free things to see and do in London
Wandering around a London market is a fun way to spend a day. And its free.
There are hundreds of markets to choose from, ranging from local street markets that sell everyday household items through to specialist markets and popular tourist markets.
Whether you want to buy or browse, they are great fun to explore.
Local Markets
A typical example of an English market, with stalls selling fruit, vegetables, clothes, electrical and household goods, all in a narrow street.
Open: Tuesday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 6.30pm, Sunday 8am to 2pm
Nearest underground station: Elephant and Castle (then walk down Walworth road)
Chapel Market is a traditional street market, selling products ranging from fruit and vegetables, fish, bargain household goods and clothes.
Open: Tuesday to Wednesday, Friday to Saturday: 9am to 3.30pm, Thursday, Sunday 9am to 1pm
Nearest underground station: Angel
Petticoat Lane occupies the streets and lanes around Middlesex Street, in the City.
It is renowned for clothing and leather goods and holds over 1,000 stalls on Sundays. You can buy fashion clothes, CDs, books and artwork and there are many shops and cafes in the roads around the market.
Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm and on Sundays from 9am to 3pm
Nearest underground stations: Aldgate East/ Aldgate/ Liverpool Street
Brick Lane Market offers an interesting mix of fruit and vegetables, clothes and household goods.
On Sundays, there is also a market in the nearby Old Truman Brewery where designers sell everything from fashion to jewellery and art direct to the public.
Open: Sundays from 8am to 3pm
Nearest underground station: Aldgate East
A traditional street market offering ethnic food from around the world and selling fish, fruit and veg, meat, groceries, carpets and more.
Open: Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm
Nearest underground station: Shepherds Bush
A practical street market, useful for picking up cheap household items. The market also sells Sari fabrics, eastern silk fashions, bedding and so on.
Open: Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm
Nearest underground station: Whitechapel
Comments about local markets