A manifestation of hippies, freaks and the downright cool! (Camden Market)

Member Name: jesika_jay

Product:	Camden Market
Date:	03/09/02 (3252 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funky, Original, Bargain Heaven

Disadvantages: The parking attendants who are all to eager to clamp your car and grab your money!

This has to be my favourite place in the whole of London! There are many posh and interesting or funky and hip places to go in the city, but this has to be by far the most original and culturally diverse place of all. You won't find such an incredible mix of people anywhere else- this is where all the weirdoes come to hang out and it's great!

First lets start with a bit about the Camden Markets. Located in Camden Town, northwest London, they are divided into six sections, although they do seem to merge into one big place. They are the place to go if you are after a bargain, or if you are after something just that bit different from the high street stores for the home, for clothes or just for fun! This is a unique shopping area that is also so much more- just coming here is an experience in itself...

...Let me start with the shops and stalls. This is not your typical London market- when I think 'market', I usually think groceries and tacky clothes and a big fat man shouting "come get your bananas, ten for a pound!". Oh no, this is not that kind of market! This is more of an art display- everything is an art, from the clothes and rugs and stuffs right down to the people themselves. This is hippy heaven! If you are a hippy or are in any way strange, then you will be in your element here. There is everything you can imagine- rugs, clothes, hammocks, cushions, wall hangings, pictures, everything! And everything is unique. No shop sells the same stock- they sell similar things, but most of the items are handcrafted and totally individual.

There are some truly outrageous shops! One I can think of is a seventies shop which has two themed cars outside, painted in red and blue stripes to match the interior of the shop which is completely dazzling! Inside, you will find funky flairs and fancy dress oddities that you would have to be insane to wear, but it's an experience just looking around! It's like some
thing out of Austin Powers 3! There's another punk clothes shop which is more like a night club; it constantly plays hard house music at about 90 decibels, and if you go inside you will find flashing disco lights and people wearing huge plat formed shoes, dancing on a dance floor! As for the clothes, they are all outrageous luminous club outfits- only for the very daring!

For people who are more interested in the art side of things, there is a big courtyard. If you go inside the buildings around the edge, you will find art shop after art shop after art shop! There are literally hundreds of unique little craft shops all with something different to offer and all crammed into this old brick building. There are beautiful throws and rugs draped over every balcony. The temptation will be too much- these items just look so inviting, you'll probably end up making a purchase or two to say the least! They are all so reasonably priced!

Onto the price subject- most things will be really worth buying at the prices they are asking. However, it is also worth haggling as much as you can and you will usually end up with a right bargain! This is one of the advantages of this being a market- all the stalls are privately owned and therefore can make up their own prices. It works best if you buy more than one item from one stall- you can easily get the stall owners to set you up with a special deal!

I was really pleased the last time I went (yesterday- Sunday) as I picked up some Indian-style cushion covers for just £1.99 each in a sale- they are usually about £6 for similar in normal shops. I also bought this gorgeous throw with an Oriental design- and hand crafted- for just £20, having knocked the price down form £25, which was quite a bargain anyway! Another purchase was a hand-woven rug (about 3 metres long and very thick) for just £12! A complete bargain! When the man held up this rug so I could have a look, I was apprehensive about asking the pri
ce as I thought he would say something like £60. When he said £12, I was astonished and bought it right away without haggling- it would've been rude to barter at such a low starting price anyway. I also bought about 4 more cushion covers and a stool. As you can see, I had quite a spree!

Coming to Camden is becoming more and more of a regular occurrence to me now- it is highly addictive a place, if you are a one when it comes to shopping! But it's also a great place to eat- there are countless foreign food stalls selling things from Turkish falafels to doner kebabs to Chinese noodles. Or there's always a bacon sarnie, if you prefer! There are stalls that sell freshly squeezed fruit juices or those that specialise in herbal teas. Beware of the stallholders in the food parts though- let's just say they are very keen to make a sale!

Aisle after aisle, tunnel after tunnel, there is enough in Camden Market to keep you amused all day. And that's all very well if you have come by foot. By car, however, is a different story. Parking in Camden- even on a Sunday (especially on a Sunday)- is a nightmare! The streets are nearly all residential zones at all times and the few metered streets will only ever allow you a two hour maximum stay, which isn't cheap either! And they are very harsh about parking regulations- if they see a car misplaced; they will not hesitate to clamp it! The best bet for drivers is to park in the massive Safeway, which is at the end of the high street and right next to one of the Market's entrances. You can stay up to 3 hours here for £2. But be sure to be back within the 3 hours or you will be charged £15 to leave!

Apart from driving, the other things to avoid if possible are buggies. If you have small kids, try to get a babysitter while you are shopping as it can get so crowded down these narrow aisles that trying to push a pushchair through a never-ending sea of people can become rather infuriating
. This is a hardcore shopping zone- everyone's out for a bargain and a good time- it will be jam-packed in most areas. I had both with me- car and buggy- so as you can imagine, my visit was pretty hectic to say the least!

The best time to go to Camden is on a Sunday- it is simply buzzing! The market is also open Saturdays and stays open until evening. On a Sunday, it closes at around 6. During the week, the market stalls will not be open, but there are still some funky shops, both in the market area and on the high street all week round.

Access is easy- take the Northern Line to Camden Town- simple as pie. For drivers who aren't too familiar with central London roads, like me (even after 3 years of driving) head towards Kilburn and there will be signs from there.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention some of the weirdoes that live there! There are some proper hardcore freaks in Camden Market! Honestly, it is like a circus! And it's all free! There was this one bloke who's skin was completely- and I mean completely- covered with tattoos. Yep, that's right, even on his privates! (not that I saw- he made a point of telling me when I gasped at him!!) His face had 214 piercings- it was covered in silver hoops- his cheeks, eyebrows, ears, nose, eyelids, mouth, forehead- all plastered! His toenails and fingernails had been carved into the shape of these long claws and were painted green- it was gross! To top it all off, he was wearing a fake leopard-skin miniskirt and cropped tank top! Eeeww! Don't worry, not all the people are like that weird, but it is really interesting to just go there and people-watch!

The greatest thing about Camden is the fact that it is a day out to remember that won't cost much to be enjoyed, unlike most places in London, which will cost you an arm and a leg if you want to have fun.

Bags of atmosphere and oozing with character and freaky style. There's something for everyone i
n this manifest of bizarre but fascinating stalls and funky stuff. I truly recommend this place- if you haven't been already, just GO! See for yourself.

For more info, go to:
www.camden-market.org
You can subscribe to a free newsletter here which will update you with everything you need to know about Camden Market

Summary: