Things to Do in Camden Market A Local's Shopping Guide (2026) | 98types
Things to Do in Camden Market — A Local's Shopping Guide
Camden Market isn't one market — it's four. Here's how the sections fit together, what each one's actually good for, and how to spend a day there without wasting half of it walking in circles.
Quick answer: Camden Market is a cluster of four connected markets — Camden Lock Market, the Stables Market, Hawley Wharf and Buck Street Market — all within a short walk of Camden Town and Chalk Farm tube stations. Open daily, 10am–6pm (food halls later). Start at Camden Lock Market Hall for crafts, gifts and posters (including 98 Types Studio, Lower Floor, Stall 3), then loop through the Stables Market for vintage fashion, finishing at Hawley Wharf or the West Yard for street food.
Camden Market attracts roughly a quarter of a million visitors a week, which makes it the fourth most-visited attraction in London — but it can also be genuinely overwhelming the first time you turn up without a plan. It isn't a single market at all, but four distinct ones that have grown together over fifty years. Here's how to actually make sense of it.
The Four Sections, Explained
The Original — Crafts, Gifts & the Market Hall
This is where it all started, with just 16 craft stalls in 1974. Today the heart of it is the three-storey Market Hall, packed with independent traders selling crafts, gifts, art prints and homeware, alongside food stalls by the canal. 98 Types Studio is here on the Lower Floor, Stall 3 — a good first or last stop for movie, music and personalised art prints from £3.
Best for: gifts, posters, original crafts, canal viewsThe Maze — Vintage, Alternative & Punk Heritage
Set in former Victorian horse stables and railway arches, this is the most atmospheric — and easiest to get lost in — part of Camden Market. Expect vintage clothing, antique furniture, leather goods, records and a strong nod to Camden's punk and alternative history. Look out for the Amy Winehouse statue, a popular photo stop for music fans.
Best for: vintage fashion, music history, browsing for hoursThe Modern One — Street Food & Evening Hours
A newer, more polished canal-side development with a strong focus on street food from around the world, plus shops and a small cinema. Unlike most of the rest of the market, food halls here often stay open into the evening — a good option if you're visiting later in the day.
Best for: dinner, evening visits, international street foodThe Gateway — Right by Camden Town Tube
The first market most visitors see, right outside Camden Town station. Rebuilt in 2019 from repurposed shipping containers, it now leans toward street food, events and weekend live music rather than the clothing stalls it was historically known for.
Best for: a quick bite on arrival, weekend live musicPractical Tips for Visiting
🕙 When it's open
Daily, 10am–6pm for most stalls. Hawley Wharf food halls often run until around 11pm.
🚇 Getting there
Camden Town or Chalk Farm tube, both Northern line. Chalk Farm is usually quieter.
⏰ Best time to go
Weekday mornings before midday. Saturday and Sunday afternoons (1–4pm) are the busiest by far.
👟 What to wear
Comfortable shoes — the Stables Market in particular has uneven, cobbled walkways.
What's Worth Buying
With over 1,000 traders across the four sections, Camden Market covers pretty much everything: vintage and alternative fashion, handmade jewellery, leather goods, records, antiques — and, for art and pop culture fans, a genuinely strong concentration of poster and print shops in and around the Market Hall. If that's what you're after, our full comparison of Camden's poster shops breaks down exactly where to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different sections of Camden Market?
Camden Market is a cluster of adjoining markets: Camden Lock Market (the original site, home to the three-storey Market Hall), the Stables Market (the largest section, known for vintage fashion and alternative culture), Hawley Wharf (redeveloped in 2021, with street food and shops open later into the evening), and Buck Street Market (a container-style market near Camden Town tube station).
Is Camden Market open every day?
Yes, Camden Market is open seven days a week, including bank holidays. Most stalls and shops trade from around 10am to 6pm, though individual sections and traders can vary slightly, and Hawley Wharf's food halls tend to stay open later, until around 11pm.
What is the best time to visit Camden Market to avoid crowds?
Weekday mornings, ideally before midday, are the quietest time to visit. Saturdays and Sundays, especially between 1pm and 4pm, are the busiest. Arriving via Chalk Farm tube station rather than Camden Town can also help avoid the heaviest foot traffic.
Where can I buy posters and gifts in Camden Market?
98 Types Studio, located in the Camden Lock Market Hall on the Lower Floor, Stall 3, is a top-rated poster and gift shop with a 5.0 star average from 245+ Google reviews, offering movie, music and personalised art prints from £3.
How do I get to Camden Market?
The two nearest London Underground stations are Camden Town and Chalk Farm, both on the Northern line. Camden Town puts you in the thick of the market and Camden High Street, while Chalk Farm is typically quieter and closer to the Stables Market entrance.
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