By Filippo Ceccanibbi and Urte Fultinaviciute
Spring is finally here! It is time to step out of our winter caves and enjoy the long awaited sunny days. Why not start with exploring one of the most popular tourist attractions in London – Camden Market?
Camden Market was opened in 1974 and had only 16 stalls. But it has evolved into hundreds of diverse businesses and has a lot to offer. Despite suffering several fires, this lively, colourful market attracts people from all over the world. Before taking on its present form it acted as a port, with stables housing horses that transferred goods from the canal to the city. Today, the equine influence plays a huge role in the character of the market.
Things to eat
• The Cereal Killer Cafe
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (or so people say) and yes, this place specialises in one of the most popular morning dishes – cereal.
You can choose between four main different flavours: Unicorn Poop, Salty Balls, Spaceman and Lovesick – or you can choose from a wall of well-known favourites. The cereal comes in two different sizes (regular for £5.50, large for £6.50) and are served with different flavoured milk. If you are feeling very adventurous, feel free to create your own.
• Honest Burger
Fancy a juicy burger? Visit Honest Burger. It is a small and cosy place but its amazing staff and even more amazing food will give you the best experience.
Honest Burger has many different locations, and each one has a special burger. Camden Honest Burger collaborated with The Cheese Truck and created what it seems to be heaven in your mouth: the Cheese Truck. It is a beef burger with chipotle jam, bacon and deep fried mozzarella, costing £12.50. Every burger comes with locally sourced rosemary salted potato chips.
• Shaka Zulu
Shaka Zulu is hard to miss. It is one of the biggest South African restaurants in London with a grand statue of a tribal man presiding over the entrance.
This place is not for everyone as it specialises in extraordinary meat. Order a Zebra Fillet for £32 or a Harissa Crocodile Loin for £31. If you feel that’s still not enough exotic animals for you, take a King Sharer for £75 which includes Crocodile, Zebra, Wild Boar and Rib Eye. Vegetarians better keep away.
Photo by Urte Fultinaviciute
• Chin Chin Ice Cream Labs
Every great meal should be followed by a great dessert. As the weather is getting warmer, ice cream should be a daily treat for everyone. Chin Chin Ice Cream Labs opened their first shop in Camden Marker in 2010.
Why this place is special? They make their own ice cream with organic ingredients. And that’s not all. The ice cream is made with liquid nitrogen.
You can choose from five different flavours and add loads of toppings. Very tasty and very instagramable.
Things to visit
• Amy Winehouse statue
Every Amy Winehouse fan should visit Camden Market to see their favourite singer’s statue. Three years after Winehouse’s death in 2011, a bronze statue was inaugurated in the Stables Market in Camden Town. The life size sculpture was commissioned to artist Scott Eaton after a meeting with the singer’s parents and it’s now photographed by hundreds of visitors every day.
Photo by Filippo Ceccanibbi
• Canals
One of London’s symbol are definitely the double-decker buses, but if you want to have a real unusual experience you should book a waterbus ride from Camden Lock to Little Venice.
The service runs in summer every hour and also stops at London Zoo, with the possibility to skip the queue. We recommend getting more information and buying your tickets here.
• Dingwalls
Feeling thirsty after a long day in Camden? Go and grab a cold pint of beer in Dingwalls.
The bar offers different entertainment such as a Karaoke night on Tuesdays and a Quiz night every Wednesdays. And a comedy loft is located in the basement of the building.
Things to buy
• Baylyne
Do not be fooled by delicious-looking desserts in Baylyne. They are actually handmade bath bombs! Doughnuts, pies, cupcakes and ice cream – you name it.
Bath lovers can find different colours and smells in a variety of beautifully crafted bath bombs and bath salts. You can also get clay face masks or gift sets for your loved ones.
• Cyberdog
If you like unconventional fashion, fluorescent colours and futuristic looks, Cyberdog in Camden Market is what you are looking for. A must-see that’s hard to miss.
Launched in 2012, the brand specialises in neon outfits and accoutrements with over-18 accessories and clothes, fetish wear and sex toys.
Loud rave music, flashing lights, bright colours and dancers create a fun and interesting experience.
• What Goes Around Comes Around
Get a fresh new affordable look in this vintage shop. It is located next to The Cereal Killer Café.
The shop is full of varsity jackets, denim (you may be lucky to find some Levi’s), different style of dresses and shoes.
Dig a little deeper and you may find some vintage Adidas tracksuits that your parents used to wear in the 80s.
Federico Russo, 23, from Italy fell in love with Camden. “It is my first time in London and I absolutely love Camden Market. It is very big, many businesses and a lot of different food,” he said.
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