We have 2 teenage daughters who love to shop for "cool" stuff. Not vintage. We can't decide b/t Camden and Spitafield markets and only have time for one. Which one should we go to? Thank.

Camden is known for nice in vogue clothing, etc. don't know much about Spitalfields however - but Camden Lock on weekends is mobbed with younger folk - one of London's finest markets for what your teens are looking for i believe. Plus a lot of local color

For teenagers you want Camden - they'll think they've died and gone to heaven (if heaven has a lot of sullen goths in it)

It was the first place that my college age daughter took my wife and I when we went to visit. She took us on a Sat. and it took me a week to get over it.

However keep in mind, looking for bargains, if it is 5 pounds (british money), that will mean $10.00 of their money. Just double. Have a good one. Halfpint

Camden market is the ideal hangout for cool teenagers but it is mobbed on a Saturday which may be your idea of hell. Sometimes it is like wading through a see of fast food wrappers. Never underestimate that under the gothic makeup and ripped jeans of the zombie like youngsters there lie the daughters of lawyers and medics.

Spitalfields combined with Hoxton is more for the 20s "artistic" crowd who want the avant garde but still want their skinny lattes. It is a better all round market including fun food stalls (Austro-Hungarian and Indonesian cuisine as well as the great Montezumas chocolate shop) as well as quirky English shops nearby such as the inimitable A Gold food store

thanks for the info! I presume it's not all goth as implied b/c my teenagers are far from goth

We are only in London from Sunday afternoon through Friday. Is Camden open on Sunday afternoon or during the week?

thanks for the info! I presume it's not all goth as implied b/c my teenagers are far from goth
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No it's not - but it is popular with the goths (or goffs as we say here in London). There's all sorts of stuff on sale and which ever tribe your teenagers relate to - there will be shops for them (BTW the big day is Sunday not saturday)

check these sits for hours:

Camden Lock MarketCamden Lock Market is a fabulous collection of people, stalls, ... some impressive old buildings and courtyards by the Regent's Canal in North London.
www.camdenlockmarket.com/ - 5k - Cached - Similar pages

C A M D E N L O C K M A R K E T contact us54-56 Camden Lock Place, Chalk Farm Rd, London NW1 8AF, 020 7284 2084 (market) 020 7485 7963 (general) 020 7267 7695 (fax). EMAIL [email protected] ...
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CAMDEN MARKETS LONDONCamden Markets, Camden Town. London's most popular open-air market area with stalls, ... camden stables Open 7 days, Go to Camden Lock Pages camden lock ...
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I thought the big day for Camden was a Sunday. At any rate, my 18 year old daughter and I went on Sunday. It did have lots of black/goth stuff. My daughter thought it was a bit fake/forced - people just trying too hard. She bought a couple of 80's band t-shirts and a belt at Camden Market proper. At the nearby Electric Ballroom, she picked up a few vintage things. She enjoyed Portabello more, but that won't help you, as it is Fri/Sat. Plus, she is really into vintage. We haven't done Spitalfield.

Also, the permanent shops in the Portobello area are open all week - some of them are fun.

And, Carnaby Street is at the heart of trendy London - if it were 1970s but still a walk down it recently showed it has several youth-oriented boutiques

Carnaby Street is trying to reinvent itself, but I wouldn't offer it as "cool" in the way Camden is.

Actually, I meant to say that the permanent shops in the Camden area are open all week. (They are in Portabello also)