A quick browse on Google Maps reveals that St Andrew’s Street is, disappointingly, home to only two charity shops. Initially unconvinced that the road was worth the charity shop crawl, it turns out that less is more when it comes to the St Andrew’s Street charity shops. We left with higher hopes, lighter purses, and only regretting great finds left unpurchased.

Arthur’s Rank Hospice shop

At first glance, we were sceptical of this small and seemingly cramped shop. Once inside, however, we discovered that its cosy atmosphere was perfect for a swift sweep through the rails. Well-sized for a quick pit stop on the way to Downing Site, Arthur Rank is plentifully stocked without the overwhelming expanse of shop floor to cover.

“I would sum up this shop as a humble goldmine; if you’re visiting, be prepared to splurge”

Make a beeline straight for the jewellery, which will fulfil all of your mermaid-core needs, and then head for the extensive heel collection which could rival that of even the most frequent formal-goers. The star of the show was undoubtedly Arthur Rank’s collection of dresses. Boasting an impressive selection of formal and matriculation-style dresses often seen on Depop, this is the spot to find that May Ball dress you’re looking for.

The complete absence of any apparent pricing strategy is a blessing and a curse, with everything from DKNY to Oasis or Shein in the £6-9 range. The men’s section was notably sparse, and Sidge girlies will also be less impressed by its lacking skinny scarf collection. With hardly a jumper or jacket in sight, this is admittedly not the shop for a British summer, let alone winter.

Winning points for the friendliest staff and charming character, I would sum up this shop as a humble goldmine; if you’re visiting, be prepared to splurge.

Cancer Research UK

Our final charity shop to review was St. Andrew’s Street’s Cancer Research UK. And, to be completely honest, after the excitement of the Arthur Rank Hospice shop, we were left feeling just a little let down.

Was it bigger? Certainly. Did it offer more variety and choice? Tenfold. But it felt just a little bland compared to the cosy closeness of our first charity shop of the day.

Our main complaint has to be the complete lack of a jewellery collection – and if you want that sudden rush of treasure hunt-like excitement, a charity shop jewellery section is what you need.

The one area where our second shop of the day clearly excelled, however, was on the blazer rack. Oversized, structured, and interestingly printed, this is the place to find your next blazer. Where Arthur Rank offered business casual on the blazer rack, Cancer Research gave us considered casual.

The prices were by no means offensive, unless you're planning to buy your May Ball dress second-hand from here. New (with tags) donations are of course worth a bit more, but charity shops are where you want a bargain, really. Bargains, however, are waiting to be found in the shop’s selection of shoes, women’s casual wear, and in the massive collection of menswear donations.

St. Andrew’s Street’s Cancer Research shop is a good shout, especially if you’re looking to devote a significant chunk of time to rifling through a pretty big shop for the perfect find. It was hiding its gems amongst a lot of less up to date offerings, but gems are certainly there to be found.