Old Spitalfields Market, London > Reviews (1)

Sometimes at weekends I pop up to Old Spitalfields Market and have a mooch about. The area is on the Eastern side of Central London, just a few minutes walk from Liverpool Street tube and mainline stations. There has been a market on this site since the mid Seventeenth Century. Sunday is the day I usually go, but if you are interested in antiques then Thursday is the best day to go. Because of the proximity of the city, the area has been gentrified and there are lots of coffee shops, upmarket chain restaurants and some pricey shops. To be honest I don't really visit for the shops or chains, but to see the eclectic mix of stalls in the market. Fruit & veg are not sold here, they are at New Spitalfields Market, which is further out towards Leyton. Relatively recently they have started opening the market on a Saturdaay, but I have not visited on that day to comment if it is the same.

ART

This is my favourite category. People sell original art and photographs of various sizes. One of my favourite stalls in that of Tina Maas, who sells a range of photos from her travels, London scenes and colourful photosquares. The latter show food, household items at unusual angles, and scenes by colour from which you can make an unique collection of small images. These are priced at about £7 each. Another artist a friend quite liked was Jenny Rose who produced some original digital collages. Some artists produce heavy glass coasters and place mats with photos on, and some produce art in its more traditional forms. If you are looking for a contemporary and original piece of art for your home, then you may get lucky here.

OTHER PIECES

Other stalls vary, selling an assortment of goods. Here you can buy travel card holders or notebooks made from old maps, which I think look really good, if quite expensive. Some stalls sell general goods like beauty items or household goods, but with a quirky edge, and there are a few selling books and music.

As I have said before, I usually go on Sundays, and you may see the same stalls as the previous Sunday, but you are always bound to notice something you missed on a previous visit and this is a good day to go to get the feel of the place. I have been mid-week many moons ago, but found the place lacking in atmosphere and uninspiring to shop. A market needs to be fairly bustling to get your interest I think! Weekends will be the busiest day, but the 'aisles' are generally a good distance apart and it is not so busy that you can't move. Sometimes you do have to be patient if a certain stall is busy and wander past it again later. The place is wheelchair and pushchair friendly, as it is completely flat. There are toilets here, but I don't think I have ever used them.