Alfie's Antique Market

Alfie's, one of the largest indoor antique markets in London, is a well known secret among decorators and interior designers who come to trawl the stalls of old furniture and home furnishings. Although this is a dealers' venue, members of the public are welcome too. An extensive rebuilding programme in 1988 culminated in a four-storey extension, and the market complex now covers 35,000 square feet over five floors. Most of the building's original features and facade have been preserved, though one of the more recent features is a licensed rooftop restaurant which provides a welcoming haven where you can review the day's purchases. It's largely thanks to this emporium, opened in 1976 on the site of the old Jordan's department store, that the adjacent Church Street is now lined with antique dealers, some moving from the market to a more permanent home in the street.