There are many great Sunday markets in London.
If you are spending the weekend in the city, you will certainly have no shortage of great things to see and do, and in fact you may well have visited one of the best markets in London already.
However, if you need a break from the most classic attractions, consider visiting one of London Sunday markets – they are perfect for a shopping spree (yes, even on a Sunday!); to get good food (whether you are in search of international street food, or something more refined); for people-watching; and to simply be entertained or spend a day with your friends.
These markets are all different one from the other. In some you’ll find flowers; others sell vintage stuff – from clothing to old cameras and what not; some are tucked away in the most hidden corners; others are massive and take a while to explore. But all of them are fun to see.
Curious to find out more? Continue reading for a quick overview.
Looking for a Christmas market? Make sure to read my post The Best Christmas Markets In Europe.
The Best Sunday Markets In London
Covent Garden
OPENING TIMES: 12:00 to 6:00 pm
Probably the most famous market in London, Covent Garden Market used to be your regular fruit and vegetable market. With time, it changed a lot and for the last 40 years Covent Garden has become one of the most popular places to visit in London.
The actual market is made up of three markets. You will find Apple Market, which is the best place to buy British-made souvenirs; East Colonnade Market, where you can buy all sorts of fun stuff such as toys, handmade soaps, sweets and even jewelry; and Jubilee Market, which sells vintage and antiques (the antiques stalls are closed on Sundays).
However, Covent Garden has much more to offer than just its market. First of all, you will find lots of nice pubs, bars and restaurants perfect if you want to have a Sunday lunch and a drink. Here you will also find the London Transport Museum, one of the most interesting museums in London.
Finally, there will be lots of street performers to keep you (and your children, if this is a family visit) entertained.
In short, you can easily spend a day in Covent Garden without ever getting bored!
You should also read my post The Best Things To Do In Covent Garden.
Borough Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
This is one of the oldest markets in London – apparently it’s around 1000 years old, though it’s been in its current location since 1756.
Borough Market is actually very central (it’s right by London Bridge and close to the Shard, one of the city’s most iconic attractions). This truly is one of my favorite (Sunday) markets in London. When I lived there, I used to visit every weekend to stock on fresh groceries and foods that I could not find in regular stores, such as Sardinian cheese or sausage.
You can spend time here browsing the stalls, buying fresh ingredients to create the best home-cooked meal, or simply tasting the best street food London has to offer.
The area of Borough Market is also packed with nice cafés, bars and restaurants. On my most recent visit, I had a fabulous meal at Roast, which is located in the very heart of the covered market. It has a strong focus on British cuisine and also serves delicious vegan dishes as well as afternoon tea.
Borough Market can be easily explored independently. However, a guided tour may help you discover its history and its flavors. Here are my recommendations:
Borough Market Foodie Walking Tour with Tastings – this very well reviewed tour lasts 2.5 hours, during which you get to taste the best street food the market has to offer, and taste some local beers and ciders. You will also visit historic pubs, and cheesemongers.
Secret Food Tour: London Bridge & Borough Market w/ Private Tour Option – an excellent food tour to taste literally the best of London. With a strong focus on Borough Market, one of the most popular in the center of London, you will be tryiing some excellent local foods.
Traditional English Food Tasting Walking Tour in London – a great food tour that goes to the best market in town.
Flea at Vinegar Yard
OPENING TIMES: 12:00 to 5:00 pm
This market is very close to London Borough Market and to London Bridge Station, so it’s easy to add it onto your itinerary if you are visiting the area. It’s a popular place to shop for second-hand (some prefer calling it vintage!) stuff – from clothes to furniture and books.
Brick Lane
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Brick Lane is home to my favorite Sunday markets in London, and you’ll surely be able to find a good bargain there. You’ll also find a great array of street art here, so this part of town is a real must-see!
The main street is packed with lovely clothing shops by London’s up and coming designers; as well as some fabulous food stalls. If you are in search of antique furniture or even jewelry, this is a good place to go. Other than the main street markets, there are several indoor markets in Brick Lane which are all worth browsing.
To make the most of Brick Lane Markets, you may want to consider one of these tours:
Alternative London 2-Hour Street Art Walking Tour – this street art tour also goes to Spitalfields and Brick Lane markets. It’s one of the best rated tours of the area.
London: Exotic East End Food Tour at London Sunday Markets – probably the best food tour that goes to Brick Lane.
Below is a more detailed description of the markets.
Boiler House Food Hall
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Located in the old Old Truman Brewery’s 1830’s Boiler House, this is the place to go to fix your cravings for any kind of international cuisine.
From Moroccan tajine to Malaysian food, Japanese sweets, Vietnamese Pho Bo, Pad Thai, Ethiopian injera and what not, you are bound to find something to tickle your tastebuds among the more than 30 food stalls.
There’s a fantastic beer garden at the back, and prices are mode than affordable – definitely by London standards!
Look for the street food market in Ely’s Yard, right behind the Old Truman Brewery as that’s where you’ll find some award-winning food trucks!
The Tea Rooms
This is one of the nicest indoor markets in Brick Lane, where you can find tea and cake – well I guess that’s a given – and any sort of vintage stuff. Come here to shop for anything from jewelry to vinyl records, from antique cameras to vintage typewriters.
I came across a shop that sold antique cameras once and I was so fascinated by the 1930s ones that I must have spent an hour just there. It’s no wonder this place is referred to as an “Aladdin’s cave of furniture, collectables and antiques.”
One of the best London Sunday markets for antiques is Northcote Road Antiques Market. It’s open from 12:00 to 5:00 pm.
Backyard Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Located in a massive warehouse with more than 80 stalls, Backyard Market was first opened in 2006. Here you will find unique pieces by London’s youngest designers and creatives. Look for jewelry, clothes, prints but also art and craft.
Sunday Upmarket
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Opened in 2004 above Brick Lane Vintage Market, Sunday Upmarket counts more than 140 traders. It’s the kind of place where you can find clothing, music, accessories, art, home appliances and – most importantly – lots and lots of delicious street food. Along with the other Brick Lane markets, it’s a nice place to spend a relaxing Sunday.
Brick Lane Vintage Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Right by Ely’s Yard, at the Brick Lane Vintage Market you will find vintage clothing and accessories, with anything dating from the 1920s to the 1990s. If you are into vintage, this is probably one of the best Sunday markets in London. And if you are not, it remains a fun place to browse.
Old Spitalfields
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Ladies and gentlemen, of all the Sunday markets in the British capital, Old Spitalfields Market is by far my favorite. Located across London Liverpool Street Station, where it first opened in 1876, and easily accessed from Commercial Street, where it’s been taking place for centuries now, this covered market is the perfect place to visit on a cold, rainy day.
You can go there in search of handmade jewelry, souvenirs, fun stuff (I once bough my cat some dog clothes, but she wasn’t too impressed with them) and all sorts of good food. Add to this a selection of excellent pubs and restaurants in the area, and you get the picture.
During my last trip to London, my sister and I visited. We ended up shopping for a leather bag, t-shirts, hair accessories. I also bought a ring. And to complete the experience, we had a lovely vegan cupcake on the go.
Spitalfields market is actually open every day. One thing you need to consider if you have your eyes set on a specific item but decide not to buy it on the spot is that the stands are regularly moved around and change locations on different days. We determined it’s done for marketing reasons, so that while you look for what you want you end up coming across more stuff – smart!
Old Spitalfields is located a short distance from Brick Lane, so you can actually visit both on the same day.
Petticoat Lane Market
OPENING TIMES: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
I literally found out about this market as I slept in the area on my last trip to London and I could hear lots of noise on Sunday morning: as I looked outside the window I could see the vendors setting up their stalls.
Located on Middlesex Street, a side road to Commercial Street in the Spitalfields area, Petticoat Lane Market is somewhat of a hidden gem, especially when you compare it to the incredibly more popular Old Spitalfields just down the road.
This specific market is open on Sundays, but on other days of the week the vendors can actually be found in Wentworth Street. The market sells all sorts of goods: from clothing to toiletries and toys.
If you intend to visit Old Spitalfields visit this market too for a more local experience.
Camden Town
Camden Town is home to come of the most popular Sunday markets in London.
I used to be a great fan of this part of the city when I started traveling to London, but with time it changed and I did not like it so much anymore. I felt it was terribly crowded, very touristy and that it had somewhat lost its original (rock and almost gothic) charm.
i actually decided to go during MY last trip to London and I must say it’s changed once again, and for the better this time. So, if you’ve never been to this part of town and are looking for one of the most famous markets in the British capital, you should definitely go!
Camden Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Camden Market is packed with clothing shops – not just any kind though. Expect to find gothic stuff galore, corsets and the like, as well as candles, incense and mystics. There now is also a very strong focus on food, so expect to find a fair amount of street food fare, a bunch of good gastro-pubs as well as a nice selection of restaurants.
It’s a nice place to spend Sunday morning, and having lunch before heading home.
This guided tour may help you make the most of Camden. It lasts up to six hours which means you get to see a lot of the market, learn its history and see the most important bits.
Camden Lock
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Located in a former abandoned packaging warehouse, Camden Lock is one of the most iconic sights in London. The market now sells all sorts of souvenirs and antiques so it’s a great place to shop if you are looking for a unique item to bring home with you.
Camden Market Stables
OPENING TIMES: 12:00 to 6:00 pm
Owing its name to its use as a horse hospital and stables in Victorian times (something celebrated with a statue of horses right at the entrance), Camden Market Stables is a good place to go in search of antiques and clothing.
Located in Camden Market Stables you will find more than 450 stalls, so there is plenty to explore (and buy!).
Columbia Road Flower Market
OPENING TIMES: 8.00 am to 3:00 pm
Columbia Road Flower Market is one of the prettiest markets in London. Located in East London (actually, not far from Brick Lane), it’s a truly colorful place – what with all the flowers, nice plants, cactus, herbs and pots, and the many lovely courtyards and narrow alleys in the area.
You will also find vintage clothing shops, art galleries and, needless to say, lots and lots of food, deli shops, nice cafés.
Try to get there early-sh in the morning as it can get really busy.
Chatsworth Road Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
This is one of the lesser known Sunday markets in the city – the kind of place you go if you want to feel more like a local. Located in Hackney, East London, it’s been on since the 1930s, although with World War II it started to become less and less popular and was eventually completely closed in 1990, to be finally opened up again in 2010.
Chatsworth Road Market is a perfect place to buy fresh produce such as vegetables, fresh meat, Alpine cheeses, bread, pastries and cakes (those of Le Moulin Bakery are mouthwatering!). Surrounding the market there are lovely coffee shops and restaurants, as well as vintage furniture shops.
Victoria Park Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Also in East London, Victoria Park Market is one of the quietest (and lesser known to tourists) Sunday markets in London. It’s mostly a food market where you should go to find fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, bread, cheese and charcuterie.
There are also lots of options for vegetarian and vegans, so this is a good place to go if you follow a plant-based lifestyle.
You should also expect to find lots of good street food, ice cream, cakes, wines and more. If you are looking for a quieter market in London, this is the place to go.
Herne Hill Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Taking place in the area right outside of Herne Hill station, in Station Square and not far from Marylebone High Street, Herne Hill Market will feel like a world apart from London. This is one of London best markets, with a strong focus on independent shops and family businesses.
Here you will find anything from old music records to fish, vegetables (which are strictly locally produced) and what not. Looking for interesting handcrafted jewelry? This is the place to go! The surrounding shops and restaurants add a lovely touch.
Horniman Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Horniman Museum, in Forest Hill, is home to a great Sunday market. The market actually takes place in Bandstand Terrace, around the bandstand in the museum’s garden, and it’s perfect to shop for fresh produce as well as cakes, pastries and other food. The views of the city from the bandstand are amazing!
Greenwich Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
This large market in the heart of historical Greenwich, in south-east London, has been taking place since the 19th century in a nice, covered building. The market itself is announced by a massive metal sign.
You will find stalls selling food, London’s up and coming designer’s clothes, leather goods, antiques, jewelry as well as arts and grafts. The best thing about this small market is that there are many independent shops. And of course, there is lots of good food to be had!
It really is one of the best Sunday markets in London, it’s actually open every day – including Bank Holidays.
Southbank Centre Food Market
OPENING TIMES: 12:00 to 6:00 pm
I am a massive fan of London’s South Bank, so I obviously had to mention this market which is the perfect place to go in search of produce (there are more than 40 stalls here), healthy food as well as good street food. The market takes place in Southbank Centre Square, which is located right behind the Royal Festival Hall.
If you are a book warm, Waterloo Bridge and its book market nearby will be the perfect addition to your Sunday.
Maltby Street Market
OPENING TIMES: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
One of the nicest Sunday markets in London for street food is Maltby Street Market, in Bermondsey. This lesser known market first opened in 2010 and albeit small it has some delicious finds. It’s the best place to go on search of baked goods – cakes, bread, donuts: you name it.
The area also has some nice cheese shops and you will find a nice selection of pubs, should you need to have a drink while shopping.
Blackheath Farmers’ Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
One of the most local Sunday markets in London, Blackheath Farmers’ Market is the kind of place where people know each other! It’s great if you want to get off the beaten path on your Sunday shopping spree.
The market actually takes place in a car park in the Blackheath area. Go there to find fresh, seasonal produce, and go in the morning to stock on food to cook for the rest of the week.
Alexandra Palace Farmer’s Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Also known as Ally Pally, this market is located in northern London and from there you can actually get great views of the city. The market takes place in Alexandra Palace Park or in the close-by Campsbourne School.
It’s a great place to go for produce: you will find a great selection of fruit, vegetables, meat and cheese to stock up on. And if you are hungry, there is a good selection of street food – think hot dogs and other barbecued delicious goods. It’s a fairly small place, easy to explore and perfect for a Sunday lunch.
Marylebone Farmers’ Market
OPENING TIMES: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Another lovely local Sunday market in London, it’s the kind of place where families go to stock up on fresh produce for the week. Mind you, this market has a very strong focus on seasonal products so it’s actually super-sustainable.
You’ll find plenty of organic stuff, and the area is packed with nice cafés where you can sit and enjoy a drink and a bite too. Visitors who intend to shop are encouraged to bring their own reusable shopping bags.
Brixton Village and Market Row
OPENING TIMES: 8:00 am to midnight
Brixton Village is one of the lesser known Sunday markets in London, at least to tourists. Plan to visit if you are looking for a more authentic experience with some good retail therapy. Don’t worry, getting there is actually very easy! Just hop on a Victoria line train (southbound) and once you get out of the station, it’s literally a minute walk from there.
Brixton is actually a fairly old market in London, not to mention one of the first to be illuminated by electric light. Market Row was added in 1928, built where an old department store was once located.
The market is a fun place to visit. You will find nice and unique clothing shops, accessories, leather goods and jewelry shops, art galleries, as well as lots of street food from around the world. And if you need to buy groceries, this is definitely a good place to do so!
London Sunday Markets Final Tips
Before you set off to visit one or all of the Sunday markets in London, I wanted to share some final recommendations and warnings with you.
TRANSPORTATION – Public transport in London is a bit of a hiccup on Sundays. That’s when construction works take place in the metro (aka London Underground or Tube), so it may be a nightmare to go from one place to the other. Make sure to check for closures on the official tube website before deciding where to go, and plan your route beforehand.
PICKPOCKETS – Any crowded place like a market is bound to be targeted by pickpockets, so keep your bags closed and don’t carry any valuables.
TIMINGS – I recommend planning to be at the market about one hour after the official opening time, so that you can be sure that all stalls are up and food is cooking!
MARKETS ON OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK – Not in London on a Sunday? Worry not, there are plenty of markets open any other day of the week. Many markets mentioned in this post are open every day – for example Camden Market, Covent Garden, and London Borough Market. The latter is a great place for foodies!
Further Readings
Make sure to check out my other posts about London:
- 24 Stunning London Hidden Gems
- How To Make The Most Of London In A Day
- 15 Amazing Day Trips From Paris
- The Best 5 Days London Itinerary
- An Easy To Follow Itinerary For 4 Days London
- A Perfect Itinerary To See London In 3 Days
- How To See London In 2 Days
- 15 Great Day Trips From London
- The Best Things To Do In Oxford
- How To Get Tower Of London Tickets
- 5 Easy Ways Of Getting London Dungeon Tickets
- 7 Easy Ways Of Getting London Eye Tickets
- Where To Stay In London: The Best Areas And Hotels
- Where To Get The Most Impressive Views Of London
- How To Get From Heathrow To London
- 19 Things To Do In Cornwall
Pin It For Later!
