The most-loved shops in London

  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? 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? 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...

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? Liberty was founded in 1875 - when founder Arthur Lasenby Liberty borrowed £2,000 from his future father-in-law and took a building on Regent Street with just three staff - but the present Marlborough Street site, with its ships’ timbers and leaded windows, was built in the 1920s. The interconnecting jumble of rooms, with the odd fireplace and cushioned window seat, makes for an intimate feel – as if you’ve strayed into a private room in a stately home. It’s not an accident, Arthur wanted customers to feel as if they were exploring someone’s home, keeping the shopping galleries small, albeit linked to three rather grand atriums. Although Liberty trades well on its history, it constantly squeezes innovation into its wood-panelled rooms. Over the years Liberty has launched its own clothing and homeware lines which have become firm favourites among the stars. But for all its pomp and fizz, Liberty doesn’t take itself too seriously – there’s a genuine sense of whimsy in its approach to retail. Why go? Alongside one of the best edits for fashion shopping in the world, its expansive beauty hall juxtaposes world-renowned makeup and skincare brands beside lesser known, but equally high quality, offerings.  Piercing expert Maria Tash, widely worn by celebrities and members of the fashion community, has her own parlour on the ground floor, while those who want a remodel for their home rather than their body can head up to homeware. Renowned for their unparalleled...

Peckham’s self-styled ‘corridor of wonders and esoteric delights’ is a haven of small businesses, from nail techs and hairdressers, to independent publishers, Inverted Audio, a record shop specialising in electronic music, and Balamii, south London’s favourite radio station. Though it may be narrow, it’s easy to while away the hours browsing everything Holdrons Arcade has to offer.

What is it? A first stop for East End trendies, Goodhood is a clothing and lifestyle shop owned by streetwear obsessed couple Kyle Stewart and Jo Sindle. After seven years on Hoxton’s Coronet Street, and a decade on Curtain Road, it recently upped sticks again to a super-size, 5,500 square foot site just off Brick Lane. What does it sell? A deftly curated edit of womenswear, menswear, accessories, kids’ stuff, beauty and grooming products, plus homeware, audio equipment and fancy camping gear. Japanese independent labels are well represented, while other covetable brands include Aries, Brain Dead, Engineered Garments, Pendleton, Ganni, Norse Projects, Our Legacy and Wood Wood. You’ll also find matcha whisks, wall tapestries and quality basics from the shop’s own brand, Goodhood Lifestore – designed in collaboration with Brain Dead co-founder Ed Davis – plus curated edits of stock from Broadway Market bookshop Artwords, vintage brand Unified Goods and Hackney record store Stranger Than Paradise.  The upscale, leftfield stock is hand picked to appeal to Goodhood’s very East End customer, but is shot through with a real sense of humour and a few easy, low-cost buys: branded tees, socks and hats, plus affordable trinkets, mugs, badges and stickers. Opening times 11am to 7pm daily Time Out tip If you want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to streetwear-influenced fashion, be sure to keep tabs on the brands represented here; Goodhood has a knack for stocking...

Just as deluxe chocolates often boast that they contain a high percentage of cocoa, deluxe sex lives may boast that they incorporate an indulgent amount of Coco de Mer. This is London’s most glamorous, upmarket erotic emporium. Browse toys, accessories, jewellery and lingerie made from the finest materials: stunning sterling silver nipple shields and gold-gilded clamps; beautiful, subtly sexual rings that double as massage aids; leather reins and harnesses to transform your partner into the dressiest of dressage ponies; and love eggs made from rose quartz and jade. Of course, a lot of this designer decadence comes with a price tag that would turn even Christian Grey’s bank balance deep red, but there are plenty of classy treats that manage to look anything but cheap while being pleasingly affordable, too. Coco de Mer was originally established by Sam Roddick – daughter of Body Shop founder Anita – and although it was bought out by online adult retailer Lovehoney in 2011, it maintains an ethical, artisan-led streak. Check out dildos made from sustainable wood (thankfully highly polished to avoid excruciating splinters in unthinkable places), ceramic butt plugs that can be immersed in cool or warm water to change their temperature, and glass wands which are – ahem – hand-blown in England. Also of note is the brand’s latex clothing range, designed in conjunction with Slaughterhouse Couture, their range of vintage books, and saucy homewares such as wallpaper, cushions and...

What is it?  This grand neoclassical market building in the heart of Covent Garden is a true London landmark. Since 1980, after traffic congestion forced the traditional fruit-and-veg market to relocate, Covent Garden Market has reinvented itself as a serious shopping destination. And now the whole area is pedestrianised to encourage punters to browse in safety. On Mondays, it’s filled with stalls selling antiques and collectables; then from Tuesday to Sunday, it welcomes a broader range of traders offering everything from handmade jewellery to artisan soaps. There are plenty of permanent retail units, too, mainly housing fancy brands like Mulberry and Tom Ford.  Why go? For all your gifting needs – from luxury labels to artisan makers.  Don’t miss The neighbouring Jubilee Market, which has around 100 stalls, for even more antiques and bric-à-brac to lay your hands on.  Ticket info  No tickets needed.  When to visit  Covent Garden is open Monday to Saturday at 10am-6pm and on Sundays from 12am-6pm.  Time Out tip  Covent Garden Market is always heaving but early evening, especially in the summer as it’s winding down, is rather magical.  RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

More than two decades since its original branch of Beyond Retro opened in a former dairy factory on Brick Lane, London’s favourite vintage brand is the largest retailer of vintage clothing in the country. Opened in 2011, this superstore at the top of Kingsland High Street houses a vast but fastidiously curated stock of around 12,000 items of pre-loved clothing encompassing the widest possible range of styles ranging, from dazzling sequined party dresses and mid-century tailoring to vintage military jackets and retro sportswear.  You could easily spend hours rummaging through the racks to discover its hidden gems.  Beyond Retro is in our list of the 100 best shops in London.