Where to go for quirky shops in London?

[user49er]

I'm going to be in London for the afternoon next week and fancy spending a few hours in the shops.. I'd like a street of shops full of lovely home wares, art, prints, quirky lovely stuff etc.. where shall I go?

Depends which bit of london you are in, although over recent years 'quirky' has been phased out in large part, mostly replaced with coffee shops and chain stores. Spitalfields is quite lovely for a mooch.

Spitalfields is a good shout, there are also some lovely shops around Arnold Circus not far away. Broadway Market is nice, as is Stoke Newington Church Street (though may be a bit far out). May struggle to spend a few hours in those, though. Lamb's Conduit Street in Holborn is lovely and you can also pop down to Seven Dials from there. Happy shopping, I'm jealous!

Fab replies thank you! I'm staying centrally so don't mind travelling a bit ..my last trip I went to Greenwich which was great... I'll
Do some research !

Colombia road market.

Islington

Isn't Columbia road market just flowers?

Anywhere particular in Islington chickadee?

If you've got a few hours, Spitalfields and surrounds is a good bet. What day of the week after you going? Different markets different days: l love the junk / antiques - that's on Thursdays I think.
There are plenty of other nice places suggested above - Marylebone High St is another - but they won't keep you occupied for that long.

Columbia Rd itself has some really nice shops too (but maybe not open in the first part of the week).
Broadway Market is great on a Saturday but fairly quiet in the week.

Columbia Rd flower market is only Sundays

Thanks so much all... spitalfields looks lovely actually

If you fancy Spitalfields you could go to The Old Truman brewery as well ( although very hipstery)

www.trumanbrewery.com/

As others have said, Spitalfields/Redchurch Street and Lamb's Conduit Street/Rugby Street (Persephone Books, Ben Pentreath and that lovely jewellery shop the name of which I forget).
Marylebone High Street more mainstream but still nice for browsing (and Daunt Books is the best bookshop in the world!).
For art, you're better browsing around Bond Street/Cork Street/St James's - a wealth of little galleries and something always catches your eye.

I’m thinking of the shops in Colombia road

katy123Maggie Owen. Used to be French’s Dairy.

Primrose Hill, St Martin in the fields, Anthropologie on Oxford Street, quite close to H&M home

Brick Lane, Upper Street, portobello market, V&A museum shop, borough market, Fortnums & Masons, Burlington arcade

Yep, another vote for Spittalfields market on a Sunday. It's wonderful!

Marylebone high street
Camden market
Primrose hill
Around Holborn

Neals yard

Yes

Oops posted too soon. Yes to neals yard Covent Garden

Bermondsey Sq Market (on a Friday) for antiques and Maltby St Market (for food) nearby.

Islington: Camden Passage and Upper Street (which is very long if you go the full length). Take the Tube to Angel. There are mainstream shops near the station too.

Camden Passage is a quaint narrow street with old shops. Home to Loop (upmarket knitting shop, closed Mondays), Paul Young upmarket chocolate shop, a couple of antique clothes shops, various other independent shops and antiques stalls.

Upper Street has a fantastic Oxfam bookshop and loads of independent shops, small chains and places to eat. All very middle class.