United Kingdom
Out of a handful of places to get your coffee from in London, Monmouth is usually mentioned. Past the line is a large communal table for you to enjoy your coffee and a croissant perhaps, which can be selected from the buffet style tables toward the back.
You can both buy a coffee and your beans here. It is also here that you'll soon understand why Monmouth are pioneers for the pour over. It's a must stop before or after a venture to the Borough Markets.
London has such an amazing market culture. For lovers of food, bric-a-brac, antiques and flowers, London is the place to go. Listed below are a couple of markets I had the pleasure of visiting and a few others that were on my list and highly recommended by friends. There are also the random pop up markets that occur during certain days of the month or season. Pay attention to the items being sold at the mixed markets as some days specialise in certain items, as well as the times and bank (public) holidays.
It's no secret that Borough Market is every foodie's dream. The market was established in 1885 and spans four sections, even possessing a little information centre and a map. Famous for its artisan food, fresh produce and deli shops Borough Market is worth the visit. Its high quality sellers offer free samples, beautifully stacked fruit and vegetables and hot ready to eat market meals. Cheeses, chorizo, bread, wines, beers, cakes, preserves, honey, turkish delights, seafood and hot paella are just a few of the things for sale at the Borough Market. If you love food, you mustn't miss it.
Opening hours:
Monday - Tuesday: Lunch from 11am - 5pm
Wednesday - Thursday: Full market, 11am - 5pm, Friday from 10am - 6pm, Saturday 8am - 5pm
Closed Sundays
Address:
8 Southwark Street, London
Tube:
London Bridge Station
Consisting of five different specialty areas, Brick Lane is a good place to visit when in East London. Gritty, full of personality and street art, Brick Lane is home to the Boiler House Food Hall, Tea Rooms, Sunday UpMarket, Vintage Market and the Backyard Market.
Opening hours:
Saturdays: 11am - 6pm
Sundays: 10am - 5pm
Address:
91 Brick Lane, London
Tube:
Aldgate East
The best mix of food and drink, fashion, music and art is at Camden Lock. The markets themselves are eclectic, situated in what is regarded to be the epicentre of culture and music in London.
Opening hours:
Monday - Sunday: 10am - 6pm
Address:
Camden Lock, Chalk Farm Road, London
Tube:
Camden Town
This market will more than likely put any other flower market to shame. Every Sunday Columbia Road is alive with colour, sweet smells and locals. Trucks full of crates and flowers are parked on the surrounding streets while owners try to sell their wares. Walking through the market I caught words of advice on how to prune trees, plant herbs and when to "fess up the money for the flowers". A cacophony of colours, Columbia Road is almost every girl's dream market. The stalls themselves are owned by 3rd, 4th and 5th generations of families. Visit early to avoid the crowds and to get the most value out of your visit.
Opening hours:
Sunday: 8am - 3pm approximately
Address:
Columbia Road, London
Tube:
Bethnal Green Tube Station
Portobello Road is equally notable for its pastel coloured houses and its long stretching street market. It is also the world's largest antique market at 940 metres long with over 1000 stall spots. The stalls are not just limited to antiques however, with fresh fruit and vegetables also sold. The markets are surrounded by countless places to purchase breakfast or lunch - a wise idea to fuel up when beginning to walk the long stretch.
Opening hours:
Monday - Wednesday: 9am - 6pm
Thursday: 9am - 1pm
Friday - Saturday: 9am - 7pm
Address:
Portobello Road, London
Tube:
Notting Hill Gate Station
Super historic - even located in an old Victorian building in Shoreditch, Old Spitalfields is open seven days a week. For vintage clothing, furniture and bric-a-brac, it is the perfect hub for arty and trendy items. Each day has a different focus, but each has a tendency to present itself to you like that of an Etsy store. The main market days are Thursdays - Sundays. On the first and third Fridays of every month, the markets are joined by a Record Fair which will seek out crowds of the classic.
Opening hours:
Monday - Wednesday: 10am - 5pm
Thursday: 9am - 5pm
Friday: 10am - 4pm
Saturday: 11am - 5pm
Sunday: 9am - 5pm
Address:
16 Horner Square, Spitalfields, London
Tube:
Liverpool Street
Featuring more than 40 producers and delicious pulled pork and apple in a brioche bun, this particular market is held every Wednesday to Friday. The worst thing about this market is probably that you don't have enough room in your stomach for everything.
Opening hours:
Wednesday - Friday: 12pm - 7pm
Address:
Belevedere Road
Tube:
Waterloo
Broadway Market
Covent Garden Market
Greenwich Market
Leadenhall Market
Prestigious in its own right, Westminster Abbey is the grounds for coronations, weddings, funerals and burials of the kings and queens of England. The building's insides are just as ornate as its outsides, with stained glass windows and flags of knights and lords passed.
Taking a page out of Michelle's amazing travel adventures, I was inspired to pull together a couple of photographs that represented our last day in London (although mine is probably not as whimsical but the days were just as cold).
The day was started with a pistachio and almond cronut I'd bought from Harrod's the night before and a cup of tea as our to do list was plotted for the final day in London. Again, it required a quick scurry throughout Nell Gwynn House and down the lobby, waiting patiently for the seemingly slow lift and down and out into the crisp London air. One never quite knows what the weather in London will be like - so preparing yourself for all four seasons at once is the way to go throughout Spring. Think layers.
Before leaving work for our London adventure, my boss at the time sat me down and interrogated my list. So on our last day it just would not have ended right if we hadn't paid a visit to Monmouth upon recommendation from Tristan, who knows a thing or two about coffee. More on Monmouth later.
Coffee in hand, we visited Borough Market just next door to Monmouth. It is honestly so big that the market needs its own map.
Our senses were awash with sights, sounds and smells. It was evident we needed to get taste happening. Free tastes for almost everything were strewn by shop owners to passers by and the smell of paella wafted from a nearby store.
Granola of all kinds, cheeses of every variety, salami on strings longer than my arm and more turkish delight flavours than you could ever conceive to exist were available for picking and choosing.
Just around the corner from the markets were bread classes and a little walk up from there we came across The Shard.
We left London Bridge and made the walk to St Paul's Cathedral, passing Tate Modern (where we had visited the day before) and past Shakespeare's Globe. It was at St Paul's that we gave our legs the first biggest work out since arriving in Europe, climbing two hundred and fifty-nine steps to the Whispering Gallery.
Three hundred and seventy-six steps up from the Cathedral floor is the Stone Gallery and another one hundred and fifty-two you'll find yourself almost on top of London at the Golden Gallery. We only made it to the Stone Gallery as the weather was less than compromising and we were unable to visit the Golden Gallery.
We made our way to Marylebone where we got off at Baker Street, visited the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Shop, perused the Monocles at Monocle, and fell in love with book heaven. I wanted to visit this bookstore since arriving in London and so luckily on the last day we made the walk there throughout Marleybone.
It was so good to get away from the centre of the city and take some time exploring the outer boroughs. With that being said, it wouldn't be complete if we didn't catch the tube to Earl's Court to see the last and only Police Box (TARDIS) in London and then walked home to Chelsea from Kensington Station. Not long after that it was sadly time to fly off to Switzerland.
