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Han22,S (ug)

April 28th, 2023

The Ultimate Camden Market Guide

1 comment | 1 shares

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Han22,S (ug)

April 28th, 2023

The Ultimate Camden Market Guide

1 comment | 1 shares

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

If you’re new to London, you probably have Camden Market on your list of must-see places. Located in North London and easily accessible via the Northern line, this market is full of culture and art, ready for you to dive into. Here are some activities in Camden Market you can’t afford to miss while you’re there.

Vintage/ Thrift Shopping

Camden Market has a huge selection of vintage, upcycled and second-hand clothing pieces. If you’re looking for graphic tees, denim jackets, varsity jackets, or a good old pair of Doc Martens, this place is for you. Along the streets in Camden Lock and Harley Wharf are tons of different vintage stores and thrift shops. My favourite area, featuring stores selling second-hand items from brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, is the street connecting Harley Wharf and Camden Lock, leading all the way to Cyber Dog  (which isn’t a vintage or thrift store but offers a shopping experience on its own, for you seemingly enter an entirely different sci-fi world the moment you step foot into the building of glaring lights and eardrum-breaking music).

Vintage and thrift finds in Camden Market

 

Support Small Businesses

Besides vintage and thrift stores, you’ll find tons of pop-up stalls in Camden Lock featuring small businesses and their crafts. From hand-made leather goods to resin earrings, there’ll definitely be something for the little crafter in you to enjoy. One particular store that caught my attention was the store “Japan Crafts”. We stared at wooden blocks with price tags ranging from around £20  to £560 for a good five minutes trying to figure out why these seemingly decorative blocks of wood were being encased in a glass shelf.

Of course, we couldn’t crack the code and ended up striking a conversation with Ray, a staff member of the store. “It might seem like normal wooden blocks, but in the olden times and even now, they’re actually used to store valuables”, he said. He probably saw that my friend and I were still confused about how a solid piece of block could store anything, so he very kindly offered to let us try handling the blocks ourselves. “7 steps”, he instructed. As I tried to find some sort of hidden drawer, I soon realised that it was no ordinary wooden block. A slight push upwards pops one piece of wood out, a slight push downwards pops another. Essentially, there were seven steps of up, down, left or right movements to “decode” this block and have it opened. Apparently, these blocks were the equivalent of safes used in Japan, where only the user knew the combination to unlock it through very specific steps. Sometimes, they’re even used as ring boxes for wedding proposals — though, I’m not too sure if one’s soon-to-be wife might end up delaying the proposal by taking a few hours to unlock it!

Trying to crack the code in Japan Crafts

 

Stuff Yourselves with Food

The day you visit Camden Market will always be a “treat yourself” day. Offering both street food and staple options, have all your cravings for bubble tea, matcha, churros, etc. satisfied. For me, the best food was located at Harley Wharf’s food court, where you can find a range of cuisines from Afghanistan, Greece, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Vietnam and more. My friend and I settled for a Greek souvlaki wrap and a Cheesy Naan Melt; both of which tasted absolutely heavenly. There’s also a huge range of desserts in Harley Wharf, so if you’re up to get a fix for your sweet tooth, this is the place for you.

Take Retro Photobooth Pictures

What is the point of exploring London with your friends if you don’t keep a memory of it? Located in Camden Lock are a few retro photo booths. Priced at around £4 for a series of four vintage film looking shots, have fun with your friends and family thinking of poses to do before the shots are taken. Having trialled and tested it, the speed of the snaps will definitely make some naturally interesting faces!

 

Delicious food from the market stalls
Hit the Movies

Unbeknownst to some (including myself), Harley Wharf is also home to Curzon Cinema, which shows award-winning films, blockbusters and even independent films. Besides your typical popcorn cinema snack, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the at-seat service while you have a cocktail, wine or even pizza .  Though I have yet to pamper myself with a movie night in London, this is definitely going on my bucket list.

Live Your Main Character Life

Lastly, what better way to dramatise and romanticise your life than go on a Regents Canal Trip? Whisk yourself onto these traditional narrowboats and find yourself in Little Venice within 45 minutes. This is definitely something I’m going to try when the weather gets a little warmer!

Sunny Regents Canal

 

So, what are you waiting for? Go immerse yourself in this cultural, historical part of London and live your main character dreams!

About the author

Han22,S (ug)

A final year General Course student in the Department of International Relations who you can find scrambling for a cup of hot chocolate before classes.

Posted In: Study Abroad

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