Cheap Fruits and Veg
Last updated: Jun 6, 2018
“You could also go to Borough Market which is great but a little bit pricey.”
“Go to Spitalfields market [now in east London] new Covent Garden market or borough market, sometimes you can get nearly out of date fruit veg good for juicer or batch cooking and freezing try google fruit and veg wholesale in London farmers markets to me are a rip off they put less in but charge more.”
“Try Dalston market, there are some great food stalls there, have been impressed by some of the stuff for sale. It is worth a look anyway. Just off Kingsland Road on a Saturday.”
“Dalston is not one of the yuppie farmers/speciality products market, the stuff is quite cheap and very fresh, it is a good place to get west Indian and Asian products as well.”
Car Boot Sales
“Another alternative would be Church Street Market near Edgeware Road Tube station. One end is local food and veg (and cheap rubbish!) but the other (eastern) end has antique shops and good quality second-hand stuff. The most famous place is Alfie's - one of those places you never know what you'll find, from kitsch and tatty to rather gorgeous!”
“For cheap stuff better go to Camden.”
“I would recommend Camden Passage which is confusingly not in Camden but in Islington! It is jam packed with the type of places you are looking for.”
Brick Lane & Truman Markets on Easter Sunday
“I live not far from Brick Lane market, and as far as I know it will be open on Easter Sunday. If you're feeling a bit peckish while you're there, you might like to visit the Bagel Bake, which has the best bagels in London imo.”
“I live within easy walking distance of Brick Lane and what is now called "Truman" Market" when used to be a brewery. Brick Lane was always a "little brother" to Petticoat Lane (Middlesex Street) market and both were predominantly Jewish which meant that Saturday was the "closed" day, it being Jewish Sabbath and Sunday was a working day. Obviously, the two bagel shops will be open, they being Jewish owned and run. These days the place is predominantly Asian and therefore has no religious prohibition on trading on a Sunday. Frankly, I revisited Brick Lane as a bit of a nostalgia trip a few months ago and was sorely disappointed at the tourist trap it has become, it is a disgrace as is Brick Lane generally with its restaurants all sporting touts outside. East end people just do not go there any more unless they have an "in" at a restaurant. Are you looking for suggestions for eateries or just advice whether they will be open or not? As I say, I live not too far from there and have eaten a gorgeous curry from my local place as my Christmas dinner, so I do not think you need worry. A small tip here from a local, do not stand in the large queue outside the bagel shop nearest Bethnal Green Road, go down a few doors and go to the place in the attached tip. That is where locals go! Enjoy the Lane but be aware that it is now a tourist destination and nothing to do with the East End as was.”
Christmas Markets
“From my experience the Xmas markets in London are overpriced and most of the people running the stalls are from mainland Europe. Give them a miss unless u r loaded.”
“I quite like the one on the South Bank (near the Royal Festival Hall) but it gets very crowded, especially in the evening. Go earlier if you want to find it a little less busy. The nice thing is that there is usually a Real Food Market on the other side of the Festival Hall at the same time, with lots of delicious food from organic producers and so on.”
“Avoid Winter Wonderland like the plague, it is a complete rip off. Whilst researching some other VT tips last year I stumbled upon its predecessor, presumably run by the same crowd. It is appalling. I was told that it is the same outfit as they have some sort of franchise on the site. Don't bother. Go to some proper London markets instead. There is no tradition of Christmas markets in London, it is something we have imported from mainland Europe in the last few years.”
“It's true there's no tradition of Christmas markets here, and also that Winter Wonderland is maybe not a good option, though I've not been and can't comment. But I do think the recent introduction of more low key markets such as the South Bank one I mentioned are a good thing even if they are an imported idea (after all, we imported the Christmas tree tradition from Germany many years ago and it seems to have stuck!)”
General Markets
“There are a lot of markets on the east end that are much less crowded, I can't say that I enjoy them as much although I do understand the crowd issue. If you get to Portobello too early in the morning, a lot of the vendors aren't even set up.”
“Here's a list of some of the markets in London, if you do decide to try the east end markets, you can visit Brick Lane, Petticoat Lane, Spitalfields and the UpMarket in the same visit as they are all close together. I'd start with Spitalfields as it's probably more of what you are looking for, Petticoat Lane is mostly clothes. Camden is another alternative, I think Saturday is a little less crowded on Sunday (they actually close the tube station to outgoing passengers on Sundays) but if the crowds at Portobello turn you off, then you may not care for this one either. But it's my favorite market in London, lots of jewelry, clothes, street food, and a lot of the stores along the high street have souvenirs if that's what you are looking for If you are looking for antiques you might check out Bermondsey (Friday only), it's been a very long time since I've been there so you might want to check current reviews to see if it's still worth going to. Expect that they will know the prices of their good though.”
“Maybe Old Spitalfields market or perhaps Camden. I favor Portobello road although things changed there over the years.”
“I like Greenwich market.”
“I do like Camden market a lot, though it can get very crowded indeed from lunchtime onwards. And Petticoat Lane clothes market (9-2 Sundays) really is worth exploring (assuming you want to buy clothes). Again, go early to avoid crowds.”
“Battersea Boot Sale may be one to research (Sunday). Spitalfields & Brick Lane Markets would also be quite interesting if you like Portobello and open on the weekend.”
“There are several alternatives to Portobello road market and they all have there pluses and minuses. One of my favourite is Chiswick school car boot sale which takes place on the first Sunday of each month from around 8am until 2pm(this is run for the benefit of the school and community. This is very much a real people’s car boot and is only charging £1 entry unlike Battersea (and Pimlico) where they charge £5 for the first two hours and then £3 and is not of benefit to the community. One great one to go to outside London is the one in Brighton marina every Sunday which makes for a nice day out of town.”
Related Links
- London market or Car Boot sale that is recommended weekdays, Tu - Fri, last 2 weeks of June
- Brick Lane & Truman Markets on Easter Sunday (5 Apr)
- xmas market
- Do you know of a Flea Market, Car Boot or antique sale on August 24 or 25 in Oxford?
- Alternate to Portobello Road Market on Saturday or the weekend.
