19 Best Things To Do In Camden, London 2023

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Camden Town is a chic and trendy area at the centre of the borough of Camden, London. It’s a whole alternative world in the middle of the capital city, filled with arty types and creatives.

The area is well-known for its street markets, independent shopping and forward-thinking restaurants.

Here are some of the best things to do in Camden, no matter what you are looking for and your budget:

Visit The World Famous Markets

Camden is known for its markets where you can find unique stores selling handmade goods and stalls selling tasty cuisine from around the world.

Camden Lock Market, the first market, was started in 1972 by two friends who invited a selection of craftspeople and antique dealers to set up shop and sell from their stalls.

It soon became an area popular with punks and those hunting for a slice of counterculture.

Stables Market

Stables Market
Photo: @journeysandtales

Camden Stables Market started life as a horse hospital, but it has now become one of Camden’s most popular market spaces. You can shop hundreds of stalls which sell unique and often handmade items including jewellery, furniture, and clothing.

Not just a popular shopping spot, there are galleries, a beer garden to soak up the summer rays and stalls that sell just about any type of cuisine you want to eat.

  • Address: Chalk Farm, London NW1 8AH
  • Opening Times: 10am-late
  • Price: Free entry

Camden Lock Market

Camden Lock Market
Photo: @camdenmarketldn

A visit to Camden Town is not complete without spending some time around the area in Regent’s Canal where it crosses Camden High Street. This is probably the view that you see on online promotional material for the area. Camden Lock is a stunning sight and always has a fantastic atmosphere.

Watch the canal boats go through the lock, many of whom will wave and chat. There is a market surrounding this central spot where you can grab a pint and some international cuisine. Camden Lock Market is famed for its food stalls which include everything from sushi to jerk chicken and pizza.

  • Address: 54-56 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF
  • Opening Times: 10am – late
  • Price: Free entry

Also Read: Best Sunday Markets in London

Camden Lock Market Hall and Village Market

Camden Lock Market refers to a wider area of markets, pubs and restaurants including the market hall. You can access this directly from Camden High Street but there are also entrance from the Lock Market side.

This hall is a stunning historical building filled with old architecture and furniture. Here you can also find stalls selling handmade items, eccentric clothing stalls, art prints and vintage collectables.

Opposite Camden Lock Market is Camden Lock Village Market, home to crafted and painted clothes sellers. This is one of the best browsing spots if you want to rummage through creative clutter. This area has over 200 shops filled with creative and handmade items.

  • Address: Chalk Farm, London NW1 8AH
  • Opening Times: 10am-late
  • Price: Free entry

Buck Street Market

Buck Street Market
Photo: @hellagood88

Buck Street Market is the first eco-conscious market in the UK, made of different recycled shipping containers. Not only does this Camden market have a zero single-use plastic policy, but it is also dedicated to minimising waste by generating energy from food waste, which creates electricity for the market.

This spot is a fantastic place to grab food as it serves everything from French patisserie to New York style pizza and Latin American street food. For a sustainable meal, treat yourself to a foraged fine dining experience at Wildflower by Adrian Martin, but be warned it only has 10 covers. Every stall must have at least one vegan or vegetarian option.

Buck Street Market is also home to lots of independent brands and more than 50 ethical fashion traders. You can purchase everything from loose leaf tea to beard grooming products, handmade jewellery and bespoke vegan candles.

  • Address:  192, 198 Camden High St, London NW1 8QP
  • Opening Times: 10am-7pm, Closed Mondays
  • Price: Free entry

Cyberdog

Cyberdog
Photo: @cyberdog

When you are in the area, Cyberdog is a must-see shop. A mainstay of the alternative fashion scene, Cyberdog is an experience, even if you’re not looking for alternative clothing. This is a unique looking shop filled with neon colours and PVC creations. Head there on a Sunday afternoon to see electronic music and go-go dancers.

  • Address:  Chalk Farm Rd, Chalk Farm, London NW1 8AH
  • Opening Times: Monday-Friday 11am-7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am-8pm
  • Price: Free entry

Visiting With The Whole Family

A good thing about any area of London is that you are just minutes away from a beautiful green area. In the hustle and bustle of the capital it can be good to take a breather, or let your kids play out in the fresh air. Camden is home to some of the most historically important and beautiful parks, many of which include playgrounds.

Located at the top of Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill is a pretty stretch of parkland with stunning views out south looking over central London. Regent’s Park itself is one of North London’s prettiest spaces and has a meticulously planned layout from Victorian architect John Nash. If you visit in June, the full-bloom roses are a must-see.

Hamstead Heath may be a little too large for small children as you can get easily lost. If your kids are a little older, enjoy 791 acres of meandering woodlands and bath ponds.

London Zoo in Camden

London Zoo in Camden
Photo: @zsllondonzoo

Keep the whole family entertained at London Zoo. This a whole day trip, which can be enjoyed by everyone. Located on the northern edge of The Regent’s Park, London Zoo is home to a collection of 755 species of animals, making it one of the largest collections in the UK.

Find yourself face to face with Asiatic lions and giraffes, spot ring-tailed lemurs in the Madagascan shrub forest. If you feel brave, get up close and personal with a side for a selfie and head to B.U.G.S. The positive thing about visiting this zoo is that it helps support the conservation work they do in over 50 countries.

  • Address: Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY
  • Opening Times: Everyday 10am-6pm
  • Price: Starting at £26.50 per adult, under 3s go free.

Regents Canal

Regents Canal
Photo: @camdenmarketldn

Available all year round, you can pick up a water bus at Camden Lock and take it along Regent’s Canal to Little Venice. This trip goes all through Regent’s Park and right through the middle of London Zoo. You might even get to see one of their animals from the boat!

Travel from picturesque Little Venice to vibrant Camden Town along the Regent’s Canal on a water bus. This stunning waterway is a leisurely way to see London, navigated by leisure boats and lined with quirky houseboats.

Don’t want to go on the water? Walk along the Regent’s Canal towpath, which passes straight through the middle of Camden. You can walk from Little Vice, through Regent’s Park and see London Zoo on the way through. There are lots of stunning views, creative graffiti and stops to sit and grab a drink.

  • Address: Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY
  • Price: £14

Check Out Street Art

Check Out Street Art
Photo: @camdenmarketldn

Camden is known to be a creative hub and home to lots of artists. Some of this art can be seen on the wall of this trendy area. There are a number of tours where you can travel Camden and see the best pieces.

We recommend heading to Camden North, where you can see striking pieces from some of the best-known artists in the area. Most are done anonymously, whilst others are created by people known by a nickname only. When you are here, check out the Amy Winehouse portrait on Camden Road.

Soak Up the Sun on Camden Beach

Soak up the summer sun in the middle of the capital by heading to this man-made beach. 150 tonnes of sand are trucked in during the summer seasons, alongside tiki hunts, a cocktail bar and ping pong tables.

Located on top of the Roundhouse, it may not have sea and real sand, but it’s a nice family-friendly spot during the height of summer. There is even a decent kid’s menu as well as entertainment and views over London.

Throughout summer Camden beach also has a line-up of concerts and other events for the whole family enjoy, so take a look at the calendar before you head out for your beach day. Sadly, this spot is only open

  • Address: Chalk Farm Rd, Chalk Farm, London NW1 8EH
  • Opening Times: Camden Beach is open from 27th July to 24th August from 12pm-11pm

Visit A Pirate Castle

Visit A Pirate Castle
Photo: @thepiratecastle

You can find a castle just above Camden lock. Filled with boating and outdoor activities, this is run by a local charity for kids and disability groups of all ages.

They offer private kayaking sessions for kids and adults or book a cruise on one of their canal boats.

  • Address: Gilbey’s Wharf, Oval Rd, London NW1 7EA
  • Opening Times:  Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm

What To Do After Dark

As well as Camden’s wide selection of live music venues, there are also plenty of fantastic bars and live venues to visit. This area comes alive after dark.

Watch Some Live Music

The Roundhouse
Photo: @roundhouseldn

Pink Floyd, The Doors, Amy Winehouse and Jimi Hendrix all performed in small Camden pubs before making it big.

This London suburb is a mainstay of the music scene, breeding local talent and attracting international acts. This area is a favourite of rockstars and jazz stars, although folk has had a comeback recently.

Catch world-famous bands at The Roundhouse or Dingwalls or the stars of tomorrow on the small pub stages at places like Barfly.

The Cecil Sharp House has been a premier folk venue since the 1930s and now holds a huge collection of memorabilia connected to the genre.

Try Underworld for metal and The Jazz Cafe for jazz and blues. On most evenings you will be able to walk into a bar and see live music for free.

Try Out The Local Bars

Try Out The Local Bars
Photo: @byoc.camden

Visiting the pub is an essential part of any trip to Camden if you are over 18. Why visit just one bar, when you can make a night out of it and go on a pub crawl? Camden is filled with quirky drinking spots that are more than a bar, it’s an experience.

There are a number of organised pub crawls that you can join in, ideal if you’re visiting by yourself. Alternatively, just pick a bar to start with and see where the night takes you.

If you’re bored of the standard big city cocktail experience, try out BYOC. This illicit bar is a speakeasy where you are encouraged to bring a bottle of your favourite spirit and their skilled bartenders will create the perfect cocktail. They recommend bringing unflavoured spirits like gin, vodka and rum, BYOC will do the rest.

DUO is known for its themed events which include quirky art classes, an update on afternoon tea and boozy bingo sessions. Plonk Golf is a neon update on crazy golf with quirky cocktails and brain-busting ramps.

Related: Best Bars in Camden

Visit A Comedy Night

Visit A Comedy Night
Photo: @camdencabaret

Want something a bit different, try out Camden Cabaret, home to sophisticated cabaret, burlesque, comedy and drag.

The room above the Camden Head pub holds live comedy seven nights a week. It’s been the Camden Comedy Club since 2014. Gigs range from alternative comedy to TV headliners like Russell Howard and Harry Hill.

Museums and Galleries

Camden, London is full of art and culture. Even just walking around the area you will absorb the history of not just London but the whole of the UK. However, there are some excellent museums nearby.

Spend Time at the Jewish Museum

Jewish Museum
Photo: @jewishmuseumldn

The Jewish Museum shares the history and stories of Jewish people in Britain. There are four permanent exhibitions devoted to both modern life and days gone by, along with rotating temporary exhibits. This museum tackles themes of faith, culture and migration.

The Jewish Museum is home to objects of spiritual significance like a 13th century mikvah bath that is used for ritual cleansing and a 17th Century Ark, taken from a synagogue in Italy.

There is also a tailoring workshop, helping you understand the life of migrants working in the textile industry in the 20th century.

They also do guided walks around Camden, helping you understand more of the history of the London area.

  • Address: Raymond Burton House, 129-131 Albert Street, London NW1 7NB
  • Opening Times: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10am-5pm
  • Price: Adults £7.50, 5-16 £3.50, under 5s go free

Related: Best Free Museums in London

The Cob Gallery

The Cob Gallery
Photo: @cobgallery

Cob Studios and Gallery is home to exciting, emerging visual artists in North London. This gallery opened in 2011, and in recent years has become an important part of Camden’s artistic landscape by consistently showcasing exciting new talent.

This gallery is a great place to scope out the next generation of influential artists before they hit the mainstream.

  • Address: 205 Royal College St, London NW1 0SG
  • Opening Times: Wednesday-Friday 12pm-6pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm
  • Price: Free entry

Camden Arts Centre

Camden Arts Centre
Photo: @camdenartcentre

Camden Arts Centre is the home to art exhibitions and education. Their exhibitions include work from emerging and established artists. They hold regular talks, screenings and live performances.

  • Address: Arkwright Road London NW3 6DG United Kingdom
  • Opening Times: Tuesday -Sunday, 11am-6pm Thursday, 11am-9pm
  • Price: Free entry

Camden Brewery

Camden Brewery
Photo: @camdentownbrewery

The home of Hell’s Lager, this popular brewery offers tours plus tasters in their taproom. Their beer hall offers 20 different beers on tap.

Get shown around the brewery, see how the magic happens and taste it fresh from the tap!

  • Address: 55 Wilkin Street Mews, NW5 3ED
  • Opening Times: 12:30pm- 8pm
  • Price: £25

Also Read: Best Breweries & Taprooms in London

Eat The Best Cuisine

Eat The Best Cuisine
Photo: @camdenmarketldn

Camden is home to some of the trendiest eateries in all of London. They can get pretty busy so if you have your heart set on a spot, please

Get ready for sugar overload at Chin Chin Labs, which has been named the best ice cream parlour in England. This spot is unlike any other dessert parlour, part ice cream seller part mad scientist’s lair. Located on Camden Lock, you’ll find ‘nitro ice cream’, with rotating flavours and ice cream sandwiches. Frozen with liquid nitrogen.

The Mei Leaf teahouse is fast becoming London’s go-to spot for authentic loose lead tea and tisanes. Initially opened as a modern holistic health shop, this spot now functions as a tea shop and speciality brewing bar.

This tea bar offers a range of exotic concoction, for example, tea infused with red dates and rosebuds as well as spice-infused lattes. They also sell refreshment accessories, some of which are hard to come by in the UK.

The Cheese Bar is a Camden restaurant that serves all things cheese. You’ll find everything from charcuterie boards and raclette to hearty burgers and mac and cheese.

One of the coolest restaurants in Camden, Lost Boys Pizza is home to 80s nostalgia and a vampire themed menu. They have signature charcoal bases with lots of meat and vegan toppings available.

Made in Brasil brings the best of Latin food and culture to Camden. It has a fun and bright atmosphere, alongside creative cocktails and classic Brazilian cuisine you may not have tried before.

Ma Petite Jamaica is one of the most respected Caribbean restaurants in the area, knowing for their brunches and their cocktails. This spot was the first Caribbean restaurant in London, opening in 1985.

Camden is filled with Indian restaurants but Sonita’s Kitchen is known to be the best. They use tried and tested family recipes to serve tasty and balanced dishes in the heart of Camden.

Guanabana Restaurant is one of the best halal restaurants in Camden, with plenty of options on the menu. They are known for their generous portion sizes, plus they are a rare BYOB spot.

Also Read: Best Restaurants in Camden, London

FAQs

What is the best way to get around Camden?

The best way to explore Camden is on foot. This is the best way to see hidden gems like street art, little alleyways and unique architectural sights.

Is Camden safe?

Camden is a fairly safe area of London but like in any big city around the world you should always try to be careful.

Remember when visiting Camden to watch your bags and keep anything important in your front pockets. Camden is a busy area with lots of footfall, so pickpockets are around.

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Final Thoughts

Camden, London is home to some of the best eateries, shopping, museums and light night entertainment.

Whether you are partying with friends, looking for culture alone or keeping kids entertained on a hot day, Camden will have something for your preferences and budget.

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