Bargain Hunter's London

 A pile of dresses on the bed, boots and flats under the desk, jackets hanging in the closet and a collection of shirts on top of the tv.  I had made the mistake of waiting until my last night in London to pack a week’s worth of souvenir and bargain hunts.  With suitcase stretched beyond capacity, I made it home with a whole new wardrobe thanks to the high street and East End thrift markets.

 

The East End:

I love London’s east side—a year spent wandering the twisted streets revealed little pockets of good food and good shopping.  At first glance, the East End looks considerably rougher than the clean facades of London’s western postcodes.  Historically characterized as the immigrant and working-class region of the city, the East End is dynamic, ever surprising place to explore. 

Sunday is the day to be wandering: start at Liverpool Street Station and head east to Spitalfields Market.  There you can find stalls selling hand-printed shirts, vintage scarves, old books, posters, vinyl records and delicious pastries.  A session of digging through crates of dresses and skirts followed by coffee and an almond croissant is a great way to spend the morning.

Make sure to get cash the night before—there are only a handful of cash machines near by and they often run out of money.

A few blocks away is Absolute Vintage—a more organized vintage shopping experience.  Just next-door is the Sunday Up Market.  On Sundays, the nondescript parking garage is turned into a bustling market of new and vintage clothes.  Get there early to avoid the lunch crowd heading in to sample the food stalls cooking up pad thai, green curry, sushi, crepes, cupcakes and more. 

 

Just outside is Brick Lane, the curry center of London.  Together with street vendors, little shops offer books, shoes and other curiosities.  For heavily discounted high street clothing, head down Petticoat Lane.  While bargains are plentiful so are pickpockets.  If you don’t mind a challenge, Petticoat Lane has some good buys to be found.  I got a navy blue pea coat with toggles for $15. 

Camden Lock Market:

Like Notting Hill’s Portabello Road market, without the antiques.  Known as the goth/punk scene of London, Camden is full of costume and specialty shops.  Unlike the East End, Camden’s market is open on Saturdays.  Past the sunglasses and t-shirt shops is the canal.  Here you can find the food stalls with samosas, eggrolls and chocolate-filled Brazillian churros.  The winding passageways beyond are packed with people and little shops.  I have found dresses for $8, unusual necklaces and piles of oversized sweaters (aka jumpers). 

Oxford and Regents Streets:

The bustling high streets with Topshop’s multistory flagship store, Selfridges, Hamley’s toy store and much more. If you want to avoid the crowds, Kensington’s high street further west has many of the same shops.   Primark, at the very end of Oxford Street, is one place where crowds cannot be avoided—two floors of trendy, medium quality clothes at low prices creates a shopping frenzy.  It’s all too easy to get sucked in, but if you’re selective you can emerge from the madness with some good finds.  Knowing there are obscure brands and unique vintage pieces just waiting in the East End, I like to wander the high streets and people watch.

 Clearly I’m biased to the East End,  but it’s definitely worth a Sunday morning if ever you find yourself in London—just make sure to save some room in your suitcase.