Backpackers Guide to London
Camden Market
Backpackers' Guide to London's Tourist Information | Backpackers' Guide to London Tourist Attractions | Backpackers' Guide to London's Historical Attractions | Backpackers' Guide to Shopping in London | Backpackers' Guide to Sport in London | Backpackers' Guide to Entertainment in London | Backpackers' Guide to Food in London | Backpackers' Guide to London Museums Because of its wide variety of shops and stalls, Camden may be rightfully called as the shopping mecca of London. Its diverse array of products and services have made it a major tourist attraction, especially during the summer. The Camden Markets began in 1974 as a commercial area that carried various forms of arts and crafts. Initially, it focused on the youth as its target market, but soon caught on to a much broader range of customers, largely due to the quality and variety of its goods. With its popularity, the Camden Markets expanded to include the following neighboring markets:
1. Camden Lock Market Camden Lock Market started as a venue for selling crafts. While it still is the premiere venue for such products, it has also evolved into a market for selling books, second-hand clothing and jewelry. And unlike before when it only occupied outdoor stalls, a three-storey indoor market hall now stands in the area, designed by an architect named John Dickinson and built in 1991. The Stables Market accounts as the largest portion of The Camden Markets. While it is mainly know for selling clothes and accessories, there are also stalls which offer furniture, household items and decorative goods. The stores in Stables Market address various tastes, may it be ethnically inclined or downright gothic. Likewise, there are two other markets in the Camden area that are known for its wide variety of clothing. These are the Camden Canal Market and the Buck Street Market. Because of their almost cult following (especially by Goth-aficionados), the two markets have become permanent fixtures and are open seven days a week. Music enthusiasts can get their fix from the Electric Ballroom. While this 60+ year old market has been known to be the perennial hangout of rock bands, it has since opened its doors to other musical genres. During the weekends, around fifty or so stalls are set up to sell a mixture of fashion, lifestyle and musical items. There have been proposals to demolish the Electric Ballroom in 2004 and 2005 but these were rejected by the Camden Borough Council and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott respectively. Inverness Street, on the other hand, is the traditional street market that can be considered as the inspiration for the development of The Camden Markets.
Introduction
History
2. Stables Market
3. Camden Canal Market
4. Buck Street Market
5. Electric Ballroom
6. Inverness Street
Best Features
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