Waterloo Camping

Found it by accident. Small and very packed shop with products all around. If you think the shop is closed because the entrance is fully blocked with rucksacks… no they have open from 9 to 5 from Monday to Saturday. Very friendly! You will always find something there… and the owner is very helpfull. My recommendation for London. 3 Minutes from Southwark station… and there are also nice restaurants and cafés around.

Place was dingy and filled to the gills with Chinese nylon knock off backpacks /​sleeping bags and useless stuff. I did spot some nice original British army kit but most was junk. the fella working there on jan 7^th 2014 had attitude. all I can say is go look at Silvermans showroom and strive to get into the 21^st century pal. Treat your customers with respect. they pay your rent and salary. David M, Vancouver, Canada

I also found it a good shop with a friendly proprietor, lots of action in a very cramped space full of interesting stuff (lady from Young Vic across the road was stocking up on props) at good prices and excellent good quality. Got my son a great trenchcoat much better quality, warmth and price than Oxford St and he was fascinated by gasmasks, etc.

In my view, the best army surplus and camping shop in London. I’m a regular customer, having bought everything from walking boots and gloves to jackets and waterproofs, over a period of 15 years. (They used to be based near Victoria, but moved a few years ago to Waterloo Cut).
As well as the usual range of army-​surplus type gear — jackets, vests, shirts and trousers, they do a good line in MA1 flying jackets (£25), Harrington Jackets in a range of colours (and at £19.95, rather than inflated ‘retro’ prices) and of course foot-​wear. They also sell used gear, but most items are brand new, and at their prices there’s no need to go down the second hand route.
I recently bought a pair of brand new British Army boots here for under £50, which are superbly comfortable (in fact I’m wearing them as I write this) and will doubtless last for years.
The shop is very small, very old-​fashioned, and run by two amazingly helpful brothers as a family business. They have a very loyal customer base — when I was there recently, they had a regular from Canada buying a pair of desert boots.
If they haven’t got an item in stock, they will order it in and call you when it’s in, but they equally won’t pressure you if you decide against a purchase. They’ll also give you honest advice if you ask for it — they know their stock.
The rise of the internet has seen the death of many traditional army surplus and camping shops, but Waterloo Camping is a one of survivors. If you want excellent value, traditional army surplus gear (and more besides), this is the place to go.