3 Best Places to Shop in South of the Thames, London

The early bird catches the worm at this Friday market, so come at 7 am (flashlight recommended) to bag a bargain at London's largest antique market. Dealers also arrive before dawn to snap up the best silver, paintings, objets d'art, jewelry, and furniture, most from Georgian through Edwardian times, but there's also the odd vintage collectible like 1980s arcade games. When the market opened in 1947, it actually started at 4 am, due to a loophole in the law that said goods bought in a designated "marché ouvert" between sunset and sunrise were granted legitimate title even if the goods were stolen (the loophole was closed in 1995). A recent influx of French antique dealers has joined the Bermondsey veterans selling from their covered stalls. The market finishes at 2 pm.

The artisans creating fashion, jewelry, home accessories, textiles, prints and photographs, furniture, and other design items have to pass rigorous selection procedures to set up shop in these prime riverside studios, where they make, display, and sell their work. The OXO Tower Restaurant & Brasserie on the top floor is expensive, but with its fantastic view of London, it's worth popping up for a drink. There's also a public terrace where you can take in the view.

A "lifestyle store" stocking clothing, jewelry, accessories, home decor, books, and art, this is an Aladdin's cave of one-off, beautiful, and occasionally quirky items that were carefully chosen by its welcoming owner, the former head menswear designer of Burberry.