Along with foam-art lattes and avo on toast, picking up your weekend blooms on Instagram has become another millennial stereotype to check off the list. Luckily, London is home to some of the best flower markets.
From hipster hangouts strewn with Instagrammable cafes, posh pubs and independent shops to nocturnal landmarks for horticultural hardcores that open in the small hours. Whether you’re wild about hydrangeas or go nuts for a bouquet of ranunculus, here are the best flower markets in London….
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Mare Street Market
Ok, so not technically a flower market, but certainly one of Hackney’s coolest curated spaces. The site plays host to an open kitchen, deli, wine bar and bottle shop, pop-ups, interiors and the stunning mini flower market by Rebel Rebel, whose clients include the likes of Vogue, BBC, BAFTA and Dior. Their style is seasonal, as British as possible and bursting with colour. Don’t blame us if you come away with half your salary’s worth of blooms.
When: Sunday to Thursday, 9am-12am and Friday to Saturday, 9am-1am
Where: 117 Mare Street, London, E8 4RU
Columbia Road Flower Market
Without a doubt London’s best and most famous flower market, Colombia Road is where locals, Londoners and tourists flock on a Sunday to get that all-important Instagram snap. The narrow road is lined with independent shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries, in fact, it’s one of the few in the country that doesn’t have a single chain brand.
But it’s Sunday when Colombia Road really comes alive, as flower and plant sellers pitch up with everything from hydrangeas to banana trees on offer. If you want to get the best flowers head there for 8am, or if you’re after more of a bargain, the stall holders are usually packing up by 3pm and giving out serious deals. “Three for a fiver, mate!”
When: Every Sunday, 8am-3pm(ish)
Where: Columbia Road Flower Market, Hackney, E2
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Flower Warehouse
Looking for something a little more unique than classic roses, tulips, or daisies? Maybe something with a little more… green? Do not fuss, do not worry, because Flower Warehouse has exactly what you need.
Flower Warehouse imports various kinds of Dutch flowers and plants, so this location is sure to satisfy all of your pretty plant needs. Take a stroll around, breath in the fresh air, and browse selections of cactus, bonsai, succulents, hanging plants, palms, monsteras and more.
The options are endless, and did we mention pleasantly affordable? Come for the some flowers, but stay for the ethereal and instagram worthy greenery. Come on, who wouldn’t want to buy up the entire store?
When: Monday to Wednesday, 9am-6pm and Thursday to Sunday, 9am-7pm
Where: 517A Cambridge Heath Road, London, United Kingdom
New Covent Garden Market
We suggest grabbing a bunch of friends and making a morning of it, splitting the flowers and splitting the cost, which due to the wholesale nature of the market, will get you a seriously good deal. Oh, and be aware, the market officially opens at 4am (some sellers open even earlier), so be sure to get an early night the day before.
Don’t be mistaken on the location of London’s biggest flower market. After 40 years, New Covent Garden has relocated to between Battersea and Vauxhall, to a huge space that houses some of the capital’s top wholesalers. This is where many London florists come to stock up for their own businesses, so be aware you can only buy wholesale. And unless you’re Elton John, that’s a lot of flowers for the average London home.
When: Monday to Friday, 4am-10 am and Saturday, 4am-9am
Where: New Covent Garden Market, SW8 5BH
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New Spitalfields Market
Not to be confused with Shoreditch’s Old Spitalfield’s Market, New Spitalfield’s Market sits in Leyton and offers wholesale fruit, veg and flowers. Here’s the raw deal, it opens at midnight and runs until 9am – one for the most hardcore of botanists (or serious insomniacs).
When: Monday to Saturday, midnight-9am
Where: New Spitalfields Market, 23 Sherrrin Road, Leyton, E10 5SQ
Broadway Market
Sometimes, simply shopping for some flowers gets a bit boring. Plus, with so many unique shops and food vendors around, it doesn’t hurt to pick up a few other items along your plant search. Are you the shopper who never gets that one thing they said they were going to get? We’ve got you covered.
Located in the heart of Hackney, Broadway Market is has it all – including those beautiful flower arrangements you were seeking out. Our favourites have to be the plethora of sunflowers that bring up with the warmer weather, but you cannot go wrong with any of this selection.
Pick some peonies for your partner, then grab a bao bun from a vendor for your empty stomach and maybe a nice necklace for your mum. Anything is possible at Broadway Market, so why not turn your weekly flower run into something even more special.
When: Saturday, 9am-5pm and Sunday, 10am-5pm
Where: Broadway Market, London Fields, London, E8 4PH
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