From higgledy-piggledy hideouts to stylish city centre shops, your next great find is just a few footsteps away.
Shopping for antiques can feel like a fine art. Luckily, Yorkshire’s best antique stores make the experience easy as pie. Whether you want to hunt down a killer deal, unearth something utterly unique or simply wander the treasure trove, these must-visit spots promise one-of-a-kind shopping. No insider knowledge needed.
Red House Antique Centre, York
Big fan of antiques programmes on the telly? You may recognise the owner of Red House Antique Centre in York, Tim Hogarth. The celebrity dealer has operated this Grade II-listed showroom since 1999. Two floors, 10 rooms, 100 cabinets and over 30,000 antiques. Yep, you won’t leave empty handed.
It’s a beautiful building from the outside. Inside, it’s knick-knack Narnia. Every nook and cranny is filled with fascinating curios. Whale bone magnifying glasses, Victorian prison cell keys, Roman figurines – it pays to take your time and explore. Just watch your step, it really is packed to the rafters!
Jewellery, music and railway memorabilia are all well represented. Got a specific item in mind? Ask away – staff are both kind and knowledgeable (the main man himself is often around on Tuesdays). When you’ve got your gold, toast to your success with afternoon tea in the first floor cafe. Cheers!
Red House Antique Centre, 1 Duncombe Place, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7ED.
Antiques at the Mill, Bradford
Make a day out of your antique shopping at this West Yorkshire store. Set in a former Bradford textile mill, there are multiple levels to explore. From pocket-sized treats to fine furniture, the massive space ensures a variety of stock. And yet, it’s clutter-free. Heaven, if you like a well-organised rummage.
Naturally, you have your pick of well-priced jewellery, homeware, books, toys, coins and paintings. But there are a few curveballs too, including an impressive auto memorabilia section. A steady flow of new stock (every day) breathes new life into displays, keeping each visit as fresh as the last.
Owned by a brother-and-sister team, Antiques at the Mill has blossomed into a top destination. Spoons Tearooms next door serves first rate cakes, parking’s a doddle and dogs are welcome inside the showroom. Perhaps they’ll help you sniff out a treasure? No surprise it’s not just the locals who love it.
Antiques at the Mill, Cullingworth Mills, Cullingworth, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD13 5AB.
Hebden Bridge Antiques Centre, Hebden Bridge
In a town renowned for its bohemian vibe, it’s no surprise that Hebden Bridge Antiques Centre favours the offbeat over the ostentatious. Every corner of this Aladdin’s cave, which spans eight rooms and two floors, is covered with novelties. Get ready for a good rootle – this is hands-on stuff.
With 35 different dealers, there’s a strong focus on homeware, books, toys and furniture. All colourful, the majority crammed in wherever it fits. There are higher priced items but you’re more likely to find a bargain. We’ve long given up saying we’re ‘just looking’ and always walk away with something lovely.
Hebden Bridge Antiques Centre is also a must for music-lovers. Upstairs, a vast range of records and vinyls awaits. So does the lovely Dan, who’s just as happy to chat shop as he is to sell. Set inside the town’s former police station, the building itself is something of an antique. Watch out for the Doctor Who door!
Hebden Bridge Antiques Centre, The Old Police Station, Hope Street, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 8AG.
Vintage in Oulton, Leeds
A lot of care has gone into making Leeds’ Vintage in Oulton the lovely antique shop it is. Never mind ramshackle, every item across its two floors has been thoughtfully curated. Vintage furniture takes centre stage, particularly mid-century. We still daydream about the glorious teak sideboard we left behind.
No space for a new bookcase? No matter. A range of interior decor, designer clothes and collectibles from Yorkshire dealers (look in the cabinets) are also available. There’s even a mini yard out back so you can source something special for your garden. This is a Yorkshire antique shop that knows its style.
Sound stuffy? Not in the slightest. The team are a delight – they’re just as happy to help lug your Victorian dresser to your car as they are to pick out the perfect ornament. They’re also pretty knowledgeable about up-cycling. For super-stylish antique furniture at a fair price, Vintage in Oulton hits a home run.
Vintage in Oulton, 81-83 Aberford Road, Oulton, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS26 8SL.
Ebor Jetworks, Whitby
Credit: Ebor Jetworks
Visiting Whitby? Take a piece of handcrafted history home with you at Ebor Jetworks. Masters of Whitby jet – a lustrous black gemstone forged from local coastline – this tiny jewellery shop is as quirky as the seaside town itself. Gothic decor, tongue-in-cheek signs, creaky floorboards – it’s got real character.
And it’s chock-full of stunning jewellery too. Every single bracelet and brooch is handmade in-store from jet sourced within four miles of the 17th-century shop. Watch owners, Sarah and David (or son, Archie), create something beautiful before your very eyes. It’s amazing to see this traditional craft in action.
A single piece of Whitby jet has been over 180 million years in the making. But this Yorkshire shop piles on extra personality via a collection of antique jewellery. From show-stopping collars to ornate cameos, most items date to the Victorian era. An all come with a story. This isn’t just jewellery – it’s a nugget of British history.
Ebor Jetworks, 138 Church Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4DE.
Donkey’s Years Antiques, Knaresborough
Tucked away down the narrow Silver Street, Donkey’s Years Antiques is a gem of a find in the pretty market town of Knaresborough. Step off the cobbles and into this family-owned emporium. Don’t be fooled by the diminutive shop front – the inside is brimming with curios for every budget.
Set aside a minimum of 30 minutes to see what catches your eye. It shouldn’t take long. From carved figurines to hand-painted trinket boxes, Victorian jewellery to crystal decanters, every cabinet holds new treasures. If you like your antiques tiny, tempting and totally unique, you’ll be in your element.
There’s no hard-sell here. Staff strike just the right balance between helpful and unobtrusive. Plus, all stock is thoughtfully displayed with prices front and centre. Don’t forget to peek upstairs, which houses larger furniture and has all the charm of your great aunt’s antiquated attic.
Donkey’s Years Antiques, 9 Silver Street, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 8AJ.
Lords Antiques and Salvage, Ingleton
Credit: Christopher Hodgsonof
Ignore the Lancashire postcode. Lords Antiques and Salvage sits just inside the North Yorkshire border. And what a place it is! The Ingleton store is giant, with an outdoor salvage yard and snazzy upstairs restaurant. Inside, a labyrinth of eclectic collectibles spans quality antiques and keepsakes.
With size on its side, you can be sure of a few statement pieces. Garden items range from wrought iron fences to reclaimed milk urns. There’s even more to ogle indoors, with two floors of treats all smartly tucked into themed areas. There’s furniture, comics, militaria and toys – often in their hundreds.
Antique aficionados have no trouble tracking down a deal. Meanwhile, the inquisitive among you can enjoy browsing more obscure items. Did someone say taxidermy room? It’s big but not bewildering, and labels help identify the more… mysterious finds. Go and let your curiosity be piqued.
Lords Antiques and Salvage, Greendale House Dales Business Park, 17 New Road, Ingleton, North Yorkshire, LA6 3HL.
Antiques Centre York, York
Treasure hunting can be hard work, but some places make it a pleasure. Antiques Centre York is one such shop. It’s large – very large, with over 150 dealers showcasing wares across three floors. Yet it’s impeccably displayed and roaming staff are on hand to offer a closer look at a moment’s notice.
Located on historic Stonegate in the town centre, this isn’t the venue for bulky furniture. Instead, the focus is on quality cabinet items. Jewellery is well represented on the ground floor, while vintage designer clothes fill the first floor rails. In the market for memorabilia? Head to the basement for artefacts galore.
Everything is lovingly curated with the buyer in mind. Items span many different eras and interests, with each dealer’s personality shining through. It’s an ideal Yorkshire antiques store for newbies. There are high-end pieces with price tags to match, but you don’t have to be an expert to dig out a bargain.
Antiques Centre York, 41 Stonegate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 8AW.
