London's markets
 

I love street markets for all the usual reasons, one of which is antiqueing. Portobello market jumps out for that reason. I'm pretty sure that is where I will be Sat. July 9th. From the posts on Fodors I read about other markets in London. What are your favorite merkets and why? Is there a good reason why I shouldn't go to Portobello market but should go somewhere else? Do you have any special tips for Portobello market? I understand it will be crowded. Is that a good enough reason to skip it? thereyet

oops I meant July 7th. thereyet

Mine would be Covent Garden Market.
There's always something or the other happening there. There's this huge piazza where the street performers entertain you & people stop by and take a moment to enjoy the shows.
It's also right in the heart of the theatre district - so you could just hop across the street and catch a musical after you've finished with your shopping.
It's also very very old - and I love to imagine how it would ve been in the 18th or 19th Century - straight out of a Charles Dickens' novel!
For the same reason, I love the Borough market - which is, I think, London's oldest food market.
I love Portobello market as well - with it's colourful buildings & rustic antique shops. And a perfect outing on a clear Sunday morning.
Oh well, I love London - every nook & corner of it. :)

Anyone else care to comment? thereyet

I'm another big fan of Borough market, but it's for food.

Portobello is huge and a lot of it is not "on the street", there are numerous arcades with dealers who set up on the week-ends.

Covent Garden has an antiques market on Monday mornings, the rest of the time , it's mostly new stuff.

Another really good one is Camden PASSAGE, the main market and trading days are Wed. and Sat.

Make sure you are going to Camden Passage, not Camden Town market.

Just to avoid a common confusion: Camden PASSAGE is in Islington (Angel Tube) and Camden Market is in Camden Town (Camden Town or Chalk Farm tube)

For Camden Passage, you need Angel tube station.

Another antiquing possibility is Bermondsey, but you have to be up early:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sp...ng/page8.shtml

Thanks everyone! I have seen Camdon PASSAGE at angel station, mentioned several times so it must be good. Will look that one up. thereyet

If you like antiques, you may want to check out Alfie's on Church St, though I admit it's slightly out of the way.

Borough Market still is the top-notch place in terms of foods, though it has become quite crowded. Some of the same vendors open stalls on the other parts of London--for example, Marylebone market on Sunday mornings (though it's smallish, foods only).

An interesting indoor market - Greys Antiques (divided between two buildings), just off South Molton Street. Use Bond Street Tube. There's loads of jewellery, both costume and fine, plus vintage clothing and books. The second building (which you have to enter by exiting the first one) has a sort of water feature flowing through the ground floor which is said to be part of the River Tiber, most of which is now lost/hidden beneath Londons streets! Funny opening hours so do check before going....

I also like the superb farmers market held at the top of Kings Road (near the Sloane Square tube end) most Saturdays.

Potobello is great but you MUST get there early or the crush is unbearable. Also many traders pack up around 1:00-2:00pm.

PS I agree that Alfies is fab, with loads of retro furniture, barware and clothing. Great little cafe up on the roof too!

We loved Borough Market (go early) -- grab a toasted cheese sandwich and some homemade ice cream, delish!

Just trying to get a feel for how crowded these markets get. Is it the local opinion that if you don't get there early the time would be wasted? If you do get to the markets early would we have had enough after a couple of hours as opposed to a days worth of activity? Any suggestions as to how much time to alot to this activity when planning the day? Thanks everyone for all your advice, thereyet

Borough Market is open on Fridays from 12-5, and it does get mobbed with office workers walking across the bridge to get some lunch. Some popular stalls have queues (can be 10-15min wait). If going on Fridays, you surely will have less crowd if you go after the lunch time, but then you miss out freshly-prepared food to eat on the spot. Haven't been there on Saturdays.

W9London, thanks for the Burrough markey info. Anyone have similar info to above questions for portobello market? Thanks so much in helping with my planning of such valuable time. Now that the dollar has slipped to 0.4989 GBP/$. thereyet

Borough market! Borough market! Borough market! can't believe how awesome it was. monmouth coffee and their farm fresh milk (there is no comparison to anything here in the u.s), the brownies. and seetheworld...how good are those cheese sandwiches?? ;-) love them.

Next time at Borough try the hand dived scallops fresh from devon and dorset..YUM. My husband always goes for the venison burger!

I luved the Columbia Road Flower Market not only for the Cockney touts screaming out but if looking for antiques, art, etc. the sides of the street now host a host of galleries, etc.

And though the famous Petticoat Lane market in the East End east of Liverpool Street Station is rather downscale as opposed to Portobello and Camden and Borough market fare it's an amzing amalgem of ethnicities and a mind-boggling variety of things being hawked - come here more for people watching than that elusive gift you're looking for. The Petticoat Lane market blurs into other markets.

Both are near each other and happen only on Sundays till just past noon i believe.

PalenQ, the columbia rd flower market is open Sundays only but according to the web site the Pettycoat Lane market is open daily 0900-1400 but is bigger on Sundays. My mouth is watering reading the Burrough market posts. thereyet