10 markets you must visit in London

1. PORTOBELLO ROAD 

While perhaps best known for its famed antiques market, Portobello Road in Notting Hill is a true haven for fans of fashion from bygone eras. Whether it’s second-hand Chanel, pre-loved Burberry or kitschy cocktail jewels, you’re likely to spot something among the endless stalls of goodies that stretch the entire length of the road and beyond. While you’re in the area, it would be rude not to pop into vintage treasure trove.

2. BOROUGH MARKET

Food fans are guaranteed a good time at Borough Market, born in 1014. One of London’s largest food markets, it’s bursting at the seams with gourmet goodies from around the world to take home or devour on the spot, such as Ibérico ham from Brindisa, piping hot pastry from Pieminister or Bread Ahead’s legendary jam doughnuts. A friend in the market recommends heading by for around 3.30pm, when you’re more likely to pick up discounts and encounter jollier traders as things start to wind down for the day.

3. COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET

Part of the reason it takes so long to edge down Columbia Road on a Sunday morning is the fact that people regularly stop in their tracks to take photographs, causing rather a pile-up. You can’t blame them – the flower market is undeniably picturesque, not only for its rainbow of colourful flora but also its charming boutiques behind pretty 19th-century shop fronts. Head here to snag bunches of fresh peonies, Cornish daffodils and tulips, and gawp at people lugging giant pot plants home with them, often in rather ingenious ways.

4. BILLINGSGATE FISH MARKET

Trade customers and dedicated foodies brave an eye-wateringly early start to visit Billingsgate, the largest fish market in the UK, and once the largest in the world. Open from 4am-8am from Tuesday to Saturday and crammed to the gills with all manner of fresh seafood, it’s as much an experience as an opportunity to shop. Lap up the banter from the traders or spy exotic fish varieties from around the globe (150+ species are sold here). For an insider’s introduction to the market, the on-site Billingsgate Seafood School offers tours.

5. BROADWAY MARKET

A playground for the creative types who have settled in Hackney en masse over the past decade or so, Broadway Market is a lively place in which to spend a Saturday afternoon. It’s rammed with international food stalls, purveyors of vintage and vinyl, and opportunities to rub shoulders with the area’s style-conscious population as they sip flat whites and chat on the pavement, dogs in tow. We advise fuelling the perusing and people-watching with a strong coffee from Climpson & Sons, and popping in to the canalside Market Café for a spritz when you’re done.

6. CAMDEN MARKET

Camden Market – actually comprised of six different sites – has historically been a beacon for London’s nonconformists, from punks in the Seventies when the market first opened, to grunge devotees, rockers and hippies. Despite its present-day popularity, it still maintains a somewhat independent spirit, thanks to its banning of chain stores in Stables Market, which means that its large numbers of traders mainly sell handmade, Fairtrade crafts and vegan food. It also remains a hotspot for kinky club and fetish wear.

7. MALTBY STREET MARKET

For an opportunity to indulge with joyful abandon, you can’t beat Maltby Street. Lined up opposite a row of handsome railway arches, you’ll find street food stalls serving up shamelessly calorific delicacies, and crowds of cheery punters, beakers of G&T or vermouth in hand, waiting to get their fill. On our last visit, fare included oozing cheese toasties, fluffy naan breads piled with fresh toppings, and intensely chocolatey brownies. The permanent venues under the arches are always bustling, too, like the diminutive Bar Tozino, a fantastic spot for an aperitif.

8. SPITALFIELDS MARKET

Set under a striking steel and glass Victorian roof, Spitalfields Market draws crowds for its vibrant mix of independent traders selling an eclectic selection of wares. From hammam towels to antique maps, you’re sure to uncover an inspiring find. You’d be wise to pay a visit to Walconcept – a stall run by the always impeccably-dressed Waliou, whose selection of vintage scarves and ties can’t be beaten.

9. DOVER STREET MARKET

DSM is not your traditional market. In fact, the word ‘traditional’ has no place here at all. Inspired by the cult Kensington Market – a home for London subcultures that closed in the ’90s – this gender-fluid, multi-brand space by Comme des Garçons’ Rei Kawakubo pushes boundaries in all directions. Not least because it looks like one big art installation – featured designers are given the freedom to arrange their areas within the store as they see fit, resulting in endless strange and beautiful displays. With a gleeful mix of high and low price points, you’ll find established brands including Gucci and Balenciaga alongside pieces by rising stars such as Stefan Cooke and Marine Serre. In January and July DSM undergoes its seasonal changeover, where the entire place gets a new look. This is a prime time to visit, with exclusive products and treats from the top-floor Rose Bakery.

10. BRICK LANE MARKET

Brick Lane, the vibrant artery of Shoreditch, really comes into its own on market Sundays. Traders line the street with blankets spread with vintage china, decorative knick knacks and furniture, and alongside the odd inevitable bit of tat you’re likely to find a treasure. Head towards the imposing Old Truman Brewery for the Vintage Market, where you can browse homewares and memorabilia, clothing and accessories from the Twenties to the Nineties. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, visit the Sunday Upmarket’s huge food hall.

For bespoke tours, sightseeing, VIP travel or expert advise to contact us at discover@allworldjourneys.com

Follow us on Instagram as we travel the globe searching for the very best.

@allworldjouneys

#allworldjourneys