Almost every visitor to London will have the Camden Markets on their list of places to visit. But most strangers to the scene are overwhelmed by the sheer size and density of the locale. Not to mention the crowd of over 100,000 people who visit the markets each weekend. My advice? Put your blinders on and head calmly and briskly toward the West Yard and Middle Yard food stalls of Camden Lock Market.
After suffering a congested transit ride to the area, and with the prospect of a long day’s shopping ahead of you, you will quickly realize your need for nourishment. Make sure to keep your energy up as you foray through the barrage of handmade jewelry, artisanal beauty products, vintage clothing, unique home goods and amusing tchotchkes. Though the market had humble beginnings as a small, weekly craft market back in the early 1970’s, it has quickly grown to encompass six individual sections: the Stables Market, Camden Lock Market, Camden Lock Village, Buck Street Market, Main Streets/Electric Ballroom, and the Inverness Street Market.
Luckily, London is an extremely veggie-friendly city, so the food stalls will be especially palatable to your appetite. Take your pick from falafel, fajitas, Mexican chili, arepas, veggie burgers and hotdogs, Vietnamese food, pizza, crepes,and of course Indian food among other things. The possibilities are vast. You also can get your caffeine fix at one of several bakeries, cafes and tea shops, or you can calm your nerves with a dose of mulled wine. But before you go overboard eating with your eyes instead of your stomach, keep in mind that if you are a hard-core shopper, you will likely be in Camden Town for several hours and will probably need multiple meals. So pace yourself and happy shopping!
Camden Lock Place
Chalk Farm Road
London
NW1 8AF
+44 (0)20 7485 7963
Currently based out of Boston, Jesal is a blogger, freelance writer, yoga enthusiast and lifelong vegetarian who spent four years eating her way through New York City and various other cities around the globe. After answering hundreds of emails and phone calls answering the question, "Where's a cool place I can take my vegetarian friend out to eat" she started Veggiewala to efficiently share her knowledge of the vegetarian food scene with curious carnivores, flexitarians and other vegetarians.