Market atmosphere and buzz
You can’t beat the atmosphere and buzz of the markets in the United Kingdom. Which is a unique experience where you can take your time to walk around and browse for bargains.
A unique experience where you can take your time to walk around and browse for bargains.
You will find clothing, shoes, handbags, fresh produce, fresh fish, arts and crafts, and many other items. You can also make a day of it and treat the family to some of the delicious freshly made foods that are available.
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.
The modern markets are regulated by the City and 32 London boroughs. Many have become ‘general markets’ proffering a range of goods.
Borough Market, London
Borough Market is a wholesale and retail market hall in Southwark, London, England. It is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, with a market on the site dating back to at least the 12th century. It is located on Southwark Street and Borough High Street just south of Southwark Cathedral on the southern end of London Bridge.
St Nicholas Market, Bristol
St Nicholas Market, also known as St Nicks Market, has Bristol’s largest collection of independent retailers. They were also named Britain’s Best Large Indoor Market in 2016. Its is a market in Corn Street, Bristol, England in The Exchange in the Bristol City Centre. It is also home to the Bristol Farmers’ Market, the Nails Market, and the Slow Food Market, all of which are located in front of the Exchange.
Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road is a street in the Notting Hill district of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in west London. It runs almost the length of Notting Hill from south to north, roughly parallel with Ladbroke Grove. On Saturdays it is home to Portobello Road Market, one of London’s notable street markets, known for its second-hand clothes, pastries and antiques. Every August since 1996, the Portobello Film Festival has been held in locations around Portobello Road and in 2015, Portobello Radio was founded as the area’s community radio station.
Camden Market
The Camden markets are a number of adjoining large retail markets, often collectively referred to as Camden Market or Camden Lock, located in the historic former Pickford’s stables, in Camden Town, London. It is situated north of the Hampstead Road Lock of the Regent’s Canal (popularly referred to as Camden Lock). Famed for their cosmopolitan image, products sold on the stalls include crafts, clothing, bric-a-brac, and fast food. It is the fourth-most popular visitor attraction in London, attracting approximately 250,000 people each week.
A small local foodstuffs market has operated in Inverness Street in Camden Town since the beginning of the 20th century. On 30 March 1974 a small weekly crafts market that operated every Sunday near Camden Lock developed into a large complex of markets. The markets, originally temporary stalls only, extended to a mixture of stalls and fixed premises. The traditional Inverness Street market started losing stalls once local supermarkets opened; by mid-2013 all the original stalls had gone, being replaced by stalls similar to those of the other markets, including fast food but not produce.
The markets originally operated on Sundays only, which continues to be the main trading day. Opening later extended to Saturdays for most of the market. A number of traders, mainly those in fixed premises, operate throughout the week, although the weekend remains the peak period.
Covent Garden
Things to see in and around Covent Garden include the London Transport Museum, the Royal Opera House, Somerset House and Covent Garden Market. There are several smaller areas within Covent Garden that are worth exploring such as the The Opera Quarter, St Martin’s Courtyard, Seven Dials, Neal’s Yard and Floral Street.
Bullring Market Birmingham
The Bull Ring is a major shopping centre in central Birmingham. When combined with Grand Central (to which it is connected via a link bridge) it is the United Kingdom’s largest city centre based shopping centre and has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages, when its market was first held.
Two shopping centres have been built in the area, in the 1960s, and then in 2003.
The site is located on the edge of the Sandstone city ridge which results in the steep gradient towards Digbeth.
The slope drops approximately 15 metres from New Street to St Martin’s Church which is very visible near the church.
