We get it, living in London can be pricey at the best of times. From barely getting any change from a tenner for a pint, to having to take out a mortgage just to afford your travel card, it's not easy to be thrifty.

So that's why it's so exciting when you have a chance to pick up an absolute bargain.

And where's better to do that than at one of the capital's many car boot sales?

You can find all those brilliant little decorations and trinkets that you'd never think to pick up somewhere else.

And it's the only way to find some totally unique items.

You could make a weekend of perusing car boots across the capital in search of steals.

From high-end fashion to precious antiques everything is up for grabs at these once-a-week markets.

Whether you're a novice, in it for the thrill, or an old hand at hunting down deals there's plenty of treasures to be unearthed at these 19 London car boots.

1. St Augustine's School Car Boot Sale, Maida Vale

Kilburn Park Rd, North Maida Vale, London NW6 5XA

St Augustine's car boot is at a Maida Vale school and run by the London Car Boot Co, which puts on three of the capital's biggest boots. It has an indoor and outdoor area which means you can bargain hunt come wind, rain or shine. If scouring the stalls for one-off items exhausts you there's also a café on site selling tea and homemade cakes.

Opening hours

Saturday 7am - 3pm

Entry fee: £12

For more information visit the car boot's website here.

2. Picks Cottage Car Boot Sale, Waltham Abbey

Picks Cottage, Sewardstone Rd, Waltham Abbey, London E4 7RA

Picks Cottage Car Boot sets up every Sunday in 70 acres of farmland just off the M25. The Waltham Forest sale is a family-run business which draws flocks of car booters every weekend. Its an open air sale which means it may be cancelled if the weather doesn't permit. Visitors are advised to arrive early to snatch up the best bargains before they go.

Opening hours

Sunday: 6.30am to 1.30pm

Entry fee(depends on what time you arrive)

6.30am -8.00am £1.50

8am-10pm: £1

10pm to 1pm: 50p

For more information visit the car boot's website here.

3. Chiswick Car Boot

Staveley Rd, Chiswick, London W4 3UN

Held at Chiswick School all the money raised from this car boot's entry fees goes directly to its parents and teachers association. It's staffed entirely by parent volunteers and while most of the items for sale are second hand there are also a few brand new finds to be had. It holds sales every first Sunday of the month apart from in January when there's a break.

Opening hours

Every first Sunday of the month: 7am to 12.30pm

Entry fee: £1 (children under 12-years-old go free)

For more information visit the car boot's website here.

4. Battersea Boot, Battersea

Harris Academy, Battersea Park Rd, London SW11 5AP

Battersea's car boot sale is perfect for those planning on a lazy Sunday as it doesn't open until the afternoon. It brands itself as "not your average boot sale" and while it has some regular traders most change every week. It gets pretty packed out but its organised lay out means it's a joy to wander round and can make spotting a steal that bit simpler.

Opening hours

Sunday: 1.30pm to 5.30pm

Entry fee: 50p

For more information visit the car boot's website here.

5. Hounslow Heath Car Boot, Hounslow

Staines Rd, Hounslow TW4 5DS

Hounslow Heath's car boot sale is a bit of a free-for-all - sellers are asked to "just turn up" as there's no booking in advance. The usual bric-a-brac, secondhand clothes and furniture are are for grabs at this popular west London sale. There are on site toilets and catering is available but there's no permanent café or food shop. Hounslow's car boot happens twice a week but is weather dependent so if the sky is looking grey you should ring in advance.

Opening hours

Thursday: 6am to 1pm

Sunday: 6am to 1pm

Bank Holiday Mondays: 6am to 1pm

Entry fee ( depends on what time you arrive )

Before 8.30am: £2

After 8.30 am £1

For more information on the car boot visit its website here.

6. Capital Carboot, Pimlico

Pimlico Academy, Lupus St, Pimlico, London SW1V 3AT

If you're a nut for vintage clothing and retro relics then Capital Carboot is the place to head. This central London sale is a treasure trove for items which are of an era. From fur coats to Victorian frames filled with pinned butterflies it's a time capsule for kitschy to the downright bizarre.

Opening hours

(Every Sunday except Easter, Christmas and New Year - check availability during these times)

Sunday: 10.15 am to 2.30pm

Entry fee (depends on what time you arrive )

10.15am: £5

2.30pm: £1)

For more information on the car boot visit its website here.

7. Southfield Car Boot Sale, Chiswick

Southfield Rd, Chiswick, London W4 1BD

Southfield Car Boot is a community affair and is held in a school playground on the last Sunday of every month (bar December and January). It's not London's biggest car boot but it's flocked to by Chiswick residents and all the money raised from the entry fees goes back into Southfield Primary School.

Opening hours

Last Sunday of every month (except December and January)

Entry fee: £1 before 8.30am

50p after 8.30am

For more information email: southfieldcarbootW4@gmail.com

8. Tottenham Car Boot Sale, Tottenham

701-703 High Rd, Tottenham, London N17 8AD

Tottenham's car boot sale is one of the few in London which happens during the week. If you have time to get up at the break of dawn on a Thursday and head there you'll find plenty of other early birds out to catch the worm. The car boot is in a car park but it has toilets and catering on site.

Opening hours

Thursday (apart from Christmas and New Year) 6am to 2pm

Entry fee: Free

For more information on the car boot visit its website here.

9. Calvers Fairs Car Boot Sale, Uxbridge

Park Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1NS

A megastar of the west London car boot scene Uxbridge 's gigantic sale is a must for all bargain hunters. Hundreds of vehicles packed with one-of-a-kind finds park up by Middlesex Showground once a week. There are food and drink vendors on site too.

Opening hours

March to October: selected Sundays, 7am – 1pm

August dates: Sundays 5, 19 and bank holiday Monday 27

Entry fee (depends on the time you arrive):

£2 per person before 8am

£1 per person from 8am to 1pm

Children under 16 go free

For more information on the car boot visit its website here.

10. Devons Road Market, Bromley-by-Bow

17 Towcester Rd, London E3 3ND

Devons Market has a cracking car boot sale which makes for a fun day out with the family. It specialises in vintage items with plenty of second hand clothes and classic toys to be picked from.

Opening hours

Saturday: 10am to 4pm

Entry fee (depends on what time you arrive)

£1 adults

£50p children

For more information on the car boot visit its website here.

11. Stoke Newington Car Boot, Stoke Newington

Princess May School, Stoke Newington, London N16 8DF

This north east London car boot runs over the whole weekend giving you an even better chance of picking up a bargain. It's a haven for Dalston's hip young things with tons of fashionable items up for grabs. From antique crockery to last season's Chanel, this sale is where it's at. There's outdoor ans indoor selling areas and even a BBQ stall selling steak burgers on site.

Opening hours

Saturday: 7am to 2pm

Sunday: 7am to 2pm

Entry fee (depends on what time you arrive)

7.30am to 5pm: £5

9am to 2pm: 50p

For more information on the car boot visit its website here.

12. Northolt Indoor Car Boot Sale, Ruislip

SKLPC Centre, West End Road, Northolt, UB5 6RE

Northolt's indoor sale stays open whatever the weather. It has more than 100 stalls all touting a variety of second hand items and retro goods. From period furniture to silk ball gowns anything can be picked up at this eclectic car boot.

Opening hours

November to April, selected Sundays, 7am to 1pm

Entry fee (depends on what time you arrive)

Before 8am, £2

From 8am, £1

Children under 16 free

For more information on the car boot visit its website here.

13. Shepperton Car Boot Sale

New Rd, Shepperton TW17 0QQ

This friendly boot sale packs out every Saturday with hundreds of sellers touting an array of secondhand goods. From vintage ball gowns to kids toys there's plenty to choose from here. It has a friendly, laid back atmosphere which makes it great for roaming around on a Saturday.

Opening hours

Saturday: 8.30am to 12.30pm

Entry fees

Before 8.30am, £3

After 8.30am, £1

Children under 12 go free

For more information on the car boot visit its website here.

14. Wimbledon Car Boot Sale

Plough Lane, London, SW17 0BL

More than 200 punters pitch up to sell all sorts at Wimbledon 's weekly car boot. From silverware to clothing and gold jewellery this is a mecca for those out to snap out something unique.

Opening hours

Wednesday: 10.30am to 2pm

Saturday: 6.30am to 1.30pm

Sunday: 7am-1.30pm Sun (except Easter, Christmas and New Year - please check availability during these times)

Entry fees

£2 for the first hour of the sale, 50p thereafter