4 listings
The first thing people find when they search for markets in Covent Garden is that the area was built around one. The old fruit and vegetable market designed by Inigo Jones gave the Piazza its shape, and today the trading tradition continues through the Apple Market inside the central building and the Jubilee Market on the south side. Together they draw shoppers looking for handmade goods, antiques, crafts and a genuine sense of the district's history.
The stalls change by day and by hall. The Apple Market rotates between antiques and collectables early in the week and handmade crafts, jewellery and homeware later on, while the Jubilee Market runs antiques, general goods and arts and crafts on different days. Expect independent makers, prints, ceramics, leather goods, vintage finds and gifts, alongside food stalls and the street performers who have worked the Piazza for generations.
Plan around the schedule, because the trade changes through the week. If you are hunting antiques or collectables, aim for the earlier-week days when those traders set up; for handmade crafts and gifts, the later days and weekends carry more of that stock. Checking which hall runs what on a given day saves disappointment, since the two markets keep separate rotas.
Think about how you like to shop. Markets reward slow browsing and cash still helps at smaller stalls, though many traders now take cards. Weekends and theatre evenings bring heavy footfall, so quieter weekday mornings suit anyone who wants room to look and talk to makers. The covered halls give shelter in poor weather, and the flat Piazza is easy to move around, though the historic buildings mean access can vary between stalls. With Covent Garden and Charing Cross stations close by, the Covent Garden market sits at the centre of the area, making it an easy first stop before exploring the surrounding shops and streets.
