Hello Everyone-
A friend and I are meeting in London and will spend about 5 days in England before going on to Frankfurt. We'll also be go to Belgium and Poland. Our husbands are both in the US Air Force and we met 14 years ago while living in Alaska...and have been close friends ever since. We'll be going on the the Azores where they are stationed.
We both LOVE to go to flea markets and antique shops/markets. What SHOULD we see while in London? We aren't into the really "fancy" antiques...mostly rustic or primitive stuff...old kitchen items, jars, dishes, pottery, molds...and other household items....what most would consider "junk".
We'll also want to do typical sightseeing...
got a good idea of what to see and what to pass by....Thanks!
Also, have read all the threads for places to stay and now I'm more confused then ever. We just need a clean and safe place to stay that is near the markets...that is affordable (if that is possible)...one room with 2 singles...under $100US per night???
Any advise from the seasoned travelers would be appreciated. We just want to do some good shopping...see some sights...have a good time visiting....enjoy ourselves!!
Thanks in advance....I'm sure I'll get some great advise.....

I really like the flea market early Wed. morning until 1 or 2 pm near the Angel tube stop. It has some set up shops and a mall but on Wed. morning there are vendors set up outdoors also. I am blanking out on the name but you go to Angel tube stop take a right down the street for about a block or so and it starts. Things start closing down after lunch so get there early if you can. It has lots of different things at all prices. I think you would like it from your post. I also bought a book listing all the London markets, open times, pictures etc. If you don't want to buy one you could go to one of the big book stores and take some notes. I am at work so I do not have it in front of me to give you the name.

I like Angel much better for actually buying things than Portobello Road. It is fun to go there but I don't find many things to actually buy. I go to the Wed. market every time I visit London.

I forgot to add I have had excellent luck with priceline for London. Have 2 rooms booked for October for 4 star in Kensington for bid of $63 a night/with taxes and all fees $75 night. I haven't paid more than a $75 bid in the last 4 to 5 trips. check biddingfortravel.com for information on bidding. Also search here for threads on London priceline hotels.

But if you are not into bidding I recommend Balmoral House Hotel. Very clean and pleasant, nice owners, good breakfast. You can find it on www.smoothhound.com or google it for their website. I think it is 65 gbp now for a twin. I used to stay there all the time until Priceline got even cheaper than my favorite little B&B. IT looks exactly like the photos on the website. It is very near Paddington tube stop and Heathrow express.

Happy travels.
gg

Much as I loathe the place - Camden Town Markets - they'll have the sort of rubbish that you are after. Also try Portobello Rd. too, and Camden (no relation to Camden Town) Passage in Islington.

Thank you M2. The market I was trying to remember is Camden Passage in Islington, near the Angel tube stop. You are so kind to give info, even about things you loathe.

There are three markets that might work for you.
Wednesday is camden passage in Islington- take the northern line and go right when you exit the tube. The "passages" are on the same side of the street as the tube station in the back streets.

Friday is Bermondsey Market near London Bridge tube (Jubilee and Northern Line). This market starts up around 4-5 AM and winds down by 11-12. Exit onto Tooley Street and take a right. Turn right at Bermondsey Street and walk 5-10 minutes to the markets. It's an "up and coming" area and a bit yucky in parts. But I've never had a problem. On Fridays the Borough Food Markets is near by on the other side of the tube station right by Southwark Catherdal. Really yummy food and work a stop after the market. It starts up around 11am.

Saturday is Portobello -the larger more tourist-y of the three. GO EARLY if you go. Notting Hill Gate tube (central, circle, district).

There is also a market at covent garden (could someone else fill in the day) and there's a new one that has started over at spitalifields market (Liverpool street tube) that might be worth an explore.

Also, outside of London is kempton park race course. On the second and last Tuesday of each month there is a great market that a lot of the dealers go to. It starts at 5-6am and winds down by mid day. You can take the train to Kempton Park via Waterloo station and then walk. Details at kemptonantiques.com

Thanks so much everyone....for all the great information....keep it coming!! I'll check into priceline for hotels......still narrowing down the dates we'll be in London. I'm going to keep checking back... I've not been to London...so your wisdom and past experiences will be most helpful!!
Thanks again!
hollyjoy

Another endorsement for Priceline, just got a 4* hotel for $70 per night in Kensington for August. This is my fourth time using Priceline for London and I have been pleased each time. Do check out Biddingfortravel first, you can see what people are getting rooms for and which hotels you are likely to get in what area.

If you want to see a lot of the central London attractions in one day, you might look into the Original London Walks London Explorer Day, it covers a lot of ground and might be too much for some. I think the cost is L10 plus L15 for admission fees. I have not done it but I've done several of their regular walks and the guides have all been excellent

http://www.walks.com/index.asp?pageID=17

Covent Garden antiques market is Monday mornings..Camden Passage is Wednesday and saturday.

If you are in London on a Sunday...check there are several venues in hotels every week or two. And check to see if there are any at the Royal Horticultural hall..I've never gone there and not come away with a "treasure".

try www.antiques-web.co.uk for listings

Forgot!

There are several hypermarkets on the King's Road and do Gray's and Alfie's

You an find the addresses by googling.

FYI... You probably aren't going to find any deals on antiques in London. We've found them to be very highly priced.

We visited Camden Passage on a Wednesday in May. Not many outdoor vendors that day but there are lots of permanent shops around, although many are higher end. However, I did find some reasonably priced jewelry, especially silver and turquoise in one of the stalls.

I am at home looking at the book at mentioned. It is: Going For London's Markets for Collectors, a Cadogan guide. It is a really nice book with lots of descriptions, maps etc. It includes info on Bayswater Rd, Bermondsey, Brick Lane, Camden Lock, Camden Passage, Charring Cross,Collectors Fair, Church St. & Bell St., Covent Garden, Gray's Antiques, Kings Rd Ant., Petticoat Lane, Portobello, Riverside walk, St James and picadilly, Spitalfields & Whitechapel. It was $12.95 when I bought it a few year's ago.

Hello all....thanks again for all the great information.
With 2 posts regarding hotels with priceline....I checked out biddingfortravel and was completely confused. I'm terrified to bid for a hotel on priceline...worried about what kind of room we'll get and where. Would appreciate additional help/words of incouragment so I'll not worry about it so much. We're travelling on a budget...and don't want to spend more then 40.00 each a night for 2 twins....HELP... Was looking at the Marble Arch area...because it's ceterally located to attractions/markets. Any other suggestions.
The market info has been great. Found the book on London Markets...cheap! Just need to pick up a good map. We are going to adjust our schedule a day to be in London on Wed. to go to Camden.
Thanks again all!!
hollyjoy

Hello hollyjoy, you can do it. This is my strategy. I went to biddingfortravel and checked for you. It looks as if most people, like myself, got Kensington area for about $70. Go online and start by picking only the area Kensington/Knightsbridge/Earl's Court,
pick 4 star
start at $65
Any hotel on their list of 4 star and above will be very good at that price especially.
If you do not get it they will ask you to pick another zone etc for another bid immediately
Next add Westminster area, the star rating will stay at 4 star, do not ever go below the 4 or 5 star rating..you will not have to change it, and up your price to $70,
Next if that is not accepted they will ask you to pick another zone etc again
Add Mayfair/Soho and up your price to $75.
The chances are that you would not get a 4 star for that cheap in Westminster or Mayfair/Soho so you are really just uping your bid in $5 increments trying to get Kensington without overbidding. If by chance you did get a 4 or 5 star in any of the 3 areas it will be fine, all good places listed.
If they take none of those bids, stop.
Wait the 72 hours, then start again.
You could do the exact same thing but with bids $70, $75 and $80.
Unless you use priceline you will not get anything decent for that price because of the exchange rate. Most of the budget 2 star hotels without elevators etc are at least 60 gbp for a twin, almost $120 per night.
You can decide how high you want to bid.
A bid of up to $100 for a 4 star in London areas above is still a very good deal. If you have the time just keep trying. Things change constantly at Priceline.
It was really far out to October when I bid last month. I was really just fishing around...never dreamed I would get the bid I started out with $63 for Kensington Forum Hotel. I actually got 2 rooms at that price since my friend/co-worker is male. What a deal, we have our own private rooms in a 4 star in a good location in London for $75 a night after all taxes and fees.
I was nervous the first time I bid also
but I think this the 5th time now I have stayed in Kensington at those prices. I stayed at Copthorne Tara hotel all the other times. I was very pleased.
I don't claim that this is the exact expert way to bid but it has worked for me. I have also gotten great deals in the USA but thats another story.

ttt for hollyjoy

You could also add an area to your Priceline bid that doesn't have any 4* hotels, like Southwark.

ttt for Priceline and London

I bought a beautiful victorian blouse one year, at Camden Lock, and some gold metal(?)(engraved with figures), binoculars at Portibello Road

"some gold metal(?)(engraved with figures)"

Do you mean pressed brassware? The brass is "stamped" to produce the figures. Or maybe some horse brass?