London has some of the world’s best and most iconic markets that are ideal for shopping, food, antiques, fresh produce and art, just to name a few! The city has a huge selection of markets with something for everyone and here is our guide to London’s markets
Borough Market
Borough Market is a foodie’s paradise. Located next to London Bridge, it is open Wednesday – Saturday each week and is the perfect place to stop by for lunch if you’re out and about in London. Borough Market also has a number of fantastic sit down restaurants and is your one stop foodie market. The colourful stalls are stacked with everything from fresh produce to baked delights, condiments, street food and locally made beers and ciders. Borough Market is one of our favourite London markets, and we always love stopping by to pick up some lunch and enjoy it in the courtyard next to the market.
Portobello Road Market
You’ll find the world-famous Portobello Road Market in iconic Notting Hill, and a perfect hotel to stay at to explore all Notting Hill has to offer is the Park Grand Kensington Hotel. Portobello Road Market has been around since the 1800s and is one of the most famous and popular antique markets in the world. I love that the majority of the stalls are grouped according to the products they are selling, which makes it easy to navigate. The market is open Monday through to Saturday and marketgoers can easily dedicate a whole day to wandering through Notting Hill and the colourful Portobello Road Market, hunting for antiques and bargains.
Brick Lane Market
Brick Lane Market is open on Sundays and is the perfect place to spend a leisurely Sunday morning. The market is located in London’s East End and is bursting with bric-a-brac, artwork, vintage clothing, shoes, second-hand-furniture and tasty treats! It’s also in close proximity to Columbia Road Flower Market and Old Spitalfields Market, if you feel like market hopping!
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia Road Flower Market is a must visit in London, especially during Spring! It is a gardener’s paradise with plants, shrubs, blooms, trees and even gardening accessories on offer. This flower market has colourful displays, fragrant blooms and beautiful cut-flowers to take home to brighten up your home.
Old Spitalfields Market
Old Spitalfields Market is a covered market in east London which sells a bit of everything, from clothes to food to artwork. It’s the perfect place to visit on a rainy London weekend and fashion lovers will adore the designer brands and independent boutiques on offer. Old Spitalfields offers antiques on Thursdays, clothes and art on Fridays and a bit of everything on the weekends!
Camden Lock Market
The Camden Lock Markets have more than 100 shops and stalls ranging from clothes and accessories, one-off pieces of art and furnishings, in addition to amazing food stalls (some of the best in London in our opinion)! The market is open 7 days a week and is considered to be one of the most popular visitor attractions in London. We love to pick up some street food and stroll along the scenic Regent’s Canal to London Zoo.
Greenwich Market
Located in the South East of London, Greenwich Market takes its name from its location and is open Tuesdays to Sundays. There has been a market in Greenwich ever since the 14th century and you can still see some of the old buildings alongside today’s new market. Greenwich Market has a beautiful range of products from household decor to jewellery, artwork, accessories and there is also a food court and plenty of street food options.
Southbank Centre Market
Foodies will also love the Southbank Centre Market which is held in Southbank Centre Square on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There is no shortage of tasty treats on offer with a rotating group of street food vendors that are chosen for their dedication to delicious, sustainable, organic and ethical food and drink! It’s a really unique and wonderful food market with amazing food on offer for every tastebud!
Leadenhall Market
Leadenhall Market may look familiar to Harry Potter fans, as it was the filming location for Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron. This beautiful covered market is located within a Grade II listed building in Monument. Open Monday to Friday, Leadenhall Market has boutique shopping, fine dining, family-friendly restaurants and traditional pubs. It’s also a perfect place to wander and enjoy the architecture and paintings.
Alfie’s Antique Market
Located in Marylebone you’ll find London’s largest indoor market. This charming antique market is open Tuesday to Saturday and has over 75 specialist antique dealers! The market also has a fantastic rooftop kitchen that boasts views over west London. If you are planning a weekend of antique shopping, it would be worth booking a stay at the stylish and comfortable Park Grand Lancaster Gate which is a gorgeous boutique hotel in Paddington, just around the corner from Marylebone.
Covent Garden Market
Covent Garden is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world and the Covent Garden Market is a covered market in the centre of Covent Garden. This market is architecturally beautiful and the majority of the shops and stalls are permanent fixtures. The market is open 7 days a week and has gorgeous art and crafts, antiques and knick-knacks on offer as well as specialty shops, restaurants and cafes.
We hope you enjoyed this guide to London’s markets and find it helpful.
Which are your favourite markets in London?
This post is brought to you in collaboration with The Montcalm Group.
Our opinions are as always, our own.
