There seems to be an ongoing trend, at least in the cities I've recently visited, of carefully placing a vintage or thrift shop near main tourist attractions, or in the center of town, as if to cruelly convince an unassuming visitor that they've stumbled upon a rare gem, while the locals shake their heads in disappointment. But vintage isn't the same as thrift, it's nowhere near as affordable, rendering practicing sustainable choices in shopping impossible for many. And while the streets of Edinburgh seem to be lined with charity shops, it can be hard to know which ones are worth the visit. So I have tried my best to make the search a little less complicated and crucially less expensive.

St. Columba's Hospice – 352 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 5BR

St. Columba's Hospice has 6 locations across Edinburgh, but my favorite location is located midway about down Leith Walk. In addition to supporting a local hospice, St. Columba's Hospice is one of the highest rated thrift shops in Edinburgh. They have a great selection of clothes, books, and small household items, as well as a great collection of sewing supplies and fabric. They also sell free range eggs!

4. All Together Edinburgh – 87 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 8LX

Just a short walk from St. Columba's Hospice is All Together, a charity shop with a mission to help people with learning disabilities. All Together has a vast collection of affordable clothes, so you're sure to find something. And if you can't make the journey, they've recently launched their own eBay page!

Bethany Christian Trust – 93 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4AY

The Bethany Shop is another chain of charity shops throughout Edinburgh, but one of my favorite locations is the Bethany Christian Trust located in beautiful Morningside. The Bethany Chrisitian Trust is a charity with a mission to end homeless in Scotland. This shop has a beautiful and large collection of bargain Furniture, which they usually keep just outside their storefront. Additionally, they have houseware, books, artwork, and a bunch of other great random finds!

Edinburgh Settlement Projects – 34A Haddington Pl, Edinburgh EH7 4AG

Seated along the start of Leith Walk, Edinburgh Settlement Projects is easily one of the best thrift stores in all of Edinburgh. Its eclectic assortment of record players, stereos, and artwork make for a unique and exciting visit. They also have a great collection of discount furniture and clothing. Their mission statement is an important one. The community shop “was opened in 2011 to promote and facilitate local community recycling and re-use, and to provide a local hub for the development of community projects. We sell donated goods to raise funds to support community development initiatives both locally and internationally.”

1.Birthlink Thrift Shop One and Two – 6 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4HN

and 26 Lochrin Buildings, Edinburgh EH3 9NB

Birthlink is easy to miss, but thankfully, it's not hard to find. There's two thrift stores, one for clothes and the other one just around the corner for nearly everything else. Birthlink's mission “is to enhance the well-being and promote the welfare of all people affected by adoption with a Scottish connection.” For such two small and narrow shops, the Birthlink charity has easily the best selection of clothes, artwork, homeware, blankets, pillows, and everything else under the sun, making it my favorite charity shop in all of Edinburgh!

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P.S. Not a charity shop, but if you're in town there's a great opportunity to thrift shop at an indoor flea market! Check it out every last Saturday of the month: the Out of the Blue Flea Market at Out of the Blue Drill Hall (36 Dalmeny Street, EH6 8RG). The vendors sell great second hand clothing and bric-a-brac. Free entry.