The Columbia Road Flower Market is a feast for the senses and our favourite of all London’s markets. We’ve got all the hot tips including important brunch, opening times, parking and tube details.
- When: Every Sunday, 8am until about 3pm, rain or shine.
- Where: Columbia Road, London E2 7RG, in Bethnal Green just off Hackney Road.
- Nearest station: Hoxton (London Overground, Windrush line), about a 7 minute walk. Bethnal Green (Central line) and Old Street (Northern line) tube stations are about 20 minutes on foot.
- Buses: Routes 26 and 55 stop on Hackney Road at the end of Columbia Road.
- Top tip: Get there before 9am for the best choice and room to browse, or come in the last hour to pick up bargains.
We can still vividly recall the quiet hum as the market stall holders set out their displays. Smells of fresh earth and herbs mingling with perfumed roses and dried lavender. The sun starting to peek over the buildings as the early birds head home with their blooms and the late rising crowd slowly swells in.
Some of the stall holders here have been transforming the road into a rainbow of colour every Sunday, no matter what the temperamental London weather was doing, for over 40 years. A continuing family affair for many of the spruikers. You can buy everything from roses, dried lavender, arrays of huge hydrangeas in every hue, potting plants, bulbs and herbs to semi-established trees.
Planning your visit
What really makes this Sunday market stand out is the independent nature of Columbia Road Flower Market and the sense of community you feel as you browse the forest of foliage. It’s a breath of fresh air to find a little pocket of London that has resisted the creep of chain coffee and fashion retailers, which is something the shop owners are really proud of, and rightly so.
Aside from the oasis on offer, you’ll also find cute cafes for coffee and brunch, art galleries, vintage and antique wares. Make sure to bring some cash along as some traders are still cash only, and ATM’s can be few and far between. The park at the end of the road sometimes has food stalls and is the perfect place to chill out on a sunny Sunday sipping fresh lemonade.
Columbia Road gets a bit hectic after 9am so we highly recommend getting up super early and enjoying it before too many people arrive. Particularly if you are a serious buyer and need the space to browse, barter and carry your goods. Another option is to go late as things are winding down, you might be able to snag a great deal as the traders look to offload stock.
Getting to Columbia Road Flower Market
Address and Postcode
Columbia Road Flower Market, Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG
Opening Hours
The Columbia Road Flower Market is open every Sunday from 8am until about 3pm, in all weather. Some of the shops along the road also open during the week. Go early to avoid crowds and to stock up. Go late for the best deals.
By Train
The closest station is Hoxton on the London Overground’s Windrush line, roughly a 7 minute walk away. Shoreditch High Street is on the same line, handy if you’re coming up from south of the Thames. Cambridge Heath, on the Overground’s Weaver line, is also nearby and connects you to Liverpool Street.
The two nearest tube stations are Bethnal Green (Central line) and Old Street (Northern line), both about a 20 minute walk. If you have time, a stroll along Regent’s Canal is a lovely way to arrive.
By Bus
Routes 26 and 55 stop on Hackney Road at the end of Columbia Road, and night buses N26 and N55 use the same stop. Routes 8 and 388 run along nearby Bethnal Green Road. For up to date schedules, check the Transport for London website.
Parking near Columbia Road
Street parking around Columbia Road is pay and display, and on Sundays the charges apply from 8.30am to 2pm, right through market hours. It’s pricey and spaces are scarce. The market’s own website suggests parking at Mulberry School on Gosset Street (E2 6NW), reached from Warner Place or Turin Street. Traffic wardens are active here, so read the kerbside signs closely. Better still, leave the car at home.
Best brunch near Columbia Road Flower Market
Cafe Columbia
A Columbia Road fixture for over 30 years serving up delicious fresh bagels every Sunday. Grab one to go and watch the market bustle by.
Royal Oak
The kitchen doesn’t open until midday, but The Royal Oak serves up top-notch gastropub fare and one of the best Sunday roasts around in a cosy pub setting.
Brawn
Fast becoming a local favourite, this creative little restaurant does a fixed price lunch on Sundays featuring seasonal produce. A little bit higher class but well worth it.
Cake Hole Cafe @ Vintage Heaven
Not exactly brunch, but this is the place if you want to get a cracking coffee and cake whilst you get your vintage shopping done at the same time. The cream tea for one is a must.
Things to do near Columbia Road
After you’ve had your fill of flowers there is plenty to explore in the surrounding areas, including Bethnal Green and Hackney amongst others. There is plenty to offer for a leisurely Sunday in the way of cool pubs, parks and food markets.
Victoria Park Market
Open every Sunday from 10-4pm with lots of great food stalls and plenty of open green space, a playground for kids and heaps of paths for wandering or cruising around on bikes.
Old Spitalfields Market
Head further south to the market in Spitalfields for good food, legit Turkish Delight and plenty of clothing shops. Open every day except Thursdays.
Brick Lane
Take a casual stroll down Brick Lane to see some of London’s coolest graffiti and taste some of the best curries in town.
If you’re after a quick way to explore there are heaps of Santander bike stations all around London (Boris’ Bikes). They are easy to use and can be booked on the spot or via an app, just pop in a bank card, get your unlock code, and you’re set to cruise around.
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Columbia Road Flower Market FAQ
What time does Columbia Road Flower Market open and close?
It opens at 8am every Sunday and finishes around 3pm. Arrive by 2pm if you want to see the full market before stalls pack up.
What is the nearest station to Columbia Road Flower Market?
Hoxton on the London Overground (Windrush line) is closest, about a 7 minute walk. The nearest tube stations are Bethnal Green (Central line) and Old Street (Northern line), each about 20 minutes on foot.
Is there parking at Columbia Road Flower Market?
Only limited street parking, which is pay and display and charged on Sundays from 8.30am to 2pm. The market suggests Mulberry School on Gosset Street (E2 6NW), but public transport is much easier.
Is Columbia Road Flower Market only on Sundays?
Yes, the flower market only runs on Sundays. It used to be held on Saturdays and moved to Sunday to suit local Jewish traders. Some of the shops on Columbia Road also open during the week.
When is the best time to go?
Go early, before 9am, for the best choice and fewer crowds. Go in the last hour for bargains, as traders drop their prices to clear stock.
What can you buy at Columbia Road Flower Market?
Cut and dried flowers, succulents, cacti, house plants, herbs, bulbs and even small trees. In spring the herbs arrive, and in December the road fills with Christmas trees.
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Anonymous says
Wonderful place to visit.