Where to buy Recordings in the U.K.

[Dave2002]

I'm tempted to say "Amazon!"

Most of the decent, or even half way decent CD shops have closed. There are still towns with HMV stores, but most of them are really bad. It's just possible that the one at the Tottenham Court Road end of Oxford Street (London) is still OK. Unfortunately the Bond Street one has given way to CrossRail. There is one in Kingston, which is just about OK, and after that almost all the others are not worth going into.

There was a small shop in Godalming (http://www.therecordcorner.co.uk/) which was still hanging on a few months ago, and there may be one in Amersham - http://www.therecordshopltd.co.uk/100500/contact.php

There are some charity shops - Oxfam is sometimes good, though as noted may also be quite expensive - sometimes more so than buying new! The one in Cirencester was good a few years ago.

These may not be in places that our OP visitor wants to go to, though.

[Flosshilde]

I would like to second Mangerton's recommendation for McAlister Matheson in Edinburgh. Of the record shops in the UK that I know, this is the best. The shop has a good stock and is very well run.

I would third that. The HMV in Princes St also has (had? - it's a while since I looked in) a good classical department.


How long are you in Edinburgh for? If it's more than a day I'd suggest that you make a trip to Glasgow (50 minutes on the train every 15 minutes) - a superb 19th century city centre that's often stood in for New York & Chicago in Hollywood films, a wonderful 13th-14th century cathedral (Glasgow's a lot older than most people think), what is possibly the best municipal art collection in the UK, and of course Mackintosh. The tour buses also take you to the modern developments, including Zaha Hadid's Transport Museum.

You're obviously going to have to extend your stay, given the suggestions for 'side-trips' from your main itinerary

[mangerton]

I would third that. The HMV in Princes St also has (had? - it's a while since I looked in) a good classical department.


How long are you in Edinburgh for? If it's more than a day I'd suggest that you make a trip to Glasgow (50 minutes on the train every 15 minutes) - a superb 19th century city centre that's often stood in for New York & Chicago in Hollywood films, a wonderful 13th-14th century cathedral (Glasgow's a lot older than most people think), what is possibly the best municipal art collection in the UK, and of course Mackintosh. The tour buses also take you to the modern developments, including Zaha Hadid's Transport Museum.

You're obviously going to have to extend your stay, given the suggestions for 'side-trips' from your main itinerary

Oh, quite definitely. I would say a month in Scotland and an afternoon in England would be about right.

I'm not sure about the new Transport Museum, though, flossie. I visited last year. Not a brilliant idea to stick cars all the way up the wall, although I enjoyed seeing the Hillman Imp - my first car in 1972!

Just wait till the V & A opens in Dundee in a few years.

[Flosshilde]

I've not been to the transport museum yet, but the reports I've heard have basically said that the building is great but the display is awful.

Still, Scotland did get the first buildings by Zaha Hadid in the UK, after Wales got cold feet over the opera house.

[richardfinegold]

I would like to second Mangerton's recommendation for McAlister Matheson in Edinburgh. Of the record shops in the UK that I know, this is the best. The shop has a good stock and is very well run.

There are a lot of great recommendations here, but the Edinburgh one really looks intriguing. I'll have to report back after my expedition. We leave in two days. We have to swing past Vegas and pick up the Prince's clothes that he seems to have forgotten and left behind.

[David-G]

There are a lot of great recommendations here, but the Edinburgh one really looks intriguing. I'll have to report back after my expedition. We leave in two days. We have to swing past Vegas and pick up the Prince's clothes that he seems to have forgotten and left behind.

When you are in Edinburgh do go to McAlister Matheson. If you have time for further possibilities, HMV in Princes Street has a classical department upstairs (though you will have to suffer an aural assault to get there). Another good expedition in Edinburgh is to walk through the magnificent Georgian Charlotte Square and Moray Place in the New Town, down to Raeburn Place in Stockbridge, which is a charming shopping street. There you will find an "Oxfam" music shop and a "Shelter" shop, both of which have a good selection of classical vinyl.

If you are in Edinburgh on a Saturday morning, you might enjoy visiting the Farmers Market on Castle Terrace, just round the corner from McAlister Matheson. And if you are in Edinburgh on a Saturday or Wednesday afternoon, you might like to visit the Russell Collection of early keyboard instruments, housed adjacent to St Cecilia's Hall (the second-oldest concert hall in Europe still in use, dating from 1763). You can read about the collection here: http://www.music.ed.ac.uk/euchmi/sch/ .

If you happen to get to Cambridge, "Heffers Sound" in Trinity Street is a nice shop selling classical CDs.

[richardfinegold]

I would third that. The HMV in Princes St also has (had? - it's a while since I looked in) a good classical department.


How long are you in Edinburgh for? If it's more than a day I'd suggest that you make a trip to Glasgow (50 minutes on the train every 15 minutes) - a superb 19th century city centre that's often stood in for New York & Chicago in Hollywood films, a wonderful 13th-14th century cathedral (Glasgow's a lot older than most people think), what is possibly the best municipal art collection in the UK, and of course Mackintosh. The tour buses also take you to the modern developments, including Zaha Hadid's Transport Museum.

You're obviously going to have to extend your stay, given the suggestions for 'side-trips' from your main itinerary

I'd love to. Alas, we have only 1 and a half days in Edinburg, then off to London. My next time we will spend more time in Scotland

[Flosshilde]

Richard, I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip, & that the weather is kind to you. I also hope that your wife is as keen on visiting record shops as you are, as there are plenty of suggestions here!

[richardfinegold]

Richard, I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip, & that the weather is kind to you. I also hope that your wife is as keen on visiting record shops as you are, as there are plenty of suggestions here!

We have been in Bath for the last 2 days. Having a great time. Wife understands but doesn't share collecting passion but loves music. She shops elsewhere when I am on the prowl.
Bath Compact discs is a nice shop but somewhat limited inventory. There is a difference in terms of what one can find here vs. Stateside. Can't wait for Edinburgh and London!

[Bryn]

Bath Compact Discs had to downsize its shop and move across the road recently. These days their main business is by mail. CD shops in general are getting rarer and those that remain are getting smaller. We recently had a discussion here re. Bath Compact Discs, and one of Steve Macallister registered to update us on the situation.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?6097-Survival%28!%29-of-an-independent-classical-CD-shop!&p=199521#post199521

[teamsaint]

Bath Compact Discs had to downsize its shop and move across the road recently. These days their main business is by mail. CD shops in general are getting rarer and those that remain are getting smaller. We recently had a discussion here re. Bath Compact Discs, and one of Steve Macallister registered to update us on the situation.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...521#post199521

as people may know, BCD is just around the corner from Toppings book shop. Toppings,(which is pretty top end!) like a number of other quality independent book shops seems to be doing OK.
Its true to say that in the book market, shops are tending to survive by diversifying. Toppings run quality book signings and events , several each week. Other stores go for the academic market, diversifying into related (or unrelated) product, running outside festivals and events, or whatever.
Not suggesting this is where salvation lies ,because most music shops have already gone, but perhaps, just perhaps there is a successful diverse model somewhere that others could follow.

[Rolmill]

The wife and I will be on your side of the pond in a few days. Will be in Bath, Cotswolds, York, Edinburgh, and London. Are there any good shops for new/used CDS/Vinyl for Classical Music that i should see? On this side of the pond they are drying up pretty fast.

Not sure if the Cotswolds part of your visit has been covered yet, but Sounds Good in Cheltenham used to be worth a visit - not large, but with some interesting stock (including folk and world music, iirc) and a 2nd hand section.

[richardfinegold]

Not sure if the Cotswolds part of your visit has been covered yet, but Sounds Good in Cheltenham used to be worth a visit - not large, but with some interesting stock (including folk and world music, iirc) and a 2nd hand section.

We didn't make it to Cheltenham. We are traveling by trian, and we stayed in Chiiping Camden. We have been York the last 2 days, but not much to report on the music buying front. Tomorrow is Edinburgh and I am looking forward to McAllistairs.

[richardfinegold]

as people may know, BCD is just around the corner from Toppings book shop. Toppings,(which is pretty top end!) like a number of other quality independent book shops seems to be doing OK.
Its true to say that in the book market, shops are tending to survive by diversifying. Toppings run quality book signings and events , several each week. Other stores go for the academic market, diversifying into related (or unrelated) product, running outside festivals and events, or whatever.
Not suggesting this is where salvation lies ,because most music shops have already gone, but perhaps, just perhaps there is a successful diverse model somewhere that others could follow.

Borders tried something like that, but extinction beckoned anyway.

[Jonathan]

We didn't make it to Cheltenham. We are traveling by trian, and we stayed in Chiiping Camden. We have been York the last 2 days, but not much to report on the music buying front. Tomorrow is Edinburgh and I am looking forward to McAllistairs.

Hi Richardfinegold, yes, York is poor for classical CDs aside from a very limited selection in Banks (it used to be much better).

However, if you can get to Harrogate, try Pomp and Circumstance - well worth a visit and it has a 2nd hand section as well.