Brick Lane Market Opening Times: Which Days, Which Streets

The lowdown

On a Sunday, Brick Lane and the streets around it explode into one of London's biggest and most eclectic markets, and walking through it is free. Vintage clothes, vinyl, secondhand bric-a-brac, art, plants and an overwhelming amount of street food spill out of yards, shops and old brewery buildings the length of the lane.

It is gloriously chaotic and unpolished, which is the whole point. You can rummage a flea stall, watch the crowds, listen to a busker and breathe in food smells from every corner of the world without spending a penny, though resisting the bagels and curries takes real willpower.

The area carries layers of history too, from Huguenot weavers to the Jewish East End to today's Bangladeshi community, all written into the shopfronts and street signs. Come hungry, come curious and just let the lane carry you along.