Choose Love Winter Shop Returns to Carnaby Street from 4 November
Carnaby Street’s Winter Shop Is Back for a Ninth Year
If you have walked down Carnaby Street recently, you will have noticed the bunting and bright window displays going up ahead of the festive rush. This year, one of the busiest corners of Soho has another reason to draw a crowd. The Choose Love Winter Shop returns on Wednesday 4 November 2026, and it is worth making the trip even if you have never bought a thing from a charity shop in your life. Billed as the ultimate charity shop, it is a short-term boutique where every purchase goes towards supporting refugees and displaced people through the coldest months. That might mean a hot meal, a warm coat, or an emergency bundle of essentials. This is the ninth year the initiative has run, and last year’s shop raised more than £1.1 million, a figure that shows how much goodwill the street can generate when it gets behind a cause. Carnaby Street sits in the heart of Soho, a few minutes’ walk from Oxford Circus, and the shop’s central location means it is easy to fold into a lunch break, an after-work wander, or a weekend outing with friends. Nearby, Trafalgar Square is never far from the usual tourist trail, so visitors from across the city and beyond are likely to stumble across it too. For residents, it is a rare chance to shop locally and know exactly where the money goes.
Who Is Behind the Shop and How It Works
The shop is run by Choose Love, the charity at the centre of the project, and its team has shaped the experience to feel more like a proper boutique than a jumble sale. The two-floor space was designed by award-winning production designer Misty Buckley, whose recent credits span major award ceremonies and a big-screen musical, so expect the interiors to be as eye-catching as the merchandise. The core stock is Choose Love merchandise, including t-shirts, hoodies and tote bags. Fans of last year’s black and gold design will be pleased to hear it is still in rotation. Alongside the clothing sit symbolic items that represent things the charity urgently needs to buy, so shoppers can see directly what a donation might provide. From Tuesday 1 December, the much-loved Choose Gifts returns, offering new, pre-loved and past-season luxury fashion and beauty at discounted prices. The edit is curated by celebrity stylists, which is a real draw for anyone hunting for a standout present without the full designer price tag. The Empathy Museum’s ‘A Mile in My Shoes’ installation is also coming back, inviting visitors to pause and consider a different perspective. For local independent retailers and creatives, the shop is also a reminder that collaborations between designers, artists and charities can bring real footfall to a street.
What Residents Should Do Next
If you live in or around central London, the practical advice is simple: mark your diary for 4 November and plan a visit. Weekday mornings are typically calmer than weekend afternoons, when Carnaby Street fills with shoppers and visitors heading towards Regent Street. Choose Gifts doesn’t open until 1 December, so keep that date in mind if you are sorting Christmas presents. You don’t have to spend much to make a difference. Even a single t-shirt or tote bag contributes to the total, and the symbolic items let you see clearly what your money is supporting. If you are not in a position to shop, following the charity’s updates on social media through @chooselove will keep you informed about opening hours, new stock and any surprise appearances. Those appearances are part of the fun. Friends of the charity often pop up behind the tills or DJ in-store, and last year Chris Martin played an impromptu set that had people queuing around the block. Keep an eye out, but do not expect a set list. Finally, watch for how the total raised is reported once the season ends. Last year’s £1.1 million figure set a high bar, and local readers who want to understand the real-world impact should look for the charity’s published results and the stories of the people helped.
Source: The Choose Love Winter Shop Is Returning to Carnaby Street
Shoppers planning to visit London this winter can explore the Choose Love Winter Shop alongside Carnaby Street’s iconic independent boutiques and vibrant street style.
