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One of my favourite things to do on a weekend is to potter around a market, have breakfast, lunch or dinner (delete as appropriate to the time of day) and then head home, armed with enough tasty treats to see me through until Monday and possibly a bunch of flowers to prettify my flat.
The market I visit most often is Hackney’s Broadway Market, conveniently located as it is just around the corner from Stretch, my favourite yoga studio. It’s on every Saturday between 9am and 5pm and my Saturday mornings often consist of a yoga class followed by brekkie at the market (Climpson’s coffee and a bacon buttie if Friday night involved alcohol, a juice and something involving vegetables if it didn’t). Over the years Broadway Market has become so popular it’s overspilled into Netil Yard to form Netil Market, and more stalls line the street between the two. On a sunny Saturday it gets so busy as to risk disrupting my hard-won yoga zen, and so I like to be on my way home by late morning.
I didn’t make it to Broadway Market last Saturday and, in need of my market fix, on the Sunday I cycled along the Regent’s Canal to check out Wapping Market, one of London’s newest weekend markets. Held every Sunday between 10am and 2pm next to the former power station, it’s a food-focussed market, run by the people behind Brockley Market.
The day I visited the stalls included Ruby Violet (ice creams), Mother Flipper Burgers (burgers, obviously), Crosstown Doughnuts (posh doughnuts with flavours such as berry compote, crème brûlée and espresso custard), Dosa Deli (Asian inspired veggie food), Le Grappin (wines from Burgundy which you can buy by the glass or refillable bottle), plus three cheese stalls, two fruit and veg stalls, a juice stand and more.
After walking round the market (more than once) to give me time to decide what to have I finally plumped for a veggie wrap with coconut chutney from Dosa Deli (very good and they sweetly threw in a masala doughnut for me to try for free). In exchange for a photograph of their stall the guys at Le Grappin insisted I try some wine, which I duly did (they were very persuasive) and I can confirm that the white is very drinkable. I was so full after my dosa wrap I didn’t have room for anything else, but I guess that just means I’ll have to go again…
Tip: Take cash, it took me such a long time to locate a cash machine in the area I felt like I deserved a Duke of Edinburgh Award for my efforts.
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{Five To Try}
Borough Market
What The foodies’ favourite market
When Wednesday and Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 8am-5pm
Get there London Bridge tubeBroadway Market
What Mostly food, plus homewares, fashion and jewellery
When Saturdays from 9am-5pm
Get there Bethnal Green tube or Cambridge Heath Road overgroundChatsworth Road
What Mostly food, some homewares
When Sundays 11am-4pm
Get there Homerton overground or Clapton overgroundColumbia Road
What Flowers, plants and excellent patter from the stallholders
When Sundays from 8am-3ish
Get there Bethnal Green or Liverpool Street tubesWapping Market
What Mostly food
When Sundays from 10am-2pm
Get there Wapping Overground or Shadwell Overground/DLR
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Are you a market fan too? What’s your favourite market, in London, the UK or further afield? Do share!
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Ooh I love a market, especially a foodie one! Borough market is one of my favourite places in the world and I don’t even live in London! I’m going to London for 2 days as part of my honeymoon in October, does anyone know one happening on Monday or Tuesday?
I love Borough Market too Mairi! Time Out have a day by day guide to markets in London, Monday and Tuesday links below http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/monday-markets-in-london http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/tuesday-markets-in-london
I hit Ridley Road market in Dalston every Saturday – it is a proper traditional market though, no artisan food stalls here – all fruit, veg and home wares. And while it may not be that relaxing it is incredible value! It all depends what they can get in and it is seasonal so you can never 100% count on them having stuff but typical prices are 2 punnets of blueberries or raspberries for £1, pineapples £1, last week 6 x avocados were £1, 6!!! We have been going to the same stall for veg for 3 years now and it’s nice to have a chat with the same man and he does us incredible deals – 2 carrier bags of veg is usually about £6!
I also like the covered market at Greenwich for crafts and gifts. Lots of lovely things to make you part with your cash there!
I’ve never been to Ridley Road market Bryony but with those prices I’ll be heading there for sure. Six avocados for £1 – brilliant! I haven’t been to Greenwich market for ages, one to head to on my bike the next sunny weekend.
I’m a big fan of Maltby Street market! Great Antique stores and food stalls 🙂
I’ve heard good things about Maltby Street market Laura. Is it on Saturdays and Sundays?
Borough Market is usual a must visit when I’m in London but on our last trip we headed to Street Feast at Dalston Yard http://www.streetfeastlondon.com/ as my hubbie does street food up here in Edinburgh.
It was really fab – I highly recommend it. It’s only on during summer on a Friday and Saturday night I think 5pm – midnight. Lots of choice, lots of different bars and a great atmosphere. I really wish we had a “destination” street food market up here.
Big fan of Street Feast too Lynn! It moved to another location during the winter and had the best mulled drinks. They’re doing the food and drink at the Battersea Power Station through August. I haven’t been yet, but it’s on the to do list!