Camden Markets

by Mathilde (March 12, 2004)

If you spend a few days visiting London, I advise you to go to Camden Markets. Situated in the northern part, they are the most well-known markets of the capital. If you are teenagers or/and if you like fashion, you will certainly enjoy them. You can also go there to discover another aspect of London.

You can get to Camden by Tube on the Northern Line or by Waterbus from Little Venice. When you arrive, you will be surprised by the atmosphere of the area. First, you can walk in the main street, decorated by original shops with big colourful signboards as a big jeans hung above the front door of a shop selling - obviously - trousers or a three-metre-high rocking chair for a furniture shop. However the most pleasant for those who like going shopping are the various markets on both sides of the main street and by the canal which crosses Camden.

A little history

In 1791, Earl Camden began to develop the agricultural lands in Camden, an area quite far from the city. But in 1820, the opening of the Regent's canal (suggested by Thomas Homer in 1802) enabled goods to be moved by barge more easily from the industrial Midlands to the London docks. Actually, henceforth, the Grand Junction Canal at Paddington and the River Thames at Limehouse was linked. The barges carrying goods on the canal were originally pulled by horses along the towpath. A bridge used by these horses to cross the canal still survives. Little by little, warehouses and other businesses were constructed along the canal. In the 1950s, the canal fell into decline because of the development of road transport. At the same time, the industrial activity of Camden decreased. In 1972, three young men decided to transform the former warehouse into small craft workshops, and soon afterwards a weekend market was started. The market's emphasis was on traditional crafts, but soon it included a wide variety of goods as antiques, clothes or food. This market began to attract a lot of Londoners and tourists. Later, numerous renovations were made to create several markets we can enjoy nowadays.

With the Camden Lock Market, it's the biggest market with in total around 350 shops and trade stalls. You can find various things as colourful clothes, goods from the whole world (as Asiatic...), jewellery, CDs, goods on sales and what you need to decorate your home (paintings, mirrors...). Everything to appeal to people of all ages and tastes !

Here, if you feel like a big peckish you can enjoy a huge choice of hot and cold food from the many units which offer you food from almost all countries of the world (Chinese, Indian, Italian food...). I must advise you, if you come before 11 am, to avoid this area because the mixture of the smells of their preparations can be unappetizing...

The other markets

Canal market : About 150 stalls sell fashion accessories, recorded music, computer games, clothing, jewellery...You have a view of the canal and the former warehouses from this market.

Buck street market : You can meet stallholders selling their own designs of jewellery and clothing among the 200 stalls.

Inverness street : Before, you found fruits and vegetables. Now it's for clothing, footwear and souvenirs. And you can eat in excellent continental restaurants.

The horse hospital : Before, it was a stable to look after the injured horses pulling canal barges. Nowadays, you can buy antiques and collectables there... Stables having been kept, the setting is very beautiful.

Electric Ballroom : On Sundays, there are 60 stalls to buy clothing, music...

All markets are open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until at least 6 p.m.

To conclude, it's an amazing place. Not to be missed!

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