Real shops selling vinyl ?

Not within your 20-mile limit, but for new vinyl might be worth jumping on a train down to Liverpool Street and going to Rough Trade East.

if you want to try On line I have used www.whatrecords.co.uk and we fine.

If you have a smart phone this might be a help.  http://www.whathifi.com/news/find-your-nearest-record-shop-with-the-vinyl-district-app for real shops

Thought of that, but the OP specifcally said not online.

I tried that but unless you're in the area it doesn't seem to be able to figure out how to show you stuff in a different part of the country (ie I'm in Bristol but even going to Colchester on the map and refreshing just took me back to Bristol, needs some work that app). It should work for the OP if he's in or around Colchester.

Grab a fast train to Liverpool Street, 10 minutes walk to Rough Trade East as mentioned above.

Just had a look on Rough Trade East web sight . . . really good . . . once I worked out how the site worked   Thats a trip into London in the summer, rover underground ticket, step back in time a couple of hours in with the records, then use the rover to visit a few sites, or take Hazel shopping, go to a matinee show/film?  Earn some brownie points, back home reasonable time, chinese take away, everybody is happy . . . .

CJSF

For anyone going to London there are a few vinyl shops in the Soho area. Sister Rays and Reckless records in Berwick St for rock and quite a few shops nearby for other genre.

If you are of the age where you still talk of red bus rovers, you might find Rough Trade a bit of a culture shock ! Last ime I was in there they were playing something which to my ears sounded like someone drilling through a washing machine whilst it was still trying to rotate. And I like David Bowie in his experimental phases !

Yep, rover ticket and rout masters . . . them were the days?  Chasing the bus and being hauled on board by a friendly conductor . . . how life has changed?  Chase the bus, not these days I'm afraid, I wait patiently and show my 'bus pass'?

I take the point, how about WHF doing a list of 'proper' vinyl shops, and their web sits?

In the meantime, having scanned through the web sit of Rough Trade East, I think its worth reconsidering and cheaper to order online . . . never mind the brownie points  . . . although, there is still the take away   

CJSF

CJSF wrote:

In the meantime, having scanned through the web sit of Rough Trade East, I think its worth reconsidering and cheaper to order online . . . never mind the brownie points  . . . although, there is still the take away  

Oh no, well worth the trip, and some superb restaurants on its doorstep in Brick Lane itself.

How about Crazy Beat Records in Upminster. It's a bit further than 20 miles but you can have a look at their website first and see if it is worth the journey.

  Bowie in his experimental phases is still positively mainstream . Try a bit of Test Dept . , SPK or Die Krupps , that'll set your teeth on edge !

 Crazy Beats in Upminster only sells dance/soul.

I think nothing can beat a good browse through a record shop, last time I was in Rough Trade I picked up the Death Wish soundtrack by Herbie Hancock. Sounds fabulous, and a great cover too !

If you have made it all the way down to Liverpool Street, it is only another 1o mins to Oxford Street. Leave the other half there and have a stroll to Soho for all the vinyl selling shops down that way ?

Thanks for the interest and all taken on board.        Red Rover ......... How about Stephensons rocket ?      

What the Uttoxeter one, always got through no matter what the weather.