Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 7RG
If there’s one thing that entices Londoners from other parts of the city to Hackney at weekends, it’s this wonderful East London fixture, the Columbia Road Sunday flower market, which offers a rich profusion of cut flowers, potted herbs, bulbs, house plants and garden foliage, usually served up with loud banter from the stall holders. It’s a great way to spend a Sunday morning, maybe followed by brunch or lunch at one of several decent nearby places (seek out the stall selling delicious deep-fried prawns and calamari). Prices are lower than you’ll find anywhere else, and the choice and quality is generally excellent. Wait until around 3pm to get the real bargains as the stalls aim to shift huge armfuls of plants.