Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane Market and Petticoat Lane are three of the best-known markets in London. They’re close enough to explore on the same walk in the East End, which is why we often recommend combining them in our London guides.
The stalls, independent shops, street food and atmosphere make this a great way to spend several hours. Sunday is the best day if you want to see the full Brick Lane street market and Petticoat Lane as well as Spitalfields. Spitalfields and several of the indoor Brick Lane markets are open on other days too.
How to get to these markets
Liverpool Street station in Zone 1 is a convenient starting point for Spitalfields and the three-market walk. Follow the signs towards Bishopsgate and Brushfield Street. For Brick Lane on its own, Shoreditch High Street and Aldgate East are also useful stations.
By Underground and train: Liverpool Street is served by the Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines, as well as the Elizabeth line, London Overground and National Rail.
By bus: Several routes serve Liverpool Street and the surrounding streets. Use the TfL journey planner for the right stop and route on your travel day.
By bike: There is a Santander Cycles docking station on Brushfield Street, close to the market. Check the TfL docking map for availability.
By car: The Truman Brewery car parks on Hanbury Street and near Brick Lane are options for this area; check current access and charges before travelling.
Spitalfields Market
Spitalfields is a large covered market area where you can browse gifts, jewellery, bags, clothes, art and handmade pieces, then choose from plenty of places to eat. If you’re in the mood for shopping, I’m sure you’ll find something nice to take home – I usually do. There are two neighbouring markets here with separate websites and hours, so it helps to check which one you mean.
Spitalfields Market E1 opens daily. Its traders’ market currently runs Monday to Friday 10am–6pm, Saturday 11am–5pm and Sunday 10am–6pm. The site itself and its food venues can be open longer; individual traders and restaurants may vary. Check the official opening times before you go.
Next door, Old Spitalfields Market also opens every day, with different hours. Its Thursday antiques market is particularly good if vintage finds are your priority. Browse the official visitor information for current market and shop hours.
Brick Lane Market
Brick Lane is one of those places that photos don’t quite capture. On Sundays the street and nearby lanes fill with stalls selling vintage and second-hand clothes, furniture, records, crafts and all sorts of curiosities. Around the Old Truman Brewery, several markets are tucked inside buildings too, and there are plenty of international street-food stalls.
You can still browse parts of Brick Lane on other days. The Truman Brewery markets include Brick Lane Vintage Market and Upmarket, both open daily, while the Tea Rooms and Backyard Market generally open at weekends. Their hours differ from the Sunday street stalls, so check the market you’re after. Leave time to look at the street art around Brick Lane and its side streets as you walk.
Best day for the full Brick Lane street market: Sunday. The indoor markets have their own schedules; see the official market list.
Petticoat Lane Market
Petticoat Lane is one of the East End’s historic markets, with roots reaching back to the 17th century. The main Sunday market spreads across Middlesex Street and Wentworth Street and is known for clothes, fabrics, accessories and other bargains. You won’t find a street actually called Petticoat Lane on the map: that old name lives on in the market.
The full market runs Sunday 9am–3pm. There is also a weekday food court on Goulston Street and Wentworth Street, generally Monday to Friday 11am–3.30pm. See Petticoat Lane’s current information for details.
A Sunday walk around all three markets
If you want to see all three, I would start at Liverpool Street and head to Petticoat Lane first, because its main stalls finish earlier. Then walk back towards the covered Spitalfields markets for a browse and something to eat. Continue east along Hanbury Street to Brick Lane and explore the street stalls and indoor Truman Brewery markets. Allow a few hours if you want to shop and stop for food; you can leave from Shoreditch High Street or Aldgate East instead of retracing your steps.
Recommended Tours around Spitalfields and Brick Lane markets
If you would like to explore the markets and East End streets with a guide, have a look at the available walking tours and experiences.
Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.