A world-famous East London attraction. In one day a visitor to the market stalls and independent shops can pick up anything from fair trade cushions and rare vinyl to lovingly crafted notebooks and toy trains. There are jewel-encrusted vintage boots for the individualist, reconditioned art déco sofas for elegant sensibilities and an excellent array of food for all.
Open Tuesday to Friday and Sunday every week, the Traders’ Market has up to 110 stalls on its busiest days. Housed under the elegant Foster & Partners glass canopy in Crispin Place, the stalls range from contemporary and vintage fashion to music, bespoke children's toys, jewellery and accessories, and interiors for the home. The market is also surrounded by a host of independent boutiques, food shops and restaurants. Plus you have Old Spitalfields Market right next door.
Set on Market Street, the Spitalfields Arts Market is a great place to browse and buy affordable art direct from both established and up-and-coming artists. There’s something for every taste and pocket at Spitalfields Arts Market, with a wide choice of original artworks – from paintings to photography.
For more information on what’s on in Spitalfields, visit www.visitspitalfields.com or www.spitalfields.co.uk
See more info on the area on the City Reach area info pages:
MiNC’s Spitalfields Apartments are within easy reach of the very of heart of London: the West End, celebrated for its entertainment venues, restaurants and as the capital’s top shopping district. The West End has it all – from famous department stores and international labels, to local designer boutiques and high street chain stores. Shopping in London’s Oxford Street and Regent’s Street is one pleasure you should not miss, and even window-shopping is a feast for the eyes.
The West End has been described as the ‘Epicentre of Entertainment’, and when it comes to theatre, music, the visual arts, clubs and screens, London truly... rocks. The capital’s Theatreland has attracted the top international artists for centuries, as have its concert halls and galleries.
The state-of-the-art cinemas overlooking Leicester Square bring you the latest movies hot from the editing studio; The Lion King and We Will Rock You sit happily alongside the high-brow offerings from the Royal Opera House and the Coliseum ; the Royal Festival Hall’s repertoire dovetails classical, jazz, rock and lots more. The National Portrait Gallery displays the only known portrait of Shakespeare just a floor or two above its latest photographic exhibition. Comedy your act? – Check out the Comedy Store . Any of these venues is barely a 15-minute cab ride away or a few stops on the bus or tube – or, as many Londoners will recommend, a moderately easy walk. But be warned: if it’s your first time in the West End, you’ll... soon be back for more: London’s seriously addictive!
The stores are open from 10am until 6 or 7pm. Some open Sunday 12 to 6pm with late nights on Thursday. Oxford Street is best known for Selfridges and the other big department stores which are all found in the stretch from Marble Arch to Oxford Circus.
Just a short taxi ride away, this is one of the most exciting boutique shopping areas in the West End. With many stylish shops, St Christopher's Place also offers one of London's largest concentration of alfresco dining. The relaxing and atmospheric environment also ensures that it is both a laid back and vibrant place to chill out after a business meeting or shopping trip, and an ideal spot to meet up with people.
The French historian who famously claimed that ‘The English cannot cook but certainly know how to eat’ would be eating his own words today: multicultural London excels at both cooking and eating these days, and whichever direction you head in from your apartment, you’ll be spoiled for choice. If Mayfair tends to be on the exclusive and exquisite side, Edgware Road (which runs north from Marble Arch) is celebrated for the best Middle Eastern restaurants in town – and at a reasonable cost too. Heading west towards the big bend in the River Thames, Soho offers arguably the best Italian and Chinese gastronomy in London. Covent Garden is ideal for families with its host of casual eateries which won’t cost a fortune, while just across the river, on the South Bank, you can watch the waterworld flow by whilst enjoying your meal. From Halal and gluten-free to vegan and Kosher, London will please all palates.
If you enjoy exploring on foot – and many Londoners will tell you, after all, that the best mode of transport here is a good pair of trainers – a great itinerary back to the City from the South Bank is the riverside walk to the Tate Modern (a must-see attraction in itself, for young and not-so-young), then across the ‘Wibbly-Wobbly Bridge’ to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Housed within the ample green spaces of central London’s Regent’s Park, the ZSL (Zoological Society of London) is one of the most celebrated of all attractions in the capital. With some 750 species of animal to see, from the smallest monkey to the towering giraffe, and with enthralling events taking place throughout the day (such as feeds, keeper talks and demonstrations) you could easily spend a whole day at this London attraction. A must-see if you have children or if you are passionate about wildlife and conservation.
Forget the days when Britain had a reputation for being ‘child unfriendly’! Kids from all corners of the globe absolutely love it here: Britain’s pretty cool all round, but what clinches it for the kids is that there’s so much to do, that they’ll want to cram it all in before they grow up.
Love sport? – Well, so do Londoners, who eat, breathe and sleep every form of event, from cricket to footie; and as London builds up to the 2012 Olympics, there are more and more events to enjoy, whether as a spectator or a young competitor. And if London Zoo has your kids roaring for more, why not consider one of the capital’s City Farms? And just to prove how ‘child friendly’ London really is these days, you’ll see there’s barely a pub now that won’t welcome families and dish up an easy lunch for the whole tribe.