Stock up on market supplies

If your cash supplies are running low, but you fancy some retail therapy and you don’t mind haggling, then head to one of London’s markets to bag yourself a bargain. Anything from antiques, to earrings, exotic food and flowers are for sale - you’ll be surprised at what you can pick up. Here are our favourites...

Spitalfields Market

From quirky handmade gifts to racks and racks of clothes tailored-made by the capital's up and coming designers, Sundays should be renamed Spitalfields day.

If you have a keen eye for the next Damien Hirst a purchase from one of the artists displaying their talents could prove to be an investment, or sit down and have a bite to eat at one of the organic food stalls.

Word has got out about the east London gem, meaning that if you arrive late it’s likely you’ll have to barge your way from stall to stall — get their at the 9.00am opening to avoid elbow wars.

Nearby Columbia Road Flower Market is worth a visit while you're there, but forget the five-minute walk to Petticoat Lane, you will only be disappointed by the cheap tat on sale at the once legendary site.

Tube: Aldgate East/Liverpool Street

Camden Market

Virtually everything is on sale at Camden Market — clothes, music, antiques, ethnic art, rugs furniture, food, drink — the list goes on and on...

The quality of products is mixed and prices can be inflated in favour of tourists, but on the whole this is the bargain basement of London markets with real gems waiting to be discovered — particularly on the retro clothing stalls.

Avoid Camden on Sundays if you are averse to all things tourist and teenage, this is nirvana for kids in DM boots and tie die, as much as it is for day-trippers.

Tube: Camden Town or Chalk Farm

Borough Market You may recognise Borough Market even if you’ve never been there, as it has been in so many films we’ve lost count — Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Entrapment and Bridget Jones Diary are just a few. But apart from the fantastic Victorian architecture under London Bridge railway the number one reason to take a trip here is to get yourself some grub.

If you’re an early bird, get yourself to the market between 4.00am and 8.00am on a weekday for fruit and veg at wholesale prices. But especially worth a visit is the farmers market open Fridays and Saturdays, where you can pick up good quality organic produce from the farmers themselves. It can work out cheaper than supermarket shopping and you get the satisfaction of knowing where your dinner has come from.

Tube: London Bridge

Portobello Road Market

The prices have increased with the market’s popularity and you may not be able to pick up as many bargains as you would like, but Portobello Road is still worth a visit on a Saturday if you’re looking for something special.