Chocolate & Books.

Yet again the weather was perfect yesterday.

Mazo and I didn't want to be stuck in the house/library all day so we decided to grab a frappuccino and then go for a walk along the South Bank.

Everybody seemed to have the same idea - the population of London doubles when the sun comes out.

We headed to Waterloo to visit the Chocolate Festival which Jack had recommended - ironic that this was held over the hottest weekend in April EVER!

All the food looked amazing and I've come away with ideas of what to bake next. 

The major problem was just how expensive everything was but it was a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Before we reached the stalls we came across the famous South Bank Book Market which is held everyday during the day. 

The tables piled high with books are found under Waterloo Bridge and I truly believe that you could find anything you wanted. 

There were even vintage maps available which would look great in a frame. Mazo bought the DVD of 'we own the night' for £3 which we then watched last night over dinner - bargain!

Hope you all have a great Sunday. XX

The flowers outside out flat - they are taking over, but look great at the same time.

The 'City'

Found this guy sculpturing Shakespeare out of sand on the way to the market

Quite possibly my favourite author - not that I'm biased.

Mary LOVES chocolate!

Two Birds, One Stone.

Finally I've managed to get back to another market - the purpose of this blog!

Yesterday I cycled over to Liverpool Street and visited Spitalfields and Brick Lane.

It was a totally different experience from all the other markets.

This church is found between Spitalfields and Brick Lane

Covent Garden, on reflection, felt commercialised compared to the rawness of Brick Lane - a network of bustling streets and stalls selling anything from oysters to old cameras.

On Brick Lane there are 2 main dedicated spaces to stalls - Sunday Up Market and Backyard Market. Vintage clothes are sold here for a reasonable price alongside some great smelling food. Definitely a market which I will try to get to regularly.

Spitalfields has always been one of my favourite areas of London, even not on a market day. 

The huge open, covered space provides the perfect place for a market and yesterday there were hundreds of stalls. The majority of stalls sell clothes - particularly pretty handmade dresses, but there are some other unusual stalls inc. a stall that sells flower head bands and old Penguin books.

I would easily say that visiting this area of East London really is one of the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon - especially when the weather is gorgeous.

I also feel that this has been my favourite market experience so far.

Spitalfields: Tube- Liverpool Street, Main market - Sunday 10am-5pm

Brick Lane: Liverpool Street/Aldgate East/Old Street, All day Saturday and Sunday.

Has anyone else been to these markets? What did you think?

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. XX

"Oranges and lemons" say the bells of St. Clement's

I know it has been over a week but I've been snowed under with what feels like thousands of essays. But this afternoon after a morning stint in the British Library I decided on the way home to have a browse of Borough Market.

Borough Market is one of Europe's leading food markets and I can definitely see why. The place is bustling and there are so many smells to smell and sights to see. I almost believe that if you needed any sort of fresh produce you could get it here. So many things that just aren't available in the local Tesco or Sainsburys. 

This market, unlike many other food markets, has not placed restrictions on where the food produce is from or the geographical distance from London. Although I don't necessarily agree with this unsustainablity the encouragement really does make for a much more relaxed, vibrant market which is just a nice place to wander and absorb on a weekday lunch time. Make sure you visit all the different areas - it is well signposted. 

Everything is so varied. A whole stall (Utobeer) dedicated to continental beers (600 varieties!!) which I haven't seen anywhere else in London, alongside grocers selling 20 mushroom varieties, when you would be fortunate to find 3 types in a supermarket (not that I like mushrooms). One stall even sells Ostrich meat and the popularity of this market has enabled the producers to sell for a profit which is always a good thing. The market is also home to the Monmouth Coffee Company which is regularly given the title of best coffee in London. 

All the stalls have one thing in common: TASTERS. It you want to try anything, even if you have no intention to buy the product, they are more than happy for you to try a niblet of  unusual cheese on a cocktail stick. The one major downside of the market is because it is so famous and loved they can charge rocket high prices. I didn't buy anything today but I remember when I first came to London I naively spend £3 on a melon!! Even if you don't spend any money it is still an enjoyable place to just mill around, in a great location next to Southwark Cathedral and the Globe pub, home to Bridget Jones. You also get a great close up view of the HUGE Shard. You may also recognise the market from a Spooks episode in the last series.

The closest tube station is London Bridge which also has plenty of bus connections. Check it out on a dull Saturday afternoon.

Thursday 11am-5pm

Friday 12pm-6pm

Saturday 9am-4pm

ENJOY. XX

It's taking its toll, put the map down.

I've just done a Google search to see what info there is on the Web about London markets and found this map:

Makes it all easy peasy - maybe a 20 markets in 20 days challenge could begin?

Need anymore info then click the picture and if will take you to the website.

Enjoy. XX

I like it in the city where the air is so thick and opaque.

Finally I'm back in London and I decided to start as I mean to go and on, so after my morning lecture I went to Covent Garden to see the renowned market. 

Covent Garden is pretty famous for its market with thousands of tourists visiting this area of London. Fortunately it is only a 5 minute walk from uni and although it was pouring down with rain I was armed with my trusty Hunters and an umbrella. In recent years the market has shrunk somewhat to allow modern, high street chain stores to enter the Piazza and around the square however 2 main areas remain.

The Apple Market is found within the Piazza itself and this area is surrounded by shops on both sides. When I arrived not all the stalls were filled so this is probably because I arrived at the wrong time. There was a framing stall alongside one selling old printing templates, both were fairly expensive I thought. From outside the market I was greeted with a Katherine Jenkins like sound from the lady pictured below. Her voice was just beautiful. It is quite normal for people to busk/perform in this area and many tourists come here to see the famous street performers.

The other market is the Jubilee Market and this has a huge number of stall and was also covered like the Apple Market. Some of the stalls were tourist oriented with key rings and t-shirts being sold but as today was a Monday the other stalls were selling antiques which made for great browsing. This area of Covent garden was bustling with all sorts of people pouring over the stalls which were crammed with glittery things to look at.

I just love this photo. So many of the stalls had jewellery piled like this - a miniature Aladdin's Cave right here in the centre of London. It was amusing to watch the tourists trying to untangle a necklace from this pile. The majority of stalls were selling jewellery and it you want to buy a unique/unusual brooch then this really is the place to go. I'm not a huge brooch buyer but if you need to buy a present for someone then you will definitely find something here to suit most people.

There was a lovely stall filled with old cameras but the man wouldn't let me take a photo which was sad and slightly ironic - so make sure you have a look. 

I didn't buy anything today although some of the rings are really stunning - none were my size unfortunately. Sterling silver rings were generally priced between £5-20 which I think is pretty reasonable.

This area is super easy to get to with its own tube station which the Picadilly line runs through although bus links are also good. The RV1 takes me right to my front door near London Bridge and many buses from all directions stop in Aldwych which is only a short walk away. Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square are both close too.

I visited on Monday which was specifically an antique day, open from 10.30am - 7.30pm.

Tuesday to Sunday 10.30am - 7.30pm is a general market with some arts and craft stalls.

So take your pick.

ENJOY. XX

Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London...

I think I have finally decided on a direction for this blog.(yey)

I received this book as a Christmas present this year and I've decided to try and visit as many of the markets as possible. Firstly, I like LOVE markets. Secondly, I think it will be interesting to see a side of London that I don't get to experience often.


So I've written in my diary the days that some of the markets are on and I'll go take a sneaky look around, with my camera, and report back my findings here.


One of my NY resolutions was to become more cultured and I think this is a pretty good start.


I'll keep you posted.. X