Two London Markets

Hello treasure hunters! We were recently in London and I wanted to share a little info on a couple of the markets we encountered. First is the Apple Market at Covent Garden. Vendors are there in the arcade all week and they sell lots of fun stuff for just about every budget. Local artists sell handmade jewelry and greeting cards; others are loaded with vintage phones, antique typewriters and military memorabilia. But every Monday a collection of additional booths is set up and they peddle lots of nifty stuff. Dealers sell everything from cigarette cards to vintage china and so much more. Items and prices run the gamut from dirt    cheap to take-out-a-second-mortgage expensive.

It’s close to the Covent Garden tube station. Then it’s just a very short stroll from the Market Building at the end of James Street. Covent Garden is on the Piccadilly Line. If you want to check out some of the vendors and get more information, here’s the link for the Apple Market: https://www.coventgarden.london/markets/apple-market

Next it’s the famous (and super crowded) Portobello Market in Notting Hill. I don’t like crowds as a rule, but at the Portobello Road market, I don’t seem to mind the crush. I think it’s because I get lost in the thrill of the hunt. Be sure to wear your most comfy shoes, because this is really

huge. They have vendors selling a wide variety of antiques and collectibles. The street is lined with quirky shops and some outdoor vendors throughout the week but Saturday is the BIG day. You (along with a few thousand other people) squeeze your way through the maze of antique shops, multi-vendor antique arcades, clothing stores, and

outdoor booths on both sides of the street. You feel a bit like a salmon swimming upstream. The market opens officially at 8:00 a.m., but you might find some nice deals while they are setting up. In my experience, it’s best to go early—not only to possibly get a great price on that vintage cricket bat, but also to avoid some of the crowds. It’s fun, exciting, and colorful, and you just might find a lovely treasure. My hope was to come home with an English toast rack. This is a staple at any English breakfast table. I was happy to find not one but two! One was a nicely detailed example from the Victorian era and the other looked like a swan from the early 20th Century.

You can get to the market via Tube or bus. We took the 390 bus from our hotel in Bloomsbury but most people probably arrive via the Notting Hill Gate underground station (Central Line). It’s a 5-10 minute walk to the near end of the street market. Unless you arrive really early, you will probably be able to follow the crowd. Check out the Market’s online site (http://shopportobello.co.uk/) under the “Where and When” pull-down menu for all the choices.

Cheers!