Best Record Shops in Cambridge | Where to Buy Vinyl Today
For a university city, Cambridge has a surprisingly small number of record shops. In fact, there is probably only one true independent record shop in the city. Beyond that, you are left with more mainstream options, most notably Fopp. What Cambridge does have, however, is a dense run of charity shops and a regular record fair, both of which create genuine opportunities for record buyers prepared to dig.
This guide brings together the best places to buy records in Cambridge in 2026, from the independent shop worth seeking out to the charity crates and occasional fairs that reward patience.
If you are travelling don’t forget to check out our guides to the best record shops in Bath and the best record shops in Oxford.
Lost in Vinyl
Lost in Vinyl sits a short walk from the centre of Cambridge and feels closer to a boutique than a traditional record shop. The space is small, calm, and well laid out, with a clear focus on new pressings rather than deep second hand stock.
The selection leans heavily towards classic albums, with earlier recordings sitting alongside more contemporary names such as Sleaford Mods. On one visit, the racks included Kate Bush’s The Dreaming, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Cosmo’s Factory, and a notable amount of The Blue Nile. There is a small used section and a handful of sale or bargain records, although discounts are not always easy to spot in the racks.
Lost in Vinyl
Prices are high. Many albums sit well above £20, with some new pressings pushing beyond £30. For some buyers that will be acceptable, particularly those who value condition and presentation. For others, it will feel expensive. That said, as the only independent record shop in Cambridge, it plays an important role and is well worth a visit.
14 Magdalene Street, Cambridge, CB3 0AF
Fopp
There is no HMV in Cambridge. If you are looking for mainstream new pressings in a slightly cooler setting, Fopp fills that gap. The upstairs floor has an extensive selection of new vinyl, covering classic albums, reissues, and current releases. It is also a strong stop for music books and ephemera.
Downstairs, the focus is on film. The DVD section is particularly good, with a wide range of concert films, music documentaries, and an impressive international cinema selection. Even without buying vinyl, it is an enjoyable place to browse.
A varied selection of Vinyl in Fopp Cambridge
In years gone by, Cambridge supported several excellent record shops. Most notably, Andy’s Records and Jay’s Records traded near the Grafton Centre. Andy’s was a proper sprawl, with new pressings downstairs and an extensive used selection upstairs. It was here that I first bought copies of The Amazing Pudding, the original Pink Floyd fanzine.
Those shops are long gone. The same area is now dominated by charity retail. While that shift has changed the character of record buying in the city, it has not removed it altogether.
37 Sidney St, Cambridge CB2 3HX
https://www.fopp.com/stores/cambridge/
Charity Shop Crate Digging on Burleigh Street
Burleigh Street is now almost entirely charity shops. The street has seen better days, but it remains the most concentrated area for crate digging in Cambridge.
Arthur Rank Hospice
One of the most worthwhile stops. The Arthur Rank Hospice Shop has a small and slightly jumbled selection of records, along with DVDs and CDs. There is a real sense of lucky dip here and I picked up a great copy of Year of the Cat by Al Stewart here, which says a lot about what can occasionally turn up. Defintely worth crate digging and supporting a local charity.
55 Burleigh St, Cambridge CB1 1DB
https://www.arhc.org.uk/shops/detail/burleigh-street-cambridge/
The Year of the Cat, my charity shop find
Oxfam
This is a large Oxfam with very little in the way of music. What vinyl there is tends to be classical or opera and is located upstairs. Where it does shine is books, including biographies, music related titles, scores, and the occasional programme. Worth a look if you are already nearby.
Sense
A handful of CDs only. No vinyl. A very quick scan if you are passing.
RSPCA
Similar to Sense for music, with small CD and DVD sections. The book selection is often more interesting, with occasional music biographies or related titles making it worth a browse.
British Heart Foundation
Stocks CDs and DVDs but little of note. Usually a fast in and out.
Other charity shops on Burleigh Street include Scope, Mind, Cancer Research UK, and the British Red Cross. Of these, only the British Red Cross occasionally carries a very small selection of records, usually classical or older titles. You might find a music DVD for 50p, but expectations should be modest.
There is also a large Forbidden Planet store on the street. It does not sell records, but it is always worth a look for books, film, and pop culture ephemera.
Cambridge Market and Record Fairs
Cambridge Market sometimes hosts a record stall. It is not always present, and stock tends to focus on newer pressings rather than used finds. Worth a look if you happen to be passing, but not something to plan around.
Market Hill, Cambridge CB1 0SS
Cambridge also has a regular record fair run by VIP Record Fairs. Rather than the Corn Exchange, it takes place at St Paul’s Church Centre. These fairs offer one of the best chances in the city to see a wider spread of sellers, formats, and prices under one roof, and are well worth noting when dates are announced.
St Pauls Church Centre, Hills Road, CB2 1JP
https://vip-24.com/venues/cambridge/
Cambridge as a Record Buying City
Cambridge may not be well served when it comes to independent record shops, but it still offers plenty for record buyers willing to explore beyond a single storefront. Between Lost in Vinyl, Fopp, the charity shops of Burleigh Street, and regular record fairs, there are enough options to make a decent afternoon of digging.
It is a very different picture to cities such as Oxford, and Bath which supports several independent record shops and has a stronger overall record retail scene. Even the seaside town of Felixstowe has more actual record shops!
Still if you are coming into this wonderful city there are still crate digging opportunities in search of vinyl!