VIBE

Fittingly housed in the quirky headquarters of a 19th-century WC manufacturer, Grays Antiques is an eccentric jumble of tiny antique stalls, each crammed to bursting with the most curious of curiosities and treasures. The range of specialties is startling: you can find everything from B.C. busts to gorgeous jewelry to vintage flapper fashions and 21st-century collectibles. The clientele is just as varied, with inquisitive tourists, antiques connoisseurs, and Mayfair locals all trawling the offerings. Vintage jewelry is a clear highlight.

USE A PURCHASE FROM HERE FOR

A gift; home décor; jewels

WHY WE LIKE IT

A lovely spot for a browse, as unexpected treasures abound. (At Grays, it’s definitely best to go in with an open mind rather than try to hunt for something specific–the best finds here are those you’d never anticipate.)

GOOD TO KNOW

Grays Antiques is actually comprised of over 200 antique stalls spread over two side-by-side buildings, Grays and The Mews, but it’s easy enough to move between the two. When in the Mews, check out the tiny slice of the Thames (an underground tributary called the Tyburn) which–oddly enough–runs through the basement.

CLOSEST COMPS

Silver Vaults (London)

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