The Best of London's Markets FEATURE

London's street markets are busy, bustling hubs that defy the commercial look and feel of sterile shopping centres. Explore the best of London's markets with our guide for visitors wanting discover a more local side of the city.

London's markets are vibrant, bustling centres of fresh produce, cutting edge design, and unbridled commerce. Many markets date back to mediaeval times and can trace an unbroken lineage through London's turbulent history. Some form of market has existed at the oldest locations such as Borough and Petticoat Lane for over five hundred years. Nowadays, markets are a great place to find a bargain or just browse a few hours away. A visit to one of London's markets is essential if you want to experience a truly local slice of London life.

Borough Markets

Borough Markets is one of the oldest markets in London. Picturesquely situated underneath a railway bridge near London Bridge, the market known as London's Larder has led in the forefront of the revival of produce markets in London, helped in no short order by its popularity as a film location. Here, shops spill over with fresh fruit, flowers and colourful vegetables, stallholders shuck oysters and serve up gourmet sausages sourced from organic English farms, and food producers hawk rounds of cheese and jars of hom made preserves. The clamour and noise of Borough Market is best experienced on a Saturday morning, when the air underneath the Dickensian roof awnings rings with competing shouts from stall holders and the best, freshest food and produce are available.

Address: Southwark Street, SE1 1TJ

Closest tube station: London Bridge

Opening times: Friday 12:00-17:00, Saturday 10:00-16:00

Best for: Organic produce and gourmet food

Camden Market

For a decidedly alternative take on things, visit Camden Market, located in north London. The crowds gather on Sundays to pick through clothing both up-and-coming designer as well as vintage, music, antiques, collectibles, artworks, and homewares. Such an eclectic mix of products draws and equally eclectic customer base piercings, tattoos, Goths and old hippies are the norm, rather than the exception at Camden. There is a wide and wonderful variety of food stalls, corner pubs and mid range restaurants, along with a lively music and comedy scene at night. The markets spill across Camden Lock and surrounds, though the main shops are found in The Stables.

Address: Camden Lock Place, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AF

Closest tube: Camden or Chalk Farm

Opening times: Weekends 10:00-17:00

Best for: Bargains and an alternative vibe

Columbia Road Flower Market

Like being on the set of Snatch', marvelled one Londoner after her first visit to Columbia Road Flower Market. Nestled down a small section of the eponymous road, the flower market specialises in blooms and plants not quite cutting edge stuff, but the local ambience, brilliant colours, witty banter and East End accents found at this market is worth much more than the produce sold here. If you can fight your way through the crush of people, look past the flower stalls Columbia Road is lined with chic one-off boutique shops selling unique clothing, jewellery and art. Londoners wander down on a Sunday for a leisurely brunch before picking up a bouquet of fresh flowers for the house. There are a few small stalls selling second hand furniture, fabric off cuts, household items and even an open photography studio with free portrait sessions on Sundays.

Address: Columbia Road, Hackney, E2 7RG

Closest tube station: Old Street or Shoreditch

Opening times: Sunday 09:00-14:00

Best for: Flowers and shrubs as well as authentic Cockney accents

Portobello Market

Little wonder Portobello Market is so popular with Londoners and visitors alike this sprawling market is divided into three sections: the lower end sells mainly antiques, the middle is food and vegetables and the top end is mostly a little bit of everything. Antiques are still the main attraction here, but prices are no longer as cheap as they once were, unless you are prepared to patiently sift through the stock. Located in ultra-trendy Notting Hill, Portobello Market attracts a crowd of beautiful people on the weekends, which makes it the perfect market for people watching. Remember to stock up on cash as most stalls only accept paper. There are a few good pubs in the area, as well as the famous Hummingbird Bakery, with outdoor seats, centrally located for a cup of coffee and a sweet treat while watching the crowds pass.

Address: Portobello Road, W11 1LU

Closest tube: Notting Hill Gate

Opening times: Saturday 08:00-16:30

Best for: Antiques and people watching

Spitalfields

Old Spitalfields is a wonderfully boho weekend market, located in historical East London. Stalls are open on Sundays and the range of produce and goods range from organic vegetables, home grown art, second hand books, ethnic fabric, hand craft jewellery and up-and-coming designers touting clothes, accessories, and homewares. Many local artists and sculptors also have modest exhibits here to increase exposure to their work. Surrounded by restaurants and bars, the food stalls in Spitalfields more than hold their own, hawking servings of global cuisine such as African, Japanese, Asian and Oriental. The perfect antidote to soulless glass-and-concrete malls, Spitalfields is the go-to market for original and creative products.

Address: 109 Commercial Street, E1 6BG

Closest tube station: Liverpool Street Station

Opening times: Sunday 10:00-16:30

Best for: Young designers and their work

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