Full to bursting with buzzing stalls selling everything from coffee and candles to doughnuts and dairy-free cheese, Broadway Market is a delightful place to spend a Saturday or Sunday.
Part of the old “Porter’s Path”, a tradesman’s route between Hackney and Shoreditch, the street itself has been in use since Roman times, and it remains a staple for locals to this day. So, here’s everything you need to know about this adored market that’s steeped in fascinating history.
Although it began as a great street market, it suffered a bit in the 70s and 80s as a result of changing shopping habits, including the opening of large supermarkets. After a financial battering, it was at risk of being demolished in favour of a ‘motorway-feeder’ route to and from the Blackwall Tunnel.
However, not content with this decision, two loyal shopkeepers came to the rescue, and organised an epic Victorian-themed carnival that the entire local community was invited to. After so much support was shown for the street, Broadway Market was saved!
It struggled again to start with, as residents were choosing to shop at the local Tesco instead — so a regeneration team decided to launch a new flower market. However, being so close to the famous Columbia Road Flower Market, it was destined to fail and closed within its first year. Then, in the late 1990s, the London Farmers Market was invited to set up a food market, but this conflicted with the Ridley Road Market traders and, again, failed to thrive.
Bored of being defeated, the Broadway Market Residents and Traders Association (BMTRA) stepped in with an idea to create a high-quality market that wouldn’t interfere with any neighbouring markets’ business. Eventually, in 2004, 25 years after the life-saving carnival, the roads were closed off to traffic and the Broadway Market we know and love was born.
Pretty hilariously, after all the years of waiting, it only took three weeks to recruit the first 49 traders from Spitalfields, Borough Market, and other rival spots. The market’s first day was a huge success, and of course it continues to prosper years later. Like most other London spots, it closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but has returned with a bang
As well as the brilliant weekend market that takes over the street every Saturday, Broadway Market is also home to dozens of lovely shops, cafés, bars and restaurants that are open throughout the week. Pop into Aesop for plant-based beauty products, the Cat and Mutton for a pint, or El Ganso Café for some terrific tapas. Whatever you need, chances are you’ll find it somewhere along the way.
Broadway Market is open 52 weeks of the year (9am-5pm on Saturdy, and 10am-4pm on Sunday). For a list of all shops and stalls, check out the Broadway Market website.