London’s best markets – from food to fashion
From vintage fashion and pop culture artefacts to furniture, thingamajigs and fine food - London’s markets have plenty to offer.
They throb with the colour, culture and cuisine of our vibrant capital - and are an essential visit on a weekend in the smoke.
Read on for our guide to the best London markets…
Camden Market
The one for: Vintage clothing, retro furniture and decades of British subculture
Camden Market has long been a mainstay of London street fashion. A hub for the ‘90s Britpop scene: mods, punks, Goths and indie kids have always flocked to this part of town.
Here you’ll find vintage ‘70s jackets next to retro Adidas track tops, battered Levi’s 501s against glam rock-style studded belts.
It’s about more than just clothes, though.
African art, Japanese tableware, rare vinyl records, didgeridoos and world foods also vie for your attention.
Camden is made up of several different markets crammed into the area between Camden Town and Chalk Farm Tube stations.
Allow plenty of time to browse the hundreds of stalls, and don’t be afraid to haggle.
When: Every day, from 10am-6pm
Nearest Tube: Camden Town, Chalk Farm Road
Brick Lane Market
The one for: Kitsch bric-a-brac, retro furniture, hip young designers and street food from the four corner
This trendy east London market is popular with art students, bohemians and Etsy-loving craft types.
Set in the heart of the East End’s Bangladeshi community, expect kitsch collectibles, art deco furniture, antiques, colourful saris, cushion covers and bric-a-brac.
The stalls’ vibrancy spills into the surrounding streets: Bustling chaos, a kaleidoscope of languages and pavements fizzing with world music buskers.
A bit of a fashionista? The UpMarket section of Brick Lane is very hip - the place to find clothes from the bright young things of the London fashion world.
Hungry? Tuck into sumptuous street food from Morocco, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and more.
When: Sunday, 9am-5pm
Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street
Broadway Market
The one for: Some of the capital’s best-regarded artisan food. Loved by bearded east London hipsters and in-the-know foodies
Looking for some of London’s finest food stalls? Mingle with the foodies and some of the capital’s hippest folk at Broadway Market.
Browse dozens of stalls selling artisan cheese and bread, organic, head-reared meat and organic veg.
The vibe is chilled out, and much more relaxed than some of London’s more frenetic markets. This is a great place to amble and browse at your own pace – showing off your look and the cut of your jib. Make sure you find the time to stop off at one of the superb cake stalls.
Looking for something cool to wear? The vintage clothing stalls at Broadway are loved by east London folk.
When: Saturdays, 9am-5pm
Nearest Tube: Bethnal Green
Portobello Road Market
The one for: Antiques, tat and bric-a-brac – think Dinky toys, Victorian cameras, cigarette cards, medals and vintage jewellery
Into bric-a-brac, antiques and cultural ephemera? This has always been the place to go.
Portobello in bohemian Notting Hill has been a market since the 1800s. On Saturdays the antiques market takes centre stage, so it does get rather busy. During the rest of the week there’s a bustling street market offering everything from fruit and veg to posters, designer gear and music.
Are you a film fan? See the locations made famous by the movie Notting Hill – including the front door from which Rhys Ifans emerges to a sea of paparazzi.
When: Antiques and bric-a-brac stalls only open Saturdays, other stalls open throughout week
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
Borough Market
The one for: Some of the best locally grown produce in London. Farmers’ market heaven
Love browsing farmers’ markets on a Saturday afternoon, picking up ingredients grown or reared by the people selling them?
You’ll love Borough Market – London’s oldest market.
Stroll beneath its iconic, cast-iron gateway and into a foodie heaven.
Many of the traders make, grow or rear the produce they sell, including fruit and veg, fish, meats, breads, cheeses, chutneys, coffees, cakes, pastries and delicious street food.
There’s also a fabulous selection of specialist ingredients such as Spanish Iberico Bellota ham and Gemlik salt-dried olives from Turkey.
When: Wednesday to Saturday
Nearest Tube: London Bridge