London has more than its fair share of iconic markets, but one that stands out from all the rest and that everyone should visit at least once is Camden Market. Going to Camden Market over the years has become something of a weekend ritual for both locals and visitors to the city. Miss going to Camden Market on Saturday or Sunday, and somehow the weekend just isn’t quite the same.
To keep things simple, drop off any unneeded bags at a Camden Market luggage storage before you start browsing. With the crowds and all the new purchases you’re going to make, you’ll be glad you did.
Where Is Camden Market?
Camden Market is in a neighbourhood of London known as Camden Town. It’s an old neighbourhood and, aesthetically, definitely not one of the prettiest, but it does have a great atmosphere.Â
Camden Town is one of the more Bohemian areas of the city, so once you’re there, be prepared for a few unusual sights. It’s the sort of place where no dress code applies, and that’s something that’s often taken to the extreme by the more artistic people in the community.
How Do You Get To Camden Market?
If you’re feeling energetic and are in the Regent’s Park area of London, then you can get to Camden Market on foot. A 35-minute stroll along Regent’s Park Road will get you there as long as you head in the right direction.Â
From other, further flung parts of the city, you’ll find the Northern Line of the London underground the most convenient to use. Get off at either the Camden Town, Chalk Farm, or Mornington Crescent stations, and once you’ve got back up to surface level again, you’ll be within a short walking distance of all there is to see.
Once you’re back above ground, all you need to do is find Chalk Farm Road or Camden High Street. Don’t worry if you can’t see any signs. The flow of the crowds will carry you in the right direction.
When Is Camden Market On?
There is only one day of the year that the traders at Camden Market actually shut up shop and take the day off, and that’s the 25th of December. The other 364 days it’s always business as usual.Â
Business as usual in Camden Market means seven days a week from around ten in the morning until six in the evening, so you’ll have plenty of time to have a good look around. While trading does go on every day, if you’re not into large crowds, go during the week. At weekends visitors can number in the hundreds of thousands.
What Are The Camden Markets?
Go to Camden Market, and you’ll soon discover there’s actually more than one market. There are several, but as they all seem to merge into one, they can be difficult to define. Don’t worry though, not knowing one from the other won’t spoil your shopping experience.
Camden Lock Market – Camden Lock Market extends alongside part of Regent’s Canal. You’ll find Camden Lock Market at the northern end of Camden High Street. It’s hard to miss as the huge signage painted on the railway bridge is a pretty big giveaway that you’re heading in the right direction.
The Stables Market –
There’s less than a five-minute walk between Camden Lock Market and the Stables Market on Chalk Farm Road. They are, in fact, so close you might not notice you’ve gone from one to the other if it weren’t for the enormous, black-painted wrought iron gates marking the entrance to the Stables Market.
Buck Street Market – Buck Street Market will be the first market you come across if you arrive in Camden on the underground and get off at the Camden Town Underground Station. Buck Street is one of the side streets that runs off Camden High Street, so you’ll have no difficulty finding it.
Inverness Street Market – Make a left instead of a right off Camden High Street after emerging from the underground, and you’ll find yourself at the Inverness Street Market rather than the Buck Street one. Is there much difference between the two? They’re both stall after stall after stall and lots of shops, so no, not much difference at all.
Where Can You Eat At Camden Market?
Whether the weather is good or bad when you need food, head for Hawley Wharf. Hawley Wharf is on Water Lane, which is a side street that runs off Camden High Street. You’ll come across it after you cross over the Regent’s Canal. It is in the opposite direction to Camden Lock Market, but when you’re hungry, you’re hungry.
At Hawley Wharf, there’s a covered food market full of independent food vendors that cater to all tastes, diets, and budgets. The great thing is, if the weather is bad, you can eat inside. If the weather is good, you can get something to grab and go and eat by the canalside.
There is also a surplus of pubs, cafes, and restaurants on Camden High Street and Inverness Street, as well as a good variety of food stalls in Camden Lock Market. This is not somewhere you’ll be going hungry for long.
Is There Anything Else Worth Seeing In Camden Town?
While you’re wandering around Camden Markets, you’ll want to take a look at the Amy Winehouse statue, which is located in the Stables Market on Chalk Farm Road. Humphrey the Cat is a fun sculpture in the Alf Barrett Playground that’s also worth taking a look at, but the best and most eye-catching works of art are on Camden High Street. Check out the dragon on the facade of the Max Orient Chinese restaurant and the facade of the two buildings next to it. They really sum up the artistic spirit and diversity that exists in Camden Town.