Pen/Vintage Shops in London

October 7, 2022

Hey all, not sure if this is the right place (please move it for me if it isn't). I'm planning a trip for the holidays right now to London to visit some folks and maybe a quick trip to Paris while I am there. Are there any good fountain pen shops I can visit in those two cities or thereabouts? In particular any vintage shops or antique malls where I might find vintage pens?

October 8, 2022

In the past there were a few little antique shops at Portobello Market (Portobello Road, Notting Hill) though not many where one could find vintage pens. It was possible to come across vintage pens on some stalls there, too.

The market was usually open on Saturdays and it was better to come there early in the morning to find something valuable.

I have not been there during post-pandemic times, so you need to check if it is active nowadays.

Hampstead Antique Market in NW3 area was another place to come across vintage ens but the chances to find something valuable were pretty poor there.

October 8, 2022

I have just checked: Portobello Antique Market is open on Saturdays again.

So, try to come there around 9:00am and, hopefully, you will have chances to find something interesting

Good Luck!

October 8, 2022

3 hours ago, TheRedBeard said:

I have just checked: Portobello Antique Market is open on Saturdays again.

So, try to come there around 9:00am and, hopefully, you will have chances to find something interesting

Good Luck!

I will try to check it out, thank you! That's exactly the type of thing I was looking for.

October 8, 2022

Not vintage by any means, but you might find Choosing Keeping worth a visit

Choosing Keeping lots of Japanese stationary in particular you can't get anywhere else.

Also Art Supply Store | Art Supplies Online | London Graphic Centre (londongraphics.co.uk)

If you are visiting Oxford Italian leather journals, personalised stationery & stunning gifts – Scriptum Fine Stationery Oxford whilst you are between pubs.

Also with the £ being low against the £, maybe a Montblanc boutique?

October 9, 2022

7 hours ago, sandy101 said:

Not vintage by any means, but you might find Choosing Keeping worth a visit

Choosing Keeping lots of Japanese stationary in particular you can't get anywhere else.

Also Art Supply Store | Art Supplies Online | London Graphic Centre (londongraphics.co.uk)

If you are visiting Oxford Italian leather journals, personalised stationery & stunning gifts – Scriptum Fine Stationery Oxford whilst you are between pubs.

Also with the £ being low against the £, maybe a Montblanc boutique?

I'm going to see if I can make my way out to Oxford, I'm in the market for a nice new journal. I ran out of space in my old one a while back and I got a little overwhelmed with all the new paper choices and varieties and didn't get a new one. Those look very nice.

I don't think a Montblanc is in my immediate future unfortunately - I think that costs more than my plane tickets! Thank you for the links, I'm going to try to check these out.