Best Auction Houses & Dealers in the United Kingdom
The best UK auction houses and antique dealers compared — Christie's, Bonhams, Lyon & Turnbull, and 20+ more in London, Edinburgh, and beyond. Fees & how to sell.
The British Auction Tradition
The United Kingdom is the birthplace of the modern auction industry. Sotheby's was founded in London in 1744, and Christie's followed in 1766 — together they created the template that auction houses worldwide still follow. Today, London remains one of the two most important auction centers in the world, alongside New York.
Beyond the global giants, Britain's auction landscape is remarkably rich and varied. Regional houses like Woolley and Wallis (Salisbury), Dreweatts (Newbury), Lyon & Turnbull (Edinburgh), and Tennants (Yorkshire) serve their communities with deep expertise in everything from Old Masters to country house contents. Many of these regional houses have histories stretching back over a century.
The UK market is particularly strong in British art, antique silver, fine ceramics (especially Royal Worcester and Wedgwood), vintage jewelry, rare books, and classic British sporting memorabilia. London's specialist dealers — concentrated in areas like Mayfair, St James's, and Kensington — offer some of the world's finest curated inventories.
For international buyers, the UK offers favorable conditions: a well-regulated market, transparent fee structures, and excellent global shipping infrastructure. Buyer's premiums are typically 25-30% at the major houses, with lower rates at regional salerooms.
UK auction houses at a glance
29 houses compared by city, age, specialties and buyer's premium. Seller commission is usually agreed per consignment, so ask each house for a quote.
| Auction house | City | Founded | Known for | Buyer's premium | Online bidding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers | Macclesfield | 2008 | Antique Furniture, Fine Art & Paintings, Ceramics & Porcelain | 25% + VAT on the hammer price; online surcharge 2% + VAT (own site) or... | Yes |
| Anderson & Garland | Newcastle upon Tyne | 1840 | Fine Art & Paintings, Silver & Gold, Antique Furniture | 25% + VAT (30% inc. VAT) on the hammer price; vehicles 10% + VAT. the-... | Yes |
| Bloomfield Auctions | Belfast | 1985 | Fine Jewelry & Gems, Coins & Currency, Watches & Timepieces | 15% + VAT on the hammer price; the-saleroom adds 6% + VAT. | Yes |
| Chiswick Auctions | London | 2011 | Fine Art & Paintings, Ceramics & Porcelain, Rugs & Textiles | 26% + VAT up to £500,000; 12% + VAT above; wine & spirits 24% + VAT. | Yes |
| Chorley's | Gloucester | 1862 | Fine Art & Paintings, Antique Furniture | 25% + VAT (30% inc. VAT) on the first £100,000; 15% + VAT to £500,000;... | Yes |
| Gorringes | Lewes | 1920 | Antique Furniture, Fine Art & Paintings, Fine Jewelry & Gems | 25% + VAT on the hammer price; online surcharges + VAT: 3% (EasyLive),... | Yes |
| Lawrences Auctioneers | Crewkerne | — | Fine Art & Paintings, Antique Furniture, Books & Manuscripts | 25% + VAT (30% inc. VAT) on the hammer price in Fine Art and timed onl... | Yes |
| Mellors & Kirk | Nottingham | 1993 | Antique Furniture, Fine Art & Paintings, Fine Jewelry & Gems | 24% + VAT (minimum £6 + VAT per lot); online surcharges + VAT: 1.5% (o... | Yes |
| Propstore | London | 1998 | Vintage Collectibles | 26% of hammer price | Yes |
| Rogers Jones & Co | Colwyn Bay | 1992 | Fine Art & Paintings, Vintage Collectibles, Coins & Currency | Varies by auction; e.g. 22% + VAT (26.4% inc. VAT) for the Colwyn Bay... | Yes |
| Spink & Son | London | 1666 | Coins & Currency | 22.5% of the hammer price + VAT where applicable (UK terms, Feb 2026);... | Yes |
| Sworders | Stansted Mountfitchet | 1782 | Fine Art & Paintings, Antique Furniture, Fine Jewelry & Gems | 27% + VAT on the first £20,000 of the hammer price, 25% + VAT from £20... | Yes |
| Tennants Auctioneers | Leyburn | 1971 | Fine Art & Paintings, Antique Furniture, Ceramics & Porcelain | Fine, Country House & Specialist Sales: 24% + VAT (28.8% inc.) up to £... | Yes |
| the-saleroom | London | 2006 | Fine Art & Paintings, Antique Furniture, Ceramics & Porcelain | Online surcharge of 3-5% plus VAT on top of auction house buyer's prem... | Yes |
| Thomson Roddick Callan | Dumfries | 1880 | Fine Jewelry & Gems, Silver & Gold, Fine Art & Paintings | 20% + VAT on the hammer price. Online purchases add 3% + VAT (own site... | Yes |
| Toovey's | Washington | 1995 | Fine Art & Paintings, Antique Furniture, Books & Manuscripts | 25% + VAT (30% inc. VAT) on the hammer price; the-saleroom live biddin... | Yes |
| Christie's | London | 1766 | Fine Art, Jewelry, Watches | 28% up to £1.5M ($2M), 22% on the portion to £6M ($8M), 15% above. Exc... | Yes |
| Bonhams | London | 1793 | Fine Art, Jewelry, Watches | 28% + VAT up to £40,000; 27% to £800,000; 21% to £4.5M; 14.5% above. F... | Yes |
| Phillips | London | 1796 | Fine Art, Watches, Jewelry | 29% up to £1.5M ($2M), 22% on the portion to £6M ($8M), 15% above, plu... | Yes |
| Watches of Knightsbridge | London | 2012 | Watches, Timepieces | 22% + VAT (26.4% inc. VAT) on the hammer price; VAT on premium can be... | Yes |
| Fellows | Birmingham | 1876 | Jewelry, Watches, Silver | 25% + VAT (30% inc. VAT) on the first £100,000; 15% + VAT (18% inc. VA... | Yes |
| Woolley and Wallis | Salisbury | 1884 | Asian Art, Jewelry, Silver | 27% + VAT (32.4% inc.) on the first £20,000; 26% + VAT (31.2% inc.) to... | Yes |
| Lyon & Turnbull | Edinburgh | 1826 | Fine Art, Jewelry, Asian Art | From 30 September 2026: 28% + VAT up to £25,000; 27% + VAT to £500,000... | Yes |
| Dreweatts | Newbury | 1759 | Fine Art, Asian Art, Jewelry | 28% + VAT (33.6% inc.) up to £25,000; 27% + VAT (32.4% inc.) to £500,0... | Yes |
| BADA (British Antique Dealers' Association) | London | 1918 | Antiques, Fine Art, Jewelry | N/A (trade association) | — |
| LAPADA | London | 1974 | Antiques, Fine Art, Jewelry | N/A (trade association) | — |
| Wartski | London | 1865 | Faberge, Jewelry, Russian Decorative Arts | N/A (dealer) | — |
| Hancocks London | London | 1849 | Jewelry, Gemstones, Antique Jewelry | N/A (dealer) | — |
| Bernard Quaritch | London | 1847 | Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps | N/A (dealer) | — |
Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers
Auction HouseMacclesfield auction house founded in 2008 by Adam Partridge, with further salerooms in Liverpool, London (Ruislip) and Devon.
Anderson & Garland
Auction HouseNewcastle auction house established in 1840, holding up to 60 sales a year across 20+ departments from a 20,000 sq ft saleroom.
Bloomfield Auctions
Auction HouseBelfast auction house established in 1985, holding a weekly Tuesday sale of jewellery, watches, coins, medals and militaria.
Chiswick Auctions
Auction HouseA dynamic London auction house with acclaimed Asian Art and Islamic Art departments, holding over 170 sales per year.
Chorley's
Auction HouseGloucestershire fine art and antiques auctioneers at Prinknash Abbey Park, with roots in the 1862 Bruton Knowles art division.
Gorringes
Auction HouseA respected Sussex auction house with roots in the 1920s, offering fine art, antiques, jewelry, and specialist collectors' sales.
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Lawrences Auctioneers
Auction HouseSomerset auction house in Crewkerne running seasonal Fine Art Sales and weekly timed online sales, with a second base in Westbury.
Mellors & Kirk
Auction HouseA leading Midlands fine art auctioneer in Nottingham, known for antiques, jewelry, and regular specialist sales.
Propstore
Auction HouseThe world's leading auction house for original movie props, costumes, and entertainment memorabilia.
Rogers Jones & Co
Auction HouseWelsh auction house founded in 1992 in Colwyn Bay, with salerooms in Cardiff and Chester and a record £240,000 rugby jersey sale.
Spink & Son
Auction HouseOne of the world's oldest auction houses, specializing in coins, stamps, medals, and banknotes since 1666.
Sworders
Auction HouseEssex fine art auction house founded in 1782, holding around 50 auctions a year from Stansted Mountfitchet with live online bidding.
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Tennants Auctioneers
Auction HouseThe UK's largest family-owned fine art auctioneers, based in the Yorkshire Dales with 27 specialist departments.
the-saleroom
DealerThe UK's largest online auction platform, connecting bidders with 700+ British and European auction houses.
Thomson Roddick Callan
Auction HouseAuctioneers since 1880 with salerooms in Dumfries, Edinburgh, Carlisle and Ayr, selling jewellery, silver, art, coins and more.
Toovey's
Auction HouseA leading Sussex auctioneer specializing in fine art, antiques, books, and specialist collectors' categories since 1995.
Christie's
Auction HouseThe world's leading auction house, selling art and luxury since 1766.
Bonhams
Auction HouseA global auction house known for motor cars, Asian art, and specialist categories.
Phillips
Auction HouseThe contemporary specialist — 20th and 21st century art, design, and watches.
Watches of Knightsbridge
Auction HouseLondon specialist watch auctioneer offering accessible price points since 2012.
Fellows
Auction HouseOne of the UK's largest jewelry and watch auctioneers, est. 1876 in Birmingham.
Woolley and Wallis
Auction HouseSalisbury-based English auction house with international expertise in Asian art.
Lyon & Turnbull
Auction HouseScotland's oldest auction house, now part of the Freeman's | Hindman network.
Dreweatts
Auction HouseHistoric English auction house at Donnington Priory, specializing in fine art and interiors.
BADA (British Antique Dealers' Association)
DealerThe UK's oldest trade body for vetted antique and fine art dealers, est. 1918.
LAPADA
DealerThe UK's largest association of professional art and antiques dealers, 550+ members.
Wartski
DealerThe world's leading Fabergé dealer and Royal jewellers since 1865.
Hancocks London
DealerHistoric London jewellers and sole makers of the Victoria Cross since 1849.
Bernard Quaritch
DealerThe world's oldest and most distinguished antiquarian bookseller, est. 1847.
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