London

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

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

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

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

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.

Catford Bridge Tavern

The Copperfield

is a newly refurbished up-market gastropub next to the stations, with 5 handpumps serving ales.Has a classy selection of gourmet food.

Mon–Fri 4–11PM, Sat Sun noon–11PM

Covent Garden Piazza and Central Market

Once an important working market, and the backdrop for the musical My Fair Lady, Covent Garden today is a covered shopping mall with shops predominantly selling clothing, but also gifts and cosmetics, as well as stalls selling handicrafts (Tu-Su) or antiques (M), and restaurants. It's well worth a visit just for the attractive ambience, with classical musicians busking in the lower part of the market and a famous location for street entertainers. There is a popular pub, The Punch and Judy Tavern at the western end, with a large balcony overlooking a square where street entertainers perform. Most shops are open daily 10AM-8PM, but may close earlier on Sundays.

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

Exmouth Market

Area with lifestyle, fashion, health, book and interior shops. Trendy independent shops on a pedestrianised street.

Mon–Sat 9AM–6PM

Hawley Arms

Tucked away in a side street close to the Stables Market, this two-story pub has a small garden and a roof terrace. There are sometimes concerts upstairs. A favorite of the late Amy Winehouse.

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.

Lamb Tavern

One of several pubs in Leadenhall Market where you can listen to insurance brokers from nearby Lloyd's talk business.

Mon-Fri 10AM-11PM·£3.60 pint

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

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

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

Lloyds of London

The headquarters of world's most famous insurance market, housed in a revolutionary (at the time) bizarre, Matrix-like glass-and-steel building designed by Richard Rogers, with all support services (lifts, ventilation, etc.) suspended outside. Recognised as a masterpiece of exoskeleton architecture.

London Metal Exchange

The LME is the leading centre for non-ferrous metals trading. It is also the last financial market in London which still retains open outcry trading.

Menier Chocolate Factory

Restaurant, theatre, gallery and bar. This small theatre adjacent to Borough Market has done spectacularly well with revivals of musicals, including Sunday in the Park with George and A Little Night Music both by Stephen Sondheim and which ran in the West End and on Broadway.

Museum of London

Now permanently closed, will be replaced by new museum at the former Smithfield market site in 2026. The Museum of London Docklands remains open.

Padella

Daily fresh handmade pasta in a two-level restaurant right by the entrance of Borough Market. Watch the chefs prepare dishes in the open kitchen on the main floor. Listed as a Michelin Bib Gourmand (2020) since 2016. No reservations are taken and queues can start before doors open, so go early or near closing.

Mon-Sat noon-3:45PM, 5-10PM; Sun noon-3:45PM, 5-9PM·Pasta £5-10 (Feb 2020)

Portobello Road Market

During the week this is the place to go to buy your fruit and veg but on Fridays and Saturdays there are hundreds of stalls selling clothes, antiques, jewellery and lots more.

Rokit

A proud upshoot that took its roots from Camden market and now has four high street stores across London.

Seven Dials Market

A nice shopping plaza with clothes shops, design shops and cafes.

Smithfield Market

Smithfield Market is London's largest wholesale meat market and hence a great source of fresh meat from Britain and around the world. Additionally, there are many good restaurants in the vicinity.

Mon-Fri 3AM-noon

Smiths of Smithfield

Grade II listed four-floor restaurant in Smithfield Market. Opening hours listed are for top-floor restaurant and terrace. Ground floor cafe and bar open longer hours: M-F 7AM-5PM; Sa Su 9:30AM-5PM.

Mon-Fri noon-3PM, 6-11PM; Sat 6-11PM·Main meal from £16

Southbank Book Market

Second-hand book sale near the bank of the Thames. A nice place to just browse for books (classic and modern), maps and prints.

Daily 10AM–7PM

Southbank Centre

Large 1960s development on the South Bank. Built largely of concrete, views on its architectural merits vary considerably. Presents a varied programme of music, literature, dance, performances and exhibitions on contemporary art and culture at its venues the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Hayward. A host of new eateries and shops have now opened along the riverside and terrace. The Royal Festival Hall hosts almost daily classical music concerts throughout the year, tickets often available on the day. The Royal Festival Hall opened in 1951 and was substantially altered in 1964. Its 2007 renovation held true to its 1960s design. Free events are held daily, ranging from free music to festivals, interactive art installations to the popular slow food market.

Southbank Centre Food Market

Dozens of market stalls selling fresh food. Each trader at this market is required to produce both ethical and sustainable products.

Fri noon–8PM, Sat 11AM–8PM, Sun noon–6PM

Southwark Cathedral

Not as popular with tourists as St Paul's north of the river, Southwark Cathedral has been the site of worship since the year 852. Literally in the shadow of London Bridge, the Cathedral is a shelter from the noise of the city. Next to the Cathedral is the Borough Market open Th-Sa with a wide range of speciality food to buy, a good area for lunch.

Spitalfields Market

Just outside the City and owned by the City of London Corporation

Once a large thriving market, it has slowly been shrunk to a third of its size by development in the area. It features a good variety of clothing, crafts and food stalls/shops. Rather promisingly sellers have set up another market in a new space off Hanbury St nearby. Visit 66/68 Bell Lane nearby to see a wealthy merchant's house, rumour has it John Lennon once played on the roof of this building with Yoko Ono.

Mon–Fri 10AM–5PM; Sat 11AM–17PM; Sun 9AM–5PM