Haggling is expected. Smile, offer half, walk away. The seller will shout after you, “Alright, £3!”. Don’t be shy—it’s part of the performance.
Bring cash. The cash machine queue is legendary—longer than the queue for a Portaloos. And bring a bag, because you will buy something stupid. I once bought a stuffed badger wearing a hat. I don’t regret it.
Why it’s so fun to talk about
Because everyone has a “I found it at a car boot” story. Your aunt found a first-edition book. Your mate found a broken lamp that was actually from a Wes Anderson film set. It’s a universal language of unlikely discovery.
You never know what’s lurking under a pile of old clothes. That’s the thrill. It’s cheaper than therapy and twice as weird.
