Markets and independent shops in London

97 markets, bookshops, record shops and makers in London.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 97.

BuyCamden
Amsterdam London Shop
Probably the finest purveyor of curious things in London. They also sell weed and hash-smoking paraphernalia.
Daily 9AM–7PM
BuyCovent Garden
Any Amount of Books
Rare and second-hand books. Specialist in scholarly academic works and art-related titles.
BuyMayfair-Marylebone
Aspreys
One of the most famous luxury jewellers anywhere in the world. At least have a look in the window
BuySoho
Ben Sherman
The flagship retail outlet of this iconic British fashion brand. Men's and women's clothing, accessories and shoes.
BuyCovent Garden
Ben's Cookies
Very nice cookies - try their white chocolate with macadamia cookies. Price is about £1 per cookie, and the cookies here are almost twice as big as those at Millie's. They also have branches at 12 Kensington Arcade, Kensington High St; at 39 Leadenhall Market; and at 9 Pelham St, South Kensington.
Mon-Fri 7:30AM-7PM, Sat 9:30AM-6:30PM, Sun 10:30AM-6:30PM, bank holidays 10AM-6PM
BuySouthwark and Lewisham
Bermondsey Antiques Market
New Caledonian Market
A very famous long-standing market which attracts dealers from all over southern England every Friday morning. Antiques and collectibles from almost every imaginable genre. Used to be infamous for fencing stolen goods but that is no longer the case.
Fri 5AM-2PM
BuySoho
Berwick Street Market
An absolute gem and a relic of Soho's past. This is an old fashioned London fruit and vegetable market complete with shouting Barrow Boys and a whole array of colourful characters. There has been a market at this site since the early 1800s. Best early in the mornings. The street food vendors make this a good lunch option.
Mon-Sat 8AM-late afternoon
BuySouth Bank
Borough Market
One of London's favourite wholesale working food markets, on Fridays and Saturdays offering a general retail market with specialties sold directly from the producers, organic products, delicatessen, cheese, wines, fish and imported continental fare. Around the market are other excellent food shops, for a total food experience! Pick up some food and enjoy it under Southwark Cathedral. For market shopping, go in the morning, or after 2PM, since it gets very crowded at lunchtime.
Wed Thu 10AM-5PM, Fri 10AM-6PM, Sat 8AM-5PM
BuyWestminster
Budd Shirts
Budd, established in 1910, is the only Jermyn Street shirtmaker to still have a bespoke cutting room on site, where shirts are still made.
Mon - Fri 10AM-7PM; Sat 10AM-6PM; Sun 11AM-4PM
BuyMayfair-Marylebone
Burberry
Visit the flagship store on Bond St to examine the famous check.
BuyMayfair-Marylebone
Burlington Arcade
Regency-era shopping arcade home to luxury fashion and jewellery boutiques.
Mon-Sat 9:30AM-7PM, Sun 11AM-6PM
BuyMayfair-Marylebone
Cad & the Dandy
Men's Suits Tailors & Shirtmakers
Remarkable bespoke and made-to-measure suit tailors for men. Fine English fabrics. Also offer men's wedding suit tailoring. Design your suit using their online designing tool.
£450
BuyCamden
Camden Lock Village
The three-storey market that stood here burned down in 2008. It has reopened since, but the area just contains a number of small stalls. The owners are trying to get planning permission for re-development.
BuyWestminster
Cardinal Place
High street shops like Marks & Spencer and a selection of chain restaurants.
BuySoho
Clonezone
The world's largest gay retail company. Merchandise includes underwear and adult toys.
Mon Tue 11AM–8PM, Wed–Fri 11AM–9PM, Sat noon–10PM, Sun noon–6PM
BuyBloomsbury
Collinge & Clark
Specialises in graphic design and typography. It was also used as an exterior location for the Channel 4 sitcom Black Books.
BuyMayfair-Marylebone
Cordings Ltd
Outfitter for the upmarket country set, including colourful corduroy trousers for men.
BuySouthwark and Lewisham
Deptford Market
The old working-class area of Deptford still has a lively street market, which is real and neither trendy or touristy! Likewise, East Street Market in Walworth, which has a real mix of African-Caribbean food stalls and antiques and oddities dealers. The birthplace of Charlie Chaplin is here, with several landmarks named after him.
Wed/Fri-Sat 7AM-4PM
BuyHolborn-Clerkenwell
Exmouth Market
Area with lifestyle, fashion, health, book and interior shops. Trendy independent shops on a pedestrianised street.
Mon–Sat 9AM–6PM
BuyCovent Garden
Forbidden Planet
Massive "geek supplies" store for London and the South-East. Merchandise (T-shirts, toys, figurines, etc.) on the ground floor, comics and manga (all genres) and SF, fantasy and horror books in the basement. Lots of U.S. publications that are rarely available in other London bookstores.
Mon-Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun noon-6PM
BuyMayfair-Marylebone
Fortnum and Mason
World famous as grocers to the British Royal Family, Fortnum's original store has been here in Piccadilly since 1707.
BuySoho
Foyles
London's best known bookshop is a mazy warren containing a seemingly impossible number of books! It is not always easy to find your way around and although greatly improved since the renovation in 1999, the service is notably surly. Nonetheless, this place is a must for all book lovers.
Daily 9:30AM-9PM
BuySouth Bank
Gabriel's Wharf
An eclectic mix of shops and restaurants, the design shops at Gabriel's Wharf are exclusively run by small businesses who design and manufacture their own products, the majority of work available will have been made by the person selling it to you. If you can't find exactly what you are looking for it is possible to commission many of the designers directly. Shops to look out for include Bicha, Game of Graces and Anne Kyyro Quinn.
BuyBloomsbury
Gay's the Word
The leading gay-related bookshop in Britain. It has been around since 1979, during which time it has been closely linked with LGBT rights and other activism, including the 'Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners' campaign in the 1980s. Visitors will find fiction books and a large academic stock.
Mon-Sat 10AM-6:30PM, Sun 2-6PM
BuyMayfair-Marylebone
Grays Antique Markets
A remarkably diverse collection of antique and collectibles dealers all under one roof adjoining Bond St station. Certainly the best option in central London for visitors interested in collectibles in particular.
Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM, Sat 11AM-5PM
BuyMayfair-Marylebone
Hamley's
Largest toy store in England, and the World, with over seven floors. One could spend hours here.
BuyHolborn-Clerkenwell
Hatton Garden
This street is the centre of London's jewellery trade and especially famous for diamonds. A lot of dealers and designers to choose from, both contemporary and traditional.
BuySouth Bank
Hay's Galleria
A beautiful converted wharf on the Jubilee Walk which, since 1987, has been home to cafés, shops and traditional barrows. Originally a warehouse and associated wharf (Hay's Wharf) for the port of London, it was redeveloped as a visitor attraction in the 1950s and has lots of boutique shops.
BuyCamden
Inverness Street Market
This is a small market selling a range of common goods such as fruit and vegetables, cheap clothes and other bits and bobs. The Inverness Street Market is the smallest market in Camden, but it's the original local market in Camden predating the others by decades.
BuyMayfair-Marylebone
John Lewis
Good for fabrics, knitting supplies, haberdashery, other crafts, furniture, and homewares in general.
BuyBloomsbury
Judd Books
Large stock of used, remaindered and academic books especially in the fields of architecture, history and philosophy.
Mon-Sat 11AM-7PM
BuyCovent Garden
Kryolan City London
This is where the professionals buy make-up, so on the pricey side, but the range of products kept is large. Staff are highly approachable even on specialist queries.
BuyCity of London
Leadenhall Market
Worth visiting for its architecture and old-fashioned cobbled streets. It was used as a location in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM
BuyHolborn-Clerkenwell
Leather Lane Market
Not much leather sold here these days but worth a visit for some great cheap finds. Clothing, electrical goods, toiletries and food. Combines well with a visit to Hatton Garden which is in the next street east.
Mon–Fri 10AM–3PM
BuySouthwark and Lewisham
Lewisham Shopping Centre
formerly Riverdale Centre
Many high street chain retailers and a produce market outside too, plus H&M, M&S and TK Maxx department stores.
Mon-Wed Fri 9AM-6:30PM, Thu 9AM-8PM, Sat 9AM-6PM, Sun 11AM-5PM
BuySoho
Liberty
The flagship, original store of the world-famous British brand. A mock tudor department store, worth visiting for the beautiful interior woodwork. Lovely old building and great fun to browse in Liberty even if you are not going to buy something!
BuyLeicester Square
M&M's World
The largest sweet shop in the world. Unlike the New York City store, you can only buy the "regular" M&M flavours here, albeit in a wider variety of colours than you would usually find. There is also a wide array of other merchandise available such as homeware and clothing. In the back of the store is an M&M printer which enables you to print text, a logo or even your own face on M&Ms!
BuyBloomsbury
Millenia
Pop culture merchandise from famous franchises such as Pokémon, Harry Potter and Dungeons & Dragons.
BuySoho
MinaLima
A shop and gallery showcasing the work of the designers who create the letters, signs, newspapers, and many other props and graphics in the Harry Potter movies. Lots of prints and souvenirs available for purchase. Worth a visit for Harry Potter fans.
Wed–Sun 11AM–6PM
BuyCovent Garden
Monmouth Coffee
Some people say this is the best coffee in London. Primarily a venue for quality coffee roasters, the shop on Monmouth street has a tasting room, i.e. a café, where you can marvel at the fact that not everywhere in London sells poor chain-café coffee. A selection of goodies such as croissants, pastries, and brownies are also available. As you would expect of a roasters you can also purchase excellent coffee in bean form or ground, with various blends to suit your taste. Helpful and knowledgeable staff can help you make a selection.
Mon-Sat: 8am–5pm; Sun: Closed

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to London (CC BY-SA 4.0).