You can buy anything in London’s markets, from cheap eats and fresh produce to art and antiques, to retro and designer fashions. Visit the big names such as Portobello Road, Spitalfields Market and Camden’s Stables Market. Wander through a traditional East End street market. Read our guide to the best markets in London – including food at Borough, antiques at Portobello, vintage fashion at Camden and bric-a-brac at Broadway. Give your senses a treat and pop along to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of London’s markets.
If you are looking for a general flea market, Brick Lane is ideal as it has a vast hotchpotch of stalls. Traders here sell everything imaginable: food, furniture, kitchen appliances, DVDs and general bric-a-brac. Open: Sun 8am-2pm, Address: Brick Lane Market, Brick Lane, London, E1.
The 2003 Norman Foster redesign of Spitalfields Market may have split opinion – and displaced many original stallholders – but there’s still plenty here to enjoy. Largely regarded as a showcase for up-and-coming young artists from the nearby art and design college, Spitalfields Market also has many stalls selling one-off items, vintage and retro clothing, CDs, jewellery and handicrafts. Open: Mon to Fri 11am-3pm and Sun 10am-5pm, Address: Old Spitalfields Market, Horner Square, London, E1
Broadway Market’s status as a promenade for the East End fashion set is legendary – but it’s the high-quality fashion, vintage clothing and independent boutiques that excite the rest of us. Get up on a Saturday to explore one of London’s most successful local markets.
Greenwich Market could well be London’s best source for handcrafted items, original art work, unique gifts, collectables and antiques. Come and visit the pretty undercover market in the heart of historic Maritime Greenwich. Open: Thurs to Sun 9.30am-5.30pm, Address: Greenwich Market, College Approach, London, SE10
Five connecting areas make up the famous Camden Market, all selling a combination of clothes, food, crafts and music. Visit the indoor Victorian market hall for great handmade gifts, knick-knacks and craftworks. Camden was hit by fire in February 2008, which affected the Canal Market: the damage has now been repaired. Open: Mon to Sun 10am-6pm, Address: Camden Market, Camden, London, N1
The world-famous Portobello road is home to the world’s largest antiques market. Portobello Road specialises in everything from jewellery, art and silverware to vintage clothes, bric-a-brac and much more. It is always bustling and well worth visit even if you do not intend to buy. Open: Sat 8am-5pm, Address: Portobello Road Market and Golborne Road Market, Portobello, London, W11
The award-winning Borough Market is one of the largest food markets in the city and a gourmet’s paradise, offering top quality produce and artisan foods from all over Britain and the continent. Open: Thurs 11am-5pm; Fri 12 noon-6pm and Sat 8am-5pm, Address: Borough Market, Borough High Street, London, SE1. Columbia Road Flower Market is a colourful East End market with more than 50 stalls selling bulbs, exotic flowers, pot plants, trees and shrubs. Open: Sun 8am-2pm, Address: Columbia Road Flower Market, Columbia Road, London, E2