Compliment thirdmonkey (03-07-2008) 4

If you know your plants (and even if you don’t) then this is a great place to get bargains, with the bonus of unique shops run by local artists, a mini high-end flea market and gourmet food from oysters to almond croissant and beyond, to further unload your wallet. The herb stall roughly halfway down the market is always reliable, with expert advice readily given. Come early if you don’t like crowds.

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DEPE

Compliment DEPE (26-06-2008) 4

Great market to come down to on a Sunny Sunday morning. Perfect recovery from a night out or just a pleasant way to spend the morning. There are many plant sellers who will give you fair prices, also there are many coffee shops, cafes and restaurants that mainly open on a Sunday just for this market. Also it is fairly easy to go on from here to Brick Lane where there are often a great deal of stalls or entertainers working on a Sunday.

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louise2406

Compliment louise2406 (22-06-2008) 4

The perfect Sunday destination. Grab a coffee at the Perennial, then saunter round the market, buy a few plants/flowers/random herbs you’ll never use and retire for a few early afternoon sharpeners in The Dove on Broadway Market. If flowers aren’t your thing there are loads of boutiques and antique shops to rummage through. Also worth trying are the cambozola blueberry bagels at Cafe Columbia or Lee’s Seafoods for cockles. There’s something for everyone (we reckon) around here somewhere.

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Compliment kevinanthony2525 (17-06-2008) 2

pretty good providing weathers fine, good prices on herbs flowers etc if your willing to haggle, fantastic mix of accents and very colourful depending on the time of year

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eve78lee

Compliment eve78lee (10-06-2008) 5

This is a beautiful flower market only available on Sundays. The atmosphere and liveliness of the market is breathtaking. You’ll feast your eyes on the beautiful blooming flowers from the traders there. if you aren’t interested in the blooms, thre is also a retail community around the market selling pots, crockery, toys and even clothes.

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flowers

Compliment flowers (08-06-2008) 5

A five star Sunday morning treat. The garden and plant maket is amazing and all the little food and gift shops are really stylish and fun.

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Compliment HayleyUnlikely (27-05-2008) 5

There’s nothing nicer to do on a Sunday morning in London!

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Compliment totallygone.com (27-05-2008) 4

I’m giving Columbia Road four stars, because five will raise its profile even more and it’ll become even more mobbed than it already is.

Just ten minutes by bus from Liverpool Street, the flower market is central enough to be included in a mini-tour of East End markets, including Brick Lane and Spitalfields. As mentioned above, arrive late for the best bargains and early to avoid the crowds (which are ridiculous - forget prams, dogs and ice-cream cones - they’ll all be crushed).

Not just for flowers, though - Columbia Rd has become, rapidly, what Portobello Rd was about 15 years ago. The traditional market is lined by shops selling admittedly overpriced trinkets and bric-a-brac from Rajasthan (David Wainwright kicked this off, three decades ago), France, Vietnam and - believe it or not - Brentwood.

A deli serving oils, olives, breads and cheeses joins the market to a little courtyard where you can buy absurdly inflated retro furniture, fabrics to match and some decently-priced art/prints as well as a good range of Prices candles.

Stingray’s pizzas are superb, and it’s a good place for brunch on Columbia Road itself. But the Premises café, on Hackney Rd, has to be the best place to eat.

Expect to fight for a table, but the breakfast is consistently good, with good fry-up choices for vegetarians and a decent range of salads and lo-cal/carb options. Recording studios above the café attract a range of celebs (and megastars) so it’s a good place to star-spot, even if that means just eyeing up the autographed photos.

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Compliment astra283 (07-05-2008) 5

good place to get all your garening things from

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Compliment hectort (18-03-2008) 5

The best whole family Sunday Market in London. Come around, buy some flowers and have a nice organic breakfast in any of the cozy cafes around the area.

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Compliment dawndelyse (11-03-2008) 5

London’s best known flower market held on a sunday morning. We all go there to buy bedding plants for the garden, palms and other exotica.

Initially it was strictly flowers but now new and exciting designers of jewellery and clothing have started to take stalls and its become worthwhile strolling right down to the end of the market to see whats on offer.

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tikichris

Compliment tikichris (16-01-2008) 5

When the market’s on this place gets packed. Of course, it’s understandable: flowers everywhere and all sorts of funky shops and funky people make for a nice East London stroll. One of my favourite reasons to visit Columbia Road is to chow down at Laxiero, a wonderful Spanish restaurant.

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moonrising

Compliment moonrising (15-11-2007) 5

Columbia Road is the Superman or Wonder Woman of markets. All week just an ordinary road, then for Sunday morning only it transforms into something bright and colourful and bulging at the seams.

If you are not sure of your way there, just go in the opposite way to the people carrying plants. There will be loads of them! Once there, take a deep breath and plunge in. The crowds are intense. It’s probably good the market is actually quite small as you need to come out the other end to breath! You’ll find a terrific range of plants in keeping with the season: more bedding plants in spring, more pot plants with Christmas coming up. Many of the sellers have their own nurseries just outside London, so the plants are of top quality, fresh and at wholesale prices. Added to that, they often sell off excess and any that are fading in the slightest at the end of the day. For example, an orchid: probably would have cost me £25 in the shops, £15 at Columbia Road, I got it for a couple of quid as its flower was past its best. It’s doing well and flowering twice a year. And of course, since they grew them themselves, the sellers are knowledgeable.

You’ll also find shops have sprung up around the market selling healthy snacks, pretty pots, statues, etc to cater to the other needs of plant-buyers. All in all, an experience you can’t miss on a Sunday morning in London.

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annyeap

Compliment annyeap (04-11-2007) 5

This is the place to buy flowers/plants. It has more selection than garden centres or nurseries. Not only does it have lots of flowers/plants, it has a great atmosphere too! There are lots of bargains at the end of the day when the sellers are trying to sell their stuff before packing up. You can bargain with the sellers to get a better deal. After a day at the market you can visit one of the cafes or pubs for tea and drinks. This is the best way to spend a Sunday and it is a good experience too. My boyfriend doesn't really like shopping but he absolutely loves this place!

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Tinks

Compliment Tinks (01-11-2007) 5

This is my favourite way to spend a Sunday morning. Columbia Road is packed with every flower/plant stall you can think of. Some great shops and cafe's and a good pub for a glass of wine while you wait for things to calm down. At 2pm all the flowers are sold off for cheap too!

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Compliment nickmoreno (01-11-2007) 5

To me Columbia Road is the most quintessential of locations in East London. With a number of small cafés. galleries, shops and pubs this small yet busy street holds the perfect plan for a Sunday afternoon, dwelling in the flower market with all its energetic salesman, having tea and cake at the Flea Pit Café and perhaps enjoying a delicious lunch on the newly renovated second floor of the Royal Oak pub.
Don't miss out on the alleyway on Ezra Street, truly Victorian!

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Compliment Marmiteart (31-10-2007) 5

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!

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Compliment Bodilklarskov (27-09-2007) 4

This great and buzzing market offers lots to see and buy. Go early and it is less packed, but if you are looking for a bargain go right at the end of the day, when all the sellers are trying to empty their stalls. There are very good selections of cut flowers, perennials and bushes - much better than most garden centers. Even if you are not into flowers and plants the atmosphere is worth experiencing.

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johnw

Compliment johnw (05-08-2007) 5

I've really enjoyed my Sunday morning trips over to Columbia Road. You don't need to get there mega-early, but by 9am for sure. Its a gem of an experience and something London should be proud of. Hundreds of flower sellers all crammed into a small crowded street nudge shoulders with one-off antique, design & homeware shops. Grab a bagel from the cafe and enjoy a good old fashioned cup of tea whilst you admire you bags of plants & flowers!

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Siri7

Compliment Siri7 (12-05-2007) 4

this is one of my favorite places in London to visit on a Sunday morning- buying flowers in Columbia road and then having a salt beef bagel from the close by bagel shops that are open literally 24 hrs.
You will find not just flowers there but can also buy handmade hats and jewelery in the shops that line Columbia road. The flower market shuts at 2pm and in order to snap up some of the bargain plants be there sometime before- a treat for your eyes.

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fcourt

Compliment fcourt (08-04-2007) 5

A great place to go and buy flowers and plants on Sundays. There are also really nice antics stores on both sides of the market, with some great little restaurants and places to have tea as well as shopping for presents of homeware. Also a good way to get a feel for London's East End. Very children-friendly place to go as well.

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