Recently there has been an interesting post about Harrod's Dining Halls.
I am interested in Food Halls / Food Markets that are reasonably priced and where there is some seating to eat . What do members recommend?
I also love Flea Markets and Thrift Stores. What is a good Flea Market and where might I be able to go thrifting?
Any particular city or town?
The best places to go for thrift stores - or charity shops as they are called here - are small, relatively prosperous towns. They all tend to have a decent selection. I had a great afternoon browsing in Lewes recently.
Much as I love London's Portobello Road on a Saturday, my visit last April was somewhat disappointing--many of the antiques shop stalls were empty, outdoors was hit or miss, but I found the assorted charity shops as interesting as ever. I also made a day trip to Canterbury and there were lots of good charity shops to explore as I made my way to the cathedral.
which city do you want a food hall in?
https://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/londons-best-street-food-markets-and-food-halls
Loved Maltby Market. and a couple of years ago enjoyed the Ealing farmers market. Also enjoyed Brockley market.
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/what-to-wear/g25929876/best-vintage-shops-uk-london/
If you are on Instagram take a look at Wardrobehappyhour vintage clothes.
As others said, for thrift stores, what you are looking for is charity shops, basically like a Goodwill or Salvation Army here, but smaller, and lots of local things. The Heart Foundation, Cancer Research, and Oxfam are the most common.
For Flea Markets, you might need to get out of the Urban areas, but look for a Boot Sale. Basically a lot or field, people show up and sell all sorts of things out of their "Boot" (Car Trunk), but in reality lots of regular vendors. In London, you can find markets that are more established vendors, Portobello Road was mentioned, The area in Camden, along the high street and the locks is well worth spending a weekend day, with all sorts of vendors and markets, plus many food vendors.
I forgot to add that I am talking about London. I guess that I assumed everyone knew I was talking London.
And I went to websites about Portabello Road. I must learn more.
I am also now discovering charity shops. I would never have known about charity shops if I had not posted this discussion. I would have assumed they were places where you went in to receive help if you were hungry or homeless or poor..
I collect costume jewelry and I love grab bags even grab bags of broken costume jewelry. You never know what you are going to find in a grab bag.
I love finding small souvenirs to bring home to friends.
I may even find a simple dress for travel.
I am not looking for a lot. I want simple and inexpensive.
Ok so what food halls are your favorite food halls in London? I am looking for places where I can sit and eat.
In London, you'll want to visit Borough Market food stalls. Delicious sandwiches, fruit, bakery items and more. There are a few picnic tables where Borough Market meets the back garden of Southwark Cathedral (look for the spire to find this). Get your food and grab a seat at a table before the crowds get there at lunchtime. Or go through Borough Market, gathering up good things to eat, then walk back to the riverfront and find a bench. This is a good way to watch the boat traffic on the Thames while you munch.
The previous poster (Paul) mentioned some great thrift shops. Oxfam charity shops are in several locations in London and in other cities and towns. The shops are small but usually packed with interesting items; clothes, purses, books, scarves.
A quick word about charity shops...
Generally Brits do not give large amounts regularly to charities, it is much more an attitude to give coins in the bucket or the uniquely shaped small cylinder collection box. And do unusual challenges for charity. And, mostly, donate to and buy from charity shops.
The local hospice, Alzheimer's Society, MIND, Age UK, Heart, Cancer, Ox-Fam, Amnesty International, Kidney, and the local Air Ambulance (receives no money from government, entirely charity), are some of the charity shops you will see on the High Street. Some are long standing, some move into vacant premises for a time.
Staffed by volunteers.
It is our way of doing things.
All worthy of a visit, a mooch and a dig about. Never know what you might find. And take home.
Happy hunting.
Just to say every town in the land will have its collection of charity shops.
For food hall - not sure exactly what you're looking for - are you looking for a group of restaurant counters and tables or are you looking for a group of counters selling food to take home and cook? There is a group of restaurant counters and tables at Victoria Market Halls.. https://markethalls.co.uk/venue/victoria/
Check out for farmer's markets (usually held monthly). There will be butchers, bakers, fruit and veg, fish (including smoked fish) cheese, beer, may be dried mushrooms, jams pickles and honey - everything you can imagine!
Hey Bostonphil7:
My Harrod's plan has changed, and I'm happy that my thread has sparked you.
Turnabout is the BEST play, and your mention of the Portobello Market makes me note that my hotel for the trip is within a mile of Portobello Road, and maybe that makes it a good idea for a quick thing to do the morning of our departure.
Thank you. I know I read all the threads for a reason, and it's not just attention deficit. ;-)
Food “ halls “ to enjoy.
Selfridges food hall
Broadway Market, Hackney
Seven Dials Market
Mercado Mayfair
Kingly Court Carnaby
Hi Nigel,
I am looking for Food Halls where several to many satellites of restaurants are represented and where you can buy your food from a counter and eat in the hall itself. It can be a very large hall with many tables and chairs. Often the restaurants are satellites of other restaurants in the area. Often they are very good but not always. In the United States, they might be called Food Courts. There is one in Boston called Faneuil Hall in the original but restored Faneuil Hall.
The link you posted describes what I am looking for.
I might have leftovers and might take something back to my hotel but I am not looking to buy food that needs actual cooking.
As for charity shops, I love trying to find a treasure.
Hi Max,
Portobello Road sounds like a truly wonderful place to maybe find a treasure. Be careful not to miss your plane.
I do not know how I can only spend four days in London. I am going to have to make choices.
I believe that you responded to one of my discussions regarding booking my plane. Thanks. It all depends ....
Don't underestimate charity shops, most if not all are incredibly savvy and nearly all donations are screened and appraised, anything of any value is picked up and stuck on eBay, sold on, or marked up accordingly.
My son did his work experience with the Heart Foundation and this was one of his jobs was to undertake a intial screening of dontations and to put anything to one side he though was of any value and intially check on eBay and thier internal intranet or forward on to an in-house expert, to see if the item in question had any value. Also, items with any value that were kept in-house were often channelled to certain shops that were know to attract clientele that had deeper pockets. Whilst the odd item will slip through, the notion of snagging something for 50p that is worth several hundred quid is very far and few between, its a big well oiled industry.
Hi Laughing Spam Fritter
Thank you for the information.
I was a volunteer for years at the Next to New shop in Austin which was an upscale consignment store. I learned a lot including that the staff and volunteers knew their stuff. Still you could sometimes get a good deal. Next to New was an outreach program for St David's Episcopal Church. Half the proceeds were distributed among several charities and the other half went to the Church's rebuilding and maintenance fund so I guess that you could say this was a charity shop.
I have heard that the best donations at Goodwill Industries never makes it to the floor because it is bought up by staff and volunteers or put up for auction and or online.
Yesterday evening, I went to Ebay and found that I could search some of these charity shops on Ebay. I like grab bags and you never now, I might be able to get. a grab bag of broken jewelry on ebay.
Hope Springs Eternal and I am always looking for a treasure ...
Check out the Octavia Foundation charity shops. If you Google you can see locations. Recall a friend loved the one on Brompton Road.
The charity shops are excellent places to find good books for very cheap. You can just exchange them when you want to get rid of one too. As mentioned they are on every high street - in Earls Court, it is Oxfam.
There are thousands of places to eat; so many you won't be able to make up your mind. Gone are the days when it was kebabs, Chinese, and Wimpy Bars.
