Style & Culture

London markets: the 14 best

London markets draw foodies and fashionistas, antique collectors and treasure seekers from all over the capital – and the country
London markets the 14 best to visit
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Each weekend (and even some weekdays), the well-traversed streets of the capital city bristle with many of the most enjoyable shopping experiences on offer: a London market.

The best London markets combine homemade sweet treats, fresh, seasonal blooms to fill your home with colour, and the opportunity to search for hidden gems and trinkets among the varied and often eclectic stalls. So whether you're an art-lover searching for unique pieces to add to your collection or an appreciator of all things vintage clothing, there's a market, and a market stall, to suit you in the capital.

Visit the sprawling markets of Old Spitalfields, Camden Market or Portobello Road, or pick up curiosities along with a dose of the old East End at Petticoat Lane.

If you'd rather be tucking into street food than collecting antiques, then we recommend checking out our list of the best food markets in London.

What are the most famous markets in London?

The options are endless, but we've narrowed it down to three London markets: Portobello Road, Columbia Road Flower Market and Camden Market. Each market is special for not only its offerings, but also for its place in London history. If you're searching for unique, vintage clothing, then Portobello Road is for you; it's also used as the filming location for none other than Notting Hill. Columbia Road Flower Market is synonymous with East London, with colourful blooms and fragrant lemon trees lining the streets of this quaint road. If you find yourself perusing the flowers, stop for a pint at The Royal Oak, famously used in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. And while Camden Market has transformed over the years, it remains on the map for its contribution to counter-culture, and if you're a music lover, visiting this market and part of London is a must.

The best London markets to visit

  • Best for vintage clothing While perhaps best known for its famed antiques market Portobello Road in Notting Hill is a...
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    1. Portobello Road

    Best for: vintage clothing

    While perhaps best known for its famed antiques market, Portobello Road in Notting Hill is a true haven for fans of fashion from bygone eras. Whether it’s second-hand Chanel, pre-loved Burberry or kitschy cocktail jewels, you’re likely to spot something among the endless stalls of goodies that stretch the entire length of the road and beyond. While you’re in the area, it would be rude not to pop into some of the best vintage shops in London like One of a Kind (259 Portobello Road) – Naomi and Kate are regulars.

    Address: Portobello Road, London W11
    Telephone: +44 20 7361 3001
    Website: visitportobello.com
    When: Saturdays 9pm – 6pm; weekdays vary

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    2. Columbia Road Flower Market

    Best for: beautiful blooms

    Part of the reason it takes so long to edge down Columbia Road on a Sunday morning is the fact that people regularly stop in their tracks to take photographs, causing rather a pile-up. And you can’t blame them – the flower market is undeniably picturesque, not only for its rainbow of colourful flora but also its charming boutiques behind pretty 19th-century shop fronts. Head here to snag bunches of fresh peonies, Cornish daffodils and tulips, and gawp at people lugging giant pot plants home with them, often in rather ingenious ways.

    Address: Columbia Road Flower Market, Columbia Road, London E2 7RG
    Telephone: No telephone
    Website: columbiaroad.info
    When: Sundays 8am – 3pm

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    3. Camden Market

    Best for: counterculture

    Easily one of the best things to do in Camden, the market is actually comprised of six different sites, and has historically been a beacon for London’s nonconformists, from punks in the Seventies when the market first opened, to grunge devotees, rockers and hippies. Despite its present-day popularity, it still maintains a somewhat independent spirit, thanks to its banning of chain stores in Stables Market, which means that its large numbers of traders mainly sell handmade, Fairtrade crafts and vegan food. It also remains a hotspot for kinky club and fetish wear.

    Address: Camden Market, Camden Lock Place, London NW1 8AF
    Telephone: +44 20 3763 9900
    Website: camdenmarket.com
    When: Daily 10am until late

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    4. Spitalfields Market

    Best for: great gifts

    Set under a striking steel and glass Victorian roof, there have been traders at Spitalfields Market since 1666. It draws crowds for its vibrant mix of independent traders selling an eclectic selection of wares. From hammam towels to antique maps, you’re sure to uncover an inspiring find. You’d be wise to pay a visit to Walconcept – a stall run by the always impeccably-dressed Waliou, whose selection of vintage scarves and ties can’t be beaten.

    Address: Spitalfields Market, 56 Brushfield Street, London E1 6EW
    Telephone: +44 20 7377 1496
    Website: spitalfields.co.uk
    When: Weekdays 10am – 8pm; Saturdays 10am – 6pm; Sundays 10am – 5pm

  • 5. Dover Street Market

    Best for: cutting-edge fashion

    DSM is not your traditional market. In fact, the word ‘traditional’ has no place here at all. Inspired by the cult Kensington Market – a home for London subcultures that closed in the ’90s – this gender-fluid, multi-brand space by Comme des Garçons’ Rei Kawakubo pushes boundaries in all directions. Not least because it looks like one big art installation – featured designers are given the freedom to arrange their areas within the store as they see fit, resulting in endless strange and beautiful displays. With a gleeful mix of high and low price points, you’ll find established brands including Gucci and Balenciaga alongside pieces by rising stars such as Stefan Cooke and Marine Serre. In January and July DSM undergoes its seasonal changeover, where the entire place gets a new look. This is a prime time to visit, with exclusive products and treats from the top-floor Rose Bakery.

    Address: Dover Street Market, 18-22 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4DG
    Telephone: +44 20 7518 0680
    Website: london.doverstreetmarket.com
    When: Monday to Saturday 11am – 7pm; Sunday 12pm – 6pm

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    6. Brick Lane Market

    Best for: bric-a-brac

    Brick Lane, the vibrant artery of Shoreditch, really comes into its own on market Sundays. Traders line the street with blankets spread with vintage china, decorative knick knacks and furniture, and alongside the odd inevitable bit of tat you’re likely to find a treasure. Head towards the imposing Old Truman Brewery for the Vintage Market, where you can browse homewares and memorabilia, clothing and accessories from the Twenties to the Nineties. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, visit the Sunday Upmarket’s huge food hall.

    Address: Brick Lane Market, Brick Lane, London E1 6PU
    Telephone: +44 20 7364 1717
    Website: visitbricklane.org
    When: Sundays 10am – 5pm

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    7. Brixton Village Market

    Best for: all weather

    Brixton’s indoor market is an all-weather option, with locals and those who have travelled across London milling around under the railway arches. Arcades are lined with small independent boutiques selling everything from art to household cleaning products, and a wide range of food stalls offer delicacies from around the world.

    Address: Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PS
    Telephone: +44 20 7274 2990
    Website: brixtonmarket.net
    When: 8am–11.30pm daily, Monday until 6pm

  • 8. Petticoat Lane

    Best for: bargains

    Petticoat Lane – which actually no longer exists, since it was renamed Middlesex Street in 1846 – provides an authentic taste of the old East End. Locals and visitors flock to this historic market, possibly one of Britain’s longest-running, to eye up cheerful garb at rock-bottom prices, accompanied by a cuppa from a nearby greasy spoon. The wonderful thing about this market is that it’s a glorious jumble – high-street excess stock, Chinese silks, sparkly hair clips, Harry and Meghan memorabilia, smart leather men’s shoes and reams of designer knock-offs are just the beginning. Bring cash.

    Address: Middlesex Street, London E1 7HT
    Telephone: +44 20 7364 1717
    Website: towerhamlets.gov.uk
    When: Sundays 10am – 5pm

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    9. Sunbury Antiques Market

    Best for: homewares

    Get to Kempton Park Racecourse on the second and last Tuesday of every month to jostle with leading interior designers, prop buyers and the likes of David Gandy and Paloma Faith. There's ornate cutlery, mid-century G Plan furniture, old-timey signage, antique mirrors and so much more, sold by more than 700 traders from across the UK and Europe. Arrive as early as you can bear (it opens at 6.30am), bring cash for extra haggling power, and if you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, don’t be afraid to ask for it – many of the traders show only a fraction of their stock at the fair.

    Address: Sunbury Antiques Market, Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury On Thames TW16 5AQ
    Telephone: +44 19 3223 0946
    Website: sunburyantiques.com
    When: Tuesdays and Sundays 6.30am – 2pm (varies, check website)

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    10. Netil Market

    Best for: indie design

    Located a stone’s throw from buzzing Broadway Market, this Hackney hub is a draw not only for its excellent selection of street food, but its collection of independent designers and makers selling their high quality, craft-focused wares. Look out for handmade ceramics by Klei, award-winning smellies by Soapsmith and delicate rings by WeAreArrow, who run a studio in their shipping container on site. The fact that the yard is fairly small is to its advantage, giving it a friendly, family feel.

    Address: Netil Market, 13-23 Westgate Street, London E8 3RL
    Telephone: +44 20 3095 9718
    Website: eatworkart.com/netil-market
    When: Friday 11am – 6pm; Saturday and Sundays 10am – 7pm

  • 11. Hackney Flea Market

    Best for: eclectic finds

    Seventies fabrics, reclaimed fixtures, anatomical drawings, retro board games – you never know what you might discover at Hackney Flea, which is part of its beauty. Taking place monthly in a hall in trendy Stoke Newington, it has 30 or so traders, largely peddling vintage. Recent additions to the line-up of stalls include the brilliantly niche My Moka, specialising in rare espresso pots, and Piquant, who scour markets in Paris and Scandinavia for stylish home accessories.

    Address: Hackney Flea Market, Abney Hall, 73a Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0AS
    Telephone: No telephone
    Website: hackneyfleamarket.com
    When: Saturdays 11am – 6pm

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    12. Canopy Market

    Best for: relaxed browsing

    Perched just off Granary Square, Canopy Market is a relative newcomer on the scene (it opened in 2018). Inside there's a mix of art and design – think prints, stationery, knitwear and more – plus an ever-changing lineup of street food vendors, making it a lovely place to shop for handmade crafts before retiring to one of the benches with a snack and a glass of English sparkling wine. On Fridays, it’s open until 8pm, with live music – we can’t think of a more laid-back way to kick off a weekend.

    Address: Canopy Market, West Handyside Canopy, London N1C 4LW
    Telephone: +44 20 3479 1795
    Website: kingscross.co.uk/canopy-market
    When: Friday 12pm – 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 11am – 6pm

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    13. Camden Passage Market

    Best for: historic charm

    The bulk of this small but perfectly formed market is not actually in Camden, but on a quaint, pedestrianised side street in chichi Angel with its 18th-century buildings. This little corner of London has a history as a centre for the antiques trade, and maintains this tradition today. Traders, perched in nooks and crannies along the length of the Passage and surrounding streets, sell trinkets from times past, including Victorian crucifix necklaces and dainty 1950s tea sets. There are also great permanent boutiques and appealing cafés – try Kipferl for cakes.

    Address: Camden Passage Market, Camden Passage, London N1
    Telephone: +44 74 6355 7899
    Website: camdenpassageislington.co.uk
    When: Open from 9am–6pm on Wednesdays; 8am–6pm on Saturdays; 11am–6pm on Sundays

  • 14. Flea at Vinegar Yard

    Best for: collectibles

    What makes this market, which moved to its Bermondsey location earlier this year, stand out is the fact that many of its stalls are highly specialised. Whether selling vintage pharmaceutical bottles or tweed hunting jackets, it’s clear that stallholders are passionate collectors in their own right. This means there’s a really well-curated range to rummage through, plus plenty of expert knowledge. The shipping-container-filled spot near London Bridge also has a bar and food traders, making it very easy to spend a few lazy hours here.

    Address: Flea at Vinegar Yard, St Thomas Street, London ​SE1 3QU
    Telephone: +44 20 7357 6799
    Website: flealondon.com
    When: Open from 11am–6pm on Saturdays; 10am–5pm on Sundays

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