An area of London that I have only recently over the past year or so really started to appreciate has to be East London – the Shoreditch, Spitalfields, and Brick Lane area, I think it is because I have had more time to wander, take in the cute shops, snap pictures of the incredible architecture and street art, and mainly because I have such great friends who rave about the area.
While my mum was down I really wanted to check out the Columbia Road Flower Market that takes place every Sunday, I have seen the flower market used for many a style post location, well why not a floral backdrop is pretty, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and see all the pretty flowers.
I love flowers, I love arranging them in all my pretty vases, I love giving a great bouquet they always make friends and family smile, and I just love looking at them – whether that is in a garden, a book, or on a flower market and I just adored the eclectic mix of flowers and people at the Columbia Road flower market.
Luckily my mum and I went last week, when it was fairly mild, sunny and definitely not snowing like today, and I think the sun shining even if a little cold makes the flower market a more pleasant experience, if not a little/a lot busier.
The market is open from 8am until 3ish, we got there around 11am and it was busy, but if you are after a bargain or two I would suggest heading over around 2pm as the traders drop their prices and you can pick up some gorgeous flowers. The market basically has everything you could want from bucketfuls of tulips in every colour imaginable to roses and daffodils, to tropical flowers and even mini trees, shrubs, herbs and bedding plants. I basically wanted to leave with a truck load full!!!
As well as the sweet-scented market there are also a host of independent shops, galleries and vintage shops on Columbia Road alongside the market as well as on the surrounding streets – think pottery, incredible artworks, vintage clothes, jewellery, as well as a retro sweet shop called ‘Suck and Chew’ I am still working my way through my alphabet sweets.
The only thing that I wasn’t thrilled with was the lack of cafes, the ones there are tiny, were packed and I like to sit and enjoy my cup of tea – but trust me this is the tiniest of gripes. If you love flowers, have always dreamed of being a flower arranger like me, just for the inspiration you will love this market.
The other thing I love about East London has to be the street art, there are so many talented artists that really do make the streets vibrant. I instagram a lot of pieces, so if you love street art as much as I do make sure you follow me on there – but here are a few of my favourites near Columbia Road flower market.
**All pictures taken by me, Fashionista Barbie**
