Camden versus Portobllo markets
Oct 22nd, 2004, 03:33 PM
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Camden versus Portobllo markets
Hi,
Which market would you recommend?
I will be with my 14 year old daughter and we are thinking of visiting one upon our arrival in London.
We will be arriving Sat. morning from Boston.
Which market would you recommend?
I will be with my 14 year old daughter and we are thinking of visiting one upon our arrival in London.
We will be arriving Sat. morning from Boston.
Oct 22nd, 2004, 03:38 PM
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You have to appreciate the difference between the two places.
Camden is a market full of punky style people shopping for clothes/accessories/low quality bric-a-brac (antiques in a manner of speaking). Portobello sells medium to low quality antiques, and soley antiques, you won't find the clothes and other "novelties" that you will in Camden.
People here will probably tell you to choose Camden because of your daughter, however, I'd advise you to choose Portobello, it's more unique and offers a real flavour of London.
Camden is a market full of punky style people shopping for clothes/accessories/low quality bric-a-brac (antiques in a manner of speaking). Portobello sells medium to low quality antiques, and soley antiques, you won't find the clothes and other "novelties" that you will in Camden.
People here will probably tell you to choose Camden because of your daughter, however, I'd advise you to choose Portobello, it's more unique and offers a real flavour of London.
Oct 22nd, 2004, 04:59 PM
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to help you decide...
camden - more permanent markets (there are several), more popular with teenagers and the alternative crowd, more used/vintage clothing, more food choices, rougher around the edges in terms of a very vibrant urban scene. a few drug dealers and drunk punks but nothing to worry about. no real fruit veg/grocery stalls. north but easy to get to with the bus or northern line. some markets wind around through tunnels and passageways.
portobello- harder to get to from many places in london. more antiques, less clothing, temporary stalls (the whole thing comes down late sat afternoon), not to say it is stodgy.. there are some alternative things up at the north end, also fruits and veg/meat, fish stalls. market is linear...you walk along its length.
i enjoy them both and i think you will too - whichever you choose. portobello starts to come down around 5-6 pm and camden closes at 7. don't try to do both in a day.
camden - more permanent markets (there are several), more popular with teenagers and the alternative crowd, more used/vintage clothing, more food choices, rougher around the edges in terms of a very vibrant urban scene. a few drug dealers and drunk punks but nothing to worry about. no real fruit veg/grocery stalls. north but easy to get to with the bus or northern line. some markets wind around through tunnels and passageways.
portobello- harder to get to from many places in london. more antiques, less clothing, temporary stalls (the whole thing comes down late sat afternoon), not to say it is stodgy.. there are some alternative things up at the north end, also fruits and veg/meat, fish stalls. market is linear...you walk along its length.
i enjoy them both and i think you will too - whichever you choose. portobello starts to come down around 5-6 pm and camden closes at 7. don't try to do both in a day.
Oct 22nd, 2004, 05:22 PM
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Unless you arrive very early in the morning, you'd probably do better to visit Camden.
Portobello Rd is my favorite -- but it gets extremely crowded after about 10 a.m. If this is after an overnight flight and you aren't getting to Nottinghill/Portobello Rd until mid morning or later you will probably find just navigating through the throngs pretty exhausting. Plus it really gets too crowded to see anything. I usually get to P. Rd by 7 or 8 a.m. at the latest and leave around 10.
Portobello Rd is my favorite -- but it gets extremely crowded after about 10 a.m. If this is after an overnight flight and you aren't getting to Nottinghill/Portobello Rd until mid morning or later you will probably find just navigating through the throngs pretty exhausting. Plus it really gets too crowded to see anything. I usually get to P. Rd by 7 or 8 a.m. at the latest and leave around 10.
Oct 22nd, 2004, 05:52 PM
#7
If you are arriving on Saturday morning, are you really going to be up for attending either of these markets? I'm all for hitting the ground running but after the hustle bustle of airports and an overnight flight, I'd be inclined to do something more relaxing than a shoulder to shoulder street market. I agree completely with janis that Portobello is best when you can get there early, before 8 am.
Camden operates on Sunday as well if that is your interest. Also Greenwich and Spitalfields.
Camden operates on Sunday as well if that is your interest. Also Greenwich and Spitalfields.
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