On Sundays, the streets of east London’s bustling Brick Lane are lined with stalls selling anything and everything. You’re bound to find bargain fruit and veg, household items and electrical products, but this market’s USP is its sheer unpredictability: you could bag a secondhard bargain, or spend hours sifting through trinkety tat. Brick Lane’s recent ‘trendification’ is reflected in the various splinter markets that surround it. Visit Backyard Market for arts and crafts, Sunday Upmarket for street food and interesting gifts, The Tea Rooms for vintage bric-à-brac, and the Boiler House Food Hall for more snack and drink stalls.
There are few nicer things to do at the weekend than browsing one of London's stellar array of markets, with a coffee in hand and a packed-to-bursting tote bag over one arm. From foodie paradises that heave with visitors snaffling up artisan samples to small, local bazaars loaded with gifts and household essentials, locals and visitors alike flock to London's best markets. And there's a formidable range to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a farmers’ market, a fashion market, or want to eat up street food or search for antique gems, here’s our pick of the best markets worth making a beeline for, from foodie Borough Market to flower-filled Columbia Road.
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