Camden Town
The locks, the stalls and what is left of punk London.
Duration
1 hr 30 min – 3 hrs
Best time
Weekday mornings
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
Camden Lock grew up in the 1970s in the old Regent's Canal warehouses, when craftspeople rented the empty sheds at weekends. The area became the rallying point of punk, and of everything that came after.
It has largely been standardised since, and souvenir stalls have replaced the record shops. What still holds up: the Stables Markets in the old horse hospital and stables, the world-food counters, and the canal walk down to Little Venice.
Getting there
Tube to Camden Town on the Northern line, five minutes on foot to the north. The canal boat links Little Venice to Camden Lock.
Rules on site
On Saturday and Sunday the tube exit sometimes runs one-way and the main street moves at a shuffle. Many stalls sell the same things: the Stables Markets, set back, are better than the street.
Other places in London
British MuseumThe Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon frieze and eight million objects — free of charge.
Tower of LondonNine centuries of fortress, prison and Crown Jewels.
Hyde Park and Kensington GardensTwo hundred and fifty hectares, the Serpentine, and Speakers' Corner on Sunday.
Borough MarketA thousand years of food market under the railway arches.