Best markets in London
The London market is at the epicentre of London life from the avid foodie to the antique collector and fashionistas alike, we all want in on the market scene. There is nothing like a Sunday afternoon trip to the market, here is our guide to the best markets in London.
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia Road Flower Market situated in trendy Shoreditch is home to several flower stalls. You’ll find friendly traders selling buckets full of the finest cut flowers, bulbs, herbs and garden fittings. Dubbed one of the ‘prettiest’ markets in London, this is without a doubt our favourite market in London!
The market gets very busy from midday, and we would recommend arriving early if you are looking to avoid the crowds, scoop up your flowers and be on your way. Arrive as the market is winding down and you may bag yourself some of the best bargains!
#FLOFavourite: The market is surrounded by several restaurants and bakeries, be sure to visit Lily Vanilli Bakery for some gorgeous sweet treats in between your floral shopping.
Location:
Columbia Rd, London, E2 7RG
Nearest station:
Hoxton Overground Station
Opening hours:
Sundays from 8 am - 3 pm
Camden Market
Camden Market has been providing thrills and joys since 1974. The Camden lock market and stables market encompass the hipster vibes of London as the original home of grunge and punk rock. You’ll find a whole host of quirky boutiques selling anything from clothing, furniture, books, jewellery and hats. The market is also surrounded by a variety of street food vendors, delicious treats, restaurants, bars and the great Regent's Canal. You’ll find everything you’re looking for and more at Camden Market.
#FLOFavourite: Turkish DeLight is a shop in the market that provides hand madeTurkish traditional lamps. The shop is so beautiful and full of vibrant colours and wonderful lights.
Location:
Camden Market, Camden Lock Place, London NW1 8AF
Nearest station:
Camden Town and Chalk Farm Tube Station
Opening hours:
Daily 10 am – Late
Southbank Centre
South Bank puts on a host of special markets throughout the year, alongside their regular food and book market. The food market offers a variety of cuisines from Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. These delicious foods can wash down with a range of beers, wines and cocktails all to be found at the market. Their range of dishes can often be smelt long before arriving at the stalls, so let your nose lead the way!
Also within the vicinity is the South Bank Centre book market, one of the only outdoor book markets in London. Hidden under Waterloo Bridge, the market is home to a selection of great second-hand books and is one of our favourite places to pick up an interesting read. Expect to find hundreds of classics, comics, prints and contemporary titles.
After enjoying the delicious foods the market has to offer and finding your next big read, why not explore Southbank? Check out what’s happening at the Royal Festival Hall, then have a stroll down Southbank and enjoy the views.
#FLOFavourite: Head to Ethiopiques at the Southbank Food Market to taste their traditional Ethiopian food. We highly recommend the injera!
Location:
Belvedere Road, Lambeth, London SE1 8XX
Nearest station:
Waterloo Station
Opening hours:
Food Market
Friday 12 noon -8 pm
Saturday 11 am -8 pm
Sunday Noon – 6 pm
Monday (bank holidays) 12noon -6 pm
The book market is open daily till 7 pm
Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road Market in stylish and diverse Notting Hill, is home to over 1,000 antique dealers, selling a variety of antiques and collectables, basically anything and everything. Along the two-mile stretch, you will also find artisan cheese, fashion items, fruits and vegetables alongside art galleries and cafes. Saturday is the best day to visit the market however, it can get very busy after midday so we recommend arriving early if you are looking to avoid the sea of people that descend on the market in the afternoon. Notting Hill’s iconic colourful houses are close to the market so you can snap away for your Instagram whilst picking up your market essentials.
#FLOFavourite: Alice Notting Hill is great for cool antique pieces, we find something amazing to buy every time!
Location:
Portobello Road, London, and W11
Nearest station:
Notting Hill Gate Tube Station
Opening hours:
Monday to Wednesday 9am-6pm
Thursday 9 am – 1 pm
Friday 9 am – 7 pm
Saturday 9 am – 7 pm
Sunday- Closed
Greenwich Market
This is London’s historic market located in the heart of the UNESCO world heritage site, Greenwich. Dating back to the 1700s, the market is full of artistic and creative pieces. There are amazing handmade jewellery to be found at the market, as well as tasty cuisines and artisan vegan cupcakes by Ruby’s ! There is plenty to do in Greenwich with several museums surrounding the market, including the painted hall at the Old Royal Naval College, and the chance to view London from the summit at Greenwich Park. When you have finished jump on the riverboat back into central London. Or why not try the Emirates zip line.
#FLOFavourite: Two of our favourites places at Greenwich market are Teabird and Fudge Patch Teabird transform teaware into candles. A candle in a teacup! At Fudge Patch you can watch your fudge being made and get a taste as soon as it is cooked. Candles and fudge, you can go wrong…
Location:
Greenwich Market London, SE10 9HZ
Nearest station:
Cutty Sark Station (DLR)
Opening hours:
7 days a week 10 am – 5.30pm
Old Spitalfields Market
Old Spitalfields Market located in the beating heart of East London is a bit of a hybrid, with market stalls coupled with chain shops and restaurants. However, like us you might know Spitalfields for their quirky hand made t-shirts, but there are over 100 market stalls selling fine jewellery, vintage items, furnishing and other fashion items. From Thursday to Sunday you’ll find the Art Market where you can get your hands on the works of independent artists.
#FLOFavourite: Don’t forget to pick up some cheese at Abondance, who source their cheese from independent farms across the UK. Drop by their bar and enjoy your cheese with wine. If you are a fan of Polka Dots, you’ll be in your element at Polka Dot Homeware and Jewellery. They sell all things polka dot, from champagne flutes to jewellery.
Location:
Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, London, E1 6EW
Nearest station:
Liverpool Street Station
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 10am- 8pm, Saturday 10am – 6pm, Sunday 10am- 5pm
On Sundays, you’ll find Spitalfields Art Market
Leadenhall Market
Leadenhall Market situated in the centre of London dates back to the 14th century, it is home to retail shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs and wine bars. During the week you’ll find Leadenhall market packed daily with city workers on lunch breaks, however on weekends there is far less hustle and bustle and its a great place to wonder. Leadenhall Market is undoubtedly one of the most photogenic locations in London and has featured in several movies such as Harry Potter and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy.
#FLOFavourite: We love Leadenhall market at Christmas, for the tree and carol singing.
Location:
Gracechurch, London EC3V 1LT
Nearest station:
Bank and Monument Tube Station
Opening hours:
Open daily (varying hours)
Borough Market
The iconic Borough Market is London’s oldest food market, serving Londoners for the past 1,000 years. Borough market has become a bit of a hotspot for London foodies and has a vast variety of food stalls from Spanish, Ethiopian, French and Mexican to great British foods. You’ll find delicious freshly baked bread, pastries, cheese and wine. Borough market is often super busy, bustling with people enjoying great food and friendly vibes.
#FLOFavourite: We love Portena! They make traditional Argentine street food and our favourite empanadas in London. We can’t get enough of the spinach and ricotta empanadas!
Location:
8 Southwark St, London, SE1 1TL
Nearest station:
London Bridge Station
Opening hours:
Monday to Tuesday 10am - 5pm. (Skeleton market)
Wednesday – Thursday 10 am -5 pm
Friday 10 am-6pm
Saturday 8am-5pm.
Sunday – Closed