Columbia Road Flower Market, Shoreditch, London

Columbia Road is having a hard rap these days; full of hipsters that clog the street, looking glamourous and aren’t buying any flowers at all (it seems); even the most hardened flower and plant fanciers are apprently heading elsewhere in droves. No one has told me where though!

As for me, I love the place, personally. Of course said love is limited as I have hayfever, so it’s one long sneeze laden street as far as I’m concerned; yet at the same time it does bost some lovely small local traders; cafes like the flea pit, homeware store WAWA, and even place where you can get jellied eels, as well as the fashionista-filled Royal Oak pub. The Globe - a pizza place - is also small, perfectly formed and credit crunch proof, price wise. What’s not to love? An ideal way to spend a Sunday if I wasn’t out climbing or cycling or something.

This place has got a bit too hip for its own good. Horribly overcrowded with Shoreditch hipsters, you can barely move through the market so it’s not a lot of good for browsing, and the pavements are full of queues for the little shops selling food. There’s just not enough space here for that kind of product and it makes the whole experience unpleasant. I was told by one stallholder to go away after I was spending 'too long’ considering which colour orchids to buy! Prices good, service and crowds bad. I’d rather pay a bit more for Interflora!

This flower market is always busy and if you really want something a little extra special then get there early on a Sunday morning. The prices are by means the cheapest but the quality is unquestionable. Have a stroll first and then pick the flowers you want to buy. Bring plenty of cash but please be wary as there are lots of pick pockets about.

I never tire of visiting Columbia Road’s Sunday flower market. I love the buzz, the mix of East Enders cast extras with hipsters and tourists, the cockney call of the vendors, all the beautiful flowers. In fact, a ramble through the market (I’ve gone several times but I don’t think I’ve ever actually bought any plants there - shame on me!) with a tapas pit stop at Spanish restaurant, Laxeiro, is about as ideal a way to spend a sunny day in London as I know. Good spot for photographers too!

Lovely little market for green-fingers or for someone looking for a relaxing day out.

A great way to spend a Sunday morning. It’s always quite a shock to walk through the grime of Whitechapel and arrive at Columbia Road which is full of beautiful and contrasting colours when the flower market is on. If you’ve got something in particular that you want to buy, a certain plant for the garden or some specific flowers for someone, it’s probably best to get there early. However, if it’s more of a morning/early afternoon out for you and you’re not too fussed about buying anything than I’d recommend getting there at a leisurely 12 midday so you can grab the bargain flowers before stall holders pack away. Honestly one of the best ways to spend a Sunday morning in the East End and beats staying in bed watching Hollyoaks!

“Three bunches for a fiver, three bunches for a fiver” screeches the old geezer at the start of the market, the sweet scent of roses meandering up your flared nostrils impregnated with perfume. Best to pop down to this wonderful flower market after 1pm for the best bargains, my personal favourites are the rather colourful and somewhat phallic collection of cacti opposite the Royal Oak, plus check out the wild bunches of Birds of Paradise flowers from the quirky character with the jester hat. Nothing beats this flower market on a Sunday, great for families and loved ones alike.

I’ve been going here to meet friends on a Sunday since I was a teenager. It makes a change to the usual venues and I love the hustle and bustle of the flower market. You have to be prepared to be jostled a bit and weave between the crowds, as it’s very popular.

Stop off for superior bagels and freshly brewed Columbian coffee at the little cafe tucked down an alley (just down from the bakery on the yard). Browse the trendy shops that have sprung up in response to the increasing hordes who turn up every Sunday. Nab some bargains as the market traders reduce prices and start selling off their stock just before 2pm. And finish up with some tapas and a nice glass of rioja at Laxeiro, the tapas restaurant on Columbia Road.

As a student, I used to be lucky enough to live just a road or two away from the Columbia Road flower market, and I have never lived in such a colourful house. Our Sunday morning ritual involved crawling from our beds and walking our hangovers down to the market to collect armfuls of whatever was going cheap to adorn our living room - ginger lillies, roses, daffs - we weren’t fussy. But before collecting the flowers, we would duck into the food stalls off the courtyards on the left-hand side of the main road and stock up from the deli and bakery - almond and chocolate croissants, olives as big as our fists - piles of handmade goodies and treats to see us through the rest of the weekend and into the working week.

If this sounds decadent, it was, and the luxury of this spot and the goods on offer seems far removed from some of the sink estates which border it, but don’t let that put you off. The market is always busy and lively and you will come home laden with all manner of goodies, the like of which you never though east London could produce.

This is a wonderful experience for any visitor or resident of London. Its location is a little off the beaten track and its not especially close to any tube station. Be warned though, car parking is limited, especially on street and the enforcement officers are very vigilant! The market runs on sunday morning and the later the day (think early afternoon) the cheaper the flowers tend to be. I have created some very amazing flower arrangements at home with very unusual flowers thanks to Columbia Road. In spring especially the flowers are amazing. Its got busier over the year but the benefit is that more food shops have opened up in the area making this an even more enjoyable experience!

I discover Columbia road flower market after watching a tv gardening programme and decided to try and find where it was. After much internet surfing I was able to find the market online and actually chatted to the market manager whom was very helpful regarding parking and how to get there. The market is held every Sunday come rain or shine and having gone there that first time I have been a frequent visitor even though it takes us over an hour to get there by car. This is the first review where I have given 5 stars and the reason for that is that fact that the market delivers everything above and beyond what you would normally expect. First off there is the flowers and plants, all at amazingly low prices, a few examples I have bought an 8ft bamboo tree for only £10, 3 huge bouquets of very exotic flowers for only £10 all in, a salix tree for only a fiver, an olive tree, 5ft tall, £8, many bedding plants at only £5 for three trays that over 30 plants for a fiver. The list of bargains goes on and on and if you arrive lateish on in the day you can pick up some even better bargains. I once picked up a grape vine and two other climbers for only £5 the three all growing splendidly well in my garden. The parking is in a nearby school which is used every Sunday for this purpose, it’s only £2 to park, usually free for disabled but £2 is cheap to park in London. The surrounding shops are all open offering such diverse things as African art, antiquities, bread, musical instruments and many other craft and novelty shops. There is usually some kind of street music and there are plenty of 'pricey’ little on street eateries. All in all this is one good Sunday out even if you’re not into gardening it’s still a wonderful experience and an oasis in a part of London not famed for it’s beauty.

Easily one of my favourite London markets; all the usual bustle but an awful lot more fragrant. Apart from the fantastic array of flowers and plants, the market is lined with some brilliant art shops and boutiques, and there’s some lovely cafes around.

Sunday mornings in Columbia Road are legendary among the gardening and breakfasting set. You get the best quality plants at rock-bottom prices, direct from the growers, and you are surrounded by restaurants where cheap and tasty breakfasts can be devoured at leisure. There is a downside of course. Now that the word is out, it gets very crowded indeed. Two things you need to know. Get there early (8am or before) and buy your plants. Get a “Columbia carrier” (a big bag, available there) to carry your trays of seedlings. Then head for a cafe and watch the world go by. Job done. See you there.

I visited the flower market for the first time last Sunday. We arrived at Brick Lane by bus and made the short walk through the estates to Columbia Road. We found it easily without a map as we kept seeing people walking past us with huge beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers so we knew we must be heading in the right direction. The market starts early on Sunday and finishes at 2pm. We arrived at about 1.45pm as we had heard you can get some bargains at the end of the day. I got a huge houseplant for £10! The choice of fresh cut flowers, indoor plants, outdoor plants, herbs, cactuses were incredible. I will definitely be back for more but maybe with some more hands to help me carry my purchases.

A gallery specializing in contemporary art works, European and American modern design, retrospective furniture, objects, popular culture and a healthy morning living.

I love markets, I love flowers and plants so Colombia Road is an addictive place for me.

Get there early on Sunday morning - lots of little cafes or pubs for breakfast. Some nice different shops.

The selection of plants for the house and garden and cut flowers is brilliant. The prices are good but if you stay until the end the flowers are reduced, sometimes to ridiculously low prices.

I think Colombia Road is brilliant. I love the atmosphere here. It can get packed but part of the fun is trying to walk along the narrow gap between the two rows of stalls.

I always buy my christmas tree from here.

nice place to chill out on a sunday. aside from the flowers, there are really quirky funiture shops and a nice little coffe stall.

Great place to spend Sundays. Great stalls to find a bargain and fantastic pubs to drink and watch the world go by. Stay until the end and get some cheap flowers.

A treasure in London! Flowers, organic food, fabulous gift shops, more plants, antiques, hand crafts delight. Also a great place for an amazing coffee and home made pastries. An early start but well worth the visit.

Flower Heaven!! I spent £20 there 2 years ago, not only did the plants thrive, they spread and now my garden wants to move to Chelsea!

Great Sunday market if you’re after any houseplants, shrubs, trees, cut flowers etc. Opens from 8am, so get there early if you want to avoid bustling crowds as it does get VERY busy & packed tight with people. Sellers pack up around 2pm, so get there around 1pm or so & take & wander & wait for the bargain prices to appear - they do slash prices at the end of the day! I personally don’t find the market that cheap price wise unless you get bargain deals with the seller / end of day. It is a bit of a walk from Liverpool St station, but get a bus a few stops down & then it’s a short walk to the street. It’s in a neighbourhood of a lot of council estates - but isn’t too grim looking! You can easily then walk through the streets to find your way to Brick Lane / Spitalfields Markets which are also thriving on sundays.

I just do not get to go to the market enough! Sunday best fresh flowers. Friendly people and get coffee places. Follow down to Brick lane then Spitalfields Market. Great day out.

Love my Sunday flowers fresh from here. An iconic London market. Good food stalls too.

nice place to shop

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.