London’s Best East End Markets The Ultimate Guide
London’s East End is a terrific place to find street markets selling everything from flowers to clothes and bric-a-brac. Whether you’re a shopaholic or a casual browser, you’re bound to find something of interest in the stalls, boutiques, and shops that line the streets. In this guide, London’s Best East End Markets.
London’s Best East End Markets:
This indoor market at Spitalfields has a great mix of food places, boutiques, and stalls, which vary depending on the day. It’s only a minute’s walk from Liverpool Street station and a place where you can find all manner of bags, vintage clothes, jewelry, and one-off pieces (often these can be bought directly from the maker). A useful perk is that it’s undercover so you can stay dry in the rainy London weather. The multicultural food stalls are particularly recommended and you’ll find things like tasty Jamaican patties. Take friends who are visiting the city to this lively and slightly stylish market.
Columbia Road Flower Market:
It’s not uncommon to see people walking down Shoreditch High Street with all manner of foliage in their hands on Sunday. They’ve probably been to Columbia Road Flower Market, where you can buy all manner of cut flowers, houseplants, orchids, and bulbs. It’s possible to find everything here from peonies to ten-foot banana trees. The best time to go is first thing in the morning when all the good stuff is still available. Alternatively, pay a visit at the end of the day when everyone is trying to get rid of their remaining stock at rock-bottom prices. It’s also worth exploring the art galleries, cupcake shops, and delis that now line the street since the market became successful.
Boxpark:
Not strictly a market but a ‘pop-up’ mall, Boxpark is made up of the freight containers that are usually used to transport goods. Each one has been turned into a mini shop for a particular brand. The shops are a mixture of small independents and bigger brands like Nike and Levi wanting to increase their ‘edginess’. The owners have deliberately chosen to exclude high-street stores, but they might have also included a few more vendors that would appeal to the Shoreditch demographic. Still, the second floor offers some nice food and drink places to chill out. Get there while you can, before it pops up somewhere else!
Brick Lane Market:
As if the Brick Lane shops and cafes weren’t exciting enough, on Sundays it has its own slightly chaotic street market. This is the place to make a weird and wonderful discovery amongst the stalls selling second-hand furniture, old bikes, bric-a-brac, household goods, and pretty much everything under the sun. Those without a proper stall sell their wares on blankets causing the market to spill out into the adjoining streets. Its grungy feel makes it a popular choice with art student photographers. But be careful as the area is notorious for selling stolen bikes.
Petticoat Lane Market:
London’s oldest street market, Petticoat Lane Market, has been going strong since the 1750s. It got its name from the petticoats and lace that used to be sold back in the day. The Victorians tried to change the name to something less ‘racy’, but the original stuck. On weekdays it’s a smaller market selling cheap clothes, bags, make-up, and more. On Sundays, it’s a monster with over 1000 stalls. Though it might not be as fashionable as Spitalfields. This down-to-earth shopping destination is nevertheless a great spot to find some deals. The food stalls are great too.
Matt Lindley lives in East London and enjoys traveling and playing the guitar. He writes for HotelClub, a hotel booking service for London and other cities.
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