London is a city of remarkably diverse histories. Apart from the natives, the city is also home to several immigrant communities who have settled here over generations.
- London’s cosmopolitanism is evident in the different clothes that people wear, the different languages and dialects that are spoken here, the several restaurants that offer English and global cuisine.
- Travelling around London allows visiting these diverse places and seek out very interesting and curious finds.
- If one is fond of visiting the markets either for shopping or just to absorb the sights and sounds for some creative inspiration, London’s many marketplaces are a great place to visit.
- Part 2 of our London blogs includes a few of the places that we as designers suggest for a great experience of the markets.
Thrift and Antique Market
192A Portobello Rd, London W11 1LA, United Kingdom
- Portobello is home to a variety of markets, from food, furniture, and all sorts of trendy clothes to antiques dating from BC to the 1960s.
- Saturdays are filled with more colours and energy, as it features not only hundreds of antiques and speciality stalls and shops but also becomes a stage to talented and enthusiastic street performers.
- In southern portobello road, one can find antiques and a variety of unique products from different eras.
- The market also offers authentic and international food stalls, trendy clothes, household products, and accessories to its customers.
- Portobello green and north portobello is a paradise and a dream come true for fashion lovers; the area features vintage clothing, accessories, and a variety of trendy objects.
- After all the shopping one can satisfy its hunger needs in Golborne Road. The road also has a fantastic collection of furniture to give that modern and classic look to your home.
- Coming early gives access to explore without the crowd. On Saturdays, it is the best advice to visit before 11:30, as it features the trading of antiques, starting around 8:30-9:00.
56 Brushfield St, Spitalfields, London E1 6AA, United Kingdom
- Spitalfields Market is the home to artists, creatives, and a large Bangladeshi community.
- Situated in the east end of London, The place features eye-catching street art, quirky shops, trendy bars, and cafes, making it appealing for the visitors and city workers.
- Spitalfields is also a platform for concerts and exhibitions hosted by the 18th century Christ church.
General timings
Monday - Friday: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Daily Market
Monday – Wednesday & Friday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
The Kitchens
Monday - Friday: 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
13 - 25 Church St, Marylebone, London NW8 8DT, United Kingdom
- Alfies Antique Market is the largest indoor market in London, with its beautiful four-story building housing more than 75 dealers offering unique and one of a kind products ranging from antique jewellery, accessories, vintage clothes, silver, art to interior, furniture, ceramics etc.
- Located on Church Street in Lisson Grove, it attracts a lot of tourists and visitors for its art style building and the range of products the market provides.
Opening hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Brick Ln, Spitalfields, London E1 6QR, United Kingdom
- With varieties of antiques, unique fabric, and kitsch collectibles, this market is a great destination to find selections across themes and genres.
- Sundays are the highlights of the primary street market that also includes several regular markets at its huge site on Brick Lane hosted by the old Truman brewery.
- Sunday upmarket has over 200 stalls of fashion, art, and food to select from.
- The backyard market, on the other hand, offers jewellery, prints, and accessories of the latest trends. Famous for its culture, the vintage market provides vintage clothing and some of the unique products of all time.
- Exotic furniture and antiques from the Tea Room offer a range of products to redecorate your home and give a new classic aesthetic to your place.
Opening hours:
Backyard Market:
Saturday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm,
Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Upmarket:
Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Boiler House Food Hall:
Saturday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm,
Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Vintage Market:
Thursday and Friday: 11:00 am to 5.30 pm,
Saturday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm,
Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tea Room:
Saturday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm,
Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL, United Kingdom
- From international delicacies to British fruits and vegetables, the borough market has been serving fresh farm items for almost a thousand years.
- Located in Southwark, the market is the largest and the oldest retail and wholesale food market, making it the most trustable place to buy authentic products.
Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sundays Closed
Camden Town, London
- Known for its unique and original merchandise, the Camden Market is one of those markets that promote craftsmanship.
- With more than a hundred individual stalls, the Camden Market offers the most authentic, handmade, classic, vintage, and funky products.
- Its originality and uniqueness make it the most popular market in London with more than 1,00,000 people heading towards the stalls every weekend.
Opening hours:
Monday - Sunday: 8:30am to 5:00pm
- Notting Hill is a tourist attraction popular for its scenic backdrop.
- It is known for its diverse culture and the strong multiracial neighbourhood.
- With the Notting hill carnival and the Portobello Market, the place is a hub or art and a right destination for people who are seeking to see something ethnic. A great London experience can be seen through the streets of Notting hill.
- From street markets with vintage clothing to movie theatres and quirky cafes, the place offers everything.
- Friday to Saturday offers better market experience with more stalls to see and explore. On the other hand, Monday to Thursday, the market experience features fewer stalls running.
Opening hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG, United Kingdom
- On Sundays, the streets of Columbia market turn into a magic land, with the fragrance of nature and all types of flowers to be seen.
- With everything from tall trees to flower petals and up for grabs; the air is filled with the scent of fresh flowers, coming from across the world.
- Featuring more than 60 shops, antiques to find, vintage clothes to look forward to, and small pubs, giving the true essence of London culture, the place promotes the refusal of the retail world and love for their historical culture.
Opening hours:
Sunday: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm