The most-loved 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? Moving to Haymarket hasn’t lessened the magnificence of Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo’s groundbreaking mecca for the fashion-obsessed. With a beautiful array of stuffed birds and a trio of reimagined Burberry trenches on the way in, it is brilliant from the off. A champion of our capital’s pioneering fashion designers, it houses collections from some of London’s brightest stars, such as Grace Wales Bonner’s wonderfully elegant menswear and Molly Goddard’s dream dresses woven out of tulle. What does it sell? The style of the market, which is reminiscent of a Harajuku shopping complex, and a vending machine that dispenses Dover Street Market-bralimanded T-shirts, are nods to Kawakubo’s home country. Her label, Comme des Garçons, is well represented here alongside lines such as Valentino, Givenchy and Azzedine Alaïa. The basement houses more affordable streetwear, and the ground floor has a smart selection of edgy jewellery plus all of the Comme des Garçons fragrances. Once you’ve taken it all in, head to the top floor for a sit-down in the Rose Bakery. Opening times: Mon-Sat 11am-7pm; Sun 12pm-6pm Time Out tip: If you’ve fallen in love with the fashion but just can’t justify the price tag, keep your eyes peeled for the sales, which can see items reduced by up to 40 percent.  RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

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? 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?  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? 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...

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. 

What is it? Located in increasingly lively Bermondsey, Maltby Street Market is a bit like a calmer, more curated version of Borough Market. It’s only been going since 2010, doesn’t open during the week and the tourists haven’t quite cottoned on yet.  Nestled in and around the atmospheric Victorian rail arches of the Ropewalk you’ll find around 30 artisan food and drink traders. The stalls are always being switched up, but in the past there’s been everything from vegan bakes and bahn mi to empanadas, gyozas and oysters. And in the unlikely event that your stomach’s still not fully satisfied, just saunter half a mile down the road to Spa Terminus, where around 25 food producers sell top-notch cheese, spices wine, ice cream, honey and coffee every Friday and Saturday.  Why go? Head to Maltby Street Market when your eyes are bigger than your belly and you want a less cramped but equally vibrant alternative to Borough Market.  Don’t miss For a pit stop and some hydration, look out for Malt Bar, a craft beer bar at the heart of the market.  When to visit   Maltby Market comes alive every weekend. It’s open Saturdays 10am-5pm and Sundays 11am-4pm.  Ticket info No ticket needed!  Time Out tip If there’s one thing to know about Maltby Street Market, it’s that the earlier you go, the better. Also, if you’re going there for one particular vendor, keep in mind that not all of them are around on Sundays.  RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

What is it? One of London’s first department stores went to sleep for the best part of a decade, and it’s finally woken up. The Whiteley is the grand emporium on Queensway and first opened in 1911, spending its later years as a shopping centre before closing for a top-to-toe restoration. It reopened in stages from late 2025, and it’s a very different beast. The big headline is Six Senses London, the wellness brand’s first UK hotel, which takes up a whole quarter of the building. Its spa also has London’s first hotel magnesium pool. You don’t need to be staying, though, as the ground and lower floors are now home to a handpicked mix of food, fitness and culture. There’s a flagship Everyman cinema, a Third Space gym, Duck & Dry for a blow-dry and 3812 Gallery, which shows contemporary Chinese and Western artists. Grab a coffee and a pastry at Guillam Coffee House, then lose half an hour in the Adventures in Furniture showroom. Why go? It’s one of west London’s great buildings, restored to its former glory, and the best reason in years to spend an afternoon on Queensway. Don’t miss A film at the Everyman. It’s the chain’s largest London site, with five screens across three floors, velvet sofas, two bars and pizzas brought to your seat. Make a night of it with dinner first at Whiteley’s Kitchen, Bar and Café in the Six Senses, which does veg-forward British cooking and cocktails that come with or without alcohol. When to visit Evenings, when the restaurants and cinema are at...

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