Columbia Road Flower Market

The flower Matket was beautiful. If your looking for plans on a Sunday in London Columbia flower market is probably the best and most beautiful activity you can do. It is really crowded but really easy to walk through, seeing everyone with flowers in their hands makes everything special

Lively flower market that takes place every Sunday on Columbia Road. Lots of options to choose from, and I’d say the prices are decent too. On the same road there are also lots of shops selling all sorts of things, from plant pots and ceramics, to vintage clothes, coffee shops and bakeries, books and antiques. All in all it’s a great way to spend a few hours if you are in the area.

Such a great experience!!! Whenever you need a fresh sight and want to feel lively, this is the place! Nice rows of cafes selling bagels and croissants and coffee to have while admiring and shopping for plants and flowers. Prices are reasonable. Some shops do cash only so keep some with you.

This Columbia Road Flower Market is one of my favorite markets that I've visited so far. It runs on Sundays from 8am to around 3pm and gets quite busy. There are many stalls selling a variety of potted plants, and it's great to see so many dog owners enjoying the atmosphere. The lively scene is enhanced by buskers performing throughout the market. In addition to flowers, there are also cafes & small shops nearby selling floral-related products and decorations. The staff in the shops are friendly and welcoming. Overall, it’s a fantastic place to visit on a weekend, and I highly recommend it!!

Such a charming and vibrant spot—beautiful flowers, cute plants, and a lovely atmosphere overall. Perfect for a Sunday stroll or picking up something green for your home. Just be aware: it gets very crowded, especially late morning and early afternoon. If you’re not a fan of big crowds, try going early. Still, totally worth a visit for the vibes and the blooms

In contrast to the popular opinion, it is way too busy on a Sunday (especially on a beautiful day) to fully enjoy the variety of plants on offer here. It was extremely packed last Sunday afternoon. Best come as soon as they’re open to enjoy with a slower pace.

Lovely afternoon at the flower market last Sunday! 🌺🌷🪷🏵️🌼Much bigger range than expected and great value for money! I bought a new succulent 🪴 there was also love music and lots of cute vintage shops

Great place for a wonder and browse on a Sunday.....gorgeous flowers/plants....reasonably priced,independent shops and cafés. Went on a beautiful sunny day and friendly atmosphere, even with it being busy.

If I should relocate to London in the coming months I place the blame squarely upon the Columbia Road Flower Market. Hustling and bustling, with crowds enticed not just by the gorgeous flowers but also the healthy green houseplants and the shockingly reasonable prices, Columbia Road Flower Market is the place to be on Sundays. Getting a late start (compared to others), my walk from the Elizabeth Line to Colombia Road had me salivating; it seemed that everyone coming in the opposite direction held beautiful bouquets, thriving houseplants, or both. Later in the day people were leaving with their arms so full of oversized greenery that watching them navigate their way down the street was comical. So: the prices are great, the selection is astounding, and everything looks fresh and heathy. Only a city with a population the size of London could pull off such a great and bustling flower market. Getting here is a cinch on the new Elizabeth Line and the route from there to Columbia Road is well-marked. The market theoretically closes at 2 p.m. but many sellers were still hawking discounted product past that time. Come early or late, but do come. It's a crowded, colorful experience for which America really has no equivalent.

Only open on Sunday mornings so plan accordingly! Beautiful flowers, perfect for a morning stroll. I recommend coming here as they open at 8am for a better selection and of course, less crowds. Simply beautiful!

Every Sunday from 8am to 3pm the quiet street of Columbia Road fills up with stalls selling fresh flowers and plants, and a lots of people! I recommend to go between 8am and 10am as it tends to get crowded later on. I like early morning in Columbia Road because it's peaceful, you can walk at your rhythm and you are not pushed by the crowd. You can also pick the most beautiful flowers and as a plus you get to listen the chant of ''Everthin' a fiver!" from the stallsholders when they still have a good voice. Each season the stalls are different due to the seasonal fresh flowers. Spring: hyacint, mimosas, tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, roses. Summer: peonies, sunflowers, roses, hydrangeas Autumn: hydrangeas, lavender, roses Winter: mistletoe, holly wreaths, thistle, eucalyptus, brassica, roses

I love visiting this on a Sunday (only available on sunday) especially in spring and summer to pick up flowers for my home... The early times are usually for traders and regular clientele are able to visit after 12. I usually go around 1-2pm cause the stall holders will have sorted to reduce the pricing to clear their stock.. So for a bargain bucket... Go after 2pm if you only want to standard.. Roses and tulips... I got some sunflowers today 5 for £5 bargain!! It does get extremely crowded with buggies, babies and doggies so if your not best best with crowds then then go as late as you can.. There will be lots of shuffling and some pushing so just stand your ground and you should be fine... You can find parking locally so if you are planning a big flower shop then I recommend parking.. If you love locally then a bus ride like me is totally fine.. There are lots of eatery around and if you're into your Vietnamese then Dalston of just around the corner shop plenty to wet your appetite..

I walk through Columbia road on my way to work almost every day. It's a really cute street even without the flowers and plants. I finally had a free Sunday in which I could go to the market and experience what it was all about. First thoughts.... Soo many people! Too many people! (at one point I literally felt like I was standing in a crowd to see a rock show). Not a huge flower person, but I do love plants and I did manage to get a very lovely plant near the end of the market for a slightly lowered price. Not sure I would brave this market again. I do like my plant though :)

ripped off again... i should learn not to go to this tourist trap. Hand them a £20 for a five pound item and they get busy with another customer and when you ask for your change, they say you gave them a £5 note. You have no recourse and they know it. I threw the plant back at them. There needs to be some regulation of the corrupt street vendors.

This is truly a unique experience in London. I can't decide what I like more, the flowers or the cockney accents! I think the photos speak for themselves: the flowers are lovely and atmosphere lively. If you are traveling through London on a Sunday, or live in London and need a Sunday morning adventure, this is one of my favorite London experiences. The British are known for their flowers and this is definitely a market worth seeing. Also, at the end of the strip is a cute cafe called the Bird Cage that I never pass up. I recommend getting there early because the market gets seriously packed with people, however if you go later you can get some great deals on flowers as they try and clear their stocks.

I am not really a flower type of guy, but GF and I walked a little over 2 miles from King's Cross Station to get here, meet with her friend and check it out. Not bad tons of varieties of flowers to choose from at relatively cheap (in terms of UK) prices. While it was a unique experience, I ended up not buying her flowers (yes I know I'm cheap) since we were only here a couple days. Worth the trip for a sight as a tourist I guess.

I'm tempted to dock this floral-scented, endorphin-inducing, chaotic cacophony of a street on Sundays due to the crowds, but I will not. Consider the masses the thorns to the rose. A bit of a bother, but by no means should it detract from the beauty of the experience that is the Columbia Road Flower Market. Logistically -- it's a disaster. Year 'round. Almost from the time it opens until the last petals are trampled as the vendors make a dash for their Sunday roast at dinnertime. If you don't like crowds, you will not be happy. If you can get past that -- it's quite a treat indeed. Besides the flowers being fresh, fragrant, beautiful, plentiful, colorful and inexpensive, it's an experience. Columbia Road crowded from end to end with vendors beckoning you to buy all types of flowery indulgences. Tips: *bring cash (obviously). *wear closed toe shoes. *leave dogs/children at home (seriously -- I am not joking about the immensity or proximity of the crowds). You will not have much personal space. *if you are a tourist -- try not to hold up a bunch of people so you can instagram. Actually, this goes for everyone. Enjoy the experience, maybe take some photos of your flowers once you get to the park? Yes, that's better. Move along. *If you plan to do quite a haul, bring a nice tote to collect your prizes. Bonus points if it doesn't maim anyone as you walk. *Don't miss the shops along Columbia Road! I missed them the first time as the flower market really takes up all of the space, but there are very cute home, art and clothing shops all along the road. Most are only open weekends. Obviously Saturday will be much easier shopping, but I've popped in and out on Sundays and still enjoyed it. I stopped in one shop to pick up long-stemmed vases, score. All in all -- if you can battle the crowds, this is a delight. Yes, t'would be great if the road were 4x as wide, but this is London and that is part of the charm. Old street, old rich history, gorgeous flowers and men screaming "3 for a tenner" at you as you babystep your way by...

Her smile is the reason I shop here. If you want to say sorry or make your girl / sister (any woman) happy -- this is the place. I've never been good at choosing flowers. Here, there is a big variety to choose from. People are always friendly and helpful. Any time they manage to create the prettiest bouquet. It lasts longer, smells and looks stunning. When my baby is happy, I'm happy too.

At about 4 or 5 am .... after drinking HARD all night on the Shoreditch pub crawl and wobbling back from my first Brick Lane dinning experience, Yelpers Laura N. and Chris O. are telling this Miami Beach Boy that we are going to a Flower Market in the morning ... WTF ?!?!?! Why the hell would I want to go to flower market ? Why ? Because its awesome !!! The rush of the experience of what seems like New York's Time Square crowd on New Years' Eve jammed down an alley filled with flowers colored so brightly the scene looks Gangs of New York but directed by Tim Burton . Some mean Guy Ritchie Film Gangster types that seems like they would put a cigarette out in your eye are selling flower barking out " THREE FORRA FYVAH " and the lady vendors are also chirping in deals and bargains. I was not going to buy anything - but I enjoyed the insanity of being there - plus the had a cool little shop at the end of the road where I escaped for a few moments, had a chocolate beer and rejoined the fray..... It does not sound very cool but trust another Yelper like I did ... it is very cool.

A US visitors review: This is probably the best flowers market I have ever been to, and a memorable one. I still remember it was a few weeks before christmas, and the streets were filled with pine tree smell in the cold air. And then you heard a type of British accents that I have never heard of, a rougher, hassling one, rather than the proper, polite ones I would usually hear around the heart of london. They were all yelling to sell off their christmas wreath and flowers. The streets were narrow and packed with people. So the best way was to stroll through it on one side and came back around to browse the other side. There were just so many type of flowers that i have not seen in our all season warm California. They even have a Christmas cacti! As much as it seems sort of chaotic and busy, all the sellers were indeed very friendly. And the flowers are very reasonably priced. We got a few bunches for our aunt that we were staying with. But even though if I weren't getting any flower I would still come visit again. It was a quaint little street market with unique, cute little stores around. we even stopped at a local park at one end of the market to watch pigeons fly and people watching. You get a great sense of people, and culture just soaking in the smell, noise and just all your senses. To me, it was more than just a flowers market but a cultural experience. And of course everything just feels more festive and better near Christmas time.

One of London 's great street markets , only on a Sunday. A lit of fresh flowers and plants ( I bought beautiful anemones and a bunch of orange tulips ). Go early on sunday morning .... It gets very busy around 10h30!!!!. and finishes around 2pm. Lots of cafe, nice gift shops,bakery !!! . Its a perfect place to spend a sunday , I love this flowers market !!

Flowers, coffees, little boutiques, and a stroll is the perfect reason to get out of bed on a Sunday morning. Columbia flower market is a great destination for Londoners and tourists discovering the East End. From exotic bouquets to a whole tree, the market offers options for professional gardeners to the average home owner looking for a bunch of flowers to set on a dining room table. There are also some very cute boutiques and cafes lining the sides of the street that are only open on a Sunday. The market gets very busy and it is probably best to get there really early. Otherwise you can do what I do, which is have a lie in and head over there for 13:30 pm, when the crowds are starting to leave and the vendors are desperate to sell and offer some great bargains. 3 orchids for a fiver!

A must on a sunny Sunday morning. The buzz and atmosphere is great, the flowers beautiful - really good stroll! Some flowers seem like a bargain, some a rip off! Tonnes of small drinks vendors tucked in the between shops behind the flower market - coffee and juices. I had the nicest carrot, Apple and ginger juice! Apparently good places around for cake or breakfast but I didn't spot any as was so busy. Can't wait to return to buy some flowers. My friend bought a beautiful orchid for her mum for £5!

Grey weather, grey skies, grey rain all creates the greenest of greens. Combine this with the passion of the British gardener - add a little history, a perfectly preserved Victorian terraced street and... There is no other place where these come together like Columbia Road Flower Market - it is crowded but a lovely experiance. Who does's like Columbia Road? The smallest of markets (600 feet), this little jewel of foliage is the premiere flower market for plant lovers, locals, and Londoners alike. Gorgeous row upon row of richly coloured flowers and plants of every description The experience is not just for the green fingered. Cafes, bakeries and boutiques are all bursting with activity. Open only on Sunday mornings from 8am- 2pm -the market has been alive in several incarnations since 1869.The 1920's saw the market we see now specialize in plants -flower growing originally being introduced from the time of the Huguenots. Sunday morning selling was brought about by parliament in the 1950@s with respect to the Jewish Sabbath. Typically east end - shaped by its immigrant past, to walk amongst the crowded and colourful market to the loud cockney drone of "2 for a fiver" is to experience a slice of London life - its past and present - grey and green - the true colours of Britain.

I finally went to the Columbia Road Flower Market. I had so many people recommend I check it out. It's a small alleyway, PACKED with every flower imaginable, including succulents. Hundreds of people were squeezed down the middle of the alley, single-file in each direction. Be prepared to wait a little if you want to walk the whole thing. It's not a long alley but there are a lot of people, so it's very crowded and slow moving. Merchants yell "Sunflowers, best in London, three for a fiver!" or "Luxurious peonies, look at these beauties, two for a tenner!" I was mesmerized by the whole thing. I ended up buying a tiny succulent for friend of mine back home (it was only £2), it's beautiful with red flowers. I wish I could have bought all of the flowers at this market. It was an incredible place. There are a lot of cute little shops around the market as well, some serving coffee or ice cream. There are all kinds of brunch specials going on at the restaurants too. This is definitely a must see if you're visiting London and like flowers! The reason I gave it 4/5 stars is because it's not very big. When I think of a market, I think of the Rose Bowl flea market that takes an hour or so to check out. But you can see all of the flowers in this market in about 15 minutes. Though each vendor has a wide variety, a lot of the vendors are very similar and are boasting similarly prices deals. You can get a "bunch" of sunflowers for £5, or a couple peonies for £10, so the prices are pretty reasonable. It's nice a way to spend a sunday afternoon in my opinion. SUNDAYS ONLY.

If you like flowers, this is a must. If you don't like flowers, then don't go! It's quite a production. They close off the street, and the flower market takes up multiple blocks. You can find basically anything ever, and it smells and looks pretty.

You won't find a more cheerful place in London on a Sunday morning than the happenings along Columbia road. The incredible smell of the fresh flowers together with the banter of the Cockney hagglers will surely have you smiling to yourself when choosing your bunch of flowers. Afterwards head to the Lili Vanilli bakery for mountains of layered home-made cake and the homeliest atmosphere. Also don't forget to grab a coffee from Climpson and Sons at the bottom of the road before you start perusing the stalls

I have to confess that I have never bought any flowers from the flower market That being said I just enjoy the experience of walking through the market. We have gone a few times both when it was sunny and when it was raining and it is a great place for a morning/afternoon stroll. They have tons of variety and at very reasonable prices. It's also fun hearing the various vendors shouting out their deals and people bargaining.

It's very cute and pretty with so many nice flowers and stands. However, it's insanely crowded with people jam packed down one single aisle in the middle of the road. I had to leave after one walk through because it was too hot and people are just bumping up against you the whole time. The vendors are very funny and lively. The flowers are beautiful and worth a visit. I loved exploring the Columbia Road area as it was my first time. I might have to come back again.

The busiest flower market in London is here. Be prepared to be squeezed among hundrends of flower-thirsty Londoners. Be also prepared to be hit at several times by people having bought a bunch of flowers that don't realise their length and end them up just in your face. You will be impressed from the variety of flowers, scents, colours and escpecially from the low prices. Along the whole street you will find great bargains on the already low prices. Bring cash of course with you and arrange to go after 2pm (less crowded, even more bargains). Lovely place even for coffee or just for the vibes in the near streets.

Now I'm not one for visiting touristy places when I'm travelling, it's simply too 'travel by numbers'. I'm proud to say I haven't been on The London Eye, visited Madam Tussauds or The London Dungeon and when in Europe only visited well-worn tourist destinations such as The Leaning Tower of Pisa with considerable reticence. However, the Columbia Road Flower Market near East London's Brick Lane is hands down one of the best destinations for locals and tourists alike on a Sunday morning. Taking place Sunday between 8am and 2pm, the Columbia Road Flower Market sees this largely Victorian street lined with flower sellers offering everything from your standard roses, peonies, and tulips - season permitting - to altogether more exotic and unique flora. Located smack bang in the middle of Jesus Green, a desirable Shoreditch enclave and conservation area allegedly boasting residents such as Julie Christie, the Columbia Road Flower Market is a perfect starting point for a day of mooching around East London; with its various coffee stalls and boutiques providing much needed respite from the sometimes overcrowded market itself.

Colombia Road Flower Market is so fabulous. Most Sundays I walk from my house in Brick Lane and treat myself to some fresh flowers to brighten up my week. And they're SO cheap, so whatever your budget, you can afford to pick yourself up a treat! A must-see for Londons and tourists alike, with boutiques, cafes and more flowers that you could dream of, it's the perfect way to spend your Sunday!

You simply can't beat Columbia Road for top quality, reasonably priced flowers. After a visit here, you'll never willingly buy a supermarket or flower store bouquet again, as you won't get anything as interesting or affordable elsewhere! Head down here on a sunny weekend for a look around while cheeky market traders yell out some of the funniest slogans in town (on a recent visit, one particular character seemed very proud of the phallic-looking amarylis he'd 'hand stolen' from Ann Summers). Those on a budget may wish to avoid the very exclusive homeware boutiques alongside the stalls, and also the tempting but pricey organic lattes on offer...

Columbia road is a real Sunday treat, The street becomes jam packed with flower sellers from 8am till 2pm on Sunday. You will find plants, trees, flowers and bulbs galor here! This is real East End London at it's finest! towards the end of the day you are likely to hear the flower sellers shouting something like two for a fiver love in a cockney accent that for some reason always puts a smile on my face! Afterwards you can relax in one of the many quaint coffee shops or pubs. Nearest tube is Old Street. What a lovely way to spend a Sunday!

A fabulous way to spend your Sunday morning or afternoon if you are in Shoreditch admiring the beautiful flowers, plants and other georgues gardening and outdoor accessories.

It is a wonderful visual spectacle. It is in a fantastic location. It does have some cool coffee, food, shops to wander around nearby. But... I'm just not that into flowers. As an art director by trade I even have an eye for all things visual, so colourful, but I can't excited about this flower market. Not as much as most girls. Of course it's not just for girls, but I presume most guys have been dragged there or see this as a cool last Sunday bring your date one morning to soak up time place to casually stroll around. I can see the appeal but it's not for me. Not unless I guarantee to have a hangover bacon butty or a salt beef bagel from brick lane in my other hand from my girl. I mean it's flowers. But it is a very good and varied selection. The best moment for me is when you see the awesome pub (the birdcage) on the corner that you can retreat to after you've survived the flower watching. Maybe things do have a silver lining after all.

Beware the ides of March? More like beware the EYES in March -- at least in the Columbia Road Flower Market! "An allergists nightmare" is the understatement of the year as the entire block is filled with a florabunda of, well, floral abundance. It's magical. However, I wish I'd read Evelyn's near-eye-outting experience prior to my visit because Lord all mighty, I had one too many rogue cherry blossoms, pussy willows and yes, ornamental twigs, swinging perilously close to my peepers. But you know what? It was completely worth it. This is an absolutely perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday morning; sipping perfectly pulled espresso, browsing unique vintage shops, sampling treats from sweets vendors and meeting shopkeepers who are living their once-a-week secret life as an antique furniture dealer or curtain maker. And have I mentioned the flowers? Cause they have some here.

I bloody love a market. It makes me feel all warm and gooey inside. I like them small and large, bustling and empty, in far-flung foreign climes and in me old stomping ground of Laandan Taaaaaaahn. That's how they speak in the east end. I mean they're all just so spiffingly marvellous. (That's how we speak in the west). It does what it says on the tin. They sell flowers - lots of them. Take your time to look at all the stalls before making a purchase because you will see the same stuff at different prices - but bear in mind that they're perishable goods so if it seems too good to be true, it probably is, and they'll likely die the next day. The place is small, but hugely popular, so don't go if you're not a fan of crowds (or in a rush). Downside is that it's hard to bargain - even though everyone tells you to - because they know they don't need to knock the prices until the end of the day, and by that point most of the good stuff has gone. Regardless, even the most expensive blooms on offer are still dirt cheap compared to what you'd pay in a proper shop, and the choice is massive too. I bought so many flowers that I actually hurt my shoulder carrying them all home. Miraculously I spent a mere £35, which seemed a lot at the time but is actually jaw-droppingly bargainous. I took some into work and now my colleagues love me. I put others on the kitchen table and my new flatmate thinks I'm well classy and that. I also have 20 long-stemmed pink and orange roses (for £10!!!!! That appeals to my inner Jewish princess on so many levels) in the sitting room which are JUST SO BEAUTIFUL that I keep telling everybody about my purchase. I mean seriously, I took photos of the arrangement on my phone and showed it to my head of department as if it were a human child to which I had recently given birth. I am THAT PROUD. Of flowers. Thank god I live on the other side of the city or my flat would spend its entire life looking like Kew Gardens puked up in a sick ward.

I just didn't find this market all that special. Most cities have a major flower market but this market is considerably smaller than ones I've visited in LA and San Francisco. It's actually sort of a mini version of a typical California Farmer's Market. So it was cool, but nothing really to write home about. Also, the location is kind of hard to find. There are a few shops along the sides of the market that you can visit for coffee, pastries, gifts, etc. So in all not a wasted trip, but I wouldn't bother in the future.

There are only two reasons not to like Columbia Road Flower market: 1) you are terrified of crowds; or 2) you are defective.

Eliza, forget Covent Garden, this is where you'll find all your flowery needs met. Yup, the flower market is a historic part of London and if you want to see a bit of real working London this is a good a place as any. You'll see Pearly Kings and Queens there too! Since I've moved into the area the market has been my go-to for a Sunday afternoon wander. Get here about 3.30pm and you'll get all the bargains too. But that's not all, I love this market because it is on a fabulous street with over 60 independent shops and cafes on it. It smells amazing in the afternoon, when the flowers have been out all morning - making it just wonderful. Yes you'll find bigger flower markets in other cities but this one is our and it makes me proud. I'd choose this gem over any other commercial flower show.

One of the best ways to spend a Sunday morning. The liveliness of the place is incredible - be it the multitudes of people, the vendors shouting at the top of their lungs, or the vivid colors of the flowers and plants. Bargaining is a fun exchange as opposed to an all-out war here, and if you don't like the prices, just walk down to the next vendor and try your luck there. Everyone is nice and the flowers all seem freshly cut and are definitely worth the money that you spend. The shops behind the vendors are open as well, so if you're tired and want a coffee or bagel, make your way behind the vendors and enjoy the cafe's. Overall, this is a market that I will be returning to many times.

If like me you sometimes find yourself hungover on a sunday morning, there is literally no better cure then the Columbia Road flower market. The tourists from Brick Lane melt away as you walk up into Hoxton/Bethnal Green and emerge into a scene reminiscent of a London that is increasingly hard to find. The crowd feels vaguely bohemian, a mix of aging hipsters accompanied by their absurdly dressed babies and toddlers and the true East Londoners selling beautiful flowers and plants for reasonable prices. My recipe for success: Battered prawns from: http://www.yelp.com/biz/lees-seafood-london Flat white from: http://www.yelp.com/biz/lily-vanilli-london Sit on the curb and people watch. There are almost always really great musicians busking and there are a huge number of great independent shops both on Columbia Road and in the surrounding area. ps. If you're walking up from Bethnal Green Road make sure you stop at Unto This Last (http://www.yelp.com/biz/unto-this-last-london) a really wonderful modernist design furniture shop.

This a great place to pick up great plants, flowers and all things gardening. Also peruse some fantastic little shops selling all sorts from vintage clothes, jewellery, prints, haberdashery and cupcakes. There are various food outlets dotted about, my personal favourite are the breakfast baps that can be found in the little courtyard behind Columbia Road. As it's a market cash is adviseable there are various banks along Bethnal Green Road and there's a Post Office cash machine near the Barnet Grove bus stop. There's another one in the Cost Cutter on Hackney Road but you have to pay to use that one! You can find all sorts down here and it's a great day if you love people watching and finding inspiration.

A favourite amongst Londoners and with good reasons! It's basically flower paradise down there, and a cheap one as well. Most flowers go for £5 a bunch or £10 for 3 and there are also plenty of antics / food / cookery stores along the way. A brilliant way to brighten up a grey-ish winter morning if you ask me!

I love love love the Columbia Road Flower Market. It's always an experience, and it's a great place to pick up affordable cut flowers (3 bunches/5 pounds) or plants. Usually the flowers get more affordable the further you go down the street so make sure to walk the entire length before making your purchases. I also love the little shops and cafes tucked into the side streets. There's a really good bagel shop, fried seafood shop and cupcake heaven along the main street hidden behind the flower sellers that you guys should check out. Beware though, the market is often really crowded to the point where everyone is just moving at a crawl. Also, watch your wallets and purses. There are pickpockets.

Being in London for a while I was looking for a nice walk to do on a sunny Sunday morning and I decided to go around Shoreditch. While walking in Shoreditch High Street I start to see people carrying flowers, plants and pots in every direction and this make me though I was approaching my goal... After few meters I found the street where the market takes place. It's quite narrow and the stalls are just one after the other, making few space for the people to carry their discovery. Some have classic flowers and plants but you can find really exotic one, small trees and everything that can grow in both a house or a garden. It's really relaxing to walk around even you don't have any intention to buy something, full of color and different smells. There are plenty of decorative shops around where you can buy usefull or just decorative and design items for the house. The area is really charming with paved streets, a couple of nice bars and restaurants - even quite expensive - and people everywhere chating. You feel like they all know each other and used to hang around in the neighbourood. They sit on the sildewalk while drinking a coffee or a beer depending how early or late you'll be in the area. It's not so touristy and most of the people come here on purpose to buy something they need for their house so it's a great way to be in contact with locals then.

The Columbia Road Flower Market was an interesting experience to say the least. Very crowded and filled with old men with croaky voices you'd rather expect to hear them selling steaks or cigars instead of yelling at the top of their lungs "tulips, tulips two for a fiver!". I think it's something everyone needs to do once BUT I didn't find it to be that special. I got some good deals on a few potted plants and some cut roses (it's true you can get great deals if you go just before closing) but since I don't need them every day or every month, I won't be a regular. And with the crowd, clearly it not appealing to all and nothing is so great a deal that it would be worth it for those who don't like crowds instead of heading to their local plant shop/B&Q/Homebase. Amusing too that this market is pretty much in the middle of nowhere London, and you can see the influence this market has made on this tiny street (lots of bright color houses, shops and places to grab a bite to eat). Good experience, definitely something to do with a friend on a warm lazy Sunday!

I *heart* Columbia road. The Market is a bit hard to find but when you see a wall of plants walking toward you. You know that you are nearby... If you can get up early try to get there early as by noon, the Market is jammed! The selection of plants is fantastic. I'm sure you will have your favourites but I love the stall that sells only herbs. There is a good deal for four small pot for just a fiver. There are the usual varieties but this stall has some unusual varieties such as Vietnamese coriander or lemon basil. While browsing snack on fried calamari for just £1.50. Prawns are an extra pound more. But I always save room for a cupcake from treacle. They come in all colours and even in sparkly glitter

Super crowded and not that impressive. It's just hard to find stores like Navlet's in the UK so people think this is something special. Come near the end of the day and get yourself a bargain.

Definitely an experience! After getting lost on the way, I was fairly proud of myself when I finally found it. It was just as crowded as everyone says, and I felt a little bit like a salmon swimming upstream as I made my way through. I got hit in the face with some orchids a few times, but I figured their new owner got a good enough deal on them they deserved to flaunt their flowers about. I ended up buying some herb plants (rosemary, lavender, mint, and oregano, total £5) since I was a bit too nervous about buying and subsequently accidentally killing any prettier flowers, but I had a few walks up and down the rows of carts just admiring the selection. I absolutely wish I had space for one of the fruit trees! My vendor quote of the day: After a woman commented on the size of one of the plants he was offering, "That's the first time a lady's ever said to me 'That's enormous!'"

Holy sh!!t. Was it the sunny weather? Was it the hope of Spring? I don't know....but I do know I will never recommend the market. And why is that? Well, let's do the math. Yes, it offers cheaper flowers. But my tube fare overshadows this. And I didn't even see flowers. I stared at the back of hundreds of people's heads while walking at a zombie snail pace through the stalls. If I stopped to buy some tulips, I probably would have been trampled. And let the record show that I went at 2, the supposed "less crowded time". Save your time. Save your tube fare. Go to a local flower stand. Or Homebase.

Lovely way to spend a Sunday, great value for money! Much cheaper than any flower/plant shop I've ever been too! There are lots of cute trendy shops along the road too, although the prices of the contents are pretty high, best for a ramble, see what you like and go buy from John Lewis or somewhere cheaper & less trendier! Around the flower markets there are lovely coffee shops, brick a brack market stalls, buskers and attention seeking individuals doing random things to get attention! There are a few pubs too, serving awesome Sunday roasts! Perfect place to spend a lazy enjoyable Sunday! But be aware, as with most enjoyable London places, it gets SUPER busy!! So either go really early, or late in the afternoon! Recommend!

If you want flowers, or just feel like channelling your inner Eliza Doolittle, this is the place to go. There are so many different varieties and colours of flowers, plants and herbs on show that you're spoilt for choice, and with the typical sales banter of the stall holders ringing through the air, it's lively, bustling and joyful, even managing to cheer up a grey and drizzly day. The flowers all look fresh and healthy and you can't really go wrong at 3 bunches for £10. It's a lovely feeling walking away with your arms full of blooms, taking a little bit of the joy home with you.

As lying in bed on a Sunday morning is a thing of the past, I suggest visiting the Columbia Road Flower Market. Also, In case you haven't heard, going to bed early on Saturday night and getting up early on Sunday is the new cool thing to do. So take my advice and get down to the market early to avoid the crowd. The market is narrow, and avoiding the load shouting from the flower sellers is virtually impossible, so just embrace the market vibe. Once you have your floral supplies, I suggest heading down to the coffee cart at the end of the market. The baristas are great, and there is nothing better than a Square Mile coffee on a Sunday morning. If it is late enough, I'll let you decide what time that is, pop in to the Royal Oak for a beer. Columbia Rd. is easy to find as there are street signs that tell you how to get to there. I urge everyone to take my advice, the smell of flowers and coffee is much nicer than lying in bed feeling sorry for yourself.

Luckily, the year of the snake has brought me East and this is now my neighbourhood so I don't have any excuses not to come here as despite my best intentions since before smartphones existed, I've just never made the trek. It's an experience, I'll give you that. You'll get the full spectrum of tourists toting cameras and instagramming EVERYTHING, the locals that show up either early or late when it's a bit dead to have a stroll, couples trying to be romantic and unfortunately yes, that woman with the determination of a thousand suns to push her pram into your ankles. She's everywhere, isn't she? Someone should tell her to stay home. Since you have to accept the things you cannot change, just go early or late (and try to get a bargain) and avoid the most busy times when she'll be looking at your ankles with a hunger for blood. The cafes and shops that line the street are also lovely, you can pick up some pottery, oysters, lots of things other than flowers... so take a look behind the stalls. Have a stroll through before purchasing to make sure you're getting a fair price for your peonies (and don't buy all open ones, get some closed ones so they can make your bouquet last longer... I'm digressing..) and then you'll be able to instagram your goods along with the rest of East London and its visitors.

The only issue I have with these markets is that A. It's super crowded (but then again what good markets in London aren't on a weekend) and B. It's so far from home... Although issue B is probably a blessing in disguise, as Du Hy T and myself will quite quickly go broke if we lived nearer! Two trips there and we haven't managed to walk away with less than 6 big bunches of flowers between us! The markets aren't super long, but is crammed with people and flowers, both fresh cut and in pots. It has a wonderful vibe, especially on a nice spring day with stallholders shouting out their wares, little shops on the sides selling quirky goods and vibrant flowers everywhere! Tip is to arrive around noon - 1pm, walk down the length of the market to work out what you want and then by the time you walk back down to make your purchases, the prices would've hopefully dropped (or rather as we found, the prices doesn't change, but the amount of flowers you get increase!) as the markets are about to close. If you've bought too much and remembered that all you have is a tiny little vase, there is a shop that sells glassware and ceramics cheaply so that you can have somewhere to keep your flowers! The shop is at the Old St end, just before the flower markets start. Enjoy!