Top 5 London Markets

Loads of visitors to London head for the tourist drags of the West End like Oxford Street but London also has many markets that not only have a wide range of wares on offer but also take the visitor to parts of the city they may not otherwise get to see:

Borough Market is held beneath railway arches that branch out from London Bridge Station. This setting has made the area a popular location for film shoots and Bridget Jones amongst other had scenes filmed here. Borough market is a wholesale farmer's market heldd every Saturday with a great range of fresh produce such as vegetables and British cheeses (Neal's Yard Dairy). After a hard morning slogging around the stalls why not make a beeline for the nearby George Inn (77 Borough High Street, SE1) for a relaxing drink.

Camden Market is a major tourist attraction. Here you can buy clothes, antiques, music (including tonnes of bootlegged stuff), candles (lots of candles), healing crystals and other assorted New Age nick-nackery. Some people insist it used to be a lot better but even 15 years ago you still had to rummage through piles of tat before finding something worth buying. That's half the fun. Camden Town is also well known for its buzzing night life.

Columbia Road Flower Market is a great place to floral pottering. Located close to Shoreditch tube this is a very nice way to spend a Sunday morning. The Market's on between, 9am and midday and there are plenty of lunch options in thelocal area.

Covent Garden. Now that you've got into the market habit why not visit the former convents garden, just off the Strand. You may be none the wiser as to it's popularity since it's so expensive and quality is mixed. But the market area is fringed by some nice shops and the London Transport Museum Shop is good for London souvenirs.

Greenwich Market. You can get there with the Docklands Light Railway but a boat ride is a great way to get to Greenwich (ferries depart regularly from Embankment), a really nice part of London. There is a lot to see here, apart from the Market which sells arts and crafts, books and clothes.