“Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” – Samuel Johnson.
London. This bustling city has joie de vivre running through it’s veins; a truly magical place that I’m grateful to call my home. There are a million things that I love about this vibrant melting pot of cultures and a thriving street market scene is definitely at the top of that list! London’s has a rich historic tradition of local markets in every borough and neighbourhood and this wonderful variety of local street markets is definitely one of my favourite things about the city:) I recently had the pleasure of visiting one such iconic Victorian street market – the incredible Broadway Market in Hackney! And let me tell you, this place is vegan shopping paradise! Breads, desserts, chocolates, fresh fruits and vegetables, vintage clothes, skin care products, vegan cheese, condiments, hot street food from a range of different cuisines..this versatile market is a vegan shopper’s dream come true! Fresh quality produce, exciting vegan treats, wonderful local producers, conscious consumers with their own shopping bags..everything about the place made me happy:) Held every Saturday from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, I highly recommend this outdoor street market to Londoners and visitors alike:)
Check out the YouTube Video for a glimpse of the wonderful things that Broadway Market has in store for you:)
After two hours of wandering through the wonderful stalls, I finally got myself some exciting vegan goodies for a wallet friendly total of 17.50 GBP! Check out my Instagram TV Video to hear me talk about what I scored at the wonderful market:)
• Vegan Cinnamon Bun from Nyborg’s Kitchen (Danish Bakery)
• Fresh Lettuce & Pak Choi from Wild Country Organics (Local Produce)
• Spicy Vegan Kimchi from Kimchi & Radish (Artisanal Korean Kimchi)
• Thrifted Summer Cotton Blouse from Paul Goby Vintage (Vintage Clothes)
If you have some time to spare on a Saturday in London, I suggest you head to Broadway Market in Hackney for a weekend afternoon well spent! Here’s the Top 4 Tips I recommend in order to make the most of your time there:)
1) Snack & Shop: First things first. Grab a cup of coffee (or drink of choice) and a delicious vegan treat (I devoured the Vegan Cinnamon Bun from Nyborg’s Kitchen) and then slowly start making your way through the market alleys:) Snack and shop my friend, snack and shop! I mean, is there any other way really?
2) A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That: The best part about shopping in a street market is that you can talk directly to the producers and you have the option of tasting and trying the products before actually buying them! Bite into a delicious olive (or two). Moisturise your hands with some natural shea butter (Liha Beauty – pictured below). Nibble on some vegan cheese. Smell, taste, test everything! The possibilities are endless:)
3) Get The Essentials But Pamper Yourself Too: After all the tastes and nibbles, it’s time to commit! Get yourself some of the weekly essentials like fresh produce from Wild Country Organics or a hearty loaf of rye bread from Nyborg’s Kitchen. But please remember to pamper yourself to an extra treat or two! The wide range of exciting products in the market is truly impressive and it would be quite a shame to leave without a special treat (like the Artisanal Vegan Kimchi at Kimchi & Radish) that you can’t get anywhere else; something to remind you of the Market in the weeks to come:)
4) Grab a Bite: Now that the shopping and exploring is all done and dusted, you can finally get yourself a delicious hot bite and head to the London Fields Park right next to the market for a nice little picnic:) Indian, Persian, Vietnamese, British, French..the cuisine options are never ending; there’s something here for everyone:) Personally, I’d love me some good old Indian Chaat or Pakoras! A perfect way to end the day:)
Shop Local, Shop Responsible: I hope you enjoyed my Vegan Shopping Guide for Broadway Market, London! Remember, Broadway Market runs every Saturday from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM in Hackney. And if you’re not in London, these tips still apply to you too! If you have a local market near you, I encourage you to shop there for sustainable locally grown products, which is not only great for the environment, but also supports the local producers:) And finally, remember to always Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) when you go shopping; it’s important to be plastic free:)
Animagus Eats 