London street markets: Best food, bargains, and local vibes

When you think of London street markets, open-air hubs where food, fashion, and culture collide in the heart of the city. Also known as public markets, they’re not just places to shop—they’re where London’s real rhythm plays out every day. These aren’t sterile malls with fixed prices. They’re alive with vendors shouting deals, the smell of sizzling dumplings, the clink of vintage jewelry, and the buzz of people haggling over handmade candles or organic kale.

Walk into Camden Market, a sprawling mix of alternative fashion, street food stalls, and indie art. Also known as Camden Lock, it’s where you’ll find vegan burgers that taste better than any restaurant and leather jackets that cost less than a coffee in Soho. Then head to Borough Market, a food lover’s paradise with cheese wheels bigger than your head and honey straight from urban beehives. Also known as London’s original food market, it’s where chefs and locals both show up before 8 a.m. for the freshest produce. And don’t skip Portobello Road, a weekend treasure hunt for antiques, retro clothes, and hand-painted mugs. Also known as Portobello Market, it’s where you’ll find a 1950s record player for £20 or a real diamond ring for under £100—if you know how to spot the real deal.

These markets aren’t just for tourists. They’re where students buy cheap vegan donuts after class, where immigrants sell spices from home, and where retirees trade old books for a cup of tea. You’ll find stalls selling the same dim sum reviewed in our top guides, vegan pastries from bakeries we’ve tested, and jewelry from Hatton Garden’s hidden suppliers—all at prices you won’t see in shops. No entry fee. No tickets. Just walk in, smell the coffee, and start exploring.

What makes these markets work isn’t the location—it’s the people. The woman who’s sold hand-knitted scarves at Brick Lane for 30 years. The guy who grinds his own coffee beans at Old Spitalfields Market every Sunday. The family that brings fresh mangoes from Pakistan to Brixton Market. They’re not selling products. They’re selling stories. And if you listen, you’ll hear the real London.