'Things to Do' Your Trip to London is Incomplete Without (Part 2)

This post is Part 2 of a series of entries I am doing on must do's in London.

Thing No.2

Exploring London's markets

What I love most about London is that it has a mix of all these diverse localities within one city; it’s almost like multiple cities within a city because of how different each area is from the other!  One of the ways of experiencing the different localities/areas in London is by visiting their markets!

There are probably a hundred markets in London and if you have the time you should certainly visit them all, but my post will focus on making a day out of visiting the following ones, because they are in very close proximity to one another: Columbia Road Flower Market, Brick Lane Market, and Old Spitalfields Market.

If you're on holiday and have only a few days in the city, you'll probably want to get an early start to the day and for that I recommend starting out with Columbia Road Flower Market, since it's the only one that opens at 8 AM.  If you're imagining it to be some large meadow filled with flowers, please don't - the market sets up in a very quaint, little road with flower stalls on either side but it is really interesting to see. 

There are shops all along the road as well, where you can find things for your garden and even one-of-a-kind jewelry and garment pieces. Get ready to knock elbows with other flower enthusiasts (is that thing?) because the market is almost always filled with people. The market is great for buying fresh flowers but even if you're not in the mood to buy anything, it's wonderful to see so many colourful flowers and plants in one place!

Please note that this market is only open on Sundays, so plan accordingly :)

When you're done exploring the charming flower market, make your way on foot to Old Spitalfields Market. It's a 15-minute walk away and you can easily find the route using GoogleMaps. This market has a a lot of stalls and shops and best of all, there are even food and drink stalls. On one of my trips here with my mom, we found this amazing little courtyard with food stalls from around the world. We ate from a Greek food stall, I'm putting a photo of it below (and of our yummy meal too!)

I still have dreams about that grilled Halloumi cheese!

This place made me a fan of Greek food.

For those of you who are not foodies, don't worry, the Market has a lot more to offer ranging from paintings to clothes to antiques to hair accessories. You can find out about all the stalls and shops from the official website which I've linked above - that should pacify the shop-a-holic in you! There are occasionally events going on in the market as well, you can keep a look for those on the website. 

So now that you've shopped and eaten, time to walk off those calories and go to Bricklane Market. Point to note here is that you can do either one first after the Flower Market; Bricklane Market or Old Spitalfields Market. They are so close to each other that the order does not matter. 

Bricklane Market is less glamorous and has a more authentic feel. There's many different areas to this Market, some covered and others that are out in the open, so take your time and wander around. As with the previous market, there are a lot of options to eat as well! There is also a vintage market within this area. I personally really enjoy just browsing through the stalls, looking at hand-made jewelry and shopping for that fun, unique outfit for my wardrobe - there is honestly something for everyone's interest here. One of the other fun things about Bricklane is all the graffiti on the walls! 

So after exploring these three markets, you would probably be pretty tired. If you are not, you can also check out Petticoat Lane Market, which is a short distance away - that is good for discount shopping, cheap souvenirs, bags and shoes, etc. 

Just for reference and to help you plan, I'm listing the opening and closing timings of each of the markets (these can also be found on the official websites that I've linked above)

Columbia Road Flower Market: 8 AM - 3 PM
Bricklane Market:  9 AM - 5 PM
Petticoat Lane Market: 9 AM - 3 PM
Old Spitalfields Market: 10 AM (11 AM on Saturdays) - 5 PM

I hope you enjoyed reading this post and have fun embarking on this market exploring adventure - it makes for a great day. If you do, leave a comment here!

Happy wandering :)

'Things to Do' Your Trip to London is Incomplete Without (Part 1)

 Before I went to live in London for year to pursue my masters degree, in September 2012, I had visited the city twice; once when I was 5 and the second time around when I was 16. The first trip I have very little memory off and the second trip only lasted for a weekend – in which my mom and sister fell ill - so we didn't end up doing much. Hence, London was a city unexplored for me, before I had a chance to go live there alone. 

I want to share some of the amazing things I got to do in London by compiling a series of such activities, for future travelers to the city, new residents or students who are there for the first time. I hope you find the list helpful and do some of the things on it (feel free to comment if you do). I'll make this into a multi-part series, mostly because I'm lazy and need to find time to pen this down :)

Thing No.1

A stroll down the Thames (preferably start at South Bank and walk up till Tower Bridge)

The magnificent Tower Bridge

I am a huge fan of walking, I think that there is absolutely no better way to see London than to walk around and get a feel of the city and that's why this is an absolute must do! Try to make sure it’s a nice sunny day (we all have weather apps for this) and set out on foot with a couple (or more) of your friends on this wonderfully fun stroll.  If it’s raining – don’t let that stop you, because let's face it, it’s almost always raining in London! So get on a pair of Hunter boots, grab an umbrella and brave it out into the streets.

I would recommend starting out at South Bank because there’s always something or the other happening there (festivals, book fairs, pop-up shops and street performances) that’ll give you the quintessential London feel. You can also get a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants or street stalls there, before you start your hour-long journey. Go all the way up till Tower Bridge and enjoy the sights and sounds on the way. Tip: Check here for timings of when exactly the Tower Bridge will lift and see it happen!

It's best to start the walk around mid to late afternoon so that all the activity is still going on at South Bank and make your way down so that you can catch the sunset when you reach Tower Bridge. There's also usually some event or the other going on at The Scoop near Tower Bridge, so check their website before you head out.

Make sure to pose for dozens of photos along the way!

Stay tuned for more of the must do's on my list! 

Happy wandering!

P.S: I got to visit London again with my mom in July 2014, and we did almost all the things that I will be writing about here - because I was her (un)official tour guide - and trust me, we had a great time!