Are you looking for a complete guide to Camden Market and all of the delectable street food in Camden? Lucky for you, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s an insider’s look at the most famous market in London – from two locals!
We live in Camden (after moving from Dorset to London at the end of 2023) and can’t get enough of Camden Market and Camden Market food stalls. If you know us, then you’ll know that we’re massive foodies so having this right on our doorstep is both risky for our waistlines and our purses.
From enthusiastic tourists to resilient rock enthusiasts, vintage lovers to culinary connoisseurs, and inquisitive wanderers. Camden really is a place for everyone.
Camden Market is a vibrant maze where bohemian spirit, culinary delights, and unique stands that all seamlessly blend into one. Plus, the street food in Camden is some of the best in the world.
Embark on the ultimate Camden Market journey with a local perspective to make the most of this eclectic area.
If you’re looking for more places to explore in North London then read all about our top 16 spots here.
Camden Market overview
Camden Market is a huge indoor/outdoor market comprising of the Victorian horse stables, warehouses and shipping containers that have, over the years, become an iconic spot. Packed full of over 1,000 places to shop, eat, drink, and watch live music.
Where is Camden Market located?
Camden Market is located in North London, next to Regent’s Canal. Right next to Camden Town tube station and Camden High Street. Address: 54-56 Camden Lock Pl, NW1 8AF.
What time does Camden Market open?
This bustling bazaar opens around 10 am daily. It closes around dusk (usually 7 pm) – just when Camden’s nightlife starts to kick in.
A Brief History of Camden Market
Before becoming what it is today, Camden Market started as a small, 16-stall market selling jewelry and other handmade items on Sundays. Once it started to gain popularity, the market continued to grow and blossom into what it is today.
In 1974, the first stalls emerged, focusing on antiques and crafts. As the years progressed, Camden Market underwent a dynamic evolution, embracing the counterculture movement of the time. The market became a haven for alternative fashion, music, and art, attracting a diverse crowd of bohemians, punks, and creative minds.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Camden Market continued to grow, expanding its offerings to include a wide range of products, from vintage clothing and unique crafts to international cuisine. The market’s reputation as a cultural hub and a hotspot for innovation solidified, drawing both locals and tourists alike.
In the early 21st century, Camden Market faced challenges such as a major fire in 2008 that damaged a significant portion of the market. Despite setbacks, the market underwent reconstruction, maintaining its eclectic charm while introducing modern amenities.
Today, Camden Market stands as one of London’s most iconic and diverse markets. It’s a fusion of artistic expression, entrepreneurial spirit, and a celebration of individuality. Its history reflects not only the evolution of a marketplace but also the ever-changing cultural landscape of London.
How to get to Camden Market
The closest tube station to Camden Market is Camden Town or Chalk Farm. Both are on the Northern line and can be accessed easily from central London (Camden Town is 15 minutes from Tottenham Court Road station). If you are visiting on the weekend then we recommend getting the tube to Chalk Farm and walking back down to Camden Market as Camden Town station can get extremely busy, resulting in very long queues to get in and out of the station.
Alternatively, Camden Road Overground station is within walking distance. If you prefer a scenic walk, the Regent’s Canal offers a picturesque walk to the market.
If you prefer the bus, several bus routes serve Camden Market, including routes 24, 27, 29, 31, 46, 88, 134, 168, 214, and C2.
What is the best time to visit Camden Market?
The weekend! It might be when it’s at its busiest but, the atmosphere is what makes Camden market so special and unique.
So, in answer to when is the best time to visit Camden Market? The answer is the weekend (Saturday if you can). If you’re not a fan of barging your way through crowds, queuing in Camden shops and having people constantly stop in front of you then maybe the weekend isn’t for you and you would be better suited to a weekday visit. However, the weekend really does have the best atmosphere.
Camden Market Food
You’ll be spoilt for choice with all of the Camden market food choices and can easily spend the whole day here, working your way across the world simply from the confines of Camden market food. You’ll be spoilt for choice with some of the best food in Camden market.
It’s worth noting that the Camden market food stalls don’t have seating of their own. There are some igloo style seating dotted around the Camden market food stalls plus, benches. Some bars also let you bring your street food in to eat in their bars if you buy a drink which is always a great option.
If it’s cold, wet or you just prefer the option of street food with the added benefit of indoor seating then, instead head to Hawley Wharf market. With over 30 street food vendors and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, it’s a great alternative to the traditional street food in Camden.
Here are our top 4 best food in Camden market stands:
Funky Chips Camden
Funky Chips Camden have made a name for themselves recently by going pretty ‘viral’ on Instagram throughout 2023. Funky Chips offers 3 (4 if you include their plain chips) options: cheesy Funky Chips and Masala Funky Chips. We’ve tried both and can confirm that they’re incredible. They’re not cheap but, you get extremely large portions. A large one is big enough for 2 people to share. If you have a smaller appetite then a small is large enough for 2 people to share. They might ‘just be’ chips, but they are certainly some of the best food in Camden market. Don’t miss Funky Chips during your trip to Camden!
Stable Street, Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF
The Mac Factory
If you like cheesy, carby goodness then you HAVE to try The Mac Factory in Camden Market food for some of the best street food in Camden. The Mac Factory offer up six different flavours of mac and cheese. Including catering for vegetarians, Lactose intolerant plus, Gluten-free in Camden market.
West Yard, Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF
VBurger
Offering up a selection of some of the best street food in Camden, VBurger serves vegan burgers, vegan Dogs and vegan Shawarma. The menu, created by London chef Yossi Edri, puts all things plant-based in the spotlight and and even convert meat eaters. If you’re veggie, vegan or just like to try new things then we recommend coming here.
305-306 Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AH
STAKEHaus
You wouldn’t think two vegetarians would recommend a steak stand. However, alongside their traditional steak and chips offering they also offer a 3D printed steak! So, if you’re looking for a meat streak or a vegan one, you’ll find both here!
West Yard, Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF
If you can’t decide what epic food to try then why not take part in a food tour instead and try a bit of everything?
Vegetarian restaurants in Camden
If street food in Camden isn’t your thing and instead you would prefer a sit down restaurant, then lucky for you, Camden also has this. Below are our favourite vegetarian restaurants in Camden. If you are a meat eater then there are also plenty of options dotted about. Or, give one of these vegetarian ones a go. We promise they’re incredible!
Neat Burger
Neat Burger is an ethical and sustainable small vegan burger chain. Neat Burger have a passion for all things plant-based and serve a range of vegan burgers, hot dogs and sides available to eat in or takeaway. We recommend their Beef Brisket Burger and the Smash Daddy plus, some tater tots, of course. Neat burger have some diner/ takeaway style seats inside and benches outdoors where you can sit and demolish your meal.
M’eat The Vegan’s
We LOVE M’eat The Vegan’s. An independently ran vegan restaurant serving pretty much anything that you can think of but all vegan’fied. From indian to Mexican to American and Caribbean. We’ve tried a few of their dishes and all have been incredibly tasty, unique and large portions. All a big win in our eyes.
Mildreds Camden
A chain across London (and branching out to other spots in the UK) that serves a mix of international vegan cuisine. Mildreds is very high on our list of best vegetarian restaurants in Camden. We’ve sampled the salads, chick’n sheesh, burger and some other options all of which have been incredibly tasty.
Purezza
Purezza is a vegan pizza joint just outside of Camden Town. It offers such a great selection of pizzas and smaller plates that are all vegan and, so we’ve been told, incredibly tasty. It’s on our list of spots to try so, once we have. We’ll update you!
Your guide to Camden shops:
Camden town might have some incredible Camden market food stalls but, that’s not all it is. It also has an abundance of unique shops weaving their way through the market. From high quality gift shops to the slightly more * tacky *. To the iconic Cyberdog to vintage clothing shops. The eclectic array of Camden shops really shouldn’t be missed.
Visit Cyberdog – the most famous one of Camden shops
You can’t leave Camden Market without visiting this unique, slightly crazy shop. If you’re into raving then you’ll probably love it. If not, then it’s an experience! Filled with trance music, ultraviolet lights and dancers. You won’t know what’s hit you.
It has 3 floors (one of them X Rated, if you know what I mean) with unique pieces, perfect for your next rave or festival!
Chain Reaction
If you’re in need of an unusual gift then you have to stop off at Chain Reaction. From mugs to posters, keyrings, books, cards, wrapping paper… you name it, they sell it.
Out on the Floor Records
An independent record shop in the heart of Camden. Out on the Floor Records has an awesome, huge mixture of genres and is well worth a visit. If they’ve not got what you’re looking for, don’t worry. Camden is home to epic music and there are plenty more record stores dotted about.
Finish your day off at Camden Market with…
…a pint at an epic pub
After stuffing your face with as much street food in Camden as you possibly can it’s time to sit down and relax over a cold pint of Camden Hells. (Which is brewed just around the corner and does an epic tour of the brewery complete with samples).
Or, drop by the legendary The Dublin Castle spilling stories of rock-n-roll memories, The World’s End with loud live music, head to our personal favourite The Lock Tavern or Amy Winehouses old stomping ground: The Hawley Arms.
Or why not join a pub crawl and discover them all?
We hope that you have enjoyed our guide to Camden Market. And that after your visit you’re sufficiently stuffed from all of the street food in Camden (including funky chips Camden – one of the best food choices in Camden market) and that you’ve shopped until you’ve dropped at Camden shops!
