Columbia Road Market: London's Best Sunday Flea and Flower Market

When you think of Columbia Road Market, a bustling, open-air market in East London that’s been running since the 1800s, known for its Sunday flower stalls and independent vendors. Also known as Columbia Road Flower Market, it’s not just about bouquets—it’s where locals shop for vintage clothes, handmade crafts, coffee, and breakfast tacos, all under the same rainbow of stalls. This isn’t a tourist trap with overpriced souvenirs. It’s a real neighborhood hub where you’ll find people hauling home armfuls of daffodils, haggling over 1970s vinyl, or just sitting on a bench with a croissant while the street hums around them.

The market runs every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the energy changes as the day goes on. Early birds get the best flowers—freshly cut from Dutch growers and local growers, piled high in buckets and wrapped in paper. By midday, the food stalls are packed: think artisan sourdough, Korean fried chicken, vegan pastries, and real Italian gelato. You’ll see artists selling hand-painted ceramics, collectors digging through boxes of old cameras, and kids chasing ice cream carts. It’s the kind of place where you might walk in for tulips and walk out with a vintage typewriter and a bag of spiced nuts.

What makes Columbia Road different from other markets in London is how unpolished it feels. There’s no curated branding, no chain stores, no plastic-wrapped experiences. It’s messy, loud, colorful, and alive. You’ll find stalls run by the same families for decades, and new vendors popping up every season. The flower section is the heart of it, but the real magic is in the gaps between—the corner shop with the best chai, the tiny bookstore tucked behind the pottery stall, the old man who still sells hand-carved wooden spoons. It’s a living archive of East London’s soul.

If you’ve ever wandered through a market and felt like you were just passing through, Columbia Road makes you stop. You’ll find yourself talking to the vendor who remembers your name from last week, or noticing how the light hits the wet petals after a morning rain. It’s not a destination you check off a list. It’s a place you return to—because the flowers change, the food evolves, and the people always stay real.

Below, you’ll find guides that dig into the best spots at the market, how to navigate it like a local, what to eat, and even how to turn your Sunday trip into a full day in East London. Whether you’re into flowers, food, fashion, or just good vibes, there’s something here for you.