When my friend Jenny — who has impeccable taste and a soft spot for all things delightfully British — told me to check out the Columbia Road Flower Market, I didn’t hesitate. If Jenny says go, you go. The woman knows her London.
So, what is Columbia Road Flower Market?
- The short version: a legendary explosion of flowers, humans, and caffeine.
- The longer version: London’s oldest flower market, open only on Sundays, free to enter, and impossible to forget.
Under the orange canopy: flowers, eucalyptus, and half of London.
The tulip man. Calm, focused, and making London prettier one bouquet at a time.
I arrived around 10:00, thinking I’d beat the crowd and enjoy some solitary flower browsing. Oh, sweet naïveté. A steady human river was already flowing towards me — and another one flowed away — with me caught somewhere in the middle.
I still managed to wiggle across the road for the occasional dramatic close-up of a daisy, but eventually, the tide of equally enthusiastic idiots swept me along.
There were stylish girls in sneakers and heels, boys with leather satchels and backpacks, couples with strollers, and elegant ladies clutching wicker baskets like they’d just stepped out of a 1950s commercial.
Girls took selfies non-stop, a film crew hovered nearby, and street musicians popped up on every corner.
Adults sang along; kids danced. It was noisy, it was joyful — it was London.
Careful choosing is half the pleasure. The other half? Taking it all home.
Not just irises. A small investment in joy.
💐 What’s on sale?
Roses and cherry blossoms. Palms and orchids. Lavender, eucalyptus, crocuses, and some blue thing labeled “genuine English.” This is, hands down, the best flower market I’ve ever stumbled into. I stayed four hours and left feeling oddly refreshed and inspired.
Locals are easy to spot. They’re the ones actually buying things: giant tulip bouquets, potted dracaenas, the occasional wheelbarrow. The rest of us — empty-handed and wide-eyed — are clearly tourists.
Doughnuts to the left, custard tarts to the right — the real Sunday dilemma.
🥯 Shops, cafés & delightful distractions
Peek inside any doorway, and you’ll find something: a tiny gallery, a shoe repair shop that also sells olive oil, a café with three tables and a pastry counter the size of a shoebox. Everything looks like it’s been there forever — and hopefully will be.
But make no mistake. However tempting the sideshows, the star of this performance is always the flower market.
🌿 A little history
The Columbia Road Market has been blooming since 1869. Originally a Saturday market, it was moved to Sundays at the request of local Jewish residents, for whom Saturday is a day of rest. Now it’s one of the most iconic things to do in London on a Sunday, visited by millions each year.
Today, it’s refreshingly independent. No chain stores here — most sellers run their own family businesses, some now in their second or third generation. You’ll see them unloading vans and setting up stalls before dawn.
🎁 Did I buy anything?
Of course. Three cute postcards. What else do you need?
Some postcards are too pretty to send. You just keep them and feel things.
💡My not-so-floral tips
- Want peace and quiet? Come early (like 8:00-ish).
- Want a good deal? Come around 14:00–15:00, when sellers start clearing out — and don’t be shy to haggle.
- Bring cash. Some vendors accept cards, but many don’t.
- It’s an open-air street market — rain is always a possibility. Bring a coat or umbrella.
- Don’t skip nearby Ezra Street — it has extra shops, a cute courtyard, and flea market charm.
- Free public toilets are at the end of Ezra Street. Most cafés won’t let you in unless you’ve bought something.
How to get there: Hoxton or Shoreditch High Street (London Overground, orange line) + 5–10 min walk
Open: Every Sunday from 8:00 to 15:00
Visit the official page → columbiaroad.info
🌸Marking Your Spot at Columbia Road Flower Market”
You don’t need to like flowers. You just need to like life with a bit of petal-scented chaos. Columbia Road Flower Market will do the rest.
