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Top 5 Record Shops in Manchester

We explore the best vinyl shops in Manchester for music lovers and record hunters

Storefront of Piccadilly Records with a wide window display showcasing vinyl records. The entrance is open, revealing a well-lit interior with more records and customers browsing. The store name is prominently displayed in orange lettering above the window.

We all know that Manchester’s diverse music scene makes it a hot spot for new artists and sounds, throughout history and today. But the city is also a treasure map for record stores,  where music lovers can lose themselves exploring racks of rare, second-hand or new music. We didn’t have enough space to highlight all of them, so here is a selection of our top five vinyl shops in Manchester:

Piccadilly Records

Two musicians perform in a record store. One stands singing, wearing sunglasses and a grey coat, while the other sits playing an acoustic guitar, donning a furry hat and a leather jacket. A crowd surrounds them, watching and taking photos.
EventheStars.co.uk

53 Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JR | Mon-Fri: 10am-6pm, Sun: 10am-5pm

Perhaps one of the most popular independent record shops in Manchester, Piccadilly Records has been serving the city since 1978, moving to its Northern Quarter spot on Oldham Street in 1997. Priding themselves on the best new releases from indie and alternative, disco and funk to rock and pop music, the expert and friendly staff also play hosts to launch shows and in-store events.

Vinyl Exchange

Storefront of Vinyl Exchange, a music shop located in an urban area. The shop sign and name are visible with promotional text saying Vinyl, CDs, DVDs bought, sold and exchanged. The storefront displays vinyl records in the windows, and two people are walking by on the sidewalk.
TimeOut.com

18 Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JN | Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: 12-5pm

Established in 1988, Vinyl Exchange has become a cult favourite in Manchester. The store sells and buys rare and second-hand records, CDs and DVDs from its shop in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, boasting two floors of stock and a team of specialist staff. Whether you’re after limited edition Record Store Day releases, 1970s LPs or CD releases from the noughties, Vinyl Exchange is a treasure trove of affordable music.

Sifters

A group of people stand outside Sifters, a shop with a sign that reads new & used records bought & sold. A yellow van marked SIFTER MUSICTOURS.COM is parked to the right. The people are dressed for cool weather, some wearing coats and scarves.
TripAdvisor.co.uk

177 Fog Lane, Burnage M20 6FJ | 1-5pm (closed on Wednesdays and Sundays)

The “legendary” record shop hidden in South Manchester neighbourhood of Burnage, Sifters has been selling second-hand records to Manchester for more than 30 years. The little shop gained fame after the Oasis lyric “Mr Sifter sold me songs when I was just sixteen” on the 1994 single Shakermaker. The shop’s owner, Mr Sifter (real name Peter Howard) has received attention for the shop’s shoutout in the song ever since, and Sifters remains a favourite for second-hand record hunters of all ages and interests.

Kingsbee Records

A record store, Kingbee Records, has a colorful exterior mural featuring a saxophonist on the left and a DJ on the right. The store's yellow sign with black letters displays the name and contact details. The yellow entrance door sits in the center.
Pinterest.co.uk

519 Wilbraham Road, Chorton-cum-Hardy M21 0UF | Mon-Saturday 10am-5pm

Another old school establishment, Kingbee Records is difficult to miss, with its bright yellow shopfront standing out on the main road through Chorlton-cum-Hardy. Just a minute’s stroll from the Metrolink stop, this top Manchester record shop takes an interest in both new and used vinyls and CDs across all genres, from punk to prog rock, soul to ska. Their Instagram account highlights latest arrivals so that you can snap up any rare finds, fast!

All Night Flight Records

A cozy room with a large vinyl record collection neatly organized on white shelves. Above the shelves, there are framed pictures and magazines on display, including a turntable setup. The space is warmly lit by a tall floor lamp and a small table lamp.
StamptheWax.com

10 Mealhouse Brow, Stockport SK1 1JP | Tues-Saturday 11am-5pm

For truly the best record shopping experience, we’re breaking the rules a little and journeying 10 minutes south of the city to Stockport, where you’ll find All Night Flight, tucked away in Stockport’s old town. The red brick shop front and white interior will make you feel as though you’re entering a secret art gallery -- which is about right, as All Night Flight stocks a curated selection of vinyl in electronic, experimental and worldwide music. Selling new and used, if you’ve got an interesting record at home you’re thinking of selling it’s worth taking it along.