List of markets in London

Borough Market

This is a list of markets in London. Greater London is home to a wealth of covered, outdoor and street markets. Many specialise in a particular type of goods or sell different things on different days. Most open very early in the morning and close early or late afternoon.

Markets in London have their origins in the middle ages and ancient charter; set up to serve the population of the City of London. Over time, some emerged as wholesale markets serving specific market segments — such as the sale of vegetables, meat, or fish. With an expanding metropolis in the 18th and 19th centuries, street markets were set up to meet the needs of the new suburbs. With the introduction of trams on the streets of London, these were moved (sometimes forcibly) into neighbouring side streets, or new covered markets.^[1]

The modern markets are regulated by the City and 32 London boroughs. Many have become 'general markets' serving a range of goods.^[1]

Wholesale markets

Smithfield Market is the main meat wholesale market for London.

These markets have ancient origins and connections with the City of London. Some have moved from their original locations within the city boundaries but most continue to be operated by the City of London Corporation. Their previous sites have :^[2]

• New Covent Garden Market is the largest fruit, vegetable and flower market in the UK. With over 200 businesses, employing over 2,500 people, the Market supplies 40% of the fresh fruit & vegetables eaten outside of the home in London and is used by 75% of London florists.^[3] With a large range of food businesses, including traditional wholeslaers, wholesale distributors and food processors, NCGM serves many of London’s best restaurants and hotels, cafés and bars, schools, hospitals and work places as well as independent retailers and street markets.
• Borough Market is located in The Borough, just south of London Bridge. The market was established on London Bridge and is first recorded in 1014. It has been in several locations, but moved to its present site in 1870. It was owned by the City Corporation and was transferred to an independent trust in 1999.^[4] It still operates as a wholesale market, but when this closes it sells sundry food items.^[1] Hours Fruit wholesale 4am-8am Monday — Friday. Farmers' Market 12 noon - 5pm Friday, 10am - 4pm Saturday.
• Old Billingsgate Market, a fish market, relocated in 1982^[5] to Billingsgate Market, Poplar.^[6] The original river facing building is now used as a hospitality and events venue.
• Leadenhall Market, a food-centred market, continues to operate with many of the market spaces converted to retail outlets.^[7]
• Smithfield Market is a meat market that was originally a live cattle market.^[8]
• Spitalfields Market, a food market which relocated in 1991^[9] to New Spitalfields Market, Leyton.^[10] The original market site is still used as a market selling fashion, art and design, food and vintage goods and is part of a revival of the surrounding area.

Notable markets

These are other wholesale markets and those popular with tourists, mainly in Central London:

• Bermondsey Market is located on Tower Bridge Road in Bermondsey, South London, and deals primarily with antiques, originally sold under the rules of market overt.^[1] Hours: 4am - 12 noon Friday.

• Brick Lane Market, at the northern end of Brick Lane and along Cheshire Street in East London. The market developed in the 17th century for fruit and vegetables. With the arrival of Jewish immigrants, it began to operate on Sundays.^[11] Today, it sells food and general bric-a-brac, on Sundays, before 2pm.

• Camden Lock Market, usually referred to simply as "Camden Market", is next to Regent's Canal in Camden Town, North West London. It sells general goods, music, collectables, military-surplus, jewellery, incense and clothing.^[1]

• Camden Passage Market, on Islington High Street and Camden Passage, has its origins in the 1960s when small shop and stall holders banded together to form the market.^[12] Two markets dealing in antiques and collectables. Wednesdays and Saturdays are good to visit for the antiques, Thursday is the book market, more recently fashion/accessories stalls come on Fridays and mixed craft/fashion/antiques on Sundays.

• Columbia Road market originated in the 19th century. It became a flower market to sell produce on Sunday - leftover from nearby Spitalfields.^[13] It is between Bethnal Green and Shoreditch in East London. Hours: 9am - 12noon Sunday.

• Inverness Street Market, For over 100 years Inverness Street Market has been a traditional street market, with stalls selling fruit and vegetables. Also situated on Camden it now has many more stalls selling clothes, trinkets and other cheap products ^[14].

• Covent Garden Market located in the West End, was originally a flower market, now relocated to New Covent Garden Market, Vauxhall in south London.^[15] The original building is now a shopping and tourist area with some shops, and there is an indoor market containing stalls selling jewellery, speciality soaps, tourist souvenirs, etc.^[16]

• Greenwich Market, located in Greenwich, South East London, deals in antiques, arts, and crafts.^[17]

• Petticoat Lane Market is located on Wentworth Street and Middlesex Street in East London, and sells clothing.

• Portobello Road Market sells antiques, and is located in the Notting Hill area of West London. Hours: Saturday.^[18]

• Old Spitalfields Market is located on Commercial Street in East London. Spitalfields Market is one of London's busiest areas on Sundays with hundreds of market stalls specialising in fashion, art, design and vintage with restaurants and food. Old Spitalfields Market ^[19] is located in the original, historic Victorian Market Hall built in 1887 and the new Traders Market ^[20] is in the redeveloped western end of the site, on Crispin Street. Old Spitalfields Market is open 6 days a week, busiest day Sunday.

Other markets

These markets tend to be less visited by tourists but are used regularly by local residents. Some are of a comparable size to the more renowned markets:

East Street Market

• Archway market, which sells general goods on Thursdays and goods and food on Saturdays, is located near Archway Station
• Battersea High Street market, which sells food and general goods, is located in Battersea
• Bermondsey Farmers' Market, a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Market takes place every Saturday morning on Bermondsey Square
• Berwick Street Market is a small general goods market in the heart of Soho, central London.
• Blackheath Farmers' Market, a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Market takes place every Sunday morning in Blackheath station car park
• The Blue is the central Bermondsey market selling food and cloths, open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm.
• Brixton Arts & Craft Market, first Sunday of the month, with a focus on artists and designer/makers. Located in Brixton, South London.
• Brixton Market, which sells food, is located in Brixton, South London.^[1]
• Brixton Farmers' Market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets takes place every Sunday morning Brixton Station Road
• Broadgate Farmers' Market, a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Market open on Thursday mornings Finsbury Town Square, Broadgate
• Broadway Market, Hackney, modern revival of ancient market (Saturdays).
• Chapel Market, a food and general goods market, is located in Islington, North London.
• Chrisp Street Market, a general goods market, is located in Poplar, East London.
• Church Street Market, a general goods market of over 200 stalls operating Monday to Saturday, located off Edgware Road, in the City of Westminster.
• Deptford Market, which deals in food and antiques, is located in Deptford, South East London.
• Ealing Farmers' Market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Market every Saturday morning Leeland Rd West Ealing
• Earlham Street Market, selling T-shirts, clothing and food products, near Seven Dials in Central London.^[21]
• East Ham Market Hall, is a covered market in East Ham, off High Street North.
• East Street Market, a market that sells food and other sundry goods, is located in Walworth, South London.
• Exmouth Market, located in Clerkenwell in East London, sells food (cheeses, bread, patisserie, fruit and vegetables) and crafts on Fridays and Saturdays. It is one of London's newest markets.
• Goodge Place Market is a small 4-5 stall market catering mainly for office-workers during lunchtime.
• Hay's Galleria Market is a 7- barrow market with its own resident artist, selling jewellery, souvenirs, tourist apparel and art. Open 7 days a week, 364 days of the year. Established 1987.
• Hildreth Street market is another food and general goods market, which is located in Balham, South London.
• Islington Farmers' Market the first in London. Organised by London Farmers Markets, every Sunday Penton St end of Chapel Market NI
• Kingston upon Thames in south-west London has two markets. The Kingston Market is open from Monday to Saturday and sells food and while the weekly Monday Market sells clothes and household items.
• Leather Lane market, located in Holborn, central London. Sells clothing, fruit and vegetables, and general goods. Used mainly by office workers during lunchtime.
• Lewisham market, located in Lewisham High Street, south-east London, sells fruit and vegetables, and general goods.
• Lower Marsh Market sells general goods, and is located adjacent to Waterloo Station, central London.
• Marylebone farmers' market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets every Sunday morning Moxon St car park W1
• Merton Abbey Mills is an arts and crafts market which runs every weekend with over 100 market stalls selling jewellery, clothing, art, toys and gifts. It is located on the A24 Merantun Way near Colliers Wood tube station.
• Nine Elms Sunday Market, a market that sundry goods in Vauxhall, with over 1000 stalls (behind Sainsburys supermarket).
• North End Road Market, a market that sells fruit and vegetables, food and other sundry goods, is located in Fulham, South-West London.
• Notting Hill Farmers' Market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets every Saturday morning in the carp park behind Waterstones off Kensington Church St W11
• Northcote Road market, located near Clapham Junction, Battersea, South London, sells food and general goods.
• Parliament Hill Farmers' Market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets every Saturday morning William Ellis School, Highgate Rd NW5
• Pimlico Road Farmers' Marketa Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets every Saturday morning Orange Square off Pimlico Road & Ebury St SW1
• Queen's Crescent Market located in Gospel Oak, north London. Sells cheap electrical items, African foods, and cheap clothes, largely tracksuits, hooded tops and trainers.
• Queens Park Farmers' Market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets every Sunday morning Salusbury School, Salusbury Road NW6
• Queens Road Market located on Green Street, in Upton Park in East London is a large market selling a variety of foods from all over the world in particular the Indian sub-continent.^[1]
• South Kensington Farmers' Market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets every Saturday morning Bute St SW7
• Swiss Cottage Farmers' Market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets every Wednesday morning Eton Avenue NW3
• Rathbone Market located beside the Somerfield in Canning Town, East London, is a small Thursday morning market selling textiles and bric-à-brac. It is also open on Good Friday (when it extends up the Barking Road). There are also a few limited stalls on Tuesdays.
• Ridley Road Market is located in Dalston, East London, and sells food (particularly fish) and general goods.
• Romford Market is located in Romford, East London, selling food and general goods.
• Shepherd's Bush Market sells food and assorted goods, and is located in Shepherd's Bush, West London
• Strutton Ground Market, located off Victoria Street, SW1, central London.
• Surrey Street Market has a Royal Charter dating back to 1276 linking it to the Archbishop of Canterbury. It sells vegetables and meat as well as a range of other items throughout the week and it is a regularly used film location for TV, film and advertising. Located in Croydon, South London.
• Tooting Market in Tooting is a daily market selling food as well as a variety of household goods including fabrics, furniture and pets
• Twickenham Farmers' Market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets every Saturday morning Holly Rd car park TW1
• Sunday UpMarket is located on Brick Lane within the historic Old Truman Brewery complex in east London near Spitalfields. A newer market focusing on products created by young designers and unusual international foods
• Walthamstow market is located in Walthamstow, East London. It is the longest market in Europe, and sells food, clothing, and assorted goods.
• Walthamstow Farmers' Market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets every Sunday morning High St by Town Square E17
• The Waste is a market held every Saturday morning along Kingsland Road, between the old Metropolitan Hospital and Dalston Lane, East London.
• Wimbledon Farmers' Market a Certified farmers' market run by London Farmers' Markets every Saturday morning Wimbledon Park First School, Havana Road SW19
• Well Street Market in Hackney, East London sells fruit and fresh veg as well as clothing and general goods.
• Wembley Market in Wembley, North London sells a wide variety of goods ranging from fruit and vegetables to luggage, fabric and clothes.
• Whitechapel market in Tower Hamlets sells fruit and fresh veg as well as clothing and general goods, and is currently being further developed.
• Whitecross Street Market is located off Old Street, EC1. A small street hidden between the LSO, St Lukes and the Barbican.

Former markets

• Shepherd Market in Mayfair was developed by Edward Shepherd in the mid-18th century; it is now an exclusive square.

• Fleet Market (1736–1829)
• Farringdon Market (1829–1880)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Off street markets (20th century London, Museum of London) accessed 30 September 2009
2. ^ Markets (Corporation of London) accessed 30 September 2009
3. ^ New Covent Garden Market website
4. ^ History of Borough Market (Official website) accessed 30 September 2009
5. ^ History of Billingsgate (Corporation of London) accessed 30 September 2009
6. ^ Billingsgate Market (Corporation of London) accessed 30 September 2009
7. ^ Leadenhall Market (Corporation of London) accessed 30 September 2009
8. ^ Smithfield Market (Corporation of London) accessed 30 September 2009
9. ^ History of Spitalfields (Corporation of London) accessed 30 September 2009
10. ^ New Spitalfields Market (Corporation of London) accessed 30 September 2009
11. ^ Rachel Lichtenstein On Brick Lane (Penguin, 2008) ISBN 0141018518
12. ^ Folder/aboutus.htm Camden Passage (Official website) accessed 30 September 2009
13. ^ Bethnal Green: Building and Social Conditions from 1837 to 1875, A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 11: Stepney, Bethnal Green (1998), pp. 120-126. accessed: 30 September 2009
14. ^ Inverness Street Market>
15. ^ New Covent Garden Market (Covent Garden Market Authority) accessed 1 October 2009
16. ^ The Covent Garden Market (In and around Covent Garden) accessed 1 October 2009
17. ^ History of Greenwich Market (Greenwich Hospital Trust) accessed 1 October 2009
18. ^ Portobello Market (Portobello Market) accessed 1 October 2009
19. ^ "Old Spitalfields Market" (Official website) accessed 17 March 2011
20. ^ "Spitalfields Market" (Spitalfields E1) accessed 15th May 2010
21. ^ http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=charlotte+street&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=&hnear=Charlotte+St,+London+W1T,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.51355,-0.128521&spn=0.001078,0.005193&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.513573,-0.128745&panoid=hluCBt8_SK573wE2BN-E0Q&cbp=12,74.45,,0,8.07

External links

• Article on Farmers' markets in London