5 of the best markets

The original Brick Lane flea market takes place on Sunday, and sees traders selling a wide range of bric-a-brac, clothing and antiques. Sunday also sees the Upmarket in the Old Truman Brewery area where 140 traders sell crafts, clothes, art, vinyl, bakery and artisan produce.

This large covered market in the regenerated Spitalfields area is open every day. Thursday is the antiques market and there’s a record fair on the first and third Friday of the month. Saturdays have changing themed markets and on Sundays designers and artists take over.

Broadway Market has been home to market traders since the 1890s. The street market is a lively, modern affair and takes place on Saturdays with up to 150 stalls selling fresh produce, clothes, art and street food.

Alfie’s is home to dozens of independent traders selling a wide mix of antiques, decorative art and interior design pieces. Various stalls specialise in costume jewellery, clocks, ceramics, glass, porcelain, posters, paintings, 19th- and 20th-century decorative items and much more. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday.

This colourful and lively East End flower market, with its origins in the Victorian era, takes place every Sunday from 8 am till 3 pm. 60 or so independent shops are housed in the distinctive low brick terrace that lines the street selling severally art, crafts, prints, vintage clothes and design items, coffee and refreshments.