Loved by locals and tourists alike, markets are great centers of bustling activity, offering delicious eats and hard to find items for a fair price. A great way to get to know a city is by squeezing your way through its sprawling markets and bazaars, picking up its produce and rubbing shoulders with the locals. There, you’ll get to make small talk, take in the sights and sounds and maybe even pick up a good deal.
From food markets to vintage sales, the cobblestone streets of London have it all. Don’t be shy; this city certainly isn’t.
1. Borough Market
One of London’s most famous food markets, this place is probably already on your list. Housed under a Victorian warehouse roof, it is also London’s oldest food market, with stalls set up by an assortment of butchers, chocolatiers and bakers. Foodies will be in heaven, with freshly squeezed fruit juice and delectable cuts of meat to choose from. Grab a hot sausage at Boston Sausage and head over to have your next meal of fish and chips from Fish!Kitchen. Or if you need that early morning coffee to wake you up, the nearby Monmouth Coffee Company sees long queues daily for its impeccable roast.
Not to forget seafood, of course. Richard Haward’s Oysters offers freshly shucked oysters accompanied with wine for a mere tenner. Those who are vegan will love Turnips, a grocer that offers fresh produce and risotto cooked with mushrooms and a variety of vegetables.
Or make a meal out of samples, the people here are as generous as they are skilled.
2. Spitalfields Market
One of the lesser known markets, Spitalfields is located in the more hip area of Shoreditch and has a reputation for being a cool place to shop in East London. It originated in 1638 as a place to sell “flesh, fowl and roots” but has since laid those grisly days to rest. Today, Spitalfields market has a vibrant, lively image, attracting the young and the young at heart to appreciate its fare.
Wander around the tent-like boutiques selling everything from novelty t-shirts to discount books and quirky artwork but when lunch hour hits, make a beeline for one of the benches to secure your spot. Once done, choose between the many food stalls located in the middle of Spitalfields, offering cuisines from Asian to Italian. Yum Bun, one of the top street food stalls in London, offers mouth-watering steamed buns whilst Chop’d promises only the best ingredients personally picked by their wholesaler Paul, who gets up at midnight everyday to get the job done.
Once you’ve had your fill, find the Boxpark area nearby, a hip accolade of unique shops housed in container boxes including Get A Drip, an IV cafe where you can get your nutrients delivered directly through your veins.
3. Leather Lane
Another food market that has made the list, Leather Lane is a favourite amongst locals for a quick weekday lunch. It’s opening hours, from 11am to 2pm every weekday, make it perfect for lunch on the go. In fact, it usually doesn’t take long for hungry office workers from nearby offices to descend as soon as it's midday. The market got its quirky name because it used to sell clothes and footwear, but Leather Lane now prides itself solely on the quality of its street food, a haven for the hungry.
One of the more traditional markets, Leather Lane has worked hard to preserve a strong sense of community thanks to the efforts of The Friends of Leather Lane Market and Leather Lane Stars. Rest easy knowing you’ll have an authentic experience along with good food. Yum Bowl offers heartwarming Vietnamese fare at a fixed price of £6.50, or join the Sub Cults since their seared scallop submarines are to die for.
When in England, do as the English do. If you’d like to participate in the national hobby of day drinking, The Craft Beer Co. has a selection of over 200 different beers, so you can say cheers to your lunch hour.
4. Columbia Road Flower Market
Let’s get food of our minds for a second. This charming street market only sets up shop on Sunday and offers beautiful blooms, transforming the unimpressive Victorian streets of the East End into a colourful oasis of flowers and foliage. From home-grown flowers to those imported from countries around the world, you can be sure the Columbia Road Flower Market puts on an eye-catching display that’s a treat for the senses.
The street itself also consists of over sixty independent stores, so dip in and out of them whilst you breathe in the sweet scent of roses, tulips and more. If you’re feeling peckish, there are cafes, restaurants and delis as well as elaborate cupcake displays around the flower market.
If every rose has its thorn, this market’s thorn is its staunch resistance to the retail world and its commitment to the old English ways of the flower market.
5. Brick Lane
A single word comes to mind when you step into Brick Lane: kitschy. You’ll find out of this world items at the Bric-a-brac, from well-loved antiques to useless knick-knacks. There’s no better place to pick up an unconventional souvenir. Not to mention, Brick Lane Market actually consists of five markets: Sunday Upmarket, Vintage Market, Backyard Markets, The Team Rooms and The Boiler House . Weave in and out of over two hundred disorderly stalls and make an effort to support local London designers, who offer up eccentric jewellery, one-of-a kind prints and unforgettable accessories.
With wallets emptied, it’s best to head to the Brick Lane Food Hall converted from what used to be a large 19th century Boiler House. With more than 30 stalls each serving up various different cuisines, Brick Lane Food Hall provides a global culinary tour, all in one building.
6. Portobello Road Market
Another no brainer, this market often jostles with Borough Market for a top spot on the list. But why pick one when you can have both? Located near Notting Hill. Portobello specialises not in food but in antiques. Its antique market is world renowned, sandwiched between the Chepstow Villas and Portobello Road with priceless finds dating back any time from that of the ancient Romans to the more recent and groovy 1960s. If you loved watching Antiques Roadshow, or consider yourself something of a collector, you’ll spend most of your time here unearthing the best the market has to offer. But with the market’s extensive collection and passionate owners it definitely won’t be like searching for that needle in the haystack and you’re almost guaranteed to leave satisfied.
With an increasing awareness of how harmful fast fashion is for the environment, thrifting has become an increasingly popular activity. Shop to your heart’s content free of guilt at the Secondhand Flea Market, filled with racks of secondhand clothing and tables full of pre-loved books and jewellery. Depending on the day, the market has different things out on offer, ranging from vintage homeware, junior designer clothing and homemade craft, so do check the weekly schedule before heading down.
