Equipped with both an electric fan and a flappable, foldable fan (because there’s a plan a, and a plan b for when the battery runs out), I strolled from Liverpool Street Station to Brick Lane, to potter around the markets over a bank holiday weekend – during a heatwave.
The walk from the station was typical of a London summer. Everyone had slowed down somewhat, with less rushing around. Buildings I’d never noticed before or found that appealing were suddenly interesting and lovely, with the sun reflecting off them. Passing the tart smell of salt and vinegar as I trotted past Poppies Fish & Chips Spitalfields, I hurried along to turn left onto Dray Walk, where the Truman Brewery site begins, starting with the food trucks at Ely’s Yard.
I remember Brick Lane best from the 2010 to 2012 era, when it was known as especially “hipster”, and wearing all black was on trend. It was fun, packed and lively. Now, the pace is slightly slower, the street art is just as colourful and the street style is more vibrant – a mismatch of inspiration from past eras (1970s to the noughties), driven playfully by Gen Z.
Sunday is still the best day to visit, as the whole high street becomes pedestrianised and packed with stalls selling vintage clothes, street food and unique trinkets. After agreeing with myself that I wouldn’t, I ended up leaving with at least four new Pan’s Labyrinth-style rings, Declan Rice-themed bao buns to take home and a revived 1980s disco nostalgia, from the showgirl-inspired stalls inside Brick Lane Vintage Market.
Planning a visit? Discover everything I've learned over the years about making the most of this London hotspot, with my full guide to Brick Lane Market's best finds, top tips and ideal times to visit.
Everything you need to know about Brick Lane Market and Old Truman Brewery markets
- 📍 Where: Brick Lane, London E1 6QL (most of the markets in the area sprawl across or are dotted along the street).
- 🚇 Nearest Tube: Shoreditch High Street (Overground, 8-minute walk), Aldgate East (District and Hammersmith & City, 10-minute walk), Liverpool Street (Elizabeth, Weaver, Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan, 13-minute walk).
- 📅 When: Monday to Friday 11am to 6.30pm, Sundays 10am to 6pm.
- 🎟️ Price: All markets are free to enter. Purchase price varies by market and stall.
- ⏱️ Visit time: It’s best to make a morning or early afternoon of it, leaving at least three to four hours to explore all the markets, street food and local venues.
- 👥 Best for: Everyone from thrifters to foodies, families, couples and groups, or anyone on the hunt for vintage, art, culture and laid-back global cuisine.
- 👀 What to expect: Vintage finds, street food, quirky independent shops, colourful street art and whimsical, retro-themed restaurants, alongside nostalgic area staples.
Brick Lane Market: a full guide
About Brick Lane Market and Old Truman Brewery markets
Brick Lane Market tends to refer to all the markets within the Brick Lane area, with some caveats, while most of the markets in the area fall under the Truman Brewery banner, as they’re located within the site (stay with us, we know it’s confusing at first).
Counter culture origins
With its roots firmly in subculture, East End grit and a melting pot of heritage, Brick Lane is frequented by vinyl collectors heading into Rough Trade East for records or gigs, global foodies and Londoners after specific, curated aesthetics (deconstructed tailoring, oversized 1990s leather racing jackets and reworked workwear sourced directly from standalone vintage moguls like Rokit, House of Vintage and the multistorey Atika).
A live music landmark
The Truman Brewery has a legacy among London’s live music scene, with the annual Brick Lane Jazz Festival taking over local venues like Cafe 1001 and 93 Feet East every spring.
A Bangladeshi cuisine heavyweight
The area’s legendary culinary tekkers remain strong too, with award-winning curry houses like Aladin, Sheba and City Spice. If you’re out late, you’ll probably see late-night clubbers and locals queue at 1am for hot salt beef beigels from rival 24-hour institutions Beigel Bake (with the white sign) and Beigel Shop (with the yellow sign).
Top highlights
- Browse for pre-loved clothing gems at Brick Lane Vintage Market.
- Enjoy mouthwatering street food dishes from around the globe at Upmarket. At weekends it expands to include a busy retail section.
- Buy jewellery, prints and accessories at Backyard Market.
- Take a seat in the covered area at Ely’s Yard and tuck into mouthwatering bites from one of the many street-food trucks.
- Delve into an Aladdin’s cave of furniture and antiques at The Tea Rooms, formerly a beer vat house.
- Elevate your wardrobe with unique pieces from independent London designers at Rinse Showroom.
- Alongside the many market stalls, there are plenty of unique shops in and around Brick Lane.
- The area is also famed for its brilliant curry houses, Indian restaurants, beigel shops and street food. Take a guided Brick Lane Food Tour to find out more.
What to eat and drink
Cheese Wheel
At Ely’s Yard, Mikos Gyros and Texbbq caught my eye first. Then, Cheese Wheel, who whip up creamy pasta in a giant wheel of parmesan. Sold.
Good to know: If you can catch the very early lunch wave at Cheese Wheel, you’ll have your order in your hands faster.
Where: Ely's Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, London E1 6QR
When: Daily 11am to 11pm.
Sleazy Pizza
As soon as you head out of Ely’s Yard, Sleazy Pizza has a kitsch vibe with gingham black-and-white table cloths and pink pizza boxes, ideal for a slice and a beer on the go, or to sit in for a break and to refuel. At this point you’re practically at Brick Lane Vintage Market already.
Good to know: Sleazy Pizza is an ideal, shady spot to escape the sun if you're visiting in summer.
Where: The Truman Brewery, Unit 3, Dray Walk, London E1 6QL
When: Tuesday and Wednesday 4pm to 9pm, Thursday to Saturday 12pm to 10pm, Sunday 12pm to 8pm
OAT Brick Lane
When heading out of the markets for reinforcements (snacks, more lunch and coffee), look no further than OAT Brick Lane. The Biscoff Banana Mocha is a real treat.
Good to know: Coffee orders are pretty adjustable, don’t hold back with your requests.
Where: 154 Brick Lane, London E1 6RU
When: Monday to Friday 8am to 5.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6.30pm
Bun House Disco
For a late lunch, my friend and I grabbed a table for two at the fabulous Bun House Disco (now a Brick Lane favourite of mine). We went for the beef, lamb and chicken hot Asian buns (these were so good we got more to go), MSG fries (I could eat these all day, addictive), assorted pickles and the satay beef ragu noodles.All spot on.
Good to know: The decor is inspired by 1980s Hong Kong disco culture, with moody, deep reds on the floors and bathroom walls, and chrome accents and chairs everywhere.
Where: 118 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 6DG
When: Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday 12pm to 9pm, Thursday to Saturday 12pm to 12am
Beigel Bake
Everyone’s local go-to, Beigel Bake is right next door, having mostly been open 24/7 since 1974, as a defining feature of Brick Lane. It’s loved for its thick, hot salt beef beigels, piled high with fiery English mustard and pickles, served in golden beigels, baked fresh around the clock. At all hours of the night, you’ll find long queues stretching down the pavement, where ravers, cab drivers and everyone in between rub shoulders for a legendary, cheap late-night feed.
Good to know: It really is open 24/7, but late nights, up until the early hours of the morning, can be when it’s most busy, as most other food spots are closed.
Where: 159 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB
When: 24/7
Katsute 100
For winding down, find your way to Katsute 100 Brick Lane, a Kyoto tea room that feels like an antique shop, run by the same team behind the Islington original. Their loose-leaf teas (like the mountain grape blend) are imported from Japan and pair well with a slice of their signature matcha crepe cake.
Good to know: If you want the full experience, settle downstairs to the basement where you can drink your tea in a traditional tatami room.
Where: 147 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB
When: Daily 11am to 8pm
What to shop
Vendetta Archive
Located inside Brick Lane Vintage Market, I immediately stopped to comb through the jewellery when passing by the Vendetta Archive. Their main offering is their dark, tapestry-embroidered street clothing, while their jewellery collection is a smaller, lesser-known part of their retail area. The whole collection is crafted from stainless steel. The rings have a liquid metal, baroque-industrial look to them, each with abstract patterns and black gem stones. I couldn't resist. I went for the discounted duo offer, twice, leaving with four rings in total.
Good to know: You can get your rings resized on site within minutes, if needed. Handy!
Where: Brick Lane Vintage Market, Old Truman Brewery (basement), F Block, 85 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
When: Monday to Friday 11am to 6.30pm, Saturday 11am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm.
Lemon Belly
It’s hard to miss Lemon Belly, with all its glitter, sparkle and unusual variety of sunglasses. Stepping into a drag queen disco time capsule almost, you’re met with weird and wonderful costume hats, dresses, one pieces and glitzy accessories. Dress up for grown-ups.
Good to know: This one is also located with Brick Lane Vintage Market, with more boutiques to explore if you love vintage fashion from the 1920s to the 1990s.
Where: Brick Lane Vintage Market, Old Truman Brewery (basement), F Block, 85 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
When: Monday to Friday 11am to 6.30pm, Saturday 11am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm.
Rough Trade East
Tucked in the Old Truman Brewery courtyard, east London icon Rough Trade East is a big maze of vinyl crates, hard-to-find music books and exclusive merch, as well as being a live performance hub for cool, iconic talent.
Good to know: Rough Trade East has its own cafe counter for coffee or a beer while you browse.
Where: Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
When: Monday 10am to 7pm, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm
Topologie Dray Walk
Outside the courtyard and back towards Brick Lane Vintage Market, just before heading towards Bun House Disco, we went hunting for the chrome Mini Bottle Sacoche bag from Topologie (that isn’t available online anymore), in store. We found it, in more than one size.
Good to know: These cult favourite bags feature a two-compartment design, where you can squeeze a water bottle in between them both, especially useful for summer.
Where: 11 Dray Walk, London E1 6QL
When: Monday to Saturday 11am to 7pm, Sunday 11am to 6pm
Hunky Dory Vintage
Sitting right at the quieter, northern end of the street, just past the rival beigel shops and opposite Bun House Disco, you’ll find Hunky Dory Vintage (paying homage to the David Bowie song of the same name). It’s been around since 2008, founded by co-owners Ian Bodenham and Ian Johns. The shop is a quirkily curated, welcoming trove of well-made vintage menswear, womenswear and accessories spanning the 1940s to the 1970s.
Good to know: Most of the stock is personally sourced from France, Italy and across the UK.
Where: 226 Brick Lane, London E1 6SA
When: Daily 11.30pm to 6.30pm
What to see and do
SXSW London
Every June, the Brick Lane area is taken over by SXSW London. The Texas-born festival uses Shoreditch Town Hall and The Old Truman Brewery as ground zero, filling it with tech pop-ups, brand activations and live music showcases.
Good to know: It’s loud and corporate-backed but the streets (especially around Ely’s Yard) are filled with free daytime DJ sets and installations you just wander into.
Where: Various venues
When: June
Cafe 1001
When the festival leaves town, Brick Lane’s subculture reverts back to its usual anchors. Cafe 1001 is “working from home”, engrossed-in-laptop by day, for chess enthusiasts by night. They recently retrofitted the space with a custom Japanese-style hi-fi sound system that plays host to a fun weekly rotation.
Good to know: Tuesdays are for Knight Club Chess (casual chess over pints), Wednesdays are BYOV (Bring Your Own Vinyl nights for local selectors) and weekends are for proper, deep-cut electronic label showcases.
Where: 1 Dray Walk, London E1 6QL
When: Sunday and Monday 9am to 9pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 9am to 11.30pm, Thursday to Saturday 9am to 12am
All Star Lanes
Next to Cafe 1001, All Star Lanes is perfect for bowling with a retro 1950s feel. Bring your bowling A-game in the main hall on one of the 14 lanes, or pick up the mic in a private karaoke booth and belt out your favourite songs at the top of your lungs.
Good to know: If you'd rather skip the main floor, hunt down the High Rollers Society, their hidden 1920s-style speakeasy bar that lets you rent private lanes away from the main noise.
Where: Spitalfields Art Market, 95 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
When: Monday to Thursday 12pm to 12am, Friday 12pm to 1am, Saturday 11am to 1am, Sunday 11am to 12am
Opening times and schedule
Brick Lane Market schedule
The street stall edition (not to be confused with Brick Lane Vintage Market), run by Tower Hamlets Council: Sunday 10am to 3pm.
Truman Brewery Market schedule
- The Tea Rooms, Backyard, Rinse Showroom, Upmarket (the craft and retail edition): Saturday 11am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm.
- Ely’s Yard Food Trucks: Daily 11am to 11pm.
- Upmarket (foodhall edition): Monday to Saturday 11am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm.
- Brick Lane Vintage Market: Monday to Friday 11am to 6.30pm, Saturday 11am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm.
- Brick Lane Flea Market: Usually one Saturday every quarter from 11am to 5pm (last instalment was on 11 July 2026).
Insider tips for visiting
- Bring a tote bag or other reusable bag to fill with your bought items, as many sellers don't have bags.
- Go with an idea of what kind of thing you're looking to buy, as it can get overwhelming.
- If you're visiting on a Sunday, start with the street market, then head to the other markets, as they close later.
- Most sellers have set prices, but there's no harm in haggling, especially if you buy multiple items from one seller.
- Visit on a weekday for fewer crowds, but be aware that the main street market is only open on Sundays.
- Don't miss out on the area's legendary food offering, from Indian curries to beigels and fantastic street food.
Other top spots to explore in the area
Whitechapel Gallery
A five-minute walk south of Brick Lane, head to the Whitechapel Gallery to see world-renowned contemporary art, before or after hitting the markets.
Where: 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX
When: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday to Sunday 11am to 6pm, Thursday 11am to 9pm
Old Spitalfields Market
Also located within a five to eight-minute walk from Brick Lane, Old Spitalfields Market is another lively local gem set under a striking Victorian roof. The Antiques Market runs on Thursdays and the Vinyl Market takes over every first and third Friday of the month. Sunday is the busiest day for a combination of art, fashion and food.
Where: 16 Horner Square, London E1 6EW
When: Monday to Wednesday and Friday 10am to 8pm, Thursday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm
Columbia Road Flower Market
Filled with beautiful blooms and gardening essentials, Columbia Road Flower Market is around a 10-minute walk north of Brick Lane and only open on Sundays. Try visiting early in the morning before the Brick Lane stalls peak in the afternoon.
Where: Columbia Road, London E2 7RG
When: Sundays 8am to 2pm