This is a hidden gem. Take the time to speak and visit with the owners and have a mace-infused…read morePasteur & later in the hidden downstairs kitchen.

After reading at Londonist…read more(http://londonist.com/2013/06/marc-gooderhams-paintings-of-londons-east-end.php) about a little exhibition at Townhouse Antiques near Spitalfields Market, I decided to take the journey from west to east and take a look myself. I enjoyed the paintings of London houses and streets by artist Marc Gooderham (http://www.marcgooderham.co.uk/). He focuses, in his words, on "the singular beauty to be found in those neglected buildings that have fallen into disrepair as the living city of London continues to evolve around them." While I was contemplating over the paintings and browsing the books on display, another guy with a cute dog, who also visited this exhibition space, took to the piano that was standing in one corner. His play made me stay a bit longer and I like this place even more. Besides showing inspiring London paintings, Townhouse Antiques also sells books and various other stuff. Randomly, one book caught my attention: One Lump or Two? - a book about tea filled with illustrations by British artist Edward Bawden and a "series of humorous limericks for Twinings Tea". It looks like a fun "essentially British" present. Although I do not know what exhibition is on at Townhouse Antiques at the moment, I was told that almost always something is on display. If you have never been to Townhouse Antiques, you should probably stop by when you are in the area, I am sure it will be worth the visit!

"This is a hot mess."…read more A hot, sexy, shoreditchy, junky-treasure-filled, narrow, jammed up --- MESS. I mean this in the nicest of ways. Basically this is a storage space that is unloaded and reloaded for the flea markets. ANd we hit it on a day that it was "full." As in, nothing out to pasture to be sold. This mean we walked into a long and narrow space toppling with chairs, art, glamour shots, furniture, nudity --- basically, we stumbled into a hipster wonderland. The music is so loud you won't be able to talk to the person that is barely visible behind all the "junk." This seems to be by design according to their web site. It's a free-spirited shop. No organization, no price tags...and no way to really find out what things are or how much they cost. I guess this is part of the fun. We admired the action figure window display, flipped through a few of those ridiculous Glamour Shots, admired the cushioned headboard hanging from the far back wall that resembles a "moneyshot" woman -- and were on our way. Their website gives a great story. I wouldn't hesitate to stop in again. I'm pretty sure if I wanted to buy something they'd list out a price -- but maybe not. That's the fun of... a HOT MESS.

I used to work close by to the market, not many people notice this but if you after a cheap eat try…read moreupstairs. There are about 4-5 stall type eateries offering a range of world cuisines. If I remember correctly they had Indian, Chinese, Jamaican, Italian and something else. The market itself is quite quirky and if I'm honest a bit of a tourist trap. In the sense that prices don't quite beat other markets such as Camden or Portabello. But I guess it depends what your after. Atmosphere though is fantastic. Especially in the summer, you can sit down with a ice cream or coffee and people spot whilst enjoying some of the free street performances. There is also a band located in the basement which fills the air with familiar classical tunes. In the winter the atmosphere is very different, warm, cosy and bustling.

Covent Garden Antique Market is certainly worth a visit, particularly if you are on holiday in…read moreLondon and want to see the sights. Tere are lots of little shops and stalls to wonder around, but most enjoyably yu can spend time in central London just enjoying the atmosphere. There are quite often street performers at one end of the Market and it is just possible that you will find something nice to purchase too. Covent Garden is the closest tube station.

I absolutely love Elemental as their handcrafted furniture is incredible. Old furniture is restored…read moreto a beautiful standard that really fits in with the current fashion of re-using what we have to create a vintage, well used look. The re-using of old goods has also become important in a time where we are looking to reduce waste. The pieces in here will add character to any room in a house. The tables and storage cabinets are so unusual and stunning. They even re-use old plant pots that look like they've been dug out of the ground from decades ago and re-plant them with new plants. I fell in love with their red leather trunks and wooden bookshelves. There's an eclectic homey feel to the furniture in here. If I had the money and was re-decorating this would be my first port of call. It is truly beautiful.

Elemental is a furniture fusion of old and new. All of their pieces are handcrafted designs that…read moreincorporate material from bygone eras. I found one fantastic dining table which had old-school wooden hot-press letters from printing presses that must have been in operation in the 1800s which were all glazed over with glass. It cost £5000. Most of the other wares they have to offer are equally as expensive, but it's worth the money because most everything in here is made to order. Even if you can't afford anything in this shop it is definitely worth a look.

Disclaimer that I did NOT get up at ass-o'clock or whatever to go to this market. We got there at…read morelike 9am because I was on VACATION thank you very much. So maybe getting up at 4am is the best, as visiting at 9am (A REASONABLE HOUR, THANK YOU) meant that that Square was perhaps 1/2 full of stalls. Maybe the early bird does indeed, catch the worm but I shall never know. Anyway, this Market happens on Friday AM's. There are stalls selling acres of china, silver cutlery, lace and that one stall that sells royal commemorative tat that I salivate over. Not much furniture, mostly small collectible things. There's also a food stall or two, plus a nearby (slightly ghetto) Sainsbury's.

This was a wonderful market years ago. I went once, my uncle took me, and I could not believe the…read morenumber of stalls that there were, so much to see! I found the place enormous and we did not need to go that early in the morning! Years passed by and I wanted to go again, I did not know why I let time pass so much! I could not believe what I saw, I thought I was mistaken but I was not, the place had shrunk, it is not even half of what it used to be! I got there by 10.00am and they were already packing up. I talked to one of the guys who had a stall and told me that I was in the right place, that the Council had bought part of the land to developers and the market had shrunk enormously. I found it very sad.

I visited this shop in 2013 while on vacation and it was magical. I was led to a small red pouch…read moresitting atop a small red book. Inside the pouch contained a set of Runes and the book of instructions for beginners. Today 2024 those Runes I absolutely love.

OK, so the name is a bit silly and incongruous and Mary Queen of Shops would definitely have a…read morefield day with this place's branding but This Shop Rocks actually has some very nice vintage pieces if you dare to look inside. I have the feeling This Shop Rocks has been under new management for the last few months, that, or the shop's buyer has simply increased their skills exponentially. Once upon a time I wasn't terribly impressed with This Shop Rocks' stock but now I'm routinely tempted by its great array of high quality vintage finery every time I step through the door. Yes, you can pay £100 for a pure silk fifties dress or twenties beaded slip, but if you like your vintage high-quality and eschew designer pieces in favour of the very best vintage you can afford, then you should visit This Shop Rocks next time you're on Brick Lane.

To say I am a fan is actually a wild understatement…read more I couldn't be MORE of a fan of this place if I tried. The entire experience has been nothing short of absolutely incredible, professional, cool and collected. This is as indie as it gets folks. A beautiful shop in Shoreditch run by two artists (Richard & Robin) with a real passion for not only reclaimed vintage pieces and sustainable function, but in welding these elements together to create beauty. They do custom work as well, are extremely skilled with iron (check out the fixtures in the store -- and they can customise anything), and a keen eye for eccentric pieces. Now, I know what you are thinking: "must cost a fortune." AND, you'd be wrong. I was shocked too at how reasonably priced their pieces are. We purchased a coffee table (an old kindergarten school table) for 45, a storage trug for 45 and the crown jewel: a salvaged steel table (HEAVY) with custom built wood slat top for 475. Compare that to the junk you can get on Tottenham Court Road, no contest. Better looking, cooler, independent business and...cheaper. What's the risk!? None! Richard and Robin delivered it to my home today (obviously this costs a bit extra) and managed to get this very heavy and slightly awkward shaped table into my kitchen. I don't even really know how they did it...but they did so and with grace. Barely a nick on a wall...if it had been me, the whole building would've been banged up after that job. They were polite, professional, and genuinely so cool to work with. We'll be coming back, signing up for the mailing list and shouting it from the rooftops...I also love their typewriter keychains and they have 2 old Stik (graffiti artist) doors that are on sale (a bit worn), that I so wish I could buy. My roommate is not in agreement, but please...go own an original! (orange background). Their website is also a good resource -- they have almost everything listed on there. *accepts credit cards. *open Sundays. Super fan girl, right here.

This place is a real hidden gem... tucked away in Shoreditch. They make their own furniture out of…read morereclaimed items and seem to stay as true to their typewrite theme as possible... key chains, etc. I found this place while I was wondering around my neighborhood and soon came back to look at furniture. Many of their pieces are made of steel & old growth wood and they have a gritty industrial feel to them. Richard, the co-owner was gracious on each of my visits and explained enough about the pieces to give me a quick anecdote if i needed to boast to my friends (this one was in vogue uk, this one is made from floorboards, etc). What is great though, is how well these pieces are priced. I love looking for furniture like this and tables like these can go for thousands, instead you get them for hundreds. Very good deal at the price point. They also offer delivery and can build custom pieces. The typewriter may be obsolete, but if Richard & co can keep finding, making and selling furniture at such realistic price points, I think Type will be around for a while... ...maybe long enough to be in business when we all are using typewriters again... trust me.. I watch enough scifi to know that big changes are coming

I was told before I went here that this is one of London's oldest and most famous street markets…read more Evidently age and quality do not go hand in hand. I was so disappointed by the market; I was expecting antiques, food, old books and original artwork. What I got was designer knock-off watches, the exact same polyester dresses in every single stall and pirate DVDs. I can't even advice on what you could possibly get here that you couldn't get anywhere else, except a headache from the microphone wearing man who is trying to flog his anti-arthritis bracelets.

Cheaply made clothes more for the Walmart-type crowd. Definitely not a touristy place nor is it a…read moredestination spot. Food court consists of maybe 6 trucks, nothing spectacular.

Junk, the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up [syn: debris, dust, rubble,…read moredetritus] Shop, a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services; "he bought it at a shop on Cape Cod" [syn: store] Basically this is a place where you can purchase nonsense that you didn't even want or realise you needed. It's also a little bit amazing! Run by 2 old geezers Alice S is right, there is a ramshackle collection of stuff the you just wouldn't put together, Actually if you are in the business for a bargain you may find one here, I can't put a name on what they sell but there is a huge collection of nonsense to browse. Seriously, It's a lovely place, go visit!

I don't know where else in South London you can find an antique javelin, a birdcage and an…read moreautobiography of Frank Sinatra on the same table. The Junk Shop is an Aladdin's cave of rubbish/treasure on Greenwich South Street. The stock varies from biographies and historical artifacts (mainly right wing paraphernalia- a Daily Mail series on the modern monarchy, an enormous hardback on the Third Reich and a Thatcher biography) Amongst all the military-themed bits of tat, there are actually some very good finds- there were some cool old 1950s Christmas cards, some 1960s newspapers in excellent condition and some beautiful vintage postcards. It is a funny old place but definitely worth a rummage through.