London antiques markets (beyond Portobello!).

There's far more to London's antiques scene than Portobello (image credit below)

London is superb for antiques shopping.  As well as street markets – Bermondsey Antiques Market on Fridays and Portobello Road at weekends – there are several other (mainly indoor) markets that do a good trade.

One of the best is Alfie’s in Church Street, Marylebone.  It occupies a former department store, a striking (though in my view not especially pretty) Art Deco building.  The focus is on 20th century collectibles.

So it’s a great place for authentic deco or Bauhaus style furniture or maybe 60s designer gear.  Alfie’s is very much the ‘antiques’ rather than the ‘bric a brac’ end of the scale – most pieces are in great condition and alas have price tags to match.  The best day to visit is Saturday, as some of the traders only appear at the weekend; the market is closed on Mondays.

Alfie’s has spawned several antique shops around it, a bit like mother chicken and her chicks – in fact many of those shops were ‘incubated’ inside Alfie’s, starting off as stalls and expanding to set up their own premises.

A market I personally like where I’ve made a few good finds – including a lovely 19th century Indian portrait painting and a fat and jolly Chinese teapot – is Camden Passage antiques market.  Despite its name, it’s nowhere near Camden but in the back streets around Angel (Islington).

Camden Passage is an antique lover's delight and friendly too (image credit below)

This small and quite intimate market is less busy than Portobello Road and many stallholders still enjoy a leisurely chat.  And you never know quite what you’ll find there.  It’s open twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday) and just like Alfie’s, has attracted a number of antique shops.

Alas, Tesco’s and other corporate monsters have been moving in, pushing up rents and taking over some  shops that used to house antiques dealers, so Camden Passage isn’t what it was.  But it’s still well worth a visit (sadly, The Mall antiques arcade in nearby Upper Street has now closed.)

The Lots Road Auction Rooms are well worth visiting too.  Just off King’s Road in Chelsea, they handle a mix of specialist and general auctions with plenty of lots around the £100-200 range.  I’ve been impressed by the fine art prints and silver that you sometimes find there.

I also used to visit Criterion Auction Rooms in Essex Road – the viewings are fascinating, with everything from huge Victorian pine dressers and grandfather clocks to portrait miniatures and old telescopes.  If you see something you like, you can leave a bid (I’ve seen a superb old refectory table go for £10 when no dealers wanted it; equally, I’ve seen bookcases go for hundreds.  It seems to be pot luck!).

The Criterion Auction Rooms offer value for bargain hunters (image credit below)

Another recommended place is the grandly-named Hampstead Arts & Crafts Emporium.  Antique textiles and hats (including some tempting paisley shawls), handmade jewellery and antique buttons give it real appeal for anyone interested in vintage clothing. It’s just two minutes’ walk from Hampstead tube station on Heath Street.

Under the same ownership as Alfie’s is Grays Antique Markets in Davies Street, Mayfair, close to Bond Street tube.  It’s open all week (not Sundays) and jewellery seems to be a particular strength – we’re not talking costume jewellery either.  There’s also some gorgeous Oriental and Delft pottery.

Even if you’re not buying, it’s definitely worth a visit if you treat it as a free museum – a place to look at interesting exhibits and for window shopping.

Finally, for those who want their antiques big with a capital B – there’s LASSCO, the London Architectural Salvage and Supply Company in Wandsworth Road.  Get yourself a fireplace, gazebo or an old London street sign – or perhaps a massive claw-footed bath-tub!

If you like your antiques, you might want to consider Hazlitt’s Hotel.

It’s a true original of a hotel in which all the furnishings are antique.  One room even features a Victorian bathing machine.  Mahogany chests of drawers, old oil paintings and rich textiles give a feeling of old-world luxury – in a way that feels like the real thing, not a pastiche.

I’m reliably informed, though, that antiquity only goes so far – there’s free wi-fi, air conditioning.  And the breakfast croissants are guaranteed not to be antiques, since they’re freshly baked every morning!  It’s in Soho too so ideally-placed for some of London’s best cafes, restaurants and nightlife.

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Hazlitt's Hotel is absolute paradise for antiques enthusiasts and located right in the heart of Soho

The other London hotel for antiques-lovers is Miller’s Residence – near our favourite Lebanese restaurant – but it’s currently closed for renovations.

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Photo credits: Hazlitt’s Hotel, eldarbee’s photostream, Ben Sutherland’s photostream, jekman’s photostream.

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