Best Street Markets in Arsenal

"Purveyors of Mauritian-inspired street food, Lovely Bunch of Coconuts do two things brilliantly – BBQ meats and biyranis. Free-range Welsh lamb and Norfolk chicken get top billing (have both if you’re feeling greedy), but the vegan biryani flavoured with citrussy lemon and coconut milk is also spot-on if you’re doing the plant-based thing. Chutneys and slaws are already loaded in the box, but other extras such as fresh grated coconut, dried chili flakes and crispy onions are available to add at your own discretion."

"In truth, any trip to Borough Market is unlikely to end up being free because there’s too much that’s too tempting. It is a hive of some of London’s best producers and throbs with crowds looking to get their fix of fresh pasta, or cured meats, or coffee from countries you’ve barely heard of. The market runs all week offering everything from drinks to dry goods, beauty accessories to bakery specials (on Sundays it’s only open for produce shopping, rather than street food, from 10am to 2pm)."

"London’s oldest, busiest, buzziest food market is a food tourist’s dream, and recent restaurant openings have perked things up. Between Monmouth Coffee’s queue, Ginger Pig sausage rolls, Kappacasein toasties, and Brindisa chorizo sausage in a roll, Bao’s new restaurant, Flor, and mainstay Elliotts are all top shouts."

"Old Spitalfields Market in the heart of London’s lively East End is home to some amazing street food stalls. From African cuisine to Turkish wraps, crepes, to traditional Italian pizza, Ethiopian food and fat burgers, Spitalfields caters for every foodie no matter the style - there’s even a large variety of vegan grub (the cauli shawarma is Spring’s greatest hit). The market itself is always buzzing - our first stop is always the nata stand!"

"Spitalfields is the oldest market in London, and it's open every day of the week. Visit the Saturday Style Market for your fix of independent fashion or pick up a bargain at the Spitalfields Art Market. It only runs on selected days, so be sure to check online before you set off."

"There is probably nowhere more atmospheric to browse for and buy flowers and plants than Columbia Road Flower Market. It is a heavenly Sunday market and where the locals shop to frilly up their homes – or you might just want to give someone a treat. If you are just in London for a visit and can’t take plants back home with you, it’s definitely worth a visit – even on the coldest, greyest days!"

"This street market off Hackney Road is an explosion of colour thanks to the breathtaking flowers that fill the stalls from exotic plants to local flora. Unsurprisingly, it smells incredible too. You might have to navigate your way through hordes of Instagram fans trying to capture that perfect picture, but it's well worth it just for the sights."

"When you’re looking for a floral fix, Columbia Road Flower Market makes for a great day out. Just make sure to visit on a Sunday as it’s only open then. Best shot: take your pick from any of the colourful floral displays."

"When you’re walking along the Southbank of London, it’s easy to miss this market with around 40 stalls at the back of the Southbank Center. But make sure to make your way over here via the stairs, because at this local food market there is a whole range of tasty world dishes waiting for you to try. The Southbank Center Food Market in London is open every weekend, including Bank holidays, and has an even bigger market at the end of Summer and a Christmas market in Winter."

"Follow your nose to find the tasty treats on offer at the Southbank Centre Food Market, hosted in Southbank Centre Square behind the Royal Festival Hall on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holiday Mondays. The rotating cast of street food vendors are specifically chosen for their dedication to delicious, sustainable and ethical food and drink. Or peruse paperbacks and hunt for hardcovers at the Southbank Centre Book Market each day under Waterloo Bridge."

"London’s South Bank has seen an explosion of development in the past decade that goes well beyond the London Eye. While the Eye is still the biggest attraction drawing families across the Thames, restaurants and a vibrant waterfront are keeping them there all afternoon. Even better, the Southbank Centre Food Market, located behind Southbank Centre, is introducing local and visiting families to cuisines from across the globe."

"While Camden Market and Brick Lane may be more famous, Maltby Street Market comes out on top when it comes to proper street food. At this lively weekend market in the hip area of Bermondsey that lies hidden away beneath the railway arches, only those in the know spend their time eating here. Home to some of the best producers in town, the market prides itself on gourmet street food and fresh produce whether you’re looking for the city’s best badass brownies, Mozambique burgers, tender beef steaks, melt-in-your-mouth cheese, gyozas, coffee or baked goods - there’s even top-notch gin on the menu."

"Found on Bermondsey’s Ropewalk, between the railway arches and the LASSCO salvage warehouse, this heaving strip of a market started taking shape in 2009. Back then, it was just coffee kings Monmouth cupping up for a couple of hours every Saturday. Now, it’s a proper institution, and the main contender to Borough Market’s crown."

"Like a slutty brownie on crack, these award-winning brownies in any flavour will have you seeing how many you can legally pack up and ship home. With other flavours like raspberry, rose and pistachio, and “bonfire brownie,” there are plenty of ways to taste their divine chocolate."

"This arcade is pretty lush with beautiful shops lining the sides. During the main opening hours it can be quite busy, but if you are patient or go at night you should be able to get a clean shot. Best time for pics: Morning or eveningCost: FreeLocation: Burlington Arcade, Mayfair, London W1J"

"With ceilings and lights now restored to how they would have looked when it was built in 1819, Burlington Arcade is the finest of Mayfair's…"

"Another market in one of London’s more charming residential areas, Herne Hill Market is the kind of neighbourhood food market that everyone wishes they had on their doorstep. Part farmers market, part street food market, you can feast on a tasty dish or two and then pick up some local produce to bring home to cook too Herne Hill Market. Don’t miss the mouthwatering Indonesian street food of local favourite Enak Enak."

"If you’re looking for a quieter Sunday market, Herne Hill Farmers’ Market is the perfect place for a less “touristy” market. It is located in South London and is held every Sunday. The market is very lively and is truly independent in spirit with a local village atmosphere and unique shopping."

"Spend a Sunday strolling through Herne Hill Market, which is crammed full of foodie treats, both for eating on the spot and produce to take home, plus arts and crafts, all sourced from within 100 miles of Herne Hill. A proper local neighbourhood market!"

"Although the shops and restaurants along Brick Lane are open every day, this is one of the best Sunday markets in London. You never know exactly what you’ll find as you scour this traditional East End flea market for antiques, vintage clothes and unique art at bargain prices. It’s very much an authentic London market experience, remaining much the same over the years, with a definite hipster influence in recent times."

"The best day to visit Brick Lane market is Sunday when the streets fill with stalls selling second-hand goods. Popular with young Londoners on the lookout for a bargain this market has a lively artistic vibe. Whilst browsing you’ll also stumble upon various street performers to entertain you and discover good value places to eat."

"If you're after a market with plenty going on, then Brick Lane won't disappoint. Expect eclectic clothing, plenty of second hand furniture, and stalls offering up all kinds of bric-a-brac. There's loads of street art to look out for too, as well as live music and a brilliant foodie scene."

"This big, swanky restaurant in the City of London is worth a visit for the décor alone. The ornate cornicing is the ideal accompaniment to the upmarket Italian cuisine and polished service. An import from Russia (the restaurant’s founder is Sicily-born Remo Mazzucato), Piazza Italiana has brought with it a Muscovite enthusiasm for caviar, which is served with pancakes, quail eggs, crème fraiche and butter."

"This is the first London opening for a restaurant group that started out in Moscow. They'll have high end Italian food in a very impressive location."

"Ham House is a dreamy place to go if you want to escape the inner city for a while. Explore magical gardens and immerse yourself in the 17th Century. COVID-19 UPDATE: The gardens at Ham House have reopened to the public, but you’ll need to book your visit in advance."

"It was built in 1610 and is lavishly decorated with many unique treasures hiding inside its walls. It epitomises the absolute height of luxury in this era. There are also formal gardens and an on-site café."

"Restaurants British Fitzrovia. Surely the grandest and most glamorous of Jason Atherton’s Midas-touch restaurants, this place is a real humdinger and a shoo-in for seduction. The huge lobby bar looks fabulous, but the vast baroque-style dining room, with its ornate plasterwork ceiling and portrait-lined walls, is even more alluring."

"A post shared by Berners Tavern (@bernerstavern) on Dec 10, 2017 at 4:18am PST. Take your date’s breath away as you enjoy Jason Atherton's innovative dishes and marvel at the stunning art-covered walls of Berners Tavern. Raise the bar and also order a creative cocktail, and you’ll surely be guaranteed a second date."

"A family favourite for hordes of Richmond locals, this neighbourhood Italian (family-run, of course) has been doing its thing on Kew Road for more than a decade. It may be dressed up in fashionable contemporary garb, but this is a diehard trattoria at heart and the food presses all those familiar comfort buttons – arancini balls, homemade pasta, saltimbocca, calf’s liver, tiramisu. The decked forecourt gets rammed in summer."

"This genuinely friendly family-run Italian is popular with locals and visitors alike on account of its authentic food and charming service. Bacco may have all the visual trappings of a contemporary Italian restaurant, but at its heart is an old-fashioned trattoria so diners can expect classic pastas and simple antipasti as well as more expensive dishes come evening. It’s also handy for theatre-goers."

"More than just a pretty restaurant in Angel, Hoxley and Porter is considered something of a dining experience. From its simulated wooden train carriage on arrival to the foliage and vintage prints that deck the walls, Hoxley and Porter is a charmed British dinner experience that promises glamour throughout."

"Modelled on a Victorian train carriage, Hoxley and Porter in Islington is a fun step back in time. As well as serving a long list of British classics and impressive cocktails, it also houses The Crypt - a secret laboratory where you can learn some of their mixing secrets."