Want to experience shopping in a British market? You'll have no trouble finding one, as London is home to many different kinds—whether it's food or antiques, outside or covered. Even if you're not looking to buy anything, spending a morning, an afternoon or even a full day at a market can be fun. Each one has its own speciality and quirks so you can't go wrong when picking and choosing a market to explore. Here are just three of the more frequented marketplaces in London.
Borough Market
Visitors see this painted wall just before entering Borough Market from a north entrance.
Borough Market is a food lover's heaven. Located nearby the London Bridge, Borough Market is a hub for British and international produce. It claims to be one of the largest and oldest food markets in the city, with a history dating back to 1014.
If you've come to the market specifically for a lunch experience, good luck narrowing it down to just one spot. With so many options to choose from, you'll have to embrace the challenge with open arms. If you're in a group with others, consider the "divide and conquer" technique. Each person could pick a different food stand, and everyone gets a small share of each dish. This quick list is just some of the different types of cuisines offered: Thai, Indian, Egyptian, Ethiopian, German, Colombian, British and vegan. Wine, baked goods, cheese, fresh produce and meats also occupy many stalls throughout the market.
The market hosts events, such as cooking classes, every so often, so keep a look out on its website for the latest happenings. To get to Borough Market, you can take the Underground to the London Bridge station via the Jubilee or Northern lines. If you're taking a bus, you can get off at several stops nearby, using routes 43, 141, 149 and 521.
Camden Town
A sign overhead welcomes locals and tourists to the Camden Lock Market.
Camden Town is well known for its street markets. While the area's collectively known as Camden Market, there are actually five distinct markets, with each one having its own characteristics: Camden Lock Market, Stables Market, Buck Street Market, Inverness Street Market and Electric Ballroom. (It used to be six, but Camden Lock Village was closed in 2015, and the area is undergoing redevelopment—sparking controversy.) With more than 1,000 stands, stores, cafes and bars spread among these markets, you can easily spend hours getting lost in the sea of stalls.
In the 1970s, the original craft market opened. This is where Camden Lock Market stands today. It still sells crafts but has expanded to jewelry, clothing, books and food. Previously the site for a Victorian horse hospital, Stables Market is the largest one with cobblestone pathways and converted warehouses and is known for antiques, furniture and vintage clothing. The outside Buck Street Market sells mostly clothing and accessories. Inverness Street Market once existed as a mostly fresh food and produce market, but many food stalls have been replaced with clothing and jewelry ones. The Electric Ballroom is a music venue that gets turned into a market on the weekends.
Because Camden Market can be extremely busy with people, especially on the weekends, keep a close eye on your belongings. It's a popular place for pickpockets. If you want to avoid the bigger weekend crowds, try going during the week. It's open every day, except for Christmas Day. You can get to Camden Town by hopping on the Underground to the Camden Town station.
Covent Garden
Restaurants and shops line each side of the Covent Garden building's south hall courtyard.
Out of these three markets, Covent Garden has the classiest atmosphere with upscale boutiques like Chanel. Underneath the 19th century piazza building, you can find various shops and restaurants, as well as the Apple Market in the north hall. The Jubilee Market Hall runs along the south side of the square, across from the central building. Both markets rotate stalls depending on the day. For example, the Apple Market only has antique stalls on Mondays, while the Jubilee Market only has arts and crafts stalls on weekends.
A unique aspect of Covent Garden, besides shopping, is the presence of street performers. Street entertainment at Covent Garden goes back to the 1660s, and the tradition continues today. At the end of the north hall, you'll come across an open spot specifically for structured performances, like circus acts. In the courtyard of the south hall, classical singers can entertain you while you're eating lunch or afternoon tea. In order to claim these spots inside the building and outside on the streets, street performers must audition in front of a judging panel.
Whether you're shopping or watching street performers, Covent Garden can be a nice spot to enjoy on a Saturday afternoon. It's located in central London nearby many West End theatres. You can get off at the Covent Garden underground station or take a bus to get there.
