London and a second hand bargain? That's a challenge    Not far from Denmark St there's Mak's guitars in the old Ivor Mairants location and they have a small second hand selection.

There is also Guitar Classics down south in Battersea, they mainly deal with second hand stuff but you may want to give them a call in advance to check what they have in the store as it's a bit of a trek.

Whitecat

You can pop up the Northern Line to Guitarguitar in Camden (Camden Town is fun visit anyway IMO) and see what they've got. GG often has a lot of secondhand stuff in their shops they don't list online.

proggy

+1 for GG In Camden, really nice friendly shop with loads of nice guitars.

skunkwerx

Heh its such a weird thing to think of for me, spending more than 1 day in London, being a Londoner… I try and avoid the place as much as I can haha. 

Yeah I would say GG, theres also a PMT but I’m not sure where it is, its further East I think so probably too far out. Not the Romford one, theres another.. as Yoda would say.. 

I’ve not been Denmark street in years, in fact last time I went there I think I saw cky at the Astoria… neither have existed.. in their original form for like a decade!

Loobs

Get train to Guitar Guitar in Epsom?

Whitecat

skunkwerx said:

Heh its such a weird thing to think of for me, spending more than 1 day in London, being a Londoner… I try and avoid the place as much as I can haha. 

Yeah I would say GG, theres also a PMT but I’m not sure where it is, its further East I think so probably too far out. Not the Romford one, theres another.. as Yoda would say.. 

Ah yeah it’s near Old Street I think. Not super central but not *too* far to the east. 

SPECTRUM001

Whitecat said:

skunkwerx said:

Heh its such a weird thing to think of for me, spending more than 1 day in London, being a Londoner… I try and avoid the place as much as I can haha. 

Yeah I would say GG, theres also a PMT but I’m not sure where it is, its further East I think so probably too far out. Not the Romford one, theres another.. as Yoda would say.. 

Ah yeah it’s near Old Street I think. Not super central but not *too* far to the east. 

I was in Old St PMT in the summer and their stock was really low.

@Vintage-T - given how long it takes to get anywhere in London, I would recommend you make a few calls first and ask what the shops have in. I wouldn't want to trek all over the place jus to find out they are thin on the ground.

At least with Denmark St (and the surrounding area) you have a few shops to browse...

Winny_Pooh

PMT too small unless you are right there. GG in Camden is better...

TDubs

Denmark Street and GG in Camden is your best bet in terms for the amount of guitars you’ll get to see. 

I popped by Guitar Classics a few weeks ago as was passing and was closed so definitely call ahead but it’s a small place. Train from Waterloo to Clapham Junction is around 5-10 minutes and it’s a 15 minute walk from there. 

Camden and the west end definitely better places to hangout than Clapham.

Loobs

depends what you're into

markv

I'd suggest the Yamaha shop on Wardour Street. You won't find anything secondhand there, of course, but if you're just browsing and passing the time, it's a nice place to be, and it's close to Denmark Street.

Vintage-T

thanks guys

crunchman

Winny_Pooh said:

PMT too small unless you are right there. GG in Camden is better...

I've not been lied to by a member of staff in GG either.

notsopro

another vote for a short train journey to epsom. def worth the visit

Philly_Q

Although I live in South London and work in the City (on those days that I go in to the office) I hardly ever go into central London nowadays.  But I went to Denmark Street a couple of weeks ago and it is so dead!  Almost everything on the side of the road with Andys/Hanks is now closed and being refurbished. There are still three or four shops on the other side of the street, I guess No Tom would be worth a look.

To be honest I wish they'd all just give up on the notion of Denmark Street as "Tin Pan Alley" and surrender it to coffee shops.  It feels like it's on life support.

Epsom GG's good and really not difficult to get to.  I haven't been to the Camden one.

elstoof

Denmark Street isn’t worth the journey any more. I doubt you’ll find even one R9 to play, let alone a few

LordOxygen

I was in that London the other week and visited Denmark St as I'd not been for a good few years. Its a run-down mess, I feel sorry for the few retailers that are hanging on. 
That was the last time for me, unfortunately.

markblack

GG Camden would be my shout as well. Nice bunch, plenty to look at. S/H wise they have some stuff. I was in Denmark street a few weeks back... It's not up to much these days which is sad. There is a Gibson stockist at the end of the street, but I think that's going to open a tattoo shop in it as well as guitars. I guess to pay the rent!

https://sixtysixtysounds.com/product-category/electric-guitars/

rocktron

Try PMT London Music Shop located at 

35-39 Old Street, Clerkenwell EC1V 9HX ·

within walking distance of Barbican, and Old Street Underground Stations. Barbican is closer.

https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/stores/london/

Check the map here:-

https://www.bing.com/maps?q=pmt+music+store+old+street+london&cvid=d5281dc51a9140deba74d412fd7e25cb&aqs=edge..69i57.28428j0j1&pglt=2081&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=HCTS

Whitecat

I guess the other thing worth thinking about is that if you’re by Waterloo already anyway then it’s not too far to get to Guitar Village in Farnham and even quicker to get to Anderton’s in Guildford. Not sure what their systems are at the moment for accepting customers, but it’s an option.