Camden walking tour & neighborhood guide
Markets, music and the canal in London's alternative heart.
Video by John Rogers on YouTube, uploaded May 2021. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
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Camden Town has been London's home of alternative culture for decades. Punks, goths, music fans and tourists mix on its colorful High Street, where shopfronts are decorated with giant boots and dragons, and its sprawling markets by the canal are among the busiest in the city.
The markets and the lock
Camden Market is really a group of markets spread around Camden Lock on the Regent's Canal. Stalls sell vintage clothes, records, crafts, jewelry and posters, and the old Stables Market, once home to horses that pulled canal barges, now holds hundreds of shops in brick arches and tunnels. Hungry visitors can pick from street food stands serving dishes from all over the world.
Camden Lock itself is a working lock where narrowboats still pass, and the bridges above it are a favorite spot to watch the crowds. Waterbuses run along the canal to Little Venice through London Zoo, a peaceful way to arrive or leave.
Music and the canal
Camden's music scene is legendary. Venues such as the Roundhouse and the Electric Ballroom have hosted everyone from punk bands to stars of Britpop, and Amy Winehouse, who lived in the area, is remembered with a bronze statue in the Stables Market. Pubs with live music line the High Street and Chalk Farm Road.
The Regent's Canal towpath offers a quieter side of Camden. Walking west, it passes elegant houses and the edge of Regent's Park toward Little Venice; walking east, it reaches the redeveloped area around King's Cross and Coal Drops Yard. Primrose Hill, just north-west, gives one of the best free views of the London skyline.
A classic walk in Camden
Start at Camden Town station and walk north up the High Street, past the decorated shopfronts, to Camden Lock. Explore the markets, then follow the Regent's Canal towpath west to the edge of Regent's Park and climb Primrose Hill for the view. Alternatively, walk east along the canal to King's Cross.
The markets are busiest at weekends, when it can be hard to move. Visit on a weekday morning for a calmer experience, and keep an eye on your belongings in the crowds.
Top sights in Camden
- 1
Camden Market
Hundreds of stalls for vintage clothes, crafts and street food.
- 2
Camden Lock
A working canal lock at the heart of the markets.
- 3
Stables Market
Shops in former horse stables, brick arches and tunnels.
- 4
Regent's Canal
A towpath walk toward Little Venice or King's Cross.
- 5
Primrose Hill
A grassy hill with a classic view of the London skyline.
- 6
The Roundhouse
A famous music venue in a former railway engine shed.
Food markets & where to eat in Camden
Camden Market street food
Global dishes at stalls around Camden Lock.
Stables Market
Food stands tucked between the market's shops.
Camden High Street
Cafés, pubs and quick bites.
Coal Drops Yard
Food and shops along the canal at King's Cross.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
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