Your presence? It’s not presents enough, not really. But your presence at these London markets can make present-shopping into an event. Some venues plan all year for the chance to romance you with an antique map or a crystal goblet, to rouse you with Grecian urns to inspire Keats. Make a day of it, digging your way from the terracotta-brick arcades of Mayfair to the wrought-iron vaults of Leadenhall Market. There are proper treasures to be had.
Leadenhall Market
Midcentury furniture, independent art and retro decor are the stars inside this beloved London galleria, worth a peek any time of year. Designed in 1881 by Horace Jones, who replaced the previous 15th-century stone structure (and, most likely, markets going back to the Romans), the venue echoes with life on weekends. Visitors can browse beneath the Victorian vaults at two main events: the Vintage Furniture Flea Market and the SoLo Craft Fair, both featuring quality independent makers and heritage treasures.
Grays Antiques
If it’s fine art and antique homewares you’re after, then Grays, tucked away from the chaos of Oxford Street, is your destination. Housed in a former lavatory showroom from the earliest days of plumbing, it has grown from its debut in 1977 into one of London’s largest antique marketplaces, housing nearly 100 dealers.
Among its main highlights are 14th-century sculpture, 17th-century Chinese porcelain and Belle Epoque glassware. No bargains, mind you. But the quality is there.
Alfies Antique Market
On 6 December, the city’s biggest indoor antique and vintage market is hosting its annual Christmas party. But Alfies isn’t going anywhere. Its four storeys have been the pride of Marylebone for nearly 150 years, back to when it served as Jordan’s Department Store, a large haberdashery shop. Its life as a retro mainstay began, as most have, in the 1970s, when former journalist Bennie Grey named it in honour of his jazz musician father. It’s now a veritable paradise for collectors of mid-century design and high-end vintage fashion.
Crystal Palace Antiques & Modern
South of the Thames in leafy Crystal Palace, this antique hub cries out for your business from a Victorian (former) textile warehouse. It uses each of its four floors to keep you interested in its excellent selection of lighting, and its bountiful furniture collection — it has everything from Georgian and Victorian classics to Art Deco and Danish modern.
Beckenham Winter Vintage Market at the Mansion
Next weekend, 25 vintage traders will take over Beckenham Place Mansion to help desperate Londoners find just the right piece. The event, called ‘So Last Century’, has been going since 2015, and its homeware and furniture selection has gotten better every year. Visitors can browse through affordable ceramics, prints, vinyl and larger homewares from every era, all while exploring the Grade II*-listed Georgian mansion.
