The first London market dates back to the twelfth century, when it was founded in the area known as Cheapside, on the southern side of the Thames at London Bridge.
However, it is in the following centuries that many other markets appeared in London, from Leadenhall Market to Covent Garden, the vintage markets of Brick Lane and those that have become a must visit such as Portobello.
Portobello, Covent Garden and the Greenwich market are perhaps the most famous ones – especially with tourists – and I have already talked about them at length.
Although these three aforementioned markets are dedicated to many different interests and they sell a variety of goods, the Riverside Walk Book Market, as the name implies, is a treat for those who love books.
It is located in the shaded area under the Waterloo Bridge, in a perfect position even for rainy days.
The market is not very famous and consists of a few stalls, but they are all crammed with books looking for a new owner and it will not be difficult to find some interesting titles.
The market is held on Saturdays and Sundays, from early morning until sunset and, as it is often the case for markets, the best titles are sold in the early hours, so I recommend visiting before lunch time.
The Leadenhall Market is a little different from the markets I have mentioned so far, but it is rich in history and really impressive.
It is not a mix of stalls and banquets, in fact, but it is a splendid structure under which clubs and shops of all kinds find shelter.
The venue itself dates back to the fourteenth century and it is located in the center of ancient Roman London, in what was considered the largest Roman settlement north of the Alps.
The market is one of the oldest in the English capital but, over the centuries it has undergone many changes, first of all that of 1881, which equipped it with a metal structure and a glass roof that decorate and cover it.
Not only that, the Leadenhall Market has been included among the historical places of the United Kingdom and also appeared in the movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as Diagon Alley.
It is normally open from Monday to Friday during normal shops opening hours (which in England are between 10 am and 6 pm) but some shops and clubs have independent opening hours.
Brick Lane, a street in London's East End, is very famous for its markets, almost all born in the nineteenth century on the initiative of Irish and Jewish immigrants.
One of these is the Brick Lane Vintage Market, dedicated to vintage lovers looking for objects and clothing from the 20s to the 90s, but there is also the Upmarket, with food, art, accessories and clothing, and the Backyard Market, the first born in Brick Lane and where objects and clothing of all kinds are exhibited.
At the food market here they always offer samples and it’s a delight to walk around this place in the morning and sample all the freshly baked breads and buy the groceries from farmers who bring their product to the heart of the city from the heart of the countryside.
The clothing market is for you if you like vintage style clothes, British style that is! Obviously!
Camden, perhaps the most famous one
