London Street and Antique Markets Including Borough, Camden and Portobello

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London Markets

Leadenhall Market

The First London Bridge was built by the Romans with a settlement to the north of the river and also in Lambeth. The City of Londinium flourishes around the area we now know as the Monument. Late in the first century, a basilica (law courts) and forum (market place) were built on the site where Leadenhall Market stands today. It is the largest site of this type, North of the Alps and occupied an area bigger than Trafalgar Square.

After the Romans left, much of London was left in ruins and little is known of its history throughout this period – it is often referred to as the Dark Ages.
The Manor of Leadenhall is first listed in 1309, and ascribed to Sir Hugh Neville. By 1321, the area Leadenhall manor is regarded as a meeting place for poulterers (the street ‘Poultry’ located nearby, is further evidence). They are later joined, in 1397 by cheesemongers. In 1411 the site was acquired by Richard 'Dick' Whittington, the mayor of London. The site grew in importance when a granary and a chapel were built as a service to those citizens using the market.

Greenwich Market

Greenwich Market is a covered market in Greenwich, south east London, which specialises in antiques, arts, and crafts.

Greenwich market is in the heart of the World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich.

There has been a market at Greenwich since the 14th century, but the history of the present market dates from 1700 when a charter to run two markets, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, was assigned by Lord Romney to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital for 1000 years.

Greenwich Market is located in Greenwich town centre within an area called the Island Site, which is bounded by College Approach, Greenwich Church Street, King William Walk and Nelson Road. The Island site forms part of the World Heritage Site, which also includes the National Maritime Museum, Old Royal Naval College, the Queens House and the Royal Observatory.

Portobello Road Market

Portobello Road is a road in the Notting Hill district of Kensington and Chelsea in west London. It runs almost the entire length of Notting Hill from south to

PortoBello Road is the site of a popular market and home to a celeb or two.

north, roughly parallel with Ladbroke Grove.

It is also home to Portobello Road Market, known for its second-hand clothes, antiques and Fruit & Veg. It often appears in films and on television shows when a market scene is required, not so much because it's London's finest. More because Notting Hill is home to London's 'luvvies' (Media types) so they often location scout in their backyard. The Richard Curtis film 'Notting Hill' starring Hugh Grant is shot there and Grant's shop in the film, is situated on Portobello Road.

Whitecross Street Market

Whitecross Street Market first started trading in the 17th century, making it amongst the oldest markets in London. By the end of the 19th century, the area had become a by-word for poverty and alcohol and became known locally as Squalors' Market. After this period of slow decline, the street is now enjoying an upturn in fortunes, having benefited from a programme of investment and regeneration. It is once again a busy retail hub in the heart of EC1 for local residents, workers and visitors.

Improvements to the street include new pavements and shop fronts, as well as better and more defined sites for market traders. In addition to its daily general market, the weekly specialist food market, which runs every Thursday and Friday, has been instrumental in the revitalisation of Whitecross Street. There's more to Whitecross Street than its market, however since it also boasts a wide range of shops, places to eat and drink, art galleries and more.

Borough Market

Borough (pronounced 'Burrer') Market is busy, noisy and packed with interesting produce. If you’re not familiar with the produce on the stalls, or you’re not sure how to cook it, just ask: the traders will be delighted to tell you about their specialities, where they come from and how to make the most of them. Look around before you buy – the market sells some expensive delicacies but there are also lots of delicious cheaper cuts of meat and good-value seasonal fish, vegetables and fruit.

It's an interesting mix of a real traders market with a tourist-friendly front-end. Most of the wholesale markets in London are off-limits to those outside the trade, but Borough is popular with both restaurants purchasing food and traders selling directly to the public.

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