Region
Not to be confused with Camden Market, Camden Passage is London’s premier antiques village. It offers a huge array of stalls and specialist shops, which have given the area a worldwide reputation that attracts thousands of antique dealers and collectors alike. With so much on offer, a simple afternoon stroll is likely to end with an unusual gift purchase or the discovery of the vintage oddity, that is likely to become your favorite showpiece.
Originated in the 1960s, this quaint pedestrianized passage provides visitors with over 200 antique dealers trading in anything from Staffordshire Pottery to antique door handles. However, Camden Passage really excels with unique art deco and beautiful vintage jewelry of all kinds. Parisian accessories are here in abundance and provide the perfect accompaniment to the vintage fur hat that you can unearth here for just £10.
With four separate market areas that serve a different area of expertise, it is worthwhile taking your time to experience the mounds of sparkling trinkets, vintage clothing rarities, and scarce first editions Camden Passage has to offer.
Annie’s Antique and Vintage Market – Located behind the popular Camden Head Pub on the entrance to Camden Passage, Annie’s Antique and Vintage Market offers a wide selection of collectibles and interesting items, ranging from vintage buttons, retro playing cards to the most stunning jewelry in town.
Camden Passage Market: Located in the heart of the passage, it offers an eclectic mix of vintage clothing alongside retro luggage, one-off items, and precious (!) bric-a-brac.
Charlton Place Market – Your one-stop shop for rare antiques and collectibles that is open every Wednesday and Saturday. Make sure to visit, even it’s just for home decor inspiration.
Pierrepont Arcade Market – The covered market area towards the far end of Camden Passage is open all week with a specialist book market on Thursdays and Fridays and an excellent place to find antique gifts and designer costume jewelry.
Official market days at Camden Passage are held three times a week. However, if you happen to stumble into the area at any other time, many of the boutiques and stalls will still be open and are likely to offer you a great deal. The location of Camden Passage is key to its success, with numerous cafes, restaurants, and bars located on the busy Upper Street and popular surrounding areas.
A visitor's favorite is the Austrian ‘Cafe Kipferl’, with its traditional coffee blends and homemade, mouthwatering apple pie. For everyone who has tried their ‘Schnitzel’, it is no surprise this Viennese delight is growing from strength to strength. And no trip to the Passage is complete without a visit to ‘Paul A Young Chocolatiers’. Specializing in developing new and original flavor combinations, this multi-award winning store offers the perfect romantic gift for someone who deserves it or something to take home and enjoy yourself (don’t blame us for becoming a chocoholic!).
The trendy restaurants and cafes offer visitors something a little different than what most markets in the city do. The specialist cheese shop with the cozy wine bar upstairs will fill your afternoon with a distinctly European vibe, whereas a five-star gourmet meal at Frederick’s Restaurant makes you see the world with the eyes of a real gourmet. And don’t forget to visit the popular Fishmongers ‘Moxon’s’ and treat your whole family to a delicious fish supper at home.
Behind the market area, a part of the London canal network invites you to enjoy the peaceful environment just yards away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Soak up the tranquil surroundings and relax at a beautiful spot that is a true contrast to modern city living.
Like most antique markets, Camden Passage will serve up a whole host of fine China, silverware from the Victorian and Georgian eras,s and rare artifacts of all ages and interests. What sets Camden Passage apart from the norm, is its wide range of truly independent shops which are scattered through the winding streets. With so many spaces to explore, it takes more than one visit to ensure you have discovered all the beauty it has to offer.
The Vintage Clothing shops are a favorite among the local trendsetters and offer a more unusual selection at more competitive prices than the likes to be found in Brick Lane & Co. Camden Passage is also a magical find for knitters and crocheters, with the Loop store rated as one of the finest in the world for unique pattern designs and the highest quality yarn. Worth a visit is also the shop, that specializes in selling hand-crafted wooden boxes – a perfect gift for the person that has everything.
Camden Passage may be small in comparison to its local rivals Camden Town Market and Portobello Road, which should by no means deter you from visiting. The niche shops and knowledgeable vendors add a unique vintage charm to this special market, that offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere all year round. On regular market days with the majority of stalls operating, the items sold tend to be of a higher quality and can often be grabbed up for a more than competitive price.
Presenting visitors with a more casual look of London, this historically important area grants a trip back in time. This is just being highlighted by the stunning old-world items on show. World War Two memorabilia is in plentiful supply and it is even possible to discover rare coins from the Russian Revolution era.
Camden Passage is a wonderful area to browse when you are not looking for anything in particular. A short rummage through the stalls and you will certainly find a gem. Due to the nature of its setting, Camden Passage is frequented by all ages of people looking for a bargain or just generally enjoying a relaxing day out away from the chaos of the city.
Often described as “small and personal”, the beautiful jewelry and antique shops can dazzle and amaze. Even if you come and visit from abroad, you can definitely purchase the antique oak wardrobe that you can’t take your eyes off, as most dealers provide overseas shipping. Camden Passage is definitely the place to be for a leisurely afternoon stroll and a promise of a grandiose find.
Marlon Abbott
10th May 2015 at 06:14This section of town is perfect for a leisurely walk. We found some cool antiques and unique shops and then walked along the main road (Upper Street/A1) with a few more pub and restaurant options.
Danielle Wood
20th June 2015 at 22:33A little back street near Angel station, there are little shops selling antiques as well as cafes. Very quaint place to spend a couple of hour just browsing and having coffee. You might just find some thing that you like. Way less commercial than Portobello antique market, worth the visit!
Jeannette Sparks
20th July 2015 at 00:11If you want to experience Europe in London or more like Montmartre (Paris) in London, visit the Camden passage. It flaunts European brick pebbled roads, Local cafes, local boutiques People singing, local markets, antiques and it goes on. What a beautiful experience! It doesn’t feel like a part of London. And do not forget to visit Angle, Camden passage for an artistic experience.
Matthew Harvey
30th July 2015 at 10:07Disappointing. I expected it to be a lot larger, but it is rather small and sells a lot of tired old tat at high prices. There are a few stalls and tiny shops selling bric-a-brac and vintage clothes, plus just a few proper antique shops. In my opinion you would find more interesting items in charity shops or car boot sales.
Boyd Douglas
5th September 2015 at 18:40I love this little pocket of London. The shops are all so quirky and the vibe of the whole place is that of ‘the place to be’ without be rammed like Camden Market or terribly try hard like some places are.
Joe Osborne
16th November 2015 at 15:17I think I probably prefer Camden Passage to Portobello Road, mainly because it has been much quieter whenever I’ve been – Portobello can be a bit of a scrum sometimes. It seems to attract fewer tourists and more people who are really serious about antiques, as well as some local Islington hipster types. Like Portobello on a Saturday it’s a mixture of stalls and some small shops. A few of the shops have somewhat off putting signs on the doors (“serious inquiries and trade only”) but others are much more welcoming to the casual browser, and I’ve generally found the owners of these shops to be friendly and not particularly pushy.
Anne Wheeler
27th November 2015 at 08:14Go there when there is the market (most likely at week-ends), and you will find great little gems at a good price most of the time ! It can get pricey in some of the places too. Good for vintage, antiques and contemporary shops.