The most-loved shops in London

One of London’s most well-known and nicest-looking markets, Columbia Road overflows with bucketfuls of beautiful flowers every Sunday. From 8am-3pm, market traders line the narrow street selling flowers, houseplants, herbs, bulbs and shrubs. It’s worth shopping around, don’t be afraid to barter and prepare for it to get very busy. The market is popular with locals and tourists and during the midday rush is rammed with people elbowing their way to that perfect pot plant. If you can’t bear crowds or just want to guarantee the pick of the crop, arrive when the market opens. When you’ve bought your blooms, head behind the stalls and down side streets to find fantastic cafés, independent restaurants, delis, shops, antique dealers, vintage stalls and small galleries, many of which follow the market’s opening hours. Pop into Jones Dairy Cafe for organic and local produce, treat yourself to some jazz records at Idle Moments or sink a locally brewed pint at the The Nelson’s. Do I need cash? No, you can now pay market traders on card or contactless but, from personal experience, they prefer a fiver over a phone tap. Where should I eat and drink? The Birdcage pub has a cute outdoor drinking terrace now, which is bookable, as is the foliage-filled garden at the Royal Oak further up the road. Tapas joint Laxeiro has tables spilling out on the street for lunch, though if you’re after a hand snack, the Pavilion bakery still does a mean cinnamon bun and Maks newsagent does legendary samosa

While Notting Hill has become one of London’s most affluent and desirable areas, Portobello Road Market, which runs between Notting Hill Gate and Ladbroke Grove, retains the area’s former cool. There’s the architecture – colourful terraced houses and shops all tightly squeezed together – and the market, which is actually several markets melded together. Portobello Road Market is best known for its antiques, with hundreds of dealers selling jewellery, books and collectables dating from the 1600s to the 1960s. There are numerous reasons for foodies to visit Portobello Road. Like many London markets it began life as a place to buy fruit and veg, something you can still do six days a week (the whole market is closed on Sundays). There are numerous eateries dotted around, like local institution Lowry & Baker, while street-food vendors pitch up on Fridays and Saturdays. Nearby Golborne Road has North African and Caribbean street food available during the week. Under the Westway and along the walkway to Ladbroke Grove, second-hand clothes sit next to the wares of up-and-coming fashion designers. Fridays are a little less hectic here, and you’ll be able to explore fashion-focused Portobello Green Market, which comprises more than 800 stalls. But Portobello Road is a top tourist destination, so it’s always going to be busy. However, it’s full of character and charm, so embrace its craziness and soak up the vibe. Top tip: In the summer, grab an iced latte from Coffee Plant, which se

What is it? This beautiful Edwardian building, that is now home to Daunt Books has always had a literary history. Before James Daunt took over the premise in 1990, it was home to antiquarian booksellers, Francis Edwards - which claims to be the first custom-built bookshop in the world. Edwards' legacy can still be felt inside today and Daunt Books still keeps many of its original, gorgeous features. What does it sell? Though not strictly a travel bookshop, this beautiful store will always be seen first and foremost as a travel specialist thanks to its elegant three-level back room complete with oak balconies, viridian-green walls, conservatory ceiling and stained-glass window – home to row upon row of guide books, maps, language reference, history, politics, travelogue and related fiction organised by country. France, Britain, Italy and the United States are particularly well represented; go downstairs to find more far-flung destinations. Travel aside, Daunt is also a first-rate stop for literary fiction, biography, gardening and much more. Opening times: Monday-Saturday 9am-7.30pm; Sunday 11am-6pm Time Out tip: James Daunt’s commitment to providing proper careers for his workers ensures an informed and keen team of staff - so we recommend asking them questions! They'll be sure to find the right book for your next read. Branches: Cheapside, Chelsea, Hampstead, Holland Park. As featured in the 100 best shops in London

Now far more than just a string of stalls selling bric-à-brac and fruit and veg, Brick Lane Market, in the heart of Shoreditch, has grown and mutated over the years to incorporate five different markets known as The Truman Markets. Operating at its fullest on Sundays, Brick Lane and its surrounding streets come alive, teeming with sellers shifting their wares. Outside the bagel bars, curry houses and vintage shops, people without proper stalls set up shop on carpets and tables, selling old electrical equipment, toys, records, broken musical instruments, furniture and everything else under the sun. Down one side street you’ll come across Backyard Market, a covered, warehouse-sized space with stalls focused on arts and crafts. Pop in for clothes, cards and wrapping paper, one-of-a-kind jewellery and tote bags, all from up-and-coming designers and creatives. The Sunday Upmarket is a food hall brimming with street food vendors selling a global smorgasbord of cuisine. There are also more than 200 market stalls here selling vintage clothing, fashion by new and established designers, jewellery and homewares. The Vintage Market does what it says on the tin, with stalls selling clothing, accessories and retro memorabilia from the 1920s to the 1990s. If you’re into chintz,, The Tea Rooms host charming stalls selling things like typewriters, taxidermy and vintage maps. If you need to fuel up, there’s the Boiler House Food Hall, which has around 30 stalls selling culinary delights fr

Situated on the mezzanine level of the five-star Corinthia Hotel, just off Trafalgar Square, is the ESPA Life day spa. A shiny, monochrome labyrinth of treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas and thermal pools, the spa is thoroughly lavish, modern, low-lit and windowless. It's the ideal place to shut the door on reality – there's absolutely no chance of spotting the 388 shuttling down Victoria Embankment or tuning into the sound of protesters underneath Nelson's Column. Through the elegant reception, which opens on to small but stylish cream-washed restaurant, filled with white leather furniture and warmed by a roaring fireplace you'd only see in the lair of James Bond villain, visitors weave their way through corridors of pearly cream and slate paneling to find the luxurious changing rooms (the term 'changing rooms' seems an insult) and a room of 'Sleeping Pods'. Downstairs, the spa's main area, the Thermal Suite, is a black-marbled oasis which houses a large steam room, swimming pool, jet pool, ice fountain, heated loungers and, most stunning of all, a glass-walled sauna amphitheatre as its centre piece. If you can tear yourself away from the Thermal Suite for longer than just a toilet break, one floor up ESPA relaxation treatments on offer include personalised massages (£160), body wrap packages (£220) and facials (£170). If it's more than indulgent respite from your emails that you're after, specialist skills from the crème de la crème of naturopaths, traditional Chinese Med

What is it? Now located in Bow after several years in neighbouring Bethnal Green, this East End furniture warehouse specialises in liquidation stock, cancelled orders and samples. This means it's the place to go for quality household names (John Lewis,etc.) at prices you'd never get anywhere else. If you've a new flat to fill, Lofty's should definitely be on your radar. What does it sell? Luxury furniture at affordable prices. The stock spreads out onto the street and there's often sofas, beds, lamps, and tables waitng to find a new home.  Opening times: Mon-Sat 8am-5pm; Sun 9am-4pm  Time Out tip:  Why not grab some food from the nearby Roman Road Market. We suggest trying the gozlem which is £3 for all the fillings.   

What is it? Liberty was founded in 1875 - when founder Arthur Lasenby Liberty borrowed £2,000 from his future father-in-law and took a building on Regent Street with just three staff - but the present Marlborough Street site, with its ships’ timbers and leaded windows, was built in the 1920s. The interconnecting jumble of rooms, with the odd fireplace and cushioned window seat, makes for an intimate feel – as if you’ve strayed into a private room in a stately home. It’s not an accident, Arthur wanted customers to feel as if they were exploring someone’s home, keeping the shopping galleries small, albeit linked to three rather grand atriums. Although Liberty trades well on its history, it constantly squeezes innovation into its wood-panelled rooms. Over the years Liberty has launched its own clothing and homeware lines which have become firm favourites among the stars. But for all its pomp and fizz, Liberty doesn’t take itself too seriously – there’s a genuine sense of whimsy in its approach to retail. Why go? Alongside one of the best edits for fashion shopping in the world, its expansive beauty hall juxtaposes world-renowned makeup and skincare brands beside lesser known, but equally high quality, offerings.  Piercing expert Maria Tash, widely worn by celebrities and members of the fashion community, has her own parlour on the ground floor, while those who want a remodel for their home rather than their body can head up to homeware. Renowned for their unparalleled selection

Visiting London’s stateliest centre, established in 1851, fills the amateur gardener with longing and enthusiasm. From the gorgeous stucco mansions of Little Venice you enter a horticulturalist’s paradise, via a shady drive lined with topiarised box trees in lavish pots. Fortunately, good looks aren’t Clifton’s only selling point. Helpful and knowledgeable staff are able to steer you toward sensible purchases for your patch. The centre’s impressive exotics are pampered in a large hothouse – head inside for carnivorous plants, fragrant gardenias, cacti and succulents, and fleshy tender tropicals. There’s a huge flowering shrub and perennial section, as well as a lovely indoor shop featuring tools and accessories, stacks of books and lots of lovely ceramics for outdoors and indoors. Non-gardeners might like to enquire about the legendary Clifton design and landscaping service.  

Located in the heart of ‘Nappy Valley’ — the area between Clapham and Wandsworth — Northcote Road Market is no longer a humble fruit and veg market for locals. Nowadays it sells a mixture of cured meats, olives, cakes, jewellery, clothing and arts and crafts as well as more everyday items. On Fridays and Saturdays, its busiest days when all the stalls are open, you’ll also come across vendors offering street food like pizzas and hog roasts. Antiques can be found at the indoor Northcote Road Antiques Market, which is south down the street, while there are also numerous nearby restaurants, cafés and boutique shops to poke around. Alim Kheraj RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

What is it? Housed in a huge Egyptian-style art-deco building that used to be Jordan’s department store, Alfies Antiques Market, which was founded more than 40 years ago by Bennie Gray of Gray’s Antiques Market in Mayfair, has been one of London’s premier destinations for collectors, dealers, celebs and bargain hunters on a mission to uncover unique and genuine antiques and vintage items. Across 35,000 sq ft and four floors, this Marylebone establishment is home to around 100 dealers selling antique furniture, retro clothing,  jewellery, memorabilia, homeware and decorations. Dodo Posters, run by Liz Farrow since the 1960s, sells vintage advertising and movie posters, while Diplomat Treasures International offers a mix of twentieth-century furniture, African carvings, Chinese vases and modern art. Everything feels carefully curated, and this is reflected in the prices, but if you’re serious about picking up a one-of-a-kind item, this huge antiques arcade is hard to beat. Why go? As London's largest indoor market, there is plenty to see and do. Have a mooch around the stalls for antique gems and treasures. Want to get your suit tailored? Here's the place. Need some jewellery repaired? There's somewhere to do that too. Need a picture framed? There's a stall at Alfies Antiques Market for you. Don't miss: Alfies Antiques Market also has a rooftop kitchen and café – a hidden oasis that basks in sunlight for most of the day. Pop up for brunch, a burger, afternoon tea or a celebra