Marvel at the sanctuary of foliage and colourful flowers and barter with the vendors in this lively and historic market.
The Columbia Road Flower Market is a weekly fair comprising dozens of stalls selling flowers and plants. This iconic Sunday market has an intriguing history and has long played an important role in the community. Browse the range of colourful floral displays and pick out your favourites.
Arrive to encounter an energetic street of colour and scents and inspect the array of plants for sale. These range from bedding plants, shrubs, herbs and bulbs to exotic species, such as banana trees. Chat with the vendors, many of whom have long family traditions at the market. Some sellers import their plants, while others grow their own.
The market is usually fairly busy, with crowds gathering around the buckets full of floral treasures. Arrive early to avoid the lines and find the best deals and bargains. Aside from flowers, the market has stalls and shops with antiques, garden accessories and Buddhist sculptures.
Visit some of the 60 independent shops, including art galleries, patisseries and vintage clothing stores that line the street. You can purchase artisanal items, such as pottery and perfume. Enjoy a pleasant lunch at the Italian delis and other family-owned restaurants, pubs and cafés.
The market was initially set up in 1869 as a covered arcade of about 400 stalls selling mostly food. It went through a period of lack of produce during World War II, when it suffered a direct hit, before becoming popular again in the 1960s. Note that the market is open only on Sundays, when the stalls are set up from early morning until afternoon regardless of weather.
The Columbia Road Flower Market is in the borough of Tower Hamlets in trendy East London. Take the Tube to Bethnal Green or ride the National Rail train to Hoxton or Shoreditch High Street. Visit nearby attractions, such as the Geffrye Museum and Haggerston Park.
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