best markets in london

Best Markets in London

By Dom Bewley

When you tire of shopping in shops, buying your produce in the same stale supermarket, or want to find things you won't get on the high street, your first port of call should be a market. They offer lots of variety, and usually have delicious food and drinks on offer to help you refuel. That way, you can focus on the most important thing of all; shopping. London has so many markets on offer, which one is best for you? Read on, and discover the best markets in London, so you can decide for yourself!

Featuring:

  • Borough Market
  • Old Spitalfields Market
  • Brick Lane Market
  • Camden Market
  • Covent Garden Market
  • and more!
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Borough Market

Borough is arguably London's best-known market. Head there, and you'll find countless street-food offerings, refreshing beverages, and a winding maze of both indoor and outdoor market stalls. Whether you're picking up some fresh ingredients for your kitchen, or grabbing some food on your lunch break, Borough Market is a foodie's paradise!

Southbank Centre Market

A stone's throw from Waterloo Station, the Southbank has become one of the best places to visit in the city. Full of unique culture and experiences, it's a must-visit for those venturing into London from out of town. And their market is no different, offering a wealth of pop-up street food offerings and delicious drinks all year round. And, if you're looking to dig into a good book while you chow down, head over to the nearby book market and discover new and exciting worlds to dive into! And when you've seen and bought everything you want, there's the BFI around the corner for your cinematic needs, and even music festivals in the summer. Definitely one of the best markets in London.

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Spitalfields Market

On the colder, wetter days we inevitably get in the capital, perhaps an indoor market would be preferable? Look no further than Spitalfields Market. Along with a wide variety of gourmet food trucks and pop-ups, providing everything from burgers to Asian cuisine, there are also cutting-edge clothes shops and jewellery boutiques. You'll also find vinyl and antique markets down there at certain times of the week.

Brick Lane Market

Just a few minutes from Spitalfields is its scruffy uncle. Brick Lane is an uncurated utopia of odds-and-ends, second-hand homeware, vintage apparel, and everything in between. Every trip is an exciting adventure, and you'll never know what the next stall could be selling. Oh, and as usual, expect a wide variety of food stalls offering tasty and varied cuisines. Given the slap-dash nature of the market, they don't have a website. So, you'll just have to head to Brick Lane yourself and see what all the fuss is about!

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Brixton Village and Market Row

Home of the famous Electric Avenue from the famous '80s song, Brixton is one of the most diverse districts in London. Ergo, you can expect an equally diverse collection of world foods to be on offer. You're bound to find some delectable Caribbean jerk chicken, Italian bites, and fish dishes all over the place. And, on top of all that, you'll discover arcades full of craft jewellery, amateur art, and so much more. If you like your food spiced and your shopping unpredictable, it's easily one of the best markets in London!

Portobello Road Market

Nestled in the famous Notting Hill, you'll find the largest antique market on the planet! That's right; we're talking about Portobello Road. Now well over 200 years old, it's one of the city's longest-running markets. Here, you don't just get one or two markets; you get five whole markets for the price of one! Whether you're looking for fresh food, vintage garments, second-hand nick-nacks, or the aforementioned antiques, Portobello Road Market's got you covered. It's a shopper's paradise. And, once you've perused and purchased to your heart's content, there are a tonne of bars and restaurants in the surrounding area that are worthy of exploring. After all that shopping, you deserve a rest. Easily one of the best markets in London.

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Camden Market

Next is one that needs no introduction. Camden Market is well known nationwide as one of the biggest and busiest markets in the country. Every weekend, thousands of people travel there to buy odds and ends, mixtapes, vintage offerings, and everything in-between. But like Portobello Road, Camden Market is actually a collection of smaller markets that intersect with one another. Head down to the market in Camden Lock, for instance, and you're likely to find higher-end boutique offerings from designers and artists, whereas other avenues will offer their own unique shopping possibilities. While it's definitely worth exploring from time to time, always prepare to deal with surging crowds of marketeers. Given recent events, that might not sound as appealing as it once did!

Victoria Park Market

Victoria Park may be best known for its music festivals, as it's the site of Field Day and All Points East Festival. However, it's also home to a lovely market that comes out every Sunday. Here, backed by trees and other flora, you'll find plenty of stalls with fresh fruit and veg, and maybe even some tasty exotic treats you won't find at your local supermarket! On top of all that, you'll find craft drinks from local creators, and cakes and other sweet treats to nibble on. And, since the park's right there, it would be rude not to go and eat them on the grass.

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Maltby Street Market

Arguably the baby on this list, Maltby Street Market has only been around for just over a decade. But don't let that deter you, because it's fast becoming one of the best markets in London! Featuring a curated list of vendors, you'll find plenty of ingredients to buy and food to try. With the likes of Duck Frites, who fuse duck with other interesting cuisines, as well as Bangers Catering, who make the best sausage sandwich you've ever tasted, it's no wonder Maltby Street Market has become so popular, so quickly!

Covent Garden Market

And finally, we arrive at Covent Garden Market. This indoor market in Central is one of the city's most famous, with its distinct Victorian architecture, glass dome, and curved teal supports. An Apple Market in times past, it has now become a haven for craft accessories, art, sculptures, and much more. One to visit if you're in the area and the weather is looking unfavourable!

And that's our list of the best markets in London!

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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adventurous things to do in london
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Adventurous Things to do in London

Calling all daredevils among you! Are you tired of boring, normal activities? Are you sitting at home right now, staring at walls? Are you on your slog of a commute hoping a ninja will jump out and start doing ninja stuff? You sound like the sort that yearns for that sweet adrenaline. Well, never fear, because London has plenty of white knuckle adventures to sate your hunger. But where are they? Well, here. In this handy list, we made just for you. The stars have aligned, and adventure is nigh! These are the best adventurous things to do in London! Featuring: ArcelorMittal Orbit Sherlock Holmes: The Game The Crystal Maze Live Experience Helicopter Tours Thames Rockets and more! ArcelorMittal Orbit Instead of sliding into some unsuspecting person's DMs, put down the phone and try a real slide. Built during the 2012 Olympic Games, ArcelorMittal Orbit is a towering structure. Looming over the Olympic Park, it stands at a whopping 114.5m tall, it's quite the sight. If you have the stomach to climb the hundreds of stairs it takes to reach one of the viewing platforms, you'll be able to see the whole city. But why not take it one step further - step inside the world's tallest slide, and ride it all the way down to the bottom? Its twists and turns are sure to delight all the daredevils out there. Just, maybe leave lunch until after you're done. No one wants to clean up that. Sherlock: The Official Live Game Dare you tangle with the maniacal mastermind Moriarty himself? Well, you can now, at Sherlock: The Official Live Game! Part escape room, part immersive Sherlock experience, and part bar, this thrill ride will pit your team's wits against Sherlock's nemesis. Featuring real props and recreated environments from the BBC TV show, as well as exclusive clips from the cast, use key detective work and problem-solving to crack the case. Sherlock's busy, doing Sherlock things like being unnecessarily arrogant, so you're on your own this time! But don't dally; you only have 100 minutes to complete the tasks. If you don't, you die! Okay, probably not. But you will bring great shame to your house. Crystal Maze Experience Take a trip back to the bizarre but unique Nineties, replete with leopard print jackets, at the Crystal Maze Experience! Bring some friends and take on challenges in four unique zones. Use every ounce of mental and physical strength to complete challenges and get the crystals! Take too long, and you'll be locked inside forever! Or until your team gets you out. Whichever happens first. Then, you'll enter the crystal dome and flail about pathetically as you attempt to grab as many notes as possible. The winner, well, you'll have to find out what the victors win when you try it for yourself! Go Ape Do you ever wonder what life was like before, when our ancestors lived in the trees? Yes, evolution is real. Probably. And yes, you can relive your ancestral heritage at Go Ape! Suspended in safety, thanks to a key harness, you'll be free to tight-rope walk across a daring assault course in the sky. Then, when you've assaulted the course completely, ride down to terra firma in style on an exhilarating zip line! Feel the primal roar inside you grow. Know what it was like to live in trees. Maybe move into a treehouse with central heating. All this and more is waiting for you at the three Go Ape centres across London. Definitely one of the best things to do in London for the adventurous of you! Helicopter Tour Yes, there are even more adventurous things to do in London! If trees aren't high enough, how about you try a few hundred metres higher? Hop on a helicopter and take a tour of the city! See all the city's sights from a new angle. Get a bird's eye view of legendary London landmarks like Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye, and many more! Just like a bird! It might just be the best way to see the city you love. Or, at least, the city you tolerate. Bungee Jump at the O2 Have you ever jumped off a building and lived? Probably not. But what if I told you you could jump off an entire arena and survive. Well, that's exactly what you can do at the O2 Arena! Climb to the top, suit up, and plunge nearly 50m down! Feel the wind rush past your face. See the city rush towards you. But don't worry, you'll be safe. And you will love it. London Bridge Experience Feeling spooky? Do you thrive on horror movies? Are you the sort to look for the monster under your bed instead of cowering beneath the quilt? Well, have we got an experience for you. A London Bridge Experience! Dwelling beneath the eponymous bridge, you'll find spooky spectacle and daring delights alike. Revisit the city's ghoulish past, all 2000 years of it. The experience itself is an interactive theatre of pain and misery. Hear tales from London's residents throughout time. No, they're not paid actors; they're real historical people! Listen as they transport you back to some of London's most haunted historical moments. Revisit the horrors of the Great Fire, relive Jack the Ripper's reign of terror, and also the Romans were bad! Or, if you dare, delve into the tombs beneath the bridge. Supposedly, real ghosts and demons prowl the lower levels. Not paid actors. Will you live to tell the tale? Or will you be scared to death! Alternatively, if you have little ones with you, there's the kid-friendly Guardian Angel Tour. Expect the same stories with less spook and makeup. Thames Rockets And finally, if you prefer your adrenaline sun and sea-soaked, where better to get your fix than on a speedboat? Head to the Thames, put on your best life jacket, and prepare for a wave-crashing thrill ride of thrillingness! All thrills, no spills. Take a day trip around the city's shoreline, or try an evening ride with a complimentary drink at the end. Kick your weekend of thrills off with a boat ride you won't soon forget. And that's our list of the most adventurous things to do in London!
Dom Bewley
Shopping in December lets visitors enjoy the Christmas lights
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Your Complete Guide to London in December

If you thought London was a city solely for the summer months, think again. Because London in December sees the British capital at probably its most colorful of the year. Few can avoid getting in the Christmas spirit, before turning their attention to the south bank of the River Thames and the nation’s foremost fireworks display to bring in the New Year in style. With all that in mind, here’s your complete guide to what’s going on in London in December, so you don’t miss a thing. Shop till you drop Forget what you’ve seen in the movies, you’ll need to be lucky to encounter any snowfall in London at Christmas. With average December lows of 5°C, snowmen are more likely in February. But this takes nothing away from the Christmas atmosphere, which sweeps across the capital’s streets and storefronts from the end of November. From Abbey Road to Lambeth Palace, Carnaby Street to St Katharine Docks, London’s sidewalks are bright with an array of lights, adding a further attraction to the window displays of shops big and small. Not too far away, London’s largest Christmas tree – an annual gift from the Norwegian capital topping out at around 20 meters high – takes center stage in Trafalgar Square. Christmas markets occupy other well-known spaces, including Leicester Square and the riverbank in front of Tower Bridge and City Hall, where last minute gifts and traditional festive treats jostle for attention. Never one to rest on its laurels, as soon as the big day is over, the focus moves to the Boxing Day sales of December 26, which has been a date to circle in the diary long before the advent of Black Friday. Aim to get there before sun up for the very best deals. Enjoy the capital’s historic attractions in a new way Even if you’ve visited London before, December offers many new experiences at some of the city’s most famous sites. The UNESCO-enshrined Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew puts on a dazzling display of lights and colorful projected images every evening from dusk. Hyde Park becomes the location of a huge combined fun fair and Christmas market, perhaps best taken in from its dedicated observation wheel. Alternatively, you might prefer to cheer on the brave souls who take part in the Peter Pan Cup. A swimming competition in Hyde Park’s Serpentine Lake, it has taken place on Christmas Day since 1864 in one of the capital’s stranger traditions. If you prefer your water even colder, look no further than the temporary outdoor ice rinks that appear at many of London’s most-loved attractions during December. Kensington’s Natural History Museum, The Strand’s Somerset House and even Hampton Court Palace provide extraordinary backdrops to a quick spin on the ice followed by a warming mug of hot chocolate. Experience the UK’s top Christmas events Christmas in London sees Christopher Wren’s masterwork, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the thousand-year-old Westminster Abbey both present a series of traditional carol services which fill their august spaces with stunning vocals. The Royal Albert Hall has an equally impressive program of concerts, ranging from Christmas classics played by big bands to performances of Handel’s Messiah. Heading to a ballet performance is another popular London December tradition. Shows with winter themes such as The Nutcracker grace the stages of several major theaters, and are bound to bring back a sense of childhood glee. For an altogether less-serious evening out, it has to be a panto performance, filled with slap-stick comedy, audience participation and men dressed in drag. But don’t be misled by the brash colors and fairy-tale plots, there’s serious acting going on here, with everyone from Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings’ Gandalf) to Hollywood ‘giant’ Mickey Rooney having taken to the pantomime stage. Oh no they didn’t – oh yes they did! But when it comes to events in London in December, few can compete with the capital’s annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Launched from barges on the Thames and the 32 pods of the London Eye, the display takes eight technicians a week to wire up the seven tons of explosives needed for the 10-minute show. Dazzling audiences since its inception in the year 2000, it can be enjoyed from various high points around the city, as well as the river bank and the comfort of sofas in well-heated bars just about everywhere. Eat, drink and be merry With 60-plus Michelin star restaurants at your fingertips, London’s food scene takes some beating. Even if your budget doesn’t quite stretch to beef aged for 90 days in Himalayan salt chambers and desserts decorated with 24-carat gold leaf, you’ll still find plenty of choice. Don’t get caught out though – many restaurants (and attractions) close their doors on Christmas Day to give their staff a well-earned rest. Even those that do open – and Chinatown is always a good bet – get booked up early and can be difficult to reach without London’s usual transportation options, which also cease for the day. Roast turkey has been the Christmas Day meal of choice since at least the time of Henry VIII, and will be served with ‘all the trimmings’. These include Brussel sprouts, honey-roasted parsnips, sage and onion stuffing, pigs in blankets (that’s sausages wrapped in bacon) and roasted potatoes. Traditionally made with suet, Christmas pudding is another must try, being loaded with dried fruits, spices and a liberal quantity of alcohol before being served with hot custard (crème anglais). You’ll find mince pies (which are nothing to do with ground beef) dusted in icing sugar and on display at pretty much every bakery, café and supermarket in the capital in December. Many Brits, Londoners included, then head out for a post-meal walk, which may involve a stop off at a local pub. Whether they’re open or not will largely depend on where you’re located – central London takes on the air of a ghost town on December 25. Those on popular walking routes are more likely to be open than those on streets like The Strand, although probably for no more than a few hours in the afternoon. Hotel bars are likely to remain open for longer. Save on London December attraction admission Admission to many of London’s top attractions and activities can be enjoyed at a reduced rate with Go City. Our Explorer Pass includes admission to a range of London attractions, while giving you the flexibility to do what you want, when you want, without having to make any decisions beforehand. If London’s December weather lets you down, there’s no need to rearrange the plans for your entire stay. In fact, with Go City you don’t need a plan at all.
Ian Packham
London
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Relaxing Things to do in London

Looking for a break from the hustle and bustle? Here are our top suggestions...
Dom Bewley

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