This is a list of markets in London. Greater London is home to a wealth of covered, outdoor and street markets. Many specialise in a particular type of goods or sell different things on different days. Most open very early in the morning and close early or late afternoon.
Markets in London have their origins in the Middle Ages and ancient charter; set up to serve the population of the City of London. Over time, some emerged as wholesale markets serving specific market segments — such as the sale of vegetables, meat, or fish. With an expanding metropolis in the 18th and 19th centuries, street markets were set up to meet the needs of the new suburbs. With the introduction of trams on the streets of London, these were moved (sometimes forcibly) into neighbouring side streets, or new covered markets.[1]
The modern markets are regulated by the City and 32 London boroughs. Many have become 'general markets' proffering a range of goods.[1]
These markets have ancient origins and connections with the City of London. Some have moved from their original locations within the city boundaries but most continue to be operated by the City of London Corporation. Their previous sites have :[2]
New Covent Garden Market is the largest fruit, vegetable and flower market in the UK. With over 200 businesses, employing over 2,500 people, the Market supplies 40% of the fresh fruit & vegetables eaten outside of the home in London and is used by 75% of London florists.[3] With a large range of food businesses, including traditional wholesalers, wholesale distributors and food processors, NCGM serves many of London's best restaurants and hotels, cafés and bars, schools, hospitals and work places as well as independent retailers and street markets.
Borough Market is located in The Borough, just south of London Bridge. The market was established on London Bridge and is first recorded in 1014. It has been in several locations, but moved to its present site in 1870. It was owned by the City Corporation and was transferred to an independent trust in 1999.[4] It still operates as a wholesale market, but when this closes it sells a wide range of sundry food items.[1]
Spitalfields Market, a food market which relocated in 1991[9] to New Spitalfields Market, Leyton.[10] The original market site is still used as a market selling fashion, art and design, food and vintage goods and is part of a revival of the surrounding area.
Brick Lane Market, at the northern end of Brick Lane and along Cheshire Street in East London. The market developed in the 17th century for fruit and vegetables. With the arrival of Jewish immigrants, it began to operate on Sundays.[11] Today, it sells food and general bric-a-brac, on Sundays.
Brook Green Market and Kitchen, based at Addison Primary School in Brook Green, Kensington and Olympia, the market founded in 2014 is like a traditional Farmers Market but with certain innovative additions including Interactive Cookery Masterclasses, Live Music and craft alcohols.
Camden Lock Market and several others comprise a complex often referred to simply as "Camden Market". Camden Lock Market is close to Camden Town Tube station, and gets its name from its location at Camden Lock on Regent's Canal in Camden Town, northwest London. All the markets sell general goods, music, collectables, military-surplus, jewellery, incense, clothing and a wide variety of fast-food.[1]
Camden Passage Market, on Islington High Street and Camden Passage, has its origins in the 1960s when small shop and stall holders banded together to form the market.[12] Two markets deal in antiques and collectables. Wednesdays and Saturdays are good to visit for the antiques, Thursday is the book market, more recently fashion/accessories stalls come on Fridays and mixed craft/fashion/antiques on Sundays.
Columbia Road market originated in the 19th century. It became a flower market to sell produce on Sunday - left over from nearby Spitalfields.[13] It is in Bethnal Green in East London. Hours: 9am - 12noon Sunday.
Inverness Street Market, near Camden Town Tube station, was for over 100 years a traditional street market, with stalls selling fruit and vegetables. The last food stall closed in 2013, and it is now similar to the other Camden markets there.[14][15]
Leather Lane Market, located in Holborn, central London. Sells clothing, fruit, vegetables, general goods, and street food. Used mainly by office workers during lunchtime.
Covent Garden Market located in the West End, was originally a flower market, now relocated to New Covent Garden Market, Vauxhall in south London.[16] The original building is now a shopping and tourist area with some shops, and there is an indoor market containing stalls selling jewellery, speciality soaps, tourist souvenirs, etc.[17]
Jubilee Market at The Piazza, Covent Garden, is at the Jubilee Hall, which houses the market, and has a wide variety of arts and crafts stalls, jewellery and clothing, antiques and general market items.
Petticoat Lane Market is located on Wentworth Street and Middlesex Street in east London, and sells clothing, luggage and a wide range of cheap consumer items.
Portobello Road Market sells antiques, fruit and vegetables, and general goods, and is located in the Notting Hill area of West London. Hours: Primarily Saturday, with lower levels of activity on Friday and Sunday, and a few stalls throughout the week.[19]
Old Spitalfields Market is located on Commercial Street in east London. In 2005, a regeneration programme saw the creation of Spitalfields Market, located in 56 Brushfield Street, a connected market on the western end of the site which includes the new public areas of Crisping Place and Bishops Square.[20] The two Spitalfields Markets are one of London's busiest areas on Saturdays and Sundays with hundreds of market stalls specialising in fashion, art, crafts, design and food. The Markets are located in the original, historic Victorian Market Hall built in 1887.[20]
Islington Farmers' Market was the first Farmers' Market in London. Having had a number of different locations since it first opened, it is now held every Sunday at the Penton Street end of Chapel Market, N1, close to Angel tube station.
These markets tend to be less visited by tourists but are used regularly by local residents. Some are of a comparable size to the more renowned markets:
East Street Market
Archway market, which sells general goods on Thursdays and goods and food on Saturdays, is located near Archway Station.
Chiswick Flower Market, a small upmarket flower market, held on Old Market Place, just off Chiswick High Road,in Chiswick,west London, on the first Sunday of each month
Kingston upon Thames in southwest London has two markets. Kingston Market is open from Monday to Saturday and sells food and consumer items while the weekly Monday Market sells clothes and household items.
Kentish Town Car Boot, located in Gospel Oak Primary School, near Hampstead. It is notable for winning three best car boot awards in 2023 and sells vintage recycled goods, serving the local community, open every Sunday all year.[24]
Merton Abbey Mills is an arts and crafts market which runs every weekend with over 100 market stalls selling jewellery, clothing, art, toys and gifts. It is located on the A24 Merantun Way near Colliers Wood tube station
Old Spitalfields Designers/Makers Market, third Saturday every month - featuring UK Designers and craft practitioners.[28]
Spitalfields Market Arts Market, every last weekend of the month - featuring ‘up and coming’ and established artists, offering a diverse mix of affordable art [29]
Spitalfields Market Saturday Style Market, every Saturday, independent designers selling original clothing, accessories, homewares and ethical goods[30]
Queens Road Market located on Green Street, in Upton Park, east London, is a large market selling a variety of foods from all over the world, particularly the Indian sub-continent[1]
Rathbone Market located in Canning Town, east London, is a small Thursday morning market selling textiles and bric-à-brac.
Ridley Road Market is located in Dalston, northeast London, and sells hot and cold food, fresh fruit and vegetables, clothing, fashion and accessories, electronics, homeware and general goods
Roman Road Market, located in Old Ford, East London is open Monday to Saturday and is known colloquially as 'The Roman'.[31]
Surrey Street Market has a Royal Charter dating back to 1276 linking it to the Archbishop of Canterbury. It sells vegetables, meat and a range of other items throughout the week. Located in Croydon, south London.
Tooting/Broadway Markets in Tooting, south London, in combination, are two indoor daily markets with stalls and shops selling street food, clothes, gifts, bric-a-brac, oddities, groceries and a variety of household goods. In the evening the stalls close and a large selection of small restaurants and bars with a buzzing night life take over, part of the reason Tooting was voted one of the 10 coolest places on earth by Lonely Planet.
Sunday UpMarket is located on Brick Lane within the historic Old Truman Brewery complex in east London near Spitalfields. This is a newer market focusing on products created by young designers and unusual international foods
Swiss Cottage Market, a street food market in Swiss Cottage, North London that hosts a weekly FARMA-certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets
Walthamstow Market is located in Walthamstow, east London. It is the longest market in Europe, and sells food, clothing, and assorted goods
Wimbledon - Monthly Market on the Piazza first weekend of every month March–November, predominantly artisan products. Food, homewares, art, crafts, clothing, jewellery, beauty and gifts.
