Arcadia England

By Isabela Hsaoi

Portobello Market

New is better, right? Wrong. Located in the famous Notting Hill film location, Portobello Road offers a diverse array of dazzling merchandises, especially when it comes to antiques. The atmosphere is thick with excitement as both tourists and locals browse the the immense assortments of fresh produce, small golden necklaces and bracelets, handmade wooden boxed alarm clocks, and dozens and dozens of colorful shawls and secondhand clothing. Different traders, especially the younger sellers, are busy trying to catch the attention of eager customers, aggressively waving and smiling toothy grins.

To most people, the word “antique shopping” doesn’t exactly rustle their jimmies, but don’t be too quick to judge. Portobello Market was built upon “rags and bones” men who started selling their goods and were soon joined by other traders specializing in antiques. As the decades progressed, Portobello stuck to its roots and built upon the idea of antiques, resulting in it becoming the world’s largest antiques market. Ranging from old jewelry to vintage rag dolls to leather briefcases weathered from age, a unique selection of products passed down from generations patiently await its new owners. A friendly doll vendor enthusiastically tells the stories behind each of the dolls that was once owned by her great-grandmother and assists the herd of mothers desperately trying to find the perfect gift for their child. In addition, the huge market is abundant with various food choices from all around the world, ranging from Paellas from Spain to an exceptional pasta made inside a cheese wheel to pitas made from the Mediterranean. Though it may be tricky to navigate the different times that stalls open, early morning Fridays and Saturdays are the best times to explore the world from a single market.

Portobello Market (www.portobellomarket.org). Opening hours: 9am-6pm Monday to Wednesday, 9am-1pm Thursday, 9am-7pm Friday and Saturday.

Dover Street Market

Nestled in the corner of Haymarket and Orange Street, giant white balls piece the bland streets surrounding Piccadilly Circus. Centering its identity around conceptual artwork and design, Dover Street Market branches out from the usual perception of “market” and incorporates fashion retail with art. The concrete hours of the market ironically juxtaposes the inconsistency of the five floors waiting behind the front door.

An air of posh-ness immediately washes over you upon entering the doors to the ground level. Employees dressed in a uniformed black slacks, white button down, and grey sweater vest sharply contrast the stark black and white fixture of the first floor. Expensive Rolexes and large, gaudy necklaces and rings litter the lofty room and the doorman chuckles as he gauges my lost expression. “Each of the five floors has its own personalities,” He says. “Which is exactly what Rei Kawakubo, the Japanese fashion designer, intended for the market.” Curious about what he meant, I ventured down to the basement level and immediately understood. Gone was the posh air and instead, it was filled with a room that resembled if Hollister had collaborated with Urban Outfitters in a weirdly disaster yet tasteful way. Caged metallic beams formed enclosures around retro, hipster-like clothing and seemed to cater an angst-y teenage crowd, most of which looked like they were gothic skater boy wanna-bes. However, the mood drastically changed in the upper three levels, suddenly accommodating to professionals in the workplace. The teen angst clothing was replaced by cashmere cardigans and suits made for the dignified businessman so there was no longer a sense of angst in the air but rather a sophisticated taste. Each floor carried a different design and theme to appeal to different interests, making it a very cool market to explore if seeking a different perceptions of clothing.

Dover Street Market (www.doverstreetmarket.com/, +44 20 7518 0680) admission is free, hours are 11am-7pm M-Sat, 11am-5pm Sundays.

Camden Market

The mother of all markets. Located just east of the Camden Town station, Camden Market was created to make dreams come true. Dominating with its massive vicinity, Camden Market is the home to hundreds of hidden gems. Herbal hand crafted soap bars that smell like a tiny slice of heaven sit alongside small canvases showcasing beautiful art. Choosing from a range of mouthwatering delicacies to extravagant handmade jewelry to exotic clothing, you will never go home unsatisfied—assuming you’ll ever want to leave. Not only is Camden known for its huge variety of merchandise, several famous food eateries, such as Cereal Killer Café who offers unique brands of cereals, are located in the heart of the market, though it may be a bit tricky to locate. Your stomachs will never be empty leaving Camden, but be careful because your wallet might!

Camden Market (http://www.camdenmarket.com/, +44 20 3763 9900) prices varies depending on stalls. Opening hours: 7 days a week from 10am-6pm.

Brixton Market

“Wow” was the first word that popped into my head as I gazed upon the multiple rows of raw chicken hanging from windows and huge salmons eerily peering from the ice racks on the streets of Electric Avenue. As a perpetually hungry university student, I was expecting to stroll into a food market and gorge myself on delicious street foods, but instead, I was met with produces that were alive just days ago and a lot of vegetables. To be fair, I was met with food, but just not the kind that I was expecting.  

Completely hidden from the unknowing eye, the Food Corner suddenly filled my nostrils with a blend of fresh, homemade meals. I no longer pinched my face due to the odorous smell of dead fish and chicken, but smiled as a particularly appetizing ginger smell wafted towards me, one that could only be coming from the noodle shop stationed right at the entranceway. The Food Corner was a melting pot of culture—people of all races lined up along the shops in order to try the immense variety of food offered, including the impressively popular Crepe Café that served up a variety of large crepes with a side of green salad. The cozy hall was lined with flags from Spain, America, Germany, England, and Italy, evoking a sense of home and comfort for both weary tourists and locals.

Brixton Market (http://brixtonmarket.net/). Opening hours: Sundays are closed, 8am-6pm Monday-Sunday except Wednesday hours are from 8am-3pm.

Leadenhall Market

Located in the heart of Covent Garden, Leadenhall Market will take your breath away. Originally set up as a meat market, Leadenhall has transformed into a diverse arcade of fine cheese, meats, flowers, restaurants, and more. Although it is known for its fresh food and clothing shops, the truly remarkable aspect of Leadenhall Market is the building itself. The architecture alone stuns its audience into silence with its elegant Victorian ceiling and classic, yet modern designs. In fact, Leadenhall’s design is so striking that the producers of the Harry Potter films chose to base Diagon Alley right in the heart of the market, making it one of the most well visited sights for movie buffs. If you want to a shopping experience with a view, Leadenhall is the definitive go to.

Leadenhall Market (website not available, 020 7332 1523) prices vary depending on stalls. Opening hours: 10am-6pm Monday-Friday, Saturdays and Sundays are closed.