I last visited Camden Town nearly twelve years ago. At the time, I was living in north London and spent my weekends exploring the city. I remember browsing through old magazines, newspapers, and records at the back of a spacious warehouse. I much preferred Camden Town market to the too-busy and over-priced Portobello Road market. Also, Camden Town had much better 'finds'. Portobello Road was more touristy.
While I recognised and remembered some of the market area, I also noted just how much Camden Town has changed in the past twelve years. It is much busier and popular today, and it's grown in size. The High Street shops have grown, and there are more popular and chain brands and more sellers in the High Street area. The market area has expanded significantly. (The indoor maze of stalls reminded me of a souk in Marrakech; there are stalls also selling items that you would find in Marrakech.) Not only has the market expanded, but every possible floor space has been used to accommodate more area to vendors, making the walkways extremely narrow.
The market is also more cultural than I remember it; there are goods from all over the world for sale and plenty of Hookah cafes. The market also contains many food stalls and a seating area now. Bronze horses and stable statues also feature in one of the markets, and I am pretty sure that these works of art (and other ones scattered throughout the market) did not exist in the past. I also do not remember the locks, but the "Camden Town" bridge painting was familiar. Unfortunately, all of my old photos of Camden Town are not accessible to me at the moment as they were taken on my non-digital SLR. It would be great to look at these old photographs.
I noted that many visitors to the markets were tourists; while some tourists did visit inevitably in the past, but many more are visiting now. Another reason if may be more popular now is due to the music scene. Camden Town was where Amy Winehouse lived. Also, the atmosphere in Camden Town is completely different to anywhere else in London.
I enjoyed my trip, and the market has a wide variety of products, although some 'cheap' and touristy areas are inevitable with its popularity, and the crowds were annoying. However, there's still many stalls that sell items that you wouldn't be able to find elsewhere. I've uploaded a few of the photographs that capture a little bit of what Camden Town has to offer.
Although the market was busy, I found a gap in the crowds to take a nice photograph.
This horse statue is at one of the entrances of the covered market area.
This mosaic statue is located in the markets.
Camden Locks are busy on a Saturday.
A canal boat is steered down Camden Lock.
A canal boat is steered down Camden Lock.
Graffiti is painted on a wall near the locks, and the one on the left features singing legend Amy Winehouse, who was a famous resident.
Racks of clothing are displayed at Iverness Street market.
Statues are scattered around the market.
Statues are scattered around the market.
This is one of the small alleyways leading from the stable market.
These Hookah pipes are famous in the Middle East, and there are a few places you can get them in Camden Town now.
The famous Camden Lock bridge and advertisement does not seem to have changed since my visit many years ago, although the two 'painters' on the sign may have been added since.
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