One of the many fantastic things about being in London is having the chance to experience the markets it has to offer. Whatever part of London you are in you’ll find a richness of this shopping experience, and it’s usually, a hell of a lot cheaper than buying products from shops. That depends on what part of London you are in though.
You can find some excellent things, in the mish mash of stalls. Beautiful clothes, jewellery, books, music, collectables, art and furniture can be found if you look hard enough. Sometimes you will find one off a kind bits, vintage clothing that’s decades old, music you can’t find anywhere in mainstream music shops. You will taste some of the nicest foodstuffs and feel like you are in the middle of something great.
The famous London markets such as Borough Market, at the south of London Bridge is one of the oldest, its earliest recorded date goes back to 1014, it has had several locations and has been situated in the Borough since 1870. Borough Market is a wholesale market, as well as selling other foodstuffs. The fruit market is open from Monday to Friday from 4am-8am and the more popular Farmers Market is open from 12pm-5pm on Fridays and 10am- 4pm on Saturdays.
Brick Lane market, in East London is a beautifully exciting place to be, particularly on Sundays. Placed at the North end of Brick Lane, on Cheshire Street, this area of East London is a celebrated Punjabi area. As you walk towards the market from Aldgate Station you will pass Punjabi run shops after shop restaurant after restaurant selling beautiful Indian food. Once you hit the market you’ve got the clothing market, music shops, more food places, and random people selling their own things in the street. The area is full of music coming out of bars, pubs and shops and street entertainers.
Camden Market in North West London situated on the Regents Canal in Camden Town. As you walk towards the Camden Lock Market you will pass shops bursting with alternative clothing, music, books; juggling shops and tattoo and piercing shops.
Over the bridge, Camden Lock Market offers all that you have just passed, except you will be able to buy food from all over the world as you pass the array off food stalls, for very little money. The best pub in Camden is the Earl of Camden, instead of walking towards the market, walk towards London Zoo. The pub sits on the corner of a road; it has the comfiest sofas and the biggest bar. It’s a comfortable pub, warm, some music sometimes and lots of chattering from the people around you. The adorned toilets show off its strong connection to music running through Camden.
Covent Garden, probably one of the most infamous (and more expensive) London markets. Sitting in the West End of London, traditionally it was only a flower market; this has now moved to New Covent Garden Market based in Vauxhall. Everywhere you go this market is bursting with life, with the Royal Opera House nearby as well as the centre of tourist London this market is slap bang in the middle of the City of Westminster; near to Holborn, Charing Cross, The Strand, Oxford Street, Soho, Leicester Square a 10 minute walk away and over the river is the South Bank. The place it holds in the history of London dating back to the 1500’s as well as the street entertainers, live music, fantastic bars Covent Garden attracts thousands of people every year from around the world.
Article by Jemilla Russell-Clough
