Every Sunday along this cobbled lane in East London, you can find more than 50 market stalls selling flowers, plants and garden supplies. It is a truly vibrant experience.
The restored Victorian terraces on both sides of the street are home to art galleries and vintage clothing stores, as well as pubs, cafes and restaurants. There are no chain stores here, as this street is owned exclusively by independent retailers. This also makes the street popular with photographers and as a filming location.
Thousands of gardeners visit the Columbia Road Flower Market every Sunday to purchase bulbs, plants and shrubs, and to view the exotic array of cut flowers. This little street gets very crowded, so go early for the best cut flowers. Even if you don’t intend to buy flowers, this market is great to visit as it is so colorful.
Many of the market traders are from Essex, where they have their own nurseries to grow their own plants. Stocks change weekly, but expect to find cut flowers, herbaceous plants and shrubs, and an abundance of bedding plants.
Story
Huguenot immigrants came to France from the 17th century and encouraged the demand for cut flowers. (They also brought with them a fascination for caged songbirds and there is a pub on Columbia Road called The Birdcage.
The Columbia Road Flower Market was open on Saturdays, but was moved to meet the needs of local Jewish merchants. The shift to a Sunday also provided another outlet for Covent Garden and Spitalfields traders to sell whatever stocks are left from Saturday.
Recommended stores
Visit Nelly Duff where they sell impressive screen prints featuring the works of many renowned street artists. And Cafe Columbia is only open on Sundays, but because it’s family-run, and now in its third decade of serving bagels, this place is a Columbia Road institution. Treacle is known for its cupcakes, but it also sells cookware and vintage bits and bobs, so don’t worry if you get there after the cakes have run out.
Directions to Columbia Road Flower Market
Address: Columbia Road, London E2
Nearest Tube Stations: Liverpool Street / Old Street
Use Journey Planner or the Citymapper app to plan your route on public transportation.
Columbia Road Flower Market Opening Hours
Sundays only: 8 am to 2-3pm. Traders arrive early, usually around 4-5am, so you can start shopping as early as 7am on summer days. Expect the market to pack up earlier in wet weather.
Open every Sunday unless it falls on Christmas Day (December 25).
Other markets in the area
Brick lane market
Brick Lane Market is a traditional Sunday morning flea market with a wide range of goods for sale, including vintage clothing, furniture, bric-a-brac, music, and much more.
See the Brick Lane market guide.
Old Spitalfields Market
Old Spitalfields Market is now a really cool place to shop. The market is surrounded by independent shops selling handcrafted handicrafts, fashion and gifts. The market is busiest on Sundays, but is also available Monday through Friday. Stores are open 7 days a week.
Ver Old Spitalfields Market Guide .
Petticoat Lane Market
Petticoat Lane was established over 400 years ago by French Huguenots who sold petticoats and lace here. The prudes Victorians changed the name of Lane and the market to avoid referring to women’s underwear!
See the Petticoat Lane guide.
Official Web site
www.columbiaroad.info
