London is an expensive city, even if most museums are free, you’ll have to pay to entry most of the famous attractions such as the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, food and drink and of course accommodation.
To save a bit of money and to discover something else, why not visit a market for a change? London has many of them and there are all different and interesting. Find below the 5 of the best markets in London:
1- Borough Market
Borough market is London’s oldest food market, being over 1000 years old. Most of the stallholders are producers and farmers so you can be sure to get the best quality of food. Here you can find everything: meat, fish, bread, cheese etc. One of the best things about Borough Market is its environmental commitment, in fact, all cardboard, paper, plastic and so on from the Market is recycled. Borough Market is also a member of the Slow Food project, “a worldwide movement that supports a low impact approach to food production” (Definition from Borough Market’s website).
2- Old Spitalfields Market
The Old Spitalfields Market is located in the trendy area of Shoreditch. The market is a mix of street food stalls, independent craftsman stalls, shops and restaurants. As you probably know, London is a multicultural city; historically the market was hosting transient communities, mostly new immigrants but in recent years the area has been gentrified by creative industries and young professionals.
The refurbished market has a very modern design and is never too busy compared to more famous markets such as Covent Garden. So why not plan your afternoon in this hipster area?!
3- Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia Road Flower Market is a street market, opened on Sundays from 8 am to 2 pm. You will find a wide range of fresh flowers, plants, shrubs at competitive prices but also other shops selling antiques, garden accessories etc. So if you have green fingers (and even if you don’t), this is the perfect place to go.
4- Camden Market
Camden Market is the most famous market in London. It is always very busy so if you can, try to visit it on a week day. Don’t eat before going as there are many street food stalls and there is something for every taste: curries, burgers, falafels, bao buns, pizza, sushi, burritos, (vegetarian and vegan options as well) and much more! I bet you are hungry now, aren’t you?
Apart from the food part, Camden Market is the right place to look for vintage clothes, original handcraft creations, vinyl discs and so on. When you go to Camden Town, don’t forget to take your camera as Camden is famous for its eccentricity and its numerous street art paintings. A definite must-see!
5- Brixton Market
Brixton is a lively area located in the South of London. There is a multi-ethnic community, in fact, the first wave of immigrants formed by an African-Caribbean community arrived in the fifties and settled in Brixton. In the eighties the area was the scene of riots because of the unemployment and poverty, conducting to crime. However, in the latest years, Brixton has become a trendy area, hosting regular farmers’ markets and other kind of stalls such as clothes, gadgets, accessories (Found mainly on Electric Avenue).
Brixton also has an incredible indoor market: Brixton Village, hosting multicultural restaurants. Don’t miss the Memorial painting of David Bowie in Tunstall road (Brixton is David Bowie’s birth place).
Now that you have all this information, get ready for your trip to London! We can book a guided tour of the city for you, we can also book a themed guide tour if you prefer. For further information send us an email.