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To feel at home in a big city, we need to find our own village with a butcher, baker and maybe even a candlestick maker. The weekly farmers' market at Chapel Market is exactly that. Less touristy and more neighbourly than the ever-popular Borough Market, you'll find it between Baron Street and Penton Street, merely feet away from Angel tube station. Here's what you can expect on a Sunday when it's open from 10am-2pm:
1. Seasonal goods for reasonable prices
Been so blinded by the supermarket lights that you don't remember when beetroot is in season? Here's a farmers' market that'll refresh your memory with its range of top produce. If you're looking for treats, you can find meat pies, sausage rolls and cakes – and of course, a bargain. Get a bunch of anemones for £2.50, fresh pasta for £5 per portion and game starting from £3.
2. Stories and people
Characters at Chapel Market range from a New Zealand cheese maker, a friendly milk man and a Hungarian guy selling sauerkraut to the students making extra cash packing your greens and root vegetables. Shoppers in search of conversation should look out for flower-seller Robert Albone, an English teacher and theologian who sees the market as a treasure trove.
3. Plenty of shops and cafes
Try the Chapel fruit and veg shop for colourful and fragrant produce or the nearby Delhi Grill for lunch. Decorated with '80s Bollywood posters, it's a local favourite that serves slow-cooked recipes like chicken masala or lamb biriyani from 'aunts and cousins' for a tenner. And to finish off, here's a gem for the curious. The costumier and furrier shop on White Conduit Street offers a menagerie of vintage furs, hats, books, ceramics and stuffed animals. Just watch out for the plates near your elbows while you're reaching for a hat – the place is tiny. The only problem with this characterful shop is that it opens whenever the owner feels like it – which is rarely – but it's worth a browse.