Charity Shops in Gosforth: What to Find

Gosforth has a surprisingly strong charity shop scene, nine shops across the High Street, the shopping centre, and surrounding streets. Whether you're after books, clothes, furniture, or just a good rummage, here's what's where.

St Oswald's Hospice Bookshop

St Oswald's Bookshop at 181-183 High Street is the standout. A dedicated charity bookshop with a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, children's books, and vinyl records. The revamped shop has seen record-breaking sales. If you're a book buyer, this is the first stop.

Best for: Books, vinyl, children's section.

St Oswald's Hospice, Flagship Shop

A few doors along at 189 High Street, St Oswald's flagship shop has the widest range on the High Street, clothing, accessories, homeware, games, furniture, shoes, DVDs, collectables, and jewellery. They also offer a free home collection service for furniture donations, call 0191 246 8123 or email retailhelpdesk@stoswaldsuk.org. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-4:30pm.

Best for: Widest variety, furniture (buying and donating), friendly staff.

Marie Curie, Boutique

Marie Curie at 143 High Street runs a boutique-format shop focused on clothing, shoes, and accessories. One of the few High Street charity shops open on Sundays (10am-4pm). Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm.

Best for: Clothes and accessories, Sunday opening.

Oxfam

Oxfam at 118 High Street stocks clothing, books, DVDs, CDs, homeware, and bric-a-brac. Fair Trade products also available. Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, closed Sunday.

Best for: General stock, Fair Trade products.

Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK at 10 Gosforth Shopping Centre has well-organised general stock, clothing (men's, women's, children's), shoes, homeware, books, CDs, and toys. Reviewed favourably for items priced at £5 and under. Open until 5:30pm weekdays (latest on the High Street) and Sundays 10am-4pm. Phone: 0191 213 0002.

Best for: Bargains, well-organised, late weekday closing, Sunday opening.

Scope

Scope at Unit 29 in the Gosforth Shopping Centre stocks clothing, shoes, books, DVDs, toys, sports equipment, and homeware. Open Sundays 10am-4pm. Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm.

Best for: General variety, Sunday opening.

Mind

Mind at 5 Salters Road is slightly off the beaten track, which can mean better finds. Described as having a vintage/eclectic character, with clothing, shoes, books, greeting cards, and "antiquarian items." Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, closed Sunday.

Best for: Eclectic finds, less picked-over stock, vintage.

Sue Ryder, South Gosforth

Sue Ryder at Unit 2, Mill House, Haddricks Mill Road in South Gosforth is classified as a furniture store. Call 0191 285 4223 to check current opening and stock.

Best for: Furniture.

Silverline Memories, Kenton

Silverline Memories at 177b Kirkwood Drive in Kenton supports a local dementia activities charity founded in 2013. Clothes, bric-a-brac, toys, CDs, and games. The shop has recently doubled in size. Not walkable from the High Street but in the NE3 postcode area. Open 9am-4pm.

Best for: Supporting a local charity, less trafficked by resellers.

Tips

Sunday opening: Marie Curie, Cancer Research UK, and Scope are all open Sundays.

Furniture donations: St Oswald's offers free home collection. Call 0191 246 8123.

For books: Go to St Oswald's Bookshop first. The nearest Oxfam Books & Music is in Jesmond.

Know a charity shop we've missed? Get in touch via our contact page.