To Market To Market To Buy a ? ? ?

As much as I have loved seeing the 'sights' of London like Big Ben, London Bridge, and the Tower of London, some of my favorite experiences are when I'm walking around the city just doing normal everyday things. Visiting London's markets is definitely one of those everyday experiences that are just awesome! I've been to Portobello Rd. Market twice. Portobello Rd. is in the Notting Hill area, as in the movie Notting Hill. In fact, the sceene where Hugh Grant walks through the market and the seasons change was shot in Portobello Rd. The best day to go to Portobello Rd. Market is a Saturday when it's packed with people and things to see, taste, and buy. Notting Hill itself is very eclectic and so is the market. You can find just about everything in Portobello Rd. Market from magenta leopard-print tights to flasks, to knockoff purses to paella and crepes. If you're claustrophobic you might want to go early and avoid crowds, but otherwise you just have to elbow you're way in to see what you want to. There are a good number of clothes booths which are for the most part cute, but sans dressing rooms, so I tended to avoid those. There are great purses there if you take your time and shop around before buying, the nicer knockoffs are more expensive, but you can find decent prices. Pashminas are a hot market item as is sparkly jewelry of all varieties and persuasions. The market also has a good number of antiques booths. I bought some teacups and saucers which were really pretty, but I'm sure would not make it to Antiques Roadshow. One thing that I was not expecting to find was a food market in the middle of everything else. There is produce, cheese, meat, seafood, and readymade food, too. I sampled some paella which is made in huge pans. I chose chicken paella in saffron rice with beans mixed in. Delicious! I've also visited Borough Market which is made up of only food. Everything there is incredibly fresh and looks tasty. The prices aren't too bad there either. You could easily eat breakfast and lunch there while you shop. There are Indian booths, Italian, traditional English, baked goods, fresh juices, etc. The only drawback is that every booth you pass tempts you to buy something to enjoy!