The Camden Markets (by kerouac2)

[Deleted]

I know that just about anybody who has been to London is familiar with the markets in Camden Town. It is reputedly the 4th visitor attraction of London. Back when I visited it for the first time (1971?), it was only open on the weekend, but for a long time now, it has operated every day of the week. Saturday is a total mob scene, so I was happy to be able to go there on a Tuesday last week. I know that my photos are going to look like the photos that everybody has taken already, but it's my turn to be a tourist, so I hope that you will be indulgent.

I used to think it was quite far out of the centre, but back in the old days, I thought that anything outside of the Circle Line was on the fringe of the suburbs. This time I felt that it was much more central because I was staying in Hammersmith, which is not at all the ends of the earth either but far enough to prevent me from getting a zone 1 oyster card.

Camden High Street was its usual delightful mess of totally crappy shops for tourists and tattoo parlours.







I'm not sure if London benefits from any urban design rules or an architectural code.































But of course this little section is of no interest. There was much more to explore.

[Deleted]

The markets are supposed to be forbidden to chains, but one of them probably had adequate financial arguments to get this prime location right on the canal.

Time to visit the Camden Lock market.















It is all basically a labyrinth with multiple choices of direction everywhere.















I went up, down and around in circles but then moved to the Stables.

[Deleted]

People who are actually shopping have an unlimited selection of most items.









And then the market became more extravagant.

















Shoes, ladies?









Have we lost any weight walking around yet?

[Deleted]

Every now and then there was a t-shirt relapse to reassure the tourists... but the quality and styles began to change.







I can't decide whether to hang these paintings in the dining room or in the grand salon.







Places to eat and rest...





... or smoke a chicha, if you are a teenager

[fumobici]

Oh dear. Wow. At a loss. I think I'd have to be in just the right mood to give in to that and revel in it. A fair sized chunk of hashish might help.

[Deleted]

Always difficult to decide where to go next. Up this ramp?



Should I have gone that way instead?









Here's something interesting; a pub with cubicles for private groups.







flat screens for watching matches of course



Back outside...





Some people need to eat!













Gotta go in here!





photography strictly forbidden

[Deleted]

The designer zone was very interesting. Photography of the most sophisticated items was not possible.

















I was beginning reach market saturation at last... back out to the High Street.

[bjd]

The last time I went to London, I regretted not having enough time to go to Camden. Well, now I'm glad I didn't -- I'd go nuts with the crowds and the same junk everywhere. So thank you for taking these pictures.

My first thought on seeing many pics of England or N America is that people are a lot fatter than they used to be. Is it the huge number of eating places everywhere? Can't they walk around for a couple of hours without stopping to eat?

[Deleted]

I was hoping to get a butt crack photo, but for once there was sufficient underwear.















I got away to the canal for a few moments.







I wasn't sure if I loved or hated these residences. I think I loved them.











Another chain slipped into the market!















I'm still not attracted to the souvenir t-shirts.



I still don't feel the need for any body modifications.









And I was back at the tube station and the road to normality.

[mossie]

Pleased to see the shop fronts have improved since I was last there ;D

More junque per square yard than anywhere else on Earth

As for bothering to sit down to eat, nowadays people stroll down the street, stuffing their faces from cardboard boxes. Full of the best junk grub and casually tossed away when almost empty.

[tod2]

Although I have not been to Camden Market for many many years, I am pleasantly surprised by your excellent photos Kerouac and totally agree with Mossie that the shops seemed to have improved a lot.
The closest we got this year was driving past it on top of a double-decker.
You saved me all the trouble of going there Kerouac, and did one hell-of-a-job walking around and photographing so many interesting things!

[htmb]

Thanks for the great photos, Kerouac. It appears you really captured the place well. I can't, for the life of me, imagine what people get out of visiting places like that. I'd run for the hills as the first sight of all that crap and the huge crowds of people. I was wondering how I'd cope and then had to laugh at Fumobici's comment. I'd go more for a stiff, high quality, bourbon on the rocks to get me through.

[Deleted]

Actually, I saw some really lovely items here and there, but it's true that I can't imagine the ordeal of actually "shopping" there.

It might be interesting to visit in the dead of winter to compare.

[tod2]

Sept 3, 2012 14:05:33 GMT htmb said:

I'd run for the hills as the first sight of all that crap and the huge crowds of people. I was wondering how I'd cope and the had to laugh at Fumobici's comment. I'd go more for a stiff, high quality, bourbon on the rocks to get me through.

Sometimes in photos there always seems more people than there really are - Yes, you definitely want to avoid Camden on weekends but if you stick to the canal area where the lock is, it can be fun observing the narrow boats coming and going without feeling claustrophobic. The trip down the canal to Little Venice is delightful but needs time.
If Kerouac had walked from the lock along the canal - in the opposite direction to Primrose Hill, he would have come to my recent garden visit of Camley Street Natural Park.

[mich64]

I have just finished going through the essay for the third time! There were so many interesting aspects to this Market from the architecture to the eclectic shops, the food choices, the ethnic diversity, the sculptures, statues, carvings... My goodness!

My favorite photo was the one showing the wood carving over a door way, another was the horses breaking through the walls.

Although I do not do well in crowds, I think I will attempt this in future.

Excellent presentation Kerouac!