London in May - markets

I try to visit London about every 5 years and have been pretty successful ever since my first time when I helped my aunt move there from Iran in 1975. Definitely more consistent with timing since I lived in Scotland in the early 1990s.

And one of the main things I love about London are the MARKETS!

Camden Market, up north between Chalk Farm and Camden Town tube stations, located on some of the 'locks' of river system, was one of my early favourites, with its punksters of the 1980s. Now it has tamed down and become quite commercial, but it continues to grow and artists gather to sell their wares. There are over 7 separate markets there: the original Camden Lock + Camden Stables + Camden Lock Village + Inverness Street + Buck Street + the main street... and it keeps growing. The food stalls had the biggest growth since last I was there.

A correction from C. Grant, a British follower of my blog:

"A slight correction that I think the Brits would appreciate -- Camden lock is not on the river system but on the Canal system. There are something like 2000 km of navigable canals in the UK now used for pleasure boating but in the old days the canals were the highways and road system of the country. The canals connect all the major city centres initially in the industrial revolution before railways."

Thanks for clearing this up!!! - DC

Click the link (on its name above) and watch the short video on this unique area.

The locks...

in The Stables - notice the 18th? century dressed ladies in bronze, holding up the canopy over the sitting area...

Old Spitalfield Market I first discovered in 1990. Located in east London by The City, it first became famous for its antiques on Thursdays and fashion school grads on Fridays. I couldn't believe how much it changed in the past five years with companies building office towers and being overrun with Sloane Rangers during the lunch hour - how upscale it has become with big name restaurants and trendy shops! But I still love it and would highly recommend a visit to others - there are many stalls with small-scale artists selling their creations.

They are now called themselves just "Spitalfields E1" and their new look is described:
"After 18 years of sensitive preparation, the Spitalfields regeneration programme was completed. This regeneration has resulted in the creation of two new public spaces, Bishops Square and Crispin Place, a public art programme, an events programme, the restoration of several historic streets in E1 and a selection of carefully selected new retailers and restaurants. Spitalfields is no longer considered just a Sunday destination it has evolved into one of London's favourite and most vibrant areas."


Portobello Road in the midst of trendy Notting Hill is the place to go for its infamous antique market - infamous because of how crowded it gets! This is the cute end, walking east from Oxford Street (turns into Bayswater Road, then north of Hyde Park on Pembridge Road) before the stalls start. Lots of antique stores, flea markets, second hand stores, and more...

Borough Market under the Liverpool Bridge is London's 'foodie heaven' and the symbol of its culinary revolution. It is a tasting extravaganza! Food sampling everywhere - and all of it is good! Lots of imported Italian, Croation, Spanish and French specialty foods. Locally grown and produced from around the Uk. There are bakeries, vegetarian stalls, honey, traditional candies, pates, terrines, olives, boar, pheasant, fish - anything you can think of in the food preparation area. A wonderful place to wander around and spend a morning tasting...

 

breads...

sausages...

olive oils and balsamic vinegars...

and old reliable Covent Garden Piazza - filled with street performers, food (new Jamie Oliver restaurant opening this summer), shops, museums (London Transport) and the Apple Cart and Jubilee market areas.