This historic covered market in London is laid out in a cross shape and retains much of its original charm. The building dates back to 1881 but there is evidence of a market on this site from as early as the 1300s.
Although this market was originally designed for meat and poultry retailers, it’s now been repurposed as a home for boutique shops, restaurants, cafes, wine bars and a traditional pub. There’s a lot to like about the building with its large lanterns and uniform signage, but the most striking feature is the incredible wrought-iron roof. At its centre is a large lantern which wouldn’t look out of place in a cathedral! It’s simply beautiful. What’s great about this building is that it still holds regular weekend markets too where the central areas are cleared to make way for stalls.
This location was the original centre of Roman London so you can imagine that retail has been going on here since those times. Before the current building which was designed by Horace Jones, there was a stone market structure here which was created by Lord Mayor of London, Dick Whittington in the 15th Century. Today, Londoners and visitors come here to shop, eat and meet friends. We thought it had a fabulous relaxed atmosphere and you can’t help but spend most of the time looking up! For Harry Potter fans, Harry and Rubeus Hagrid passed through Leadenhall Market on their way to the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley in the first film.
The market’s external areas are open 24 hours a day and are used as a thoroughfare. If you love London’s old markets, make sure you don’t miss Covent Garden.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Address: Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch St, London EC3V 1LT
Phone: +44 20 7606 3030
MORE ON LEADENHALL MARKET
Leadenhall Market – Official Website
Leadenhall Market – Wikipedia