leah's » London, United Kingdom

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Camden Market is really two markets: the Camden Lock Market, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week, and the street market, whose stalls spills into the surrounding streets on the weekends. The Camden Lock Market is a wonderful collection of arts and crafts shops and stalls, selling everything you might want to wear on a good night out, and quite a few you wouldn’t be seen dead in. There’s also art, food and furnishings, including designer studios for lighting, jewelry and leather goods. There are plenty of bars and cafés where you can rest and refresh. In fact, you can truly chill out here, as there are clinics available in reflexology, Shiatsu, Tui-Na and mineral analysis, and several stalls specializing in alternative treatments. The area is also home to the famous Dingwalls music venue, where live acts have included Toploader, Coldpay and White Stripes, and the Jongleurs Comedy Club, with top stand-up acts. At weekends, the market takes over the streets, stretching from the Camden Town Underground station right up to the lock itself. Along the way, you can pick up a bewildering number of designer T-shirts, silly hats, bric-a-brac, records and almost anything else for the hip and trendy. Don’t buy the first thing you see; walk on a little and check out the variations other people are selling. Finally, be prepared for crowds; the market is extremely popular and very, very crowded. In summer, Camden Town Underground station is closed for entry; you can get out here, but you have to catch the trains back into town from Chalk Hill Farm station instead, a little further up the hill.

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