The most-loved shops in London

A 1920s Dutch barge has been lovingly transformed into a floating bookshop. It used to travel along Regent's Canal, but it’s now taken up permanent residence by Granary Square in King’s Cross. As well as keenly priced books they boast a woodburning stove, friendly dog and occasional live jazz performances. Check their Facebook page for details of book talks and events. 

What is it? This beautiful Edwardian building, that is now home to Daunt Books has always had a literary history. Before James Daunt took over the premise in 1990, it was home to antiquarian booksellers, Francis Edwards - which claims to be the first custom-built bookshop in the world. Edwards' legacy can still be felt inside today and Daunt Books still keeps many of its original, gorgeous features. What does it sell? Though not strictly a travel bookshop, this beautiful store will always be seen first and foremost as a travel specialist thanks to its elegant three-level back room complete with oak balconies, viridian-green walls, conservatory ceiling and stained-glass window – home to row upon row of guide books, maps, language reference, history, politics, travelogue and related fiction organised by country. France, Britain, Italy and the United States are particularly well represented; go downstairs to find more far-flung destinations. Travel aside, Daunt is also a first-rate stop for literary fiction, biography, gardening and much more. Opening times: Monday-Saturday 9am-7.30pm; Sunday 11am-6pm Time Out tip: James Daunt’s commitment to providing proper careers for his workers ensures an informed and keen team of staff - so we recommend asking them questions! They'll be sure to find the right book for your next read. Branches: Cheapside, Chelsea, Hampstead, Holland Park. As featured in the 100 best shops in London

What is it? Now far more than just a string of stalls selling bric-à-brac and fruit and veg, Brick Lane Market, in the heart of Shoreditch, has grown and mutated over the years to incorporate seven different markets known as The Truman Markets. Operating at its fullest on Sundays, Brick Lane and its surrounding streets come alive, teeming with sellers shifting their wares. Outside the bagel bars, curry houses and vintage shops, people without proper stalls set up shop on carpets and tables, selling old electrical equipment, toys, records, broken musical instruments and furniture. There’s Backyard Market with stalls focused on arts and crafts, the Sunday Upmarket is a food hall brimming with street food vendors selling a global smorgasbord of cuisine plus vintage clothing, fashion by new and established designers, jewellery and homewares. The Vintage Market does what it says on the tin and if you’re into chintz, The Tea Rooms host charming stalls selling things like typewriters, taxidermy and vintage maps. Why go?  To shop for almost everything under the sun. Don’t miss  If you need to fuel up, there’s the Boiler House Food Hall, which has around 30 stalls selling culinary delights from all around the world. You can also explore Ely’s Yard Street Food where you’ll find favourites such as Orange Buffalo and Caboose – among many other Brick Lane restaurants. Ticket info No tickets needed.   When to visit  Open Monday to Saturday at 11am-6:30pm and Sunday from 10am-6pm. Time...

What is it?  This compact Hackney street, which neatly connects London Fields to the Regent’s Canal, has had a traditional fruit and veg market since the 1890s. But it went into steep decline in the ‘80s, and trade had all but petered out before the community relaunched it in 2004. It has since become a hub for the Hackney hipsters and East End creatives, bursting into life each weekend with more than 100 stalls popping up and people travelling from all over London to peruse its eclectic offering of food, drink and gifts.  Why go?  For the sheer array of sensational things to eat and buy. There’s street food from the likes of Deeney’s (Scottish toasties), Lord of the Wings, Makatcha (Indonesian-Malay classics), OSU Coconuts (coconut pancakes) and Zardosht (two sisters taking a fresh look at Persian food). There’s also lots of gift-inspo including Japanese stationery, screen-printed posters, second-hand clothes, vinyls and vintage books. Don’t miss  If you’d prefer a sit down meal, some of our favourites include five-star neighbourhood bistro Café Cecilia, casual Japanese joint Koya Ko, Argentinian grill Buen Ayre and seafood joint Fin and Flounder.  Ticket info No tickets needed.  When to visit  Broadway Market happens every Saturday from 9am-5pm, with a pared back edition on Sundays from 10am-5pm. Time Out tip Broadway Market can get very busy, especially when the weather’s good, so it’s best to allow plenty of time to avoid stress when browsing the stalls. RECOMMENDED:...

  What is it?  One of London’s best-known and prettiest markets, Columbia Road Flower Market is a bustling botanical paradise in London’s East End.  It takes place each Sunday, when market traders line the narrow Victorian street selling flowers, houseplants, herbs, bulbs and shrubs.  A hugely popular destination for weekend jaunts, it draws large crowds of tourists and locals alike. But it’s not just the market itself that draws crowds; the quaint little street is home to over 60 independent businesses, many of which follow the market’s opening hours. Why go? To soak up the atmosphere at one of the city’s longest-running markets, dating all the way back to 1869. And to pick up some colourful buds to brighten up your living room.  Don’t miss: When you’ve bought your blooms, head behind the stalls and down side streets for a good browse around the surrounding indie shops, which range from cafés, restaurants and delis to homeware shops, antique dealers, vintage stalls and small galleries. Pop into Jones Dairy Cafe for organic and local produce or go crate-digging at Idle Moments before heading to cosy boozer The Nelson’s for a locally-brewed pint.  When to visit:  The market opens at 8am and officially closes at 3pm, though it tends to start winding down an hour or so before that. During the midday rush you may well find yourself being jostled by the waves of visitors shuffling down the narrow street. If you can’t bear crowds or just want to guarantee the pick of the crop,...

What is it? London's largest antiques market occupies a prime, colourful stretch of Notting Hill, an area that manages to feel diverse and surprising despite heavy gentrification (how Hugh Grant in that movie could afford a one-person flatshare while working in a bookshop is well beyond us) in the ’90s. Portobello Road Market is really five markets in one, with different sections dedicated to secondhand goods; clothing and fashion; household essentials; fruit, veg and other food; and the main event: antiques. Why go? To sift through thousands of one-off treasures and haggle for bargains on pieces that you’ll get compliments on for the rest of time.  Don’t miss  Under the Westway and along the walkway to Ladbroke Grove, second-hand clothes sit next to the wares of up-and-coming fashion designers. Fridays are a little less hectic here, and you’ll be able to explore fashion-focused Portobello Green Market, which comprises more than 800 stalls. When to visit Portobello Road is worth exploring any day of the week, but Friday and Saturday are by far the busiest.  The market itself is open Monday-Wednesday 9am-6pm; Thursday 9am-1pm; Friday-Sat 9am-7pm and closed on Sundays. The antiques stalls are open Friday and Saturday 9am-7pm.  Ticket info No tickets needed. Just turn up and enjoy!  Time Out tip For a sweet mid-shopping treat, walk a little further down the street to Golbourne Road, where the crowd thins out substantially. There you’ll find the no fuss, no frills Lisboa...

Situated on the mezzanine level of the five-star Corinthia Hotel, just off Trafalgar Square, is the ESPA Life day spa. A shiny, monochrome labyrinth of treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas and thermal pools, the spa is thoroughly lavish, modern, low-lit and windowless. It's the ideal place to shut the door on reality – there's absolutely no chance of spotting the 388 shuttling down Victoria Embankment or tuning into the sound of protesters underneath Nelson's Column. Through the elegant reception, which opens on to small but stylish cream-washed restaurant, filled with white leather furniture and warmed by a roaring fireplace you'd only see in the lair of James Bond villain, visitors weave their way through corridors of pearly cream and slate paneling to find the luxurious changing rooms (the term 'changing rooms' seems an insult) and a room of 'Sleeping Pods'. Downstairs, the spa's main area, the Thermal Suite, is a black-marbled oasis which houses a large steam room, swimming pool, jet pool, ice fountain, heated loungers and, most stunning of all, a glass-walled sauna amphitheatre as its centre piece. If you can tear yourself away from the Thermal Suite for longer than just a toilet break, one floor up ESPA relaxation treatments on offer include personalised massages (£160), body wrap packages (£220) and facials (£170). If it's more than indulgent respite from your emails that you're after, specialist skills from the crème de la crème of naturopaths, traditional Chinese...

What is it? Housed in a huge Egyptian-style art-deco building that used to be Jordan’s department store, Alfies Antiques Market, which was founded more than 40 years ago by Bennie Gray of Gray’s Antiques Market in Mayfair, has been one of London’s premier destinations for collectors, dealers, celebs and bargain hunters on a mission to uncover unique and genuine antiques and vintage items. Across 35,000 sq ft and four floors, this Marylebone establishment is home to around 100 dealers selling antique furniture, retro clothing,  jewellery, memorabilia, homeware and decorations. Dodo Posters, run by Liz Farrow since the 1960s, sells vintage advertising and movie posters, while Diplomat Treasures International offers a mix of twentieth-century furniture, African carvings, Chinese vases and modern art. Everything feels carefully curated, and this is reflected in the prices, but if you’re serious about picking up a one-of-a-kind item, this huge antiques arcade is hard to beat. Why go? As London's largest indoor market, there is plenty to see and do. Have a mooch around the stalls for antique gems and treasures. Want to get your suit tailored? Here's the place. Need some jewellery repaired? There's somewhere to do that too. Need a picture framed? There's a stall at Alfies Antiques Market for you. Don't miss: Alfies Antiques Market also has a rooftop kitchen and café – a hidden oasis that basks in sunlight for most of the day. Pop up for brunch, a burger, afternoon tea or a...

On the edges of Clapham and Wandsworth, Northcote Road Market is a rare thing: a south London market open almost every day of the week. Once, it was a place for locals to buy cut-price fruit and veg, but these days things have moved significantly upmarket. You'll find charcuterie, gifts, and artisanal wares of every kind alongside ordinary groceries. It comes alive on Fridays and Saturdays, when you'll find the fullest range of stalls, alongside street food like pizzas and porchetta. If you want to uncover a vintage treasure (or if it starts raining) don't forget to check out the indoor Northcote Road Antiques Market, which is full of all sorts of covetable trinkets. RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

Although you’ll find some everyday items and antiques at this little Sunday market (11am-4pm), located between Homerton High Street, Lower Clapton Road and Lea Bridge Road, it specialises in street food, selling everything from sushi rolls to haggis. There are the obligatory fancy cheese, cakes and bread stalls, some of which you’ll recognise from Broadway Market, as well as fresh fish and organic meats on sale. A brilliant greengrocers sits at the upper end, while an upmarket Spar near Homerton Station, which has the cute Castle Cinema above it, is the place to pick up olive oils and wine. A row of independent shops selling gifts, antiques, children’s clothes, toys, and pet grooming supplies runs up the street. Alim Kheraj RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets