Travel bucket list idea:
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Spitalfields Market
Credit: Elena Rostunova / Shutterstock.com
From fruit-and-veg stands piled high with produce to chatty antiques sellers, London has a long and proud tradition of regular, public markets.
Some are set within high-arched Victorian structures, others thrown together in an open-air jumble, but all will give you a taste of an older way of shopping: browsing, haggling, rooting around for a treasure.
Markets big and small pop-up all over town at different times of the week, month or year – selling everything from vintage records to artisan street food – but these are the most established, unmissable shopping spots.
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Bucket List Experience
London’s premier gastro hub, with over 100 stalls in a historic covered market, offering everything from artisan breads and cheeses to street food, hand-made chocolates and vegan cakes.
Good for age: 13+
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Experience
Against the backdrop of authentic East End curry houses and junk shops, this weekend market selling vintage clothes to local art and food is the embodiment of the East End scene. London’s edgy diversity in all its scruffy glory.
Good for age: 13+
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Experience
Beloved of teens, tourists and tie-dye fans, this rambling collection of markets, selling everything from clothes and crafts to vinyl and vegan food, stretches along Camden Lock and the historic Pickford Stables.
Good for age: 13+
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Bucket List Experience
This iconic and atmospheric West End square has a historic Victorian market building, street performers, restaurants and boutiques.
Good for age: 4+
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Experience
One for the Instagram crowd, Columbia Road blazes with colour every Sunday morning, when the flower market spreads out along the street.
Good for age: 18+
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Experience
A covered market close to the City of London that’s been operating for over 350 years, come for one-off pieces of jewellery, vintage clothing and artisan food.
Good for age: 13+
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Experience
Great little foodie market filled with upscale food stalls, squeezed into an alleyway alongside and under converted railway arches beneath Tower Bridge. Open all year round on weekends.
Good for age: 18+
London’s markets are spread across different days, but all start early in the morning, which is when you’ll find the best stock, freshest food and vintage bargains. All of them – particularly Camden and Borough markets – are much busier on weekends, so try and aim for a weekday.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
London
Price £160
Min age 18
Rating 4.95 / 5 [196 ratings]
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London
Price £15
Min age 8
Rating 4.96 / 5 [53 ratings]
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)
World-class culture, fashion, music, food and history – and a mind-boggling array of bucket list experiences – packed into one extraordinary, incomparable destination.
