Whether you are on a business tour or an a leisure trip with friends or family, one thing is for sure no matter how much you try one can never squeeze out from a trip to the markets. No wonder, then that a trip to the markets now forms an inherent part of any trip and you now have package tours designed specially centred around markets and shopping festivals – The Dubai Shopping Festival and the Malaysian Shopping Festivals being such examples.

One such market which attracts people in thousands and is in the list of must visit places is the Camden Market of London. The largest street market in the UK, Camden’s group of markets attracts around 500,000 visitors each week and is the fourth most-visited tourist attraction in London. The market located in the town of Camden near the Hampstead Road Lock of the Regent’s Canal comprises of various markets like Camden Lock Market, Camden Stables Market, Camden Canal Market, Inverness Street Market, and Camden (Buck Street) Market and collectively go the name – Camden Market or more popularly “Camden Lock”.

A shopper’s paradise, the history of Camden and of its market can be traced back to 1800’s when the Earl of Camden developed the land around Camden High Street as a stop off point to Hampstead. This was followed by the construction of the Regent’s Canal in 1870’s, which linked the Grand Junction Canal at Paddington with the River Thames at Limehouse and enabled goods to be moved by barge more easily from the industrial Midlands to the London docks. This continued till the 1950’s when road transport killed off most of the waterway traffic, and the canals fell into decline. However, the fortunes of Camden underwent a sea change when a craft market was established in Camden Lock Market in 1974. What initially started as a small craft bazaar gradually grew in scope and size. Apart from traditional crafts, the market started to deal in a wide variety of goods including antiques, and clothing with a scattering of food stalls. Soon the market began to attract many people- both Londoners as well as the tourists who started to make a beeline to the place largely because of the goods sold as well as its location. Boat trips and walks along the canal become a popular attraction of Camden Lock.

As the fame of market grew, new markets soon opened up. These were the Camden Stables market, which became an important centre of alternative fashion scene; the Camden Buck Street market and the Electric Ballroom and the Inverness Street Market, a century old street market famous for fresh produce and foodstuffs. These markets are now home to designer workshops, stalls, shops, cafes, restaurants and bars selling an extensive array of high quality goods from designer, alternative & vintage clothing and accessories like furnishings, antiques, jewellery etc. Once done with the shopping, visitors can either hop on the tube/ bus or stroll down to Regent’s Park & Queen Mary’s Gardens to admire London’s most beautiful park; Primrose Hill for some hip cafes & boutiques and even take a scenic trip along Regent’s Canal.

Getting to the market is easy as Camden is well connected with the rest of London. Camden Town or Chalk Farm is the nearest tube station. The market is open seven days a week with most footfalls happening on the weekend.

Opening Times:

• Camden Lock Market: 10:00-18:00 7 days, off Chalk Farm Road
• Stables Market: 10:00-18:00 7 days, off Chalk Farm Road
• Camden (Buck Street) Market: Thu-Sun 10:00-17:30, Camden High Street, junction with Buck Street
• Camden Canal Market: Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00, off Chalk Farm Road

A trip to Camden Market will ensure that you never come back empty ended. If not goods, you will definitely come back with great memories.