Best London Markets to Visit During Your Stay in London
London has long been home to street markets famous around the world. From Portobello Road to Camden and Covent Garden, London’s best markets have come to define many of its most famous locations.
Along the stall-lined streets you’ll find everything from fresh florals to clothes, fruits, antiques and foodie treats from all over the globe.
Many of Central London’s top markets are permanent fixtures you can visit on any day of the week although the types of stalls available may vary from day to day. Other popular markets in London are only open on weekends or specific days so always check before you travel.
Enjoyed by locals and tourists alike, London’s top street markets are a must to add to your to-do list during your stay in London.Here’s our top picks for the best markets to visit in Central London.
Best London Markets to visit during your stay in London
1. Borough Market:
Located in London Bridge beside the River Thames and a short walk from Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market is a must for foodies.You’ll find all sorts of artisan traders from all over the country, selling every kind of handmade goods and street food imaginable. There are farmers selling cheeses, jams, meats, scotch eggs and other goods made using fresh produce from their farms.
You can also look forward to artisan bakers selling beautiful breads of every kind or irresistible handmade sweets and cakes, including fudge and brownies. For street food, you can expect everything you’ve heard of and anything you haven’t.
From Thai food to unexpected burgers, Sri Lankan curries and spicy African dishes, the only thing to do is to make sure you have free hands so you can hold all you buy!
Inside the covered market, is a huge array of fresh produce whilst around the perimeters of Borough Market you’ll discover more artisan food shops, plus hip restaurants and bars.
Portobello Road:
Another top London location is Portobello Road. The iconic home of the film Notting Hill and the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival, Portobello Road Market sits at the centre of London’s most prestigious postcodes.Walking the streets along Portobello Road, often results in a sighting of a famous face or two.Kate Moss, Adele, Madonna and former prime minister David Cameron are just a few of the many celebrities who have homes in this area.
Famous for its antiques, Portobello Road Market is at its best on Saturdays where you’ll find all sorts of goods including antiques, music and crafts. You can still visit during the week if you’re happy to settle largely, for the many boutiques and galleries which line the road.
For more shopping but inside, Westfield Shopping Centre is just down the road in one direction and the Kings Road or High Street Kensington are in the other.
2. Camden Market:
For the hippest area in London, head to Camden Market where you’ll find a trendy spot beside Camden Lock filled with contemporary shops, bars, restaurants and stalls.Camden Market is extremely popular with young creatives and the media crowd so you can expect emerging designers, interesting artworks, handcrafted homeware from all over the globe, jewellery and plenty of alternative music on display as well as the latest street food, pop up bars and more.
3. Covent Garden Market:
Located in the heart of Central London, Covent Garden Market is a brilliant place to stroll around and peruse at your leisure.Once home to London’s famous fruit and vegetable market, Covent Garden Market, now called Covent Garden Apple Market, is an entertaining feast of stalls selling all sorts of beautiful artworks, artisan crafts and jewellery? On Mondays, you’ll find antiques and collectables.
On the streets surrounding the cobbled, historic market square are street entertainers plus lots of boutiques, global brands, specialist artisan stores, restaurants and bars.
You’ll also find The London Transport Museum, the London Film Museum and the Royal Opera House on the roads around the market.
The Covent Garden Fruit and Vegetable Market is now locatedon the other side of London where wholesale fruit, vegetables and flowers are still sold.
4. Old Spitalfields Market:
East London is another hip postcode so you can expect Old Spitalfields Market to be packed with delicious street food from around the world as well as emerging designers, pop up restaurants and artisan crafts.On Thursdays, Spitalfields is the place to go for antiques and on every other Friday you can enjoy music stalls selling all sorts of tunes from every genre. Around the edges of the market, you’ll find trendy restaurants, boutiques, designer shops, coffee shops and bars.
The area is also popular in the evenings with those in search of fashionable cocktail bars, eateries and clubs.
5. Seven Dials Market:
Spread over two floors inside a glass-roofed atrium just off Shaftesbury Avenue, Seven Dials Market is the most contemporary location on our list.Housing boutique restaurants, bars, street food stalls, a food-themed bookshop and event space, Seven Dials is a former warehouse that’s been converted into a covered haven for foodies.
From gourmet burgers to artisan cheeses, Mexican delights, extraordinary handmade doughnuts, tasty curries and craft beer, this is the perfect Central London location where you can stroll, taste and sip to your heart’s content – whatever the weather.
For your journey, book your chauffeur driven transportation to and from any London market today. We travel to all of London’s top attractions as well as all London airports and more. Call us today on: +44 203 417 2724/ 0203 4172724, send us an email at: bookings@airport24.co.uk or book your car online now.