How about a green adventure tour around London’s famous markets? How is it green exactly? Well, if you use subway or bicycle in opposition to a car or a red bus, you’re actually saving energy. Underground trains run on electric energy, which is somewhat greener too. So, the length of this tour is around 12 miles. Can you walk this? Probably but not fast enough to cover all six featured London markets before the traders close their kiosks.

Map follows:

If you’ve used to urban cycling, you can do this on a bike easily. If you don’t have such experience, better use the Underground.

The London markets tour starts at Portobello Market, W11 2EE. It is open Saturdays from 8 - 6:30. Better get there early. The best way to get to Portobello Market is to take Hammersmith (pink) line to “Notting Hill Gate” and just follow the crowd.

Next in line is Church Street Market, W2 1DY. Open from 8-5. As you finish with Portobello, head to “Ladbroke Grove” stop on the Hammersmith (pink) line and alight “Edgware Road” stop.

Camden Lock Market, 54-56 Camden Lock Place, London, NW1 8AF. All the London markets on this tour are more kind of Antiques / Bric-a-brac stuff. Camden Lock market also has vintage clothing and some food stalls.
Now, this is where it all gets strange (if you don’t have a bicycle). When you’ve finished the Church Street market, back to “Edgware Road” underground stop. Now we need the Bakerloo (brown) line. Take it to “Queen’s Park” (yes, that’s the opposite direction) and change to the London Overground line (orange) and go back to “Camden Road” stop. Alternatively you can take a 3 mile walk along St John’s Wood Road, Prince Albert Rd and Oval Rd through the fine setting of Regen’t Park (I would choose the latter).

Covent Garden Market, South Piazza, WC2E 8BD. Saturday 9 - 6. There are several halls: Market hall, Jubilee and Apple. Check them all! To get to Covent Garden from Camden Lock market, dive into the Underground at “Camden Town”, take the North (black) line to “Leicester Square”.

Piccadilly market, St James’s Church 197 Piccadilly London W1J 9LL. Alas, Saturdays 11 - 6 are mainly for Arts and Crafts. If it’s not your type of thing (although Picadilly on Saturdays is really nice), you need to get there on a Tuesday for Collectibles stalls. To get to Picadilly market from Covent Garden market, go back to “Leicester Square” stop but this time take the Picadilly line (blue) and go to “Picadilly Circus”. It is only one stop, so you might as well follow Henrietta St - Bedford St - Garrick St, Cranbourn St, Coventry St onto Picadilly and straight to St Jame’s Church.

The last spot on this tour is Antiquarius, 131 - 141 King’s Road, SW3 4PW. That’s quite a Posh place with lots of jewellers and antique dealers. It is still unique for its old West London spirit but don’t go there to look for a bargain. The distance from Picadilly market and Antiquarius is more than 3 miles so it is advisable to dive back into “Picadilly Circus” and use the same Picadilly line (blue) to get to “South Kensington” stop. That’s the closest you get. Then embrace a long walk down Onslow square, Sydney St and turn left on King’s Road.

If you have taken this tour, make sure you come back and share your insider’s experience using the comment form below: