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5 Street Markets in London You Can’t Miss

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Khairun Nisa •  Feb 02, 2016

Street markets have been the lifeblood of Britain’s trade industry for centuries. A living and breathing part of the city, each market reflects the character of its neighbourhood so what better way to soak in the sights than the streets! 

Credit: Giphy

1. Portobello

If you like crowds and bric-a-bracs, then Portobello Market is for you! A flea market of sorts with a wide range of collectibles, you’ll appreciate the quaint bustle of the busy street while vegetable merchants lay out the spud of the season and antique dealers peddle their wares.

Portobello Market
Charming flats colour Portobello Market on a quiet Friday morning

Opening Hours: 9.00am – 6.00pm Monday to Wednesday, 9.00am – 1.00pm Thursday and 9.00am – 7.00pm Friday and Saturday

Address: Portobello Road, London, Greater London, W10 5TA

Directions:

Closest tube station: Ladbroke Gove (Hammersmith & City Lines) or Notting Hill Gate (Central, Circle and District Lines)

Bus: 7, 12, 23, 27, 28, 31, 52, 70, 94, 328 and 452

Follow the map below to get to Portobello Market.

#HHWT Tip: There’s a no-frills Malaysian restaurant called Makan Café in the middle of the street which serves up a decent teh tarik and banana balls (cekodok pisang) which is great on chilly days ?

Makan Cafe
Teh Tarik on a cold day hits just the spot!

Credit: London Chow

2. Shoreditch

Shoreditch isn’t just hipster haven, it’s also home to one of the largest Muslim communities in London and 3 iconic boulevard bazaars. Nestled in the West of this eclectic neighbourhood is Old Spitalfields market, a treasure trove of art and knick knacks. Discover fashion finds and crafts or tinker around the designer Trader stalls whose collections are as chic as they are functional.

Old Spitalfields
Beautiful hand-made cards at Old Spitalfields Market

Trawl East-ward and you’ll stumble upon the famous Columbia Road flower market, which is peppered with stalls of Instagram-worthy beautiful blooms, independent art galleries, cupcakeries and traditional garden shops – perfect for the green thumbs looking to pick up a cute garden accessory!

Columbia Road Flower Market
A feast of sights and smells at the Columbia Road flower market

Credit: Gary Pepper

And just a little walk away is Brick Lane Market, a regular Mipster (that’s a Muslim Hipster for you) haunt which pulsates from vibrant, street performances, ethnic food joints and youngsters looking for Art Deco furniture, trendy threads and second-hand collectibles.

#HHWT Tip: Hidden among the seemingly endless row of curry houses is Jungle Braai, a halal-certified South African steakhouse with dish after dish of tender-roasted meat. If you like spice and heat, then this is definitely for you!

Jungle Braai
Juicy and succulent marinated chicken in Peri-Peri sauce

Credit: Jungle Braai

Opening Hours: 10.00am – 5.00pm Sunday to Friday, 11.00am – 5.00pm Saturday

Address: 28 Osborn Street, E1 6TD, Brick Lane

Directions:

Closest tube station: Liverpool Street Station (Central or Hammersmith & City, District, Circle and Metropolitan Lines)

Bus: 8, 26, 35, 42, 47, 48, 67, 78, 135, 149, 205, 242 and 388

Find Old Spitalfields Market on the map.

3. Camden Lock

While Camden Market might seem to attract hordes of tourists, especially the younger crowd in search for alternative fashion like punk and leather, Camden Lock’s Global Food Kitchen is an absolute highlight that shouldn’t be missed. Featuring Street Food from around the world, you will wander through a maze of options from Ethiopian Curry to kangaroo burgers (?!) but my absolute favourite is the melt-in-your-mouth, crispy and crumbly salted caramel fudge from Cupcakes and Shhht. The price is a bit on the high side, putting you back £5 for a 150g tablet but trust me when I say, it is so worth it!

Cupcakes and Shhht Fudge
No-guilt fair-trade, organic and vegan Fudge

#HHWT Tip: It’s easy to miss but there’s a secret pathway taking you from pulsing Camden through the quiet Regent’s Canal to Little Venice, a picturesque waterway and narrow-boat hangout. Stroll along the romantic inner-city oasis to pass Regent’s Park and London Zoo and photograph the mooring barges painted bright (and the random Chinese floating red pagoda restaurant, as if things weren’t bizarre enough already).

Little Venice
Houseboat along Little Venice

Credit: Photo Steam

Opening Hours: 10.00am – 6.00pm every day

Address: 56 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF

Directions:

Closest tube station: Camden Town (Northern Line)

Bus: 24, 27, 29, 31, 134, 135, 168, 214, 253, 274, C2

Follow the map to get to Camden Lock.

4. Borough Market

A favourite of the foodie, just off London Bridge, Borough Market is a must-visit if you fancy a hot lunch from a food stand and a bona fide market experience. With over 70 stalls of food selling produce, fish and meats, baked goods, imported chocolate, coffee, bread and loads more, this is the go-to location for the local chefs to stock up their kitchens with fresh food of unrivalled quality.

borough-market-bread
For the love of bread!

Credit: : Aperture Club

#HHWT Tip: Look out for a little Ethiopian stand along the back of the market stalls for a hearty meal that won’t break the bank. A plate of chicken breast, rice, Injera bread and a choice of two sides will cost you just £4 for a medium meal and £5.50 for large.

Borough market Chicken meal
The Doro Tib Chicken Combo cooked in huge pans Ethiopian style.

Credit: Sweet Like Cinnamon

Opening Hours:  Full market open 10.00am – 5.00pm on Wednesday and Thursday, 10.00am – 6.00pm on Saturday and 8.00am – 5.00pm on Sunday. Lunch available 10.00am – 5.00pm on Monday and Tuesday.

Address: 8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL

Directions:

Closest tube station: London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern Line)

Bus: Stops at London Bridge, Borough High Street or Southwark Street

Borough Market on the map.

5. Covent Garden

If you like the finer things in life, Covent Garden exudes the classic charm of what used to be a fruit and vegetable market which has transformed into a chic shopping district surrounded by elegant buildings such as the Royal Opera House and theatres. While the fresh market has been moved to New Covent Garden, the original building still hosts some swanky cafes, top-notch street performances and a tourist bazaar selling antiques, food, souvenirs and arts and crafts.

entertainers covent garden
Be entertained by some very talented street artists at Covent Garden

Credit: Tom Blackwell

#HHWT Tip: Nothing is more of an English treat than an afternoon tea so pop into the luxurious bakery, dessert house and tea salon Ladurée, the French household name famous for its double decker macarons. Go easy on the wallet and skip the expensive afternoon tea set for a cake from the à la carte menu. I love their Plaisir sucré, a hazelnut meringue sandwich cake with crushed Piedmont hazelnuts, crunchy praline, thin slivers of milk chocolate, Chantilly cream and milk chocolate filling which is affordable at £5.80. Anything from their extensive (and posh) tea menu will cost £3.60 a pot.

churros winter wonderland
Crispy crust but cotton soft inside, these are best eaten warm. A tough one to share!

Credit: channongray

Opening Hours:  Awaiting 2016 market dates.

Address: Hyde Park, London W2

Directions:

Closest tube station: Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria Line)

Bus: C2, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 30, 36, 38, 52, 73, 74, 82, 94, 98, 113, 137, 148, 159, 274, 390, 414, 436

Winter Wonderland is easy to find on the map.

In all, you’ll truly be hard-pressed to fit everything in if you’re on a tight schedule. But knowing what you like and what you’re looking for, any choice you pick would be an amazing time simply because nothing else quite beats the raw authenticity and classic appeal of the old English street market.