Top 5 London Markets

Borough Market

Borough Market is located near the famous London Bridge and just across the river from the Tower of London. The market is steeped in history and is one of London’s oldest markets, dating back to 1014. Borough market sells speciality foods and you will be able to find almost anything you can think of here. All the stalls, restaurants, and shops are completely distinctive from one another, and each offer a unique food they are selling. What is consistent throughout the market is the level of expertise the traders share and their drive to provide Londoners with the best quality foods. When visiting this market, you will be able to find charcuteries, cheeses, wine bars and shops, bakeries, patisseries, butchers, handcrafted spirits, fruit and vegetables, handmade condiments, coffee, fish, ice cream and gelato, and the list goes on. There is also an array of different restaurants and food stalls and stands so be sure to come here on an empty stomach because there is so much yummy gourmet food for you to enjoy. The market is open seven days a week so you can come here any day for a bite to eat or to grab some organic produce and grocery items to take home.

Brick Lane Market

Located in the vibrant area of Shoreditch, Brick Lane Market is the place to be on a Sunday in London. The atmosphere on a Sunday is remarkable, as the streets are lined with stalls and there are always street performers adding to the already lively atmosphere. It has so much to offer as it’s not only one market, it’s actually five markets rolled into one! The Backyard Market is an artisanal market where you can find varied selection of art, fashion, beauty, homeware, and lifestyle products. The Boiler House food hall specializes in international cuisine and has over 30 stalls where you can enjoy Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Polish, Lithuanian, Peruvian dishes and loads more. The Boiler House also has a gorgeous outdoor beer garden where you can sit down, relax and enjoy your delicious meal and drink. The Sunday UpMarket has it all, offering you everything from street food to produce and desserts, handmade accessories, and vintage clothing. It is also connected to the Brick Lane Vintage Market which houses vintage specialists from across the UK and Europe that sell everything you can dream of, dating back to the 1920s all the way to the 1990s. If you’re looking for one of a kind, premium vintage pieces of clothing, this place has got you covered. Last but not least, you’ll find The Tea Rooms with its large selection of teas, coffees, baked goods as well as some antiques, collectables, furniture, and handmade goods. The Brick Lane Market has something for everyone, so you are guaranteed to have a great time. It is also a great way to visit the famous Brick Lane whose buildings are littered with incredible street art. You can visit Brick Lane any day of the week and you will find that a lot of the local shops and some of the markets are open but to get the best experience you should definitely make an effort to go on a Sunday, you will not regret it!

Portobello Market

Portobello Road, located in the fabulous Notting Hill in West London, is where you want to be on a Saturday. The road is completely blocked off and the Portobello Market comes to life, known for being the world’s largest antiques market. Not really a fan of antiques? No worries! The market has so much more to offer with over 1,500 stalls selling street food, fruit and vegetables, cheese, fresh juice and smoothies, coffee, vintage clothing, music records, artwork, jewellery, vintage film cameras, collectables, clothing, and handmade products. Visiting this market is a great way to see the ever so trendy area of Notting Hill in action. Fashionistas and trendsetters from all over the world flock to this market for inspiration, based on the fact that Notting Hill has always been associated with sixties models, rockstars, artists, and photographers. You can enjoy this market any day of the week, but you would be doing yourself a great favour by making that day a Saturday.

Camden Market

Camden Market is one of the younger markets in the London scene dating back to 1974 with its humble beginnings as a small temporary arts and crafts fair in the backyard of the Dingwalls venue. Today, Camden Market is the biggest market in London and is open seven days a week attracting over 100,000 visitors on any given weekend. The market houses a diverse community of street food sellers, independent stores, and creative sellers; beautifully set right next to Regent’s Canal. When visiting the market, you will be able to find anything from vintage clothes to boho apparel, jewellery, vintage bookshops, handmade bags and accessories, vinyl records, fine textiles, photography, art, shoes, skincare and grooming products, and anything else you can imagine, you will definitely find it here in this infinite maze of a market. On the other hand, people venture to the market to take advantage of the vast number of cafes, terrace bars, fresh baked sweets and street food. Buy some grub, grab a drink, relax by the canal, and just enjoy what this quirky market has to offer! Camden Market is great any day, but if you want to avoid the weekend crowds, visit it during the week.

Old Spitalfields Market

Old Spitalfields Market is a place you can enjoy all day every day, as it’s open for business seven days a week. This market is set within a Victorian market hall and is home to a unique assortment of shops, restaurants, and seasonal vendors. Wander through this market and explore all the different lifestyle boutiques, vintage stalls, streetwear, handcrafted candles and essential oils, wines bars, cafes, a diverse choice of eateries, must we go on? There are also many permanent stores you can shop at such as MAC, Dr. Martens, lululemon, and the original All Saints store. This market also has various themed market days throughout the month offering retro and African themed days, which tend to be the most popular ones. In the wintertime, this market even offers a pop-up cinema showing festive films, which is a great activity for the holidays. Be sure to check their website to see what events are on and head to this market to enjoy all the goodies it has to offer.