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,...

A forerunner of the organic movement in the early 1980s, Neal’s Yard has retained a loyal following, despite competition from younger companies with similar ideologies. These days, the Covent Garden-founded brand has 10 shops in prominent shopping locations in London, including Upper Street, Spitalfields and both Westfields. Several locations are also home to luxury treatment rooms that offer a wide range of therapies. The prettily packaged products, in their distinctive blue-glass bottles to safeguard the ingredients, smell delicious without being overpowering. Made in an eco-factory in Dorset, they run the gamut from lovely French soaps, hand washes and bath oils to sun creams, deodorants and essential oils, plus a mother-and-baby range. There’s also a dispensary for a huge range of dried herbs. Our top picks are the quick-absorbing Orange Flower Facial Oil, the Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisture Cream, the gently foaming Palmarosa Facial Wash and the Melissa Hand Cream. The range of remedies designed to ‘feed the skin from within’ includes the Mahonia Clear Skin Formula, a tonic to be taken orally, and the Organic Beauty Oil, containing essential fatty acids to improve skin elasticity and hydration. There is also a men’s range: NYR Men. The products find the happy medium of still feeling premium (even Aesop doesn’t use glass bottles any more, while NY does), with prices that won’t break the bank. 

Whether you’re looking for a medieval theme or 1920s, cowboy or Alice in Wonderland, Costume Boutique has the supplies and knowhow to make you look professionally theatrical. Their new location, just off  Portobello road, might be hipper, bigger and better than before, but they still rent out an impressive selection of  theatrical quality costumes to event agencies, film production companies, costume designers, stylists, theatres, TV and of course little old you! So make an appointment to get some old fashioned styling advice and a TV worthy costume, complete with all the accessories you'll need to cut a dash at your next costume party or dress-up event.

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...

Expect a strong selection of off-the-rack costumes and accessories, from fierce fangs to angelic wings, at this west London store. It initially appears small, but its two floors are rammed to the rafters with fancy dress delights and fun party gear at affordable prices.  

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...

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...

This vast dungeon (well, it's in a basement) of a fancy dress store offers a stellar personal service. Staff will help you navigate some 35,000 costumes, from a sleek ant to a fuzzy Orvill duck, and then assist in piecing together a unique outfit for sale or hire. Mad World is a great stop for period costumes, character fancy dress (they have everyone from Ron Burgandy to Rainbow's Bungle) and seasonal events such as Halloween. They also stock balloons and costume accessories, such as wigs, swords and more.

If you’re into crystals, tarot and astrology (and who isn’t these days?), you need to pay a visit to She’s Lost Control on Broadway Market. Aesthetically pleasing sets of tarot cards sit next to books about waking your inner witch, as well as stylish jewellery, natural skincare and gifty bits and bobs for the horoscope obsessive in your life. But if you’re considering a visit, plan ahead and book in to have your aura photographed. At the back of the shop, you and your aura get snapped and then you’re guided through what the different colours could mean. Once you’re happy with the interpretation, you get a nice printed out polaroid of yourself surrounded by a cloud of colour, which is a pretty cool souvenir even for non-believers.