Family Guide to London Markets: Borough, Camden & Portobello with Kids
If you’re planning London Markets : Borough Camden and Portobello with Kids: Family Travel Guide style trip, the short answer is: Borough Market for food, Camden Market for teens and street culture, and Portobello Road for Saturday antiques and colourful Notting Hill – all are doable, safe and fun with kids if you time your visit and plan smartly.
This guide is a focused CLUSTER article supporting Homejourney’s main London markets pillar: London Markets Guide: Borough, Camden & Portobello | Homejourney London Markets Guide: Borough, Camden & Portobello | Homejourney . It zooms in on doing these markets specifically as a family, especially for Singapore travellers and international visitors who may later explore property opportunities in Singapore via Homejourney.
Why Visit Borough, Camden & Portobello with Kids?
London’s major markets are as educational as they are fun: kids get history, food, music, and design in one day. From my own trips shuttling between Singapore and London with school‑age children, I’ve found these three markets offer the best mix of safety, accessibility and variety for families.
Singapore parents used to structured malls like VivoCity or Jewel will appreciate that these markets are compact enough to walk, but diverse enough that everyone—from toddlers in prams to teenagers—finds something to enjoy.
Quick Overview & Best Time to Visit (with Kids)
Borough Market – London Bridge
• Focus: Street food London, fresh produce, cheeses, bakes and global bites.[1][2]
• Best with kids: Weekday late morning (10am–12pm) to avoid intense lunch crowds.[2]
• Opening: Core days Wed–Sat; limited traders Mon–Tue (always check the official site before you go).
Camden Market – Camden Town
• Focus: Alternative fashion, vintage, crafts, global street food; great for tweens/teens.[2][4]
• Best with kids: Mornings on weekdays or Sunday before noon, when it’s less packed.
• Opening: Generally daily 10am–6pm (individual stalls vary).
Portobello Road Market – Notting Hill
• Focus: Antiques, vintage, colourful houses, produce and snacks.[1][2]
• Best with kids: Saturday 9am–11.30am for the full experience before the biggest crowds.[2]
• Opening: Some stalls on weekdays, but Saturday is the main market day.[1][2]
Getting There from Central London (and from Singapore)
From Central London
For families, the safest and most efficient way is the Tube. Compared with Singapore’s MRT, frequencies are similar at peak times, but trains and platforms can feel more cramped.
- Borough Market: Tube to London Bridge (Northern/Jubilee line). From the station, it’s about a 3–5 minute walk following signs to Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral.[3][7]
- Camden Market: Tube to Camden Town (Northern line). Walk 5–7 minutes up Camden High Street towards the canal and Lock Market.[3][4]
- Portobello Road Market: Tube to Notting Hill Gate (Central/Circle/District). Walk about 10 minutes up Pembridge Road into Portobello Road.[1][2]
From Singapore
Most Singapore travellers arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick. Direct flights from Changi are around 13–14 hours. Heathrow has a direct Tube (Piccadilly Line) into central London; Gatwick connects via train. Allow extra time if you’re landing with jet‑lagged kids—do markets on day 2 or 3, not straight after arrival.
Currency is the British Pound (GBP). Many Singapore families now use multi‑currency cards or digital wallets; still, bring a modest amount of cash for smaller stalls. This parallels how Homejourney supports multi‑currency awareness for property buyers, including London visitors comparing SGD and GBP on our platform’s pricing displays and mortgage insights Bank Rates .
Borough Market with Kids: Street Food London in a Safe, Compact Space
Borough Market is ideal for a first market experience with kids because it’s relatively compact, mostly covered (useful in London rain), and strongly food‑focused.[1][3][7]
What to Eat & Do
- Try British basics: fish and chips, pies, sausage rolls, artisanal cheeses and fresh oysters.[3][7]
- Look for Monmouth Coffee just outside the main hall—excellent for adults while kids share a pastry.[3]
- Let kids pick one "new" food each—Spanish churros, Turkish gözleme or raclette sandwiches.[1][2]
Insider tip from multiple visits: arrive by 10:30am, walk one slow loop first without buying, then let everyone choose. This avoids overspending and food waste—a habit Singapore families will recognise from hawker centres.
Family Safety & Comfort
- Use a front carrier for babies; prams can be awkward in the tightest aisles at peak lunch.
- Set a meeting point (e.g., near Southwark Cathedral entrance) in case someone is separated.
- Public toilets are signed around the market; keep small coins or a contactless card ready.
Camden Market with Kids: Teens, Music & Canal Vibes
Camden Market is sprawling, louder and more visually intense than Borough, but older kids love its energy, street art and subcultures.[2][4]
Highlights for Families
- Street food courts around Camden Lock: bao buns, jerk chicken, vegan burgers, crepes and more.[2][3]
- Vintage and band T‑shirts for teens who want something more unique than a souvenir shop.[4]
- Regent’s Canal towpath for a slower stroll or boat ride, a welcome breather for younger children.[2]
If you’ve walked Bugis Street or Bangkok’s Chatuchak with kids, Camden will feel familiar: busy but manageable with good crowd awareness.
Safety & Timing Tips
- Visit before 1pm to avoid the heaviest weekend crowds and night‑life spillover.
- Keep valuables in front; pickpocketing risk is similar to any dense tourist area.
- Agree on "no wandering alone" rules for younger teens; Camden’s maze of alleys can be disorienting.
Portobello Road Market with Kids: Antiques & Notting Hill Charm
Portobello Road Market is one of London’s most famous markets, lining the streets of Notting Hill with antiques, vintage clothing and colourful terraces.[1][2]
What Families Will Enjoy
- Colourful houses on the side streets—great for family photos.
- Antique and bric‑a‑brac stalls: kids can hunt for old toy cars, maps or badges.[1][2]
- Crepes and street snacks dotted along the road, easy handheld food for restless kids.[2]
Saturday is the day for the full London Markets : Borough Camden and Portobello with Kids: Family Travel Guide experience, but it’s also the most crowded. For younger kids, 9am–11am is the sweet spot before the shoulder‑to‑shoulder stretch begins.
Navigation & Safety
- Walk downhill from Notting Hill Gate towards Ladbroke Grove; it’s easier with strollers.
- Stick to the pavement edges when it’s crowded, letting faster shoppers pass in the centre.
- Factor in a play break at a nearby park after the market to avoid tired meltdowns.
