Vinyl revival: See what the fuss is about and head to a record store
FLASHBACK
50 Essex Road, Islington
This scrupulously organised collection is set over two floors, with CDs on top and vinyl in the basement. Find new, second-hand and reissued classics ranging from rock to soul to reggae.
SISTER RAY
34-35 Berwick Street, Soho
No matter what music you’re into, you’re sure to find it at Sister Ray, which has an enormous selection of vinyl and turntables so you can give records a spin before deciding to buy.
GRAMEX
104 Lower Marsh, Waterloo
If it’s musical recommendations you’re after, then head to this much-loved store below The Book Warehouse and talk to encyclopedic owner Roger Hewland, especially if you’re an opera lover.
PHONICA
51 Poland Street, Soho
Budding DJs could do worse than heading to this vinyl specialist in the West End, which has a great selection of alternative dance music set out in boxes on antique wooden tables.
INTOXICA!
11 Cecil Court, Charing Cross
Bedecked in bamboo and tribal masks, this quirky vinyl-only store is big on character and its collection of British jazz is particularly impressive.
ROUGE TRADE EAST
91 Brick Lane, Spitalfields
If you want to make your foray into record shops a day out, then head to the shiny, 5,000sqft outpost of Rough Trade Records, which sells old and new vinyl and CDs, but also has a store, cafe and holds live music events in store.
RAT RECORDS
348 Camberwell New Road, Camberwell
If you want to refresh your music collection, Rat Records is the place to go. It specialises in buying and selling vinyl and CDs, and it also offers a record cleaning service.