What to do · London
Camden Market
Information
- Price
- Free entry
- Duration
- 2 h
- Who it's for
- Ages 12 and up
What it is and what you see
Camden Market is not one market but several joined together on the banks of Regent's Canal, in north London. Together they add up to more than a thousand shops, stalls, bars and cafés: second-hand and vintage clothes, records, crafts, independent shops and food stalls from around the world.
There are four main areas. Camden Lock is beside the canal lock, on Camden Lock Place. Stables Market, on Chalk Farm Road, has listed historic buildings and a cobbled floor. Hawley Wharf, on the other side, is the new part, with food markets on several floors. North Yard is a cobbled courtyard of independent restaurants that also opens in the evening.
When
It opens every day of the year, including public holidays. The market runs from 10:00 to 19:00; most traders open from 10:00 to 18:00 and each has its own hours. The food markets at Hawley Wharf open from 11:30 to 23:00, and its shops from 12:00 to 18:00 Monday to Wednesday, from 11:00 to 18:00 on Thursday and Sunday and from 11:00 to 19:00 on Friday and Saturday.
There are seasonal activities. In November and December 2026, for example, North Yard opens on Thursdays until 21:00 with a live band from 26 November, and on Saturdays in October and November there was a vintage market. Check the events page on its website.
Getting there
By Tube, the nearest station is Camden Town, on the Northern Line, about 5 minutes' walk; Chalk Farm is about 10. On the Overground, Camden Road is about 8 minutes away. Buses 24 (from Victoria), 214 (from King's Cross), 274 (from the West End) and 393 stop nearby. Do not go by car: the market has no car park of its own and the one in Camden Town is very limited.
A different way to arrive is along the canal: the London Waterbus Company links Little Venice with the market's West Yard in about 45 minutes, with single tickets from £13 to £17.
Price
Entry is free; you only pay for what you buy or eat.
Practical tips
It is a place where a teenager can move around on their own for a couple of hours: agree a fixed time and meeting point, such as the lock. With small children or a pushchair, Hawley Wharf has no steps and has lifts to all floors; a good part of Stables and Lock has no steps either, but the cobbles and uneven floors of the historic buildings make walking harder. At Hawley Wharf there is a Changing Places accessible toilet, and the interactive map on the website marks the other accessible toilets. Market security is on duty 24 hours on 07756 868256.
Go first thing if you want to browse in peace; for eating, Hawley Wharf and North Yard have longer hours than the shops.
If you are spending a day in London, combine it with a boat on the Thames or with the Sky Garden.
Tips
- Agree on a fixed spot With teenagers, the Camden Lock lock is easy to find.
- Arrive by Tube or by boat There is no car park of its own; the canal boat from Little Venice is another way to arrive.
- Eat at Hawley Wharf Its food markets open until 23:00, later than the shops.
Frequently asked questions
What are Camden Market's opening hours?
Every day from 10:00 to 19:00, although each trader has their own hours. The food at Hawley Wharf opens from 11:30 to 23:00.
What is the nearest Tube station?
Camden Town, on the Northern Line, about 5 minutes away. Chalk Farm is about 10.
Is it accessible with a pushchair or wheelchair?
Hawley Wharf has no steps and has lifts. Stables and Lock are largely step-free, but with cobbles and uneven floors.
As a familyWith teenagersWith friends
