London's markets, all very authentic and unique, are one of the main reasons to visit the city, where bargain hunters will come home with bags full of goods and food from the stalls and shops of London's most famous flea markets.
In this cosmopolitan and multicultural city you'll find a number of key markets where you can find everything from antiques to food from around the world, flowers, vintage and curios, and clothing of all kinds.
You should bear in mind that some markets are only open for one day or one weekend and others for the whole week, so it is advisable to plan your route through the city and save the weekends to visit some of London's markets, which are open on those days and are usually the ones with the most atmosphere.
Another thing you shouldn't forget to bring is cash, as some stalls don't accept credit cards, and an empty backpack to carry all your purchases.
During our visits to London in 10 days and London in 6 days we have visited many of its street markets and covered markets, so based on our experience and taste, we have dared to make this list of what we consider to be the 5 best markets in London.
1. Camden Market
When you arrive in Camden Town either by tube, by boat from Little Venice or in the typical red double-decker buses, you feel like you're in another world. The most famous place in this picturesque and entertaining neighbourhood is Camden Market, our favourite, and for us the best market in London.
Camden Market is open every day from 10am to 7pm, although the busiest and most crowded day is Sunday. In principle, if you want to take photos and stroll around in peace and quiet, we recommend you to come during the week, but if you want to experience the atmosphere, don't hesitate to come here on the last day of the week, we are sure it will be an unforgettable day. You should also bear in mind that you can spend a whole morning exploring it, as it has more than 1000 stalls and shops, making it the largest market in London.
One of the places we love is the Camden Stables Market, full of stables converted into original shops or art galleries, full of charm.
If you want to buy different or second-hand clothes at good prices, get a tattoo, buy vintage items, look for vinyl records or listen to alternative music, Camden Market is the place for you.
2. Portobello Market
Portobello Market, located in the beautiful and colourful neighbourhood of Notting Hill, is another must-visit place in London. This market is one of the largest antiques markets in the world and takes place every day of the week except Sunday, on Portobello Road. In our experience, the best day to visit Portobello Market is Saturday, when you can browse the antique and vintage stalls for bargains, as it's more of a food market during the week.
In addition to the market, you can take the opportunity to enjoy the surroundings and one of the things we're sure you'll like most about Portobello Road will be to go into its shops full of original and charming details such as bookshops, bars, restaurants, cafes and small shops.
Notting Hill is a bit far from the centre of London, so the best option to get to the market is to take the underground to the Notting Hill Gate stop.
A good option to get to know the history and not miss anything in the neighbourhood is to book this free tour of Notting Hill with a guide in English.
Brick Lane Market, one of London's must-visit markets.
The Brick Lane street market in London is one of the most fashionable places in London. On our last trip, we took the underground to Aldgate East to walk around the market and see its famous graffiti, including some of the best graffiti artists in the world, such as Bansky.
Brick Lane is home to the majority of shops, galleries and market stalls, where you can find second-hand furniture, original items, books and magazines, vintage clothes and food stalls from all over the world.
There is a large presence of Bengali and Indian community in this neighbourhood, so don't be surprised if you come across numerous shops and restaurants, as well as signs written in English and Bengali.
The only problem with Brick Lane, one of London's best markets, is that it's only open on Sundays from 10am to 5pm, so you'll need to book this day of the week if you want to check it out.
If you're torn between going to Camden or Brick Lane on Sunday, we'd leave Camden for a Thursday or Friday, which is also very lively, and leave Brick Lane for Sunday.
Recommended travel cardsRemember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card, they are the ones we use, they are free and they will save you a lot of money.
You can find more information in this article on the best cards for commission-free travel.
4. Borough Market
One of the best things to do in London is to have lunch one day at one of the stalls in Borough Market. This art deco-style indoor food market, located very close to London Bridge, offers quality local and international produce from over 100 stalls. You'll also find cooked food in the market stalls and shops, as well as meat, fish, pastries, bread, wine, cheese and quality produce from British farms.
To find other places to eat we recommend you to check this post of our favourite restaurants where to eat in London.
The origins of Borough Market in London date back to the 11th century, which makes it the oldest food market in England and even its old style has made it appear in films like Harry Potter or Bridget Jones's Diary, although it is also a regular in cooking shows where the most famous chefs go to buy products in this market.
This market is open every day from 10am to 5pm, opening at 8pm on Saturdays and closing at 6pm on Fridays. It is advisable not to go on a Monday or Tuesday, as not all the shops are open.
5. Leadenhall Market
Our last recommendation of the best markets in London is the beautiful Leadenhall Market, one of the pleasant surprises of our last trip to the capital of the United Kingdom. This market stands out above all for its location in a Victorian building, covered in glass and iron, which takes you back to another era. Once you see yourself walking through it, we're sure you'll understand why several films have been shot in this 14th century market, including scenes from Harry Potter.
If you've seen the Harry Potter films or loved the Harry Potter books, we recommend booking this tour of Warner Studios where the films were shot or this tour of the London locations that inspired J.K. Rowling, such as Leadenhall Market.
For more information on these tours you can check out this guide to visiting Harry Potter Studios in London, based on our experience.
Leadenhall Market takes place Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, although the shops and restaurants are open every day.
Rather than going shopping, which is quite expensive, we recommend going in the evening to see it lit up and have a pint or a bite to eat in one of the pubs or restaurants.
Other markets in London not to be missed
If you have more time and want to visit other markets in London, here are 5 options that are also worth a visit:
- Covent Garden: famous covered market in which the Apple Market stands out. Open daily from 10am to 8pm; Saturdays from 9am to 8pm and on Sundays it closes at 6pm.
- Columbia Road Flower Market: A market with all kinds of flowers, plants and gardening supplies. Open every Sunday from 8am to 3pm.
- Broadway Market: Sells local farmers' produce, clothing, furniture... Open Saturdays from 9am to 5pm.
- Greenwich Market: Popular with locals with stalls selling fruit and vegetables, antiques and handmade goods. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5:30am
- Old Spitalfields Market: Covered market with all kinds of goods and clothes. Open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Map of London's street markets
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If you'd like to help us complete our list of the top 5 markets in London, add your own in the comments.
