Top 10 London Markets
Top 10 London Markets
1. Borough Market (www.boroughmarket.org.uk)
Borough Market is London's oldest food market. It was established on the south bank of the Thames when the Romans built the first London Bridge. It has occupied its present site for 250 years. Borough has a long and distinguished history as a wholesale fruit and vegetable market - wholesale trade takes place every night except Saturday from 2am - 8am.
2. Brick Lane Market (no website)
Brick Lane Market is a London market centred around Brick Lane, Tower Hamlets. It is located at the northern end of Brick Lane and along Cheshire Street in East London. It operates every Sunday from around 4am to 2pm.
Almost anything can be found on Brick Lane, from antique books to eight-track cartridge decks (for many years it hosted a stall selling nothing but rusty cog wheels). A large part of its charm is the possibility of such strange discoveries and it has always been popular with and much photographed by art students. Bargain hunters from across London also value it greatly.
3. Camden Markets (http://www.camdenlock.net/)
Camden Lock Market, by the canal, was the original craft market, established in 1974, but now has a much wider spectrum of goods on sale. Both this and the ever popular Camden Stables Market - centre of the alternative fashion scene, Camden (Buck Street) Market and Inverness Street Market - which thrived on local trade long before tourists discovered Camden, are all open, at least in parts, every day, making the area well worth a mid-week visit. But it is at the weekend that the market scene jumps fully into life with all stalls and shops at the above-mentioned markets fully trading and the lively Camden Canal Market opening Friday to Sunday. The indoor fashion market at the Electric Ballroom opens on Sunday only.
4. Columbia Road Market (www.columbia-flower-market.freewebspace.com)
Lined with chic boutiques, every Sunday this historic street fills with a bright patchwork of hundreds of flower stalls. Columbia Road is the capital's most colorful and sweet-smelling market. Flowers, shrubs, bedding plants and other horticultural delights are all for sale. As well as cut flowers, there are topiary trees, pot plants, hanging baskets, bulbs and bouquets turning the street to blossom. The 52 stalls and surrounding shops sell everything to cater for that English obsession - gardening. With most of the traders being based in Essex, many of the plants and flowers are grown and produced locally. The market is open from 8am to 2pm and there are plenty of attractive cafes, pubs and authentic sea-food stalls where you can make a pit-stop. If getting there by Tube, Old Street is the nearest station, turn left on exit, walk along Old Street into Hackney Road and after 200 meters turn right into Columbia Road. You'll smell it before you see it.
5. East Street Market
(http://www.southwark.gov.uk/businesscentre/streettrading/eaststreet.html)
This venerable street market has been running for over 150 years. Charlie Chaplin was a regular visitor during his youth in South London, and it's a beautiful scene which is just as suitable to a relaxing browse As to serious bargain hunting. East Street Market comes to life on Sundays when over 250 stalls cram the narrow street selling all manner of goods. A much smaller market specialising in plants and flowers runs all week except Monday.
6. Greenwich Market (http://www.greenwichmarket.net/)
An ancient village on the banks of the Thames, steeped in Royal history, Greenwich has long been home to a Royal Charter Market which was originally assigned to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital on the 19th December 1700 for 1,000 years.
Originally housed on the site of the West Gate of the Old Royal Naval College, it began to spread into the neighbouring area in the 1800?s and its dark streets and alleys were difficult and dangerous to control.
As part of a drive to clean up the river frontage and to bring Greenwich's buildings up to standards more in keeping with the Royal Hospital (now the Old Royal Naval College), the market was moved to its current position and the first cobble stones laid. Three roofs were built to protect the market from the elements. In 1831 the market contained traders selling live and dead meat, fish, eggs, butter, poultry, fruit and vegetables. On its periphery lay peddlers selling goods such as china, glass and earthenware. Today you can still see some of the original slaughterhouses for cattle and stables for horses.
7. Leadenhall Market (http://www.leadenhallmarket.co.uk/)
Market Stalls operate daily from Monday to Friday at Leadenhall Market. Selling quality goods including everything from delicious piping hot pasta and fois gras to jewellery and art there is bound to be something for everyone. Why not come along to Leadenhall Market and see for yourself
8. Petticoat Lane Market (http://www.alondonguide.com/petticoatlane.html)
More than a thousand stalls spread over two streets make up Petticoat Lane Market. This East End market which has been operating since the 1750's or earlier, is named after the petticoats and lace once sold there by the Huguenots who came to London from France. The street was renamed Middlesex Street in 1830 by the Victorians who wanted to avoid references to women's underwear, but the name had stuck. The market specialises in new goods ranging from running shoes to kitchen utensils.
Open: Mon - Fri: 10:00am - 2:30pm, Sun: 9:00am - 2:00pm
9. Portobello Road Market (http://www.portobellomarket.org/)
Portobello Market in West London is one of the most famous street markets in the world. It is a populart destination for Londoners and tourists alike.
Portobello Road goes straight through the heart of Notting Hill, the trendy area of London made famous by the film.
Portobello Market takes up most of what is actually more properly called Portobello Road, it stretches for around two miles, although on a crowded saturday afternoon it takes quite a while to walk from end to end.
10. (Old) Spitalfields Market (http://www.visitspitalfields.com/)
Escape from the cloned high street and discover 'hidden gems' from fashion, arts to interiors and property,