Each time I visit London, I make a point of exploring the Portobello Road Markets. It is one of the world’s largest antiques markets with over 1,000 dealers selling every kind of antique and collectible.
The streets are crowded with visitors from all over the world who are searching one of London’s best loved landmarks for a bargain.
Portobello is really several markets in one, and on the Saturdays I visited the markets they were in full swing. Walking the mile of markets with spruikers calling out, performers, lots of lovely food stalls, antiques, collectibles and vintage clothing is an enthralling experience.
If you loved the movie Notting Hill, you’ll love exploring the markets and looking around the houses in the area. You feel like Julia Roberts or Hugh Grant just might step out at any moment.
There are several book stores dotted throughout the markets and I found a very friendly bookseller who had several interesting books. I spied an early edition of T.E. Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom and got quite excited. I asked how much it was and was silenced by the number. I walked away, as all good market shoppers do, found some free wifi and researched the cost of the book online. The price he had quoted was about £50 more than the prices I’d seen online.
I walked back and told the guy the price was too high. He offered me a £60 discount off the price and threw in a a couple of other books as a sweetener. I took the bait and bought the book.
It now sits proudly on my shelf and I love the fact that I bought it at Portobello Markets, one of my favourite places in London.
After all the emotional energy of investing in haggling over the book, I headed for the food stalls and picked up some bread and cheese to take back to my accommodation. The spices, bread, cheese, vegetables and fruit were a delight to the senses.
I don’t mind the crowds and bumping along through the stalls—it’s a lot of fun!
If, like me, you enjoy markets, head to Portobello Road and soak up the atmosphere!
#365adventure is a book lover’s year of adventures. Adventures in travel, friendship, family, soul, heart and, of course, book stores!
