Contacto
Lomography.comcongress@lomography.com
Embajada Lomográfica en España
congreso@lomospain.com
London is a maze! With more than 1.584 square kilometres, 12 Million residents, 300 languages, 6.000 restaurants, 3.800 pubs, 233 nightclubs, 40.000 shops, 80 markets, 1.700 parks, almost 21.000 licensed taxis, 400 miles underground railway, 479 churches, 183 synagogues, 130 mosques and 37 Hindu temples, even the toughest of adventurers can get lost. We have gathered some useful information to avoid you going astray in this concrete jungle and to free you of the need of reporting a missing person...
Please note that this is just preliminary information, a more comprehensive compendium of the Lomography investigations of London will be presented in the Congress Agenda book for congress members.
Travel in London
Museums & Galleries
Parks & Lidos
Markets
Clubs
Contacts for Emergency
Travel in London
Please check this general information on transport options in London. Congress members will get detailed information on congress locations and meeting points.
www.journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk
www.journeyplanner.org
www.streetmap.co.uk
www.tfl.gov.uk
Walking, The Tube (Underground) and London buses are by far the best way to travel around town.
Buy an A-Z map book from any news stand and don’t be afraid to use it - all Londoners own and use them too!
On The Underground an Oyster Card is the cheapest way to travel within the central zones of London. To travel further you will have to buy an extension ticket at the start of your journey. If you are only in London for one day the cheapest option is to buy a "One Day Travel Card" covering the zones that you will be travelling in (zones I and 2 cover central London).
The London Underground and Bus map is widely available and used by all - including Londoners.
For most journeys in London it is advisable to know the end destination of your route. Most buses and tube trains have a destination heading at their front to ensure you are travelling in the right direction.
Taxis
There are two types of taxis in London: Black Cabs and Mini Cabs.
Black cabs can be hailed by sticking out your arm and signalling the driver when their top light is on. When the light is off are already carrying a passenger. There are also some taxi stops around London where you can stand and queue up for a ride. These cabs have meters inside so it is plainly clear to see how much the journey is costing you throughout the route. Five passengers can ride max.
You should tip the driver, around 10% is fine - most people round their fair up to the next pound or couple of pounds. Ask for a receipt if you want one.
Mini cabs are less stringently regulated and are standard cars of varying conditions and quality. They can be found all around London and usually have a flashing orange light outside their offices along side a Minicab sign. You cannot hail these minicabs on the street although sometimes they will tout for business by pulling up to you anyway. (It is unadvisable to accept these cabs as you will have no proof that they are indeed a registered minicab driver or have any insurance. There have even been cases of people being attacked by someone pretending to be a mini cab). However, taken from an office is fine. Tell them where you want to go and ask for a set price as there are no meters in these minicabs. Usually four people can ride unless the vehicle is a "people carrier" which will be more expensive.
Ask for a receipt if you want one and the same tipping policy applies although the comfort and efficiency of the ride is also added into this equation.
Another option is a private cab / courier company in London that is highly regarded and very efficient: Addison Lee. 020 7387 8888. You can call this company from anywhere in London. You need to know where you are and where you want to go and they will send a car for you which would normally take from between 15 - 45 minutes to get to you (they will tell you how long it will take at the time of booking). They will text you the price and call or text you when the driver is waiting outside. They are incredibly safe and efficient and many Londoners use these cars as a late night option when out of the centre of town or in a neighbourhood with no taxis. Tips and receipts apply as usual. This company also offers taxi bikes, courier bikes, small vans and parcel cars.
Over ground / British Rail
www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/lon_con.pdf
The rail system in London is used more for travelling further out of the centre of town. You will need to check if your daily ticket or weekly pass entitles you to travel on the service and for the distance. If not an extension ticket can always be purchased at you station of departure.
DLR
www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1108.aspx
The Docklands Light Railway is a great way to travel to the South and East of London. It is a light-rail public transport metro for the redeveloped Docklands area of eastern London, England. The DLR is separate from the London Underground, having separate tracks and rolling stock. However, the two systems are integrated wherever they meet, and share a single ticketing system. The DLR appears on the London Underground
s Tube map.
National Rail
www.nationalrail.co.uk
To travel to a different city in the UK check with the website for train details.
Special Hints:
The London Pass: Fast track + free entry to over 50 tourist attractions plus London Transport Travel card for Zones 1 - 6
The River Pass: Unlimited one day River Pass for all Catamaran Cruises’ scheduled sightseeing boat journeys
Some Fab Mueseums & Galleries
This is our selection of the most interesting museums and art institutions in London. If you are interested in more galleries, many of them are set up in close proximity of one another to create a neighbourhood of creativity: Cork Street, Mayfair, W1 and Vyner Street, Hackney, E2.
The British Museum
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/
Great Court Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 09.00-18.00 Thursday, Friday, Saturday 09.00-23.00
Galleries Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10.00-17.30 Thursday and Friday 10.00-20.30
Free entry to main exhibition, payment for visiting exhibitions
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DG
Tubes: Holborn / Russell Square / Tottenham Court road / Goodge Street
V &A Museum
http://www.vam.ac.uk/
10.00 to 17.45 daily
Free entry to main exhibition, payment for visiting exhibitions
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Tube: South Kensington
Science Museum
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/
Open 7 days a week from 10.00 to 18.00
Free entry to main exhibition, payment for visiting exhibitions
Exhibition Road
London SW7 2DD
Tube: South Kensington
Natural History Museum
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/
Open everyday 10.00 - 17.50
Free entry to main exhibition, payment for visiting exhibitions
Cromwell Road
SW7 5BD
Tube: South Kensington
ICA (institute of Contemporary Arts)
http://www.ica.org.uk/
Open Monday 12pm-11pm, Tues-Sat 12pm-1am, Sunday 12pm-10.30pm
Galleries open daily 12pm - 7.30pm (9pm on Thursdays) during exhibitions
Admission price covers entry to exhibitions, cafv© and bar. Mon-Fri: £2/£1.50 concs Sat-Sun £3/£2 concs
The Mall, SW1Y 5AH
Tubes: Charing Cross / Piccadilly Circus
Tate Britain
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
Daily, 10.00-17.50
Free entry to main exhibition, payment for visiting exhibitions
Millbank, SW1P 4RG
Tube: Pimlico
Tate Modern
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
Sunday - Thursday, 10.00-18.00
Friday and Saturday, 10.00-22.00
Free entry to main exhibition, payment for visiting exhibitions
Bankside, SE1 9TG
Tubes: Southwark / London Bridge
Design Museum
http://www.designmuseum.org/
Daily 10 - 17.45
£7 adults
£4 students + concessions
Free for under 12s
Shad Thames, SE1 2YD
Tubes: Tower Hill / London Bridge
Museum of London
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/
Mon to Sat: 10am-5.50pm
Sun: 12pm-5.50pm
Free admission
London Wall, EC2Y 5HN
Tube: Barbican
Photographers Gallery
http://www.photonet.org.uk/index.php?latest
Mon to Sat 11:00-18:00
Thu 11:00-20:00
Sun 12:00-18:00
Free entry
5 & 8 Great Newport Street, WC2H 7HY
Tube: Leicester Square
National Gallery
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
Daily 10am-6pm
Wednesday 10am-9pm
Free entrance
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN
Tubes: Charing Cross / Leicester Square
National Portrait Gallery
http://www.npg.org.uk/live/index.asp
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Late night opening Thursday and Friday until 9pm
Free entry to main exhibition, payment for visiting exhibitions
St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE
Tubes: Charing Cross / Leicester Square
Hayward
http://www.haywardgallery.org.uk/
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Late nights, Friday and Saturday until 10pm
Admission prices vary for each exhibition
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
Tubes: Waterloo / Embankment
Royal Academy of Arts
http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/
10am-6pm everyday except Friday
10am-10pm Friday
Admission prices vary for each exhibition
Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD
Tubes: Piccadilly Circus and Green Park
Serpentine
http://www.serpentinegallery.org/
Open daily, 10am - 6pm
Admission free
Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA
Tubes: Lancaster Gate / South Kensington
White Cube
http://www.whitecube.com/
Open: Tue - Sat, 10am - 6pm
Free entry
Mason’s Yard Site
25-26 Mason’s Yard, St. James’s, SW1Y 6BU
Tubes: Piccadilly / Green Park
Hoxton Square Site
48 Hoxton Square, N1 6PB
Tube: Old Street
Whitechapel
http://www.whitechapel.org/
Weds - Sun, 11am - 6pm, Thurs until 9pm
Admission prices vary for each exhibition
80 - 82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX
Tube: Aldgate East
Parasol Unit
http://www.parasol-unit.org/gallery.htm
Tue - Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 12pm - 5pm
Free entry
14 Wharf Road, N1 7RW
Tubes: Angel / Old Street
Louise T Blouin Institute
http://www.ltbfoundation.org/
Mon - Fri (10am - 6pm)
Sat & Sun (12pm - 5pm)
Entry £10, free for all concessions
3 Olaf Street, W11 4BE
Tubes: Latimer Road / Shepherds Bush
Imperial War Museum
http://www.iwm.org.uk/
Open daily 10.00am - 6.00pm
Free entry to main exhibition, payment for visiting exhibitions
Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ
Tube: Lambeth North
London Transport Museum
http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/
Closed until autumn 2007 for refurbishment
39 Wellington Street, WC2E 7BB
Tube: Covent Garden
Dennis Servers’ House
http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk
This house is open to the public at sporadic times:
2 - 5, 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month
Noon - 2, following Mondays after above
Monday evening’s times vary
18 Folgate Street, E1 6BX
Tube: Liverpool Street
Price between £5 and £12 dependent on time of visit
This is a massive, ten room Huguenot house decked out to recreate life in Spitalfields in 1724. As you tour the house it is as though there are still residents of this time inhabiting the house with them having just left each room as you enter.
It’s very spooky and brilliantly done. Lots of Londoners have visited this space and loved it.
Pollocks Toy Museum
www.pollockstoymuseum.com
Open: Mon - Sat, 10am - 5pm
Free entry
1 Scala Street, W1T 2HL
Tube: Goodge Street
This is a tiny toy museum housed in a crumbling old Georgian house in the centre of town. It’s tiny but full of old toys from a bygone era. It’s really the size of a small shop but fascinating and weird.
Bramah Museum of Tea and Coffee
www.bramahmuseum.co.uk
Open: daily, 10am - 6pm
40 Southwark Street, SE1 1UN
Tube: London Bridge
Entry to the museum is £5 but there is a massive cafv© at the front which you can visit for free (buy a cup of tea).
This is a really weird museum and tea shop. A pianist sits in the corner playing to the customers as they sip their tea or eat their afternoon snacks. It’s a relic from a by gone age and feels totally strange inside. However, it’s a great place to sit and have a cup of tea after visiting Tate Modern or Borough Market.
Sir John Soane Museum
http://www.soane.org/
Open: Tue to Sat, 10am-5pm
Free entry
Every Tuesdays: Special candlelight Tour, 6pm-9pm
Entry: £5
13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP
Tube: Holborn
Green Spaces / Parks and Outdoor Pools (Lidos)
Regent’s Park
http://www.royalparks.gov.uk
Central/North of London. This is situated partly in the city of Westminster, partly in the London Borough of Camden.
Park opening times are from morning light to dusk.
Nearest tubes:
Regents Park (a 3 minute walk away)
Great Portland (a 10 minute walk away)
Baker Street (along Marylebone road, an 11 minute walk away)
The Regents Park has 166 hectares, was designed by renowned architect John Nash in 1811. The park includes stunning rose gardens which hold more than 30,000 roses of 400 varieties. The park is the largest out door sports area in London, offering not only healthy living but beautiful scenery that is enjoyed every day by its visitors.
Primrose Hill
http://www.royalparks.gov.uk
North of Regents Park.
Open 24 hours a day
Nearest tubes: Chalk Farm and Camden Town.
Primrose hill has been a popular place for Londoners for over 150 years. The view has been described as panoramic and is protected by planning law. It is a haven for the young and trendy families, actors, artists, and other media folk. An ideal location to take in the cultural essence of London, which is also a stones throw away from London Zoo.
Kensington Roof Gardens
West London
99 Kensington High Street
Tube: High Street Kensington
If this place is not booked out for an event then it can be visited by the public.
Call first to check.
This is a sixth story oasis in the heart of West London. Up there, outside is a babbling brook running into a woodland garden with massive trees and a couple of flamingos. You can eat and drink here in this surreal sixth story park or just hang out and take in the view and wildlife.
Well worth a visit.
Hyde Park
http://www.royalparks.gov.uk
London’s largest and most diverse park, this space has traditionally been a focus point for political demonstrations and gatherings.
Central/West of London.
Park opening times are from morning light to dusk.
Nearest tubes:
Hyde Park Corner
Knightsbridge (an 8 minute walk away)
Green park (a 12 minute walk away)
Hyde Park is London’s finest historic landscape, originally created to satisfy a royal passion for hunting. It then opened to the public in 1637, soon became a fashionable place to visit. It has something for everyone, with over 4000 trees, a meadow and horse rides. More recently in 2004, the memorial fountain for Diana Princess of Wales was built in the park. This draws many people to visit the park everyday.
Speakers Corner is situated at the Marble Arch / Park Lane side of the park. This is worth a visit as testament to the British feelings towards freedom of speech.
You won’t hear much well balanced political debate these days but plenty of emotional and enthusiastic fanatics telling us what’s what.
At the Serpentine pond (Lido) on the west side of the park boats and pedalos can be hired. Swimming is also allowed here plus a shallower water area for children’s paddling.
Kensington Gardens
Western corner of Hyde Park.
Park opening times are from morning light to dusk.
Nearest tubes: Bayswater (a 7 minute walk away)
Queensway (an 8 minute walk away)
Lancaster gate (a 9 minute walk away)
Kensington Gardens is planted with formal avenues of magnificent trees and ornimental flower beds that span all over the parks landscape. It has beautiful Italian gardens, the Albert memorial, Peter Pan statue and serpentine gallery. Most recently in 2000, a children’s playground was opened in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
St James Park
South/West of London.
Park opening times are from morning light to dusk.
Nearest tubes:
Westminster (a 6 minute walk away)
St James park (a 7 minute walk away)
Right next to Buckingham Palace, St James Park is the oldest royal park in London and is surrounded by three palaces. The oldest being Westminster, which is now the Houses of Parliament. The park is situated in the heart of London, and covers 23 hectares, including a lake harbouring ducks, geese and pelicans. St James Park is also the home to the mall, the setting for many ceremonial parades, events of national celebration.
Richmond Park
South/West of London.
Nearest main line station: North Sheen (a 22 minute walk away)
Tube: Richmond (a 27 minute walk away)
Richmond Park is the largest royal park in London, and is home to 650 roaming deer, at times it is hard to imagine that you are in the city of London. This park offers peace and rest bite to all its visitors with pastoral landscape of hills, woodlands and ponds. Richmond is set among ancient trees and is designated as a national nature reserve and a site of special scientific interest. It also has amazing views of St Paul’s cathedral which is 12 miles away.
Holland Park
http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/parksandgardens/hollandpark
West London
The Stable Yard,
Holland Park,
Ilchester Place
London W8 6LU
Nearest tubes:
Holland Park (a 6 minute walk away)
Kensington (Olympia) (an 11 minute walk away)
Notting Hill Gate (a 13 minute walk away)
Holland Park is situated near Kensington high street, and contains something of interest for everyone. Its beautiful formal garden is full of colour and has wonderful design features. The informal Japanese garden is relaxing and encapsulates beauty in its entirety. Facilities also include an ecology centre, grassed and woodland areas.
Kew Gardens
Richmond Surrey,
Richmond upon Thames,
London TW9
Open from: 9.30 am
Entrance fee: Apr-Oct £12.25
Nearest tubes:
Gunnersbury (a 25 minute walk away)
Richmond tube (a 28 minute walk away)
Over ground stations: Kew Gardens (a 9 minute walk away)
Chiswick station (a 19 minute walk away)
Kew is home to one in eight of the worlds plant species, since the 18th century these gardens have been home of botany in England. At Kew you can view over 40,000 plants which extends over a vast 300 acres of land. It is the best for tropical glass houses, roses, water lilies, palm trees, palaces and pagodas. It is the ideal place for plant enthusiasts, but equally amazing for those wanting to relax and enjoy natural beauty at its best.
Hampstead Heath: (Lido)
North London
Highgate Road,
Camden,
London NW5
Nearest tubes:
Tufnell Park (a 13 minute walk away)
Kentish Town (a 17 minute walk away)
Over ground station:
Kentish town (a 17 minute walk away)
Hampstead Heath (a 15 minute walk away)
The heath is just 4 miles from the centre of London, and is the wildest of the London parks. It includes fields to run in, long grass to roll in, woods to hide in and most famously ponds to swim in. Lidos are a key feature of the park and are a hot spot in the summer for fun lovers, families and the young. It is a rich conservation area, which is best for wild and woody walks, ponds, picnics and panoramic views.
Parliament Hill: (Lido)
North London
High Gate Road,
Camden,
London NW5
Nearest tubes are Tufnell Park and Kentish Town which is both a 6 minute walk away. Alternatively the over ground station is Kentish town west railway which is also a 6 minute walk away.
Parliament Hill is a favoured hot spot for ramblers, kite flyers, picnickers and general strollers. Its relaxing environment is enhanced with its huge gateway, sprawling into Hampstead Heath. This offers stunning views over London, which is one of the best places to enjoy an evening stroll as the sun sets. It’s also situated right near one of London’s best Lidos, which is ideal for those hot summer days.
Brockwell Park: (Lido)
Herne Hill,
Lambeth,
London SE24
Nearest tube: Brixton (a 20 minute walk away)
Over ground stations: Herne Hill (a 6 minute walk away)
Tulse Hill (an 18 minute walk)
Brockwell Park is one of London’s loveliest leafy expanses, has become a place for fun-loving indivduals to enjoy their day. The park is renowned for its large lido which is open all summer long. It also includes a miniature railway and 6 public tennis courts. It is an ideal place to catch your breath and watch as the world goes by.
Tooting Common: (Lido)
South London
Tooting Bec Road,
Wandsworth,
London SW16
Nearest tubes:
Tooting Bec (a 17 minute walk away)
Balham tube (an 18 minute walk away)
Over ground stations:
Streatham railway (a 17 minute walk away)
Streatham Hill (an 18 minute walk away)
Tooting common offers acres of green land, stretching between Balham, Streatham, and Tooting. The park attracts a selection of visitors from fishermen to walkers and those just wanting to enjoy nature. It also offers a lido, and ideal spaces to play sports with its tennis courts and athletics track.
Markets
Markets open to the public
London’s various local markets are fantastic, vibrant, bustling and culturally rich places - a feast for the Lomographer’s eye. They are unique social spaces that offer a microcosm of life in the different London neighbourhoods. Great places to pick up cheap produce and unusual goods. Here are some of our favourites.
It’s best to visit the markets in areas:
West London
Portobello Road Market
www.portobelloroad.co.uk
Portobello Road, W11
Tubes: Notting Hill Gate, Westbourne Grove or Ladbroke Grove
Best days to visit: Friday or Saturday 9am- 4pm
Antiques stalls start at Notting Hill Gate end of the road and roll into food stalls further down the end. At the bottom, under the Westway there is a canopied section which spreads out towards both Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Grove directions showing designer, unique and vintage clothes and accessories. This market is the place where world designers come to source for inspiration so stay ahead of the game and get there first!
The shops in this area are also great and worth looking at while you are visiting the market.
East London
Borough Market
www.boroughmarket.org.uk
Borough high Street SE1
Tube: London Bridge
Open Thurs 11am - 5pm, Fri 12pm - 6pm and Sat 9am - 4pm.
This is London’s best food market. It is a massive maze of wonderful produce, really noisy and full of people from all over the world. It is a truly memorable visit - make sure to take a strong bag and an empty stomach. From here take a walk to the river to visit the Tate Modern and surrounding areas and eat your lunch!
Brick Lane Market
www.eastlondonmarkets.com/Brick Lane.htm
Brick Lane, E1
Tubes: Liverpool Street or Aldgate East
Sunday 8am - 2pm
A great flea market down a really long street called Brick Lane surrounded by independent, very trendy shops and bars all around and specifically on:
Cheshire Street
Sclater Street
Cygnet Street
This is probably the best place to pick up reasonable second hand / vintage stuff in London.
Also check out the food and drink venues in Dray Walk at The Truman Brewery half way down the market
Spitalfields Market
www.visitspitalfields.com
Commercial Street. E1
Tube: Liverpool Street
Best days to visit: Friday and Sunday although it is open with a variety of specialist stalls throughout the week.
Open: Mon - Fr 10.30am - 4.30pm
Sun 9.30am - 5pm
This covered market is on the edge of The City of London and hosts clothes by up and coming designers, vintage and second hand pieces as well as unique jewellery and accessories. Also a large food market and great gourmet food shops surround. Record and book fairs are held here on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. The surrounding area is also full of interesting, independent shops and well worth getting lost in.
Sunday (Up) Market
www.sundayupmarket.co.uk
The Old Truman Brewery, Hanbury Street and Brick Lane, E1
Tube: Liverpool Street
Open Sundays 10am - 5pm
This is a very fashionable market selling mainly clothes and accessories here from trendy designers, vintage retailers and the perfect place for creating that East London Look. It’s right off Brick Lane so easy to visit while doing the East London markets and shops.
Columbia Road Flower Market
www.columbia-flower-market.freewebspace.com
Columbia Road, E2
Tubes: Liverpool Street or Old Street
Open Sundays 8.30am - 2pm
This is an amazing street full of flower and plant stalls. There are great pubs, restaurants and trendy shops and galleries flanking the market. It is small and full of energy and impossible to not have a good time here. The traders start to sell things off really cheaply near to 2pm so if you’re looking for a bargain bunch of flowers for someone special then that’s the time to get there.
Further East
Broadway Market
www.broadwaymarket.co.uk
Broadway Market, London Fields, E8
Tube: Bethnal Green
Open Saturday 9am - 5pm
This is a very cool neighbourhood market stretching down a lovely old street with great independent shops on either side. The market sells lots of organic foods and many vintage clothes and accessories.
South
Greenwich Market
www.greenwich-market.co.uk
Romney Road, Greenwich, SE10
Tube: Canary Warf then take DLR to Cutty Sark
Open Thurs - Sun 9.30am - 5.30pm
This market is further out of town worth a visit by either taking a boat down the river or the amazing Docklands Light Railway directly to Greenwich. The market consists of many arts and crafts stalls plus retro and vintage stalls, record, books and the like.
Bermondsey Market
http://www.visitsouthwark.com/bermondsey-antiques-market
Bermondsey Square, Tower Bridge Road, SE1
Opening hours Friday mornings from 6am until 12 noon
This is London’s premier and most serious weekly antiques market (Portobello, although commercial, is aimed a little more at tourists) with over 500 traders every week. The quality of the goods is high and the merchandise takes in late Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian pieces, with all kinds of furniture, silver, china, glassware, ceramics and collectable items.
Very close to Tate Modern and The Millennium Bridge.
Brixton Market
www.mybrixton.com/brixton/shops-brixton-market.htm
Electric Avenue, SW9
Tube: Brixton
Best day to visit - Friday or Saturday.
This is Europe’s biggest Caribbean food market in the centre of London’s largest Afro Caribbean neighbourhood. Reggae music pumps out from all over and the wonderful food and drink smells are amazing from the famous Electric Avenue. Even if not to visit the market then Brixton itself is well worth a trip - a vibrant area full of creative people and a laid back attitude.
Central
Berwick Street Market
www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Shops/Berwick_Street_Market/a42d/
Berwick Street, W1F
Tube: Oxford Circus
Open Monday to Saturday 9am - 6pm
This is the only market in the heart of Soho selling fruit and veg, fabric, bric-a-brac and household items. The market is not very exiting by it’s produce but it is run by some very colourful n’ Cockney’ characters and sits directly on the edge of the old red light district so is still worth some time to visit and people watch.
North
Camden Markets
www.camdenlock.net/camden.html
Chalk Farm Road / Camden High Street, NW1
Tube: Chalk Farm or Camden Town or
river canal boat from Little Venice
Open Friday to Sunday 9am - 5pm, best day probably Sunday
What to say about this market? World known, in it’s hey day this area was a perfect example of creative London at its best. Now over run with middle aged tourists looking for a laugh the market had definitely seen its best. However, with a couple of cracking market areas - Camden Lock and The Stables it is still worth looking at. The market itself sells everything from second hand clothes and records to hand crafted furniture - by far the most divers market in London. You will have to look hard to sort out the good from the bad but along the way will find some of the best music and drinking venues in London and some of the wildest sights you are likely to see.
Trade Markets
These markets are for commercial trade but can be visited by the public and show an amazing insight into the workings of night time / early morning London. With all of these commercial markets the public are tolerated rather than encouraged so as a rule of thumb stay out of the traders’ way and all will be well.
Smithfield market
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/our_services/markets/smithfield_meat_market.htm
Tube: Farringdon or Barbican
This is a commercial meat market.
Smithfield Market operates between 0300 - 0800 hours approximately, Monday to Friday inclusive.
Officially the market closes at 12 midday but the tenants have started closing as early as 0700 hours due to customers coming and leaving the market before congestion charge of £8 at 0700 hours.
New Covent Garden Flower Market
http://www.cgma.gov.uk/location.htm
New Covent Garden Market, London SW8 5NX
Tube: Vauxhall
This is a commercial flower and plant market.
Open Monday to Friday 3.00am to 11.00am and Saturdays 4.00am to 10.00am
Flowers, fruit and vegetable, plants etc from all over the world are traded here in the early hours of each day.
Billingsgate Fish Market
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/corporation/our_services/markets/billingsgate/
Trafalgar Way, E14
Tube: Canary Warf
This is a commercial fish market
Open to the public on Tuesday to Saturday 5.00am - 8.30am
They have some strict codes of practice regarding photography listed on their website so please follow the terms below to avoid being thrown out…
Non-commercial photography and filming
Visitors wishing to take photographs at the Market and students undertaking photographic project work must complete an application form. To receive an application form for non-commercial photography, or if you need further information please contact a member of the Superintendent’s team by email or telephone 020 7987 1118, extension 20. There are some conditions that we ask you to note and these are listed below.
- Any permission is granted entirely at the applicant’s own risk
- Photographs are not to be published or used for any commercial purpose.
- Any instructions given by an authorised Officer of the City of London must be complied with and whilst at Billingsgate an authorised permission slip must be produced if asked for.
- The use of tripods is not permitted and the applicant must not impede the running of the Market.
- A Merchant’s permission must be obtained before photographing that Merchant’s products
Hatton Garden
http://www.hatton-garden.net/index.html
Hatton Garden, EC1N
Tube: Chancery Lane
Although not a market itself this is the commercial jewelry and diamond area of London and situated in the most ancient part of London.
Clubs
(t.b.a.)
Emergency Contacts
Police, Fire Services and Ambulance can all be reached from mobiles, land lines and any pay phone for free by calling 999 and awaiting instruction from the operator.
Non emergency police dial 020 7230 1212 and get through to the 24 hour switchboard.
NHS Direct is a phone service for any kind of medical advice at all. Open every day / 24 hours a day: 0845 4647 / www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Emergency dental service - Guys Hospital, St Thomas Street, SE1 9RT
Open as a drop in centre 9 - 5 Monday to Friday. Queues start at 8 so get there before 10 if you hope to be seen at all.
Taxis
24 hour black cabs:
Radio Taxis, 020 7272 0272
Dial-a-Cab, 020 7253 5000 (credit cards only)
Booking fees apply. See more info on taxis in London in the travel info of this section.
Credit Card emergency numbers
Mastercard UK: 0800-96-4767
VISA UK: 0800 89 1725
AMERICAN EXPRESS UK: 01273 696 933
www.cardwatch.org.uk
Passport & Visa:
Provides advice and assistance on applying for a UK visa.
www.ukvisas.gov.uk
Please note that the Lomographic Society can not issue official invites required for Visa application, but can assist you by sending you a general congress invite upon your registration as a congress member.
Foreign Embassies contact details:
Foreign and Commonwealth website or by phone 0845 850 2829
Lost property
Black cabs - 020 7918 2000 / www.tfl.gov.uk
Underground - 020 7918 2000 / www.tfl.gov.uk / pick up a form from the station
Buses - 020 7222 1234 / ask for the phone number of the depot regarding the bus route you were on.
Overground rail - 0870 000 5151
Gatwick - 01293 503 162
Heathrow - 020 8745 7727
The British phone number enquiry service is now managed by a few competing businesses - try 118 247, 118 888 or 118 118. You will need to know the name of the business and its rough location for them to be able to trace a number. They are all quite expensive.
Local and national operator 100
Local and national directory enquiries 118 500
Tourist Info Line 020 7234 5800.
Tourist Information Centres (TICs)
London’s main TIC is the Britain and London Visitor Centre (BLVC).
1 Lower Regent St, SW1
Tube: Piccadilly Circus
Tel: +44 (0)8701 566 366 (08701 LONDON)
Airports/ information desks
Heathrow Tel +44 (0)870 000 0123
Stansted Tel +44 (0)870 000 0303
Gatwick Tel +44 (0)870 000 2468
London City Airport Tel +44 (0)20 7646 0000/88