Good Evening
19:20 pm
Friday 27th November
 |
|||||||||||
About Most Read
We study your activity on LondonTown.com and this column suggests similar pages requested by other users in the last 30 days. 
|
 |
 Although buying the stuff is going to cost you hard cash, wandering around one of London's colourful markets is free and fun. Browsing stalls, taking in the sights, sounds and smells is a pleasant way to spend a few hours. From the fresh blooms of Columbia Road Flower Market to the bric-a-brac on Brick Lane, the capital's offerings are as diverse as they are colourful.
 Borough Market Southwark Street, SE1 1TJ Nestled in-between Borough High Street, Bedale Street, Stoney Street and Winchester Walk lives "London's Larder", more formally known as Borough Market. This gourmand's delight is London's oldest food market and boasts a mouth-watering range of fresh food stalls under its Dickensian wrought-iron roof. Italian cheeses, Morecambe Bay shrimps, Spanish foods and much more. And the best thing of all: you can try quite a lot of sample portions for free! Atmospheric, lively and mouth-watering, this foodie's paradise is a definite must on a Saturday morning. Savvy shoppers take care to browse around for the best deals - just because it's a market doesn't mean it's cheap and some of the delicious goods can leave you feeling out of pocket. Do a little window shopping before you buy and you'll find there are plenty of goods to be had at reasonable prices. Make sure you leave plenty of time to shop around all four of the market's important areas: 1.) Crown Square, the area bounded by Southwark Street, Stoney Street and Bedale Street 2.) The Green Market, the area beneath the railway bridges north east of Bedale Street beside the cathedral 3.) The Jubilee Market 4.) The shops and restaurants which surround the market, located in Stoney Street, Park Street and Bedale Street Address: Southwark Street, SE1 1TJ Timing: Thu 11am-5pm, Fri midday-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm Nearest Station: London Bridge Tube / Rail Borough Market - Information   Brick Lane MarketBrick Lane, E1 6RL Brick Lane Market is pure East End London, which means Jewish bagel shops, Bangladeshi curry houses, Indian sari silks - and Cockneys crying out their wares. This chaotic, bustling market is half way between jewel and junk heap. It attracts lots of young Londoners, in search of second-hand furniture, unusual clothes and bits of this-and-that. They'll finish with an inexpensive Sunday lunch (probably curry) in a local restaurant. The joy of this market is that you never know what you'll find, anything from cheap leather clothes and old magazines to Art Deco furniture - with a lot of old junk in between. Address: Brick Lane, E1 6RL Timing: Early Sun morning to around 2pm Nearest Station: Shoreditch Tube Brick Lane Market - Information  Cabbages and Frocks MarketSt Marylebone Parish Church Grounds, Marylebone High Street, NW1 5LT Every Saturday a welcome addition comes to Marylebone, making a weekend stroll up the pretty high street an even more attractive proposition. On Saturdays the Cabbages and Frocks Market takes over the grounds of Marylebone Parish Church to the north of Marylebone High Street. The brainchild of the organisers of the London Fashion Designer Sales, there's a good mix of stalls selling everything from oils and balsamic vinegars to hand made jewellery. Hidden among the vintage clothes you can, if you're lucky, find some genuine designer gear at knock down prices. Much of the food on sale is organic with macaroons from Masayuki Hara (formerly at the Caviar House) and Moroccan bedouin food from Abdul (ex-Momo's). Enjoy cappuccinos and cup cakes or take it all in with a freshly squeezed fruit cocktail. Address: St Marylebone Parish Church Grounds, Marylebone High Street, NW1 5LT Phone: 020 7794 1636 Timing: Sat 11am-5pm Nearest Station: Baker Street Tube Cabbages and Frocks Market - Information  Columbia Road Flower MarketColumbia Road, Hackney, E2 7RG Lined with chic boutiques, every Sunday this historic street fills with a bright patchwork of hundreds of flower stalls. Columbia Road is the capital's most colourful and sweet-smelling market. Flowers, shrubs, bedding plants and other horticultural delights are all for sale. As well as cut flowers, there are topiary trees, pot plants, hanging baskets, bulbs and bouquets turning the street to blossom. The 52 stalls and surrounding shops sell everything to cater for that English obsession - gardening. With most of the traders being based in Essex, many of the plants and flowers are grown and produced locally. The market is open from 8am to 2pm and there are plenty of attractive cafes, pubs and authentic sea-food stalls where you can make a pit-stop. If getting there by Tube, Old Street is the best station to go to, turn left on exit, walk along Old Street into Hackney Road and after 200 metres turn right into Columbia Road. You'll smell it before you see it. Address: Columbia Road, Hackney, E2 7RG Phone: 020 7377 8963 Timing: Sun 8am-2pm Nearest Station: Old Street Tube / Rail Columbia Road Flower Market - Information  East Street MarketBlackwood Street, SE17 1DA This venerable street market has been running for over 150 years. Charlie Chaplin was a regular visitor during his youth in South London, and it's a beautiful scene which is just as suitable to a relaxing browse as to serious bargain hunting. East Street Market comes to life on Sundays when over 250 stalls cram the narrow street selling all manner of goods. A much smaller market specialising in plants and flowers runs all week except Monday. Address: Blackwood Street, SE17 1DA Timing: Tue to Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-6.30pm, Sun 8am-2pm Nearest Station: Kennington Tube East Street Market - Information  Greenwich MarketGreenwich High Road, SE10 9HZ Greenwich boasts a number of glorious markets offering a variety of traditional, hand-crafted goods, antiques, clothing and food stalls. The craft market is held at College Approach and the antique market is off Greenwich High Road. The craft market offers a colourful collection of exotic arts and crafts. Established in 1849 there are 120 stalls stacked with distinctive goodies. Wooden toys, model ships, trendy clothes, handmade jewellery and wonderful accessories are some of what is on offer. The market is also bristling with young-designers. The antique market consists of all manner of stalls to entertain, from crafts to vintage clothing and a good selection of food to enjoy from curries to burgers. Finish your market tour off with a walk along the river or the park. All the markets are open at the weekend from around 9am to 5pm. Address: Greenwich High Road, SE10 9HZ Nearest Station: New Cross Tube Greenwich Market - Information  Leadenhall MarketWhittington Avenue, off Gracechurch Street, EC3V 0DR Leadenhall Market is a restored Victorian covered market that sells traditional game, poultry, fish and meat. Although there has been a forum (market place) on where Leadenhall Market stands today since the first century AD, the current wrought iron and glass building was designed in 1881 by Sir Horace Jones (architect of Billingsgate and Smithfield markets). Close to the Lloyds of London building and the Bank of England, it's a popular place for city workers on lunch break so the best time to visit is early lunchtime as it gets very busy by 1pm. It's open Monday to Friday from 7am-4pm and is found in Whittington Avenue, off Gracechurch Street Leadenhall is not only a scenic market place which makes for a lovely stroll around, it also sells some of the finest food in London. Address: Whittington Avenue, off Gracechurch Street, EC3V 0DR Timing: Mon to Fri 7am-4pm Nearest Station: Monument Tube Leadenhall Market - Information  Petticoat Lane MarketBetween Middlesex and Goulston Streets, E1 7HT Petticoat Lane is London's world-famous Sunday market and sells mainly clothes for men, women and children, from street-cred clubwear to over-orders of designer goods and last year's must-haves. One of its specialities is leather wear at the Aldgate East end and there's bric-a-brac, household goods, in fact everything you could possibly think of plus some other bits and bobs too. The market is held in and around Middlesex Street on Sundays from 9am to 2pm, with a smaller market open on Wentworth Street from Monday to Friday. Confusingly, Petticoat Lane doesn't actually exist any more - we have the Victorians' prudishness to thank for that, wishing to avoid any reference to undergarments they changed the name to Middlesex Street in 1846. With more than 1,000 stalls lining the streets on a Sunday bargain hunters come in their droves, it's a great scene worth the trip even if you're not shopping. Nearby areas of interest include Brushfield Street where the old Spitalfields Market is held and which offers more in the way of quality. Petticoat Lane may be London's biggest street jumble sale but for bargain hunting, with a bit of haggling thrown in, it's the original and the best. Address: Between Middlesex and Goulston Streets, E1 7HT Timing: Sun 9am-2pm. Smaller market open from Mon to Fri on Wentworth Street Nearest Station: Liverpool Street Tube/Rail Petticoat Lane Market - Information  Portobello Road MarketPortobello Road, W11 1LU The famous Portobello Road antiques and flea market in Notting Hill takes place every Saturday although there are also stalls from Monday to Friday. Running from Chepstow Villas to just under the Westway, it is a colourful, dynamic stretch of London. On Saturday, it's huge, with over 2,000 stalls, selling everything from books to bric-a-brac and lace to Limoges - everything from fresh fruit, fashion and exotic cooking ingredients are on sale. Thousands of people mill around browsing second-hand clothing stalls or choosing outlandish material. For those who have the patience to search, there are some fantastic bargains. This really is the place to shop-and-eat and then shop some more while soaking up the bo-ho atmosphere. It is best to go in the morning, by the afternoon you will find yourself getting a little flustered winding your way through the crowds. Address: Portobello Road, W11 1LU Phone: 020 7229 8354 Timing: Mon to Wed & Fri 8am-6.30pm, Thu half day till 1pm, Sat 8am-6.30 Nearest Station: Ladbroke Grove Tube Portobello Road Market - Information  Spitalfields Market109 Commercial Street, between Lamb and Brushfield Streets, E1 6BG Nestled in the heart of the City, in the shadow of Christ Church, Spitalfields Market marries market stalls with modern shops and restaurants. Where the delightful old covered market used to be, just off Brushfield Street if you're coming from Liverpool Street Station, you'll find stalls alongside glass fronted shops. The stalls are the place to look for something original, of excellent quality and value for money. Sundays are by far the busiest, with over 150 stalls operating. On weekdays between 11am and 4pm the markets' varied stalls are quieter, except at lunchtime, when the choice of eating places attracts the young City crowd. There's so much to do and see here - and plenty of interesting one-off shops with character surrounding the covered market too. Spitalfields has evolved, combining the appeal of the old market with the new so you get brands like Canteen, Agnes B and Benefit behind the large glass fronted stores happily sitting next to sole traders selling quirky clothes and homemade chocolate brownies from their market stalls. Address: 109 Commercial Street, between Lamb and Brushfield Streets, E1 6BG Timing: Market Stalls - Mon to Fri 10am-4pm, Sun 9am-5pm. Restaurants - Mon to Fri 11am- 11pm, Sun 9am-5pm. Shops - Times vary but generally Mon to Sun 11am-7pm Nearest Station: Shoreditch Tube Spitalfields Market - Information |
|||||||||
