Here’s another flash tip on what to do in London over the week-end: visit Camden Town. It’s a must if you haven’t been there yet, for the unique vintage, retro and brand bargains, for some rock & roll, and of course, for food and drink from all over the world. It may easily become one of your regular haunts 🙂
I’m a city girl all the way, not big on the hiking, biking, climbing side of life. When I want to relax, I often just stay in, listening to music, watching movies or favourite shows. Still, come the weekend, London always manages to lure me out of my shell. It prompts me to visit either one of a handful fave spots or to do a bit of exploring.
In high summer, it’s often the green spaces and amazing pub gardens I wrote about last time that provide said attraction. But there are other important lures like Camden Town, with its hugely eclectic, vintage-gothic-boho tribe vibes. That said, those who want to relax in a sleek, modern environment with a minimal aesthetic, stay clear. To anyone else, I suggest you dip your toes in and get your own scoop of what’s on offer. I guarantee that, whatever it is you find you like here, it will pull you back in, time and again. So, let’s see what the big deal is about the crazy quilt that is Camden Town, for me at least.
Camden shopping: retro & vintage heaven
From the shops and the million stalls of Camden Lock market, through the edgy niche boutiques along Camden High Street to a variety of clothing and accessories brand outlets, you find all kinds of unique stuff at good prices.
Camden is a great source if you’re on the hunt for vintage clothing or items from local small designers and artists. If you’re looking for costume or party stuff, again you’ve come to the right place. Rock band tees, punk essentials, gothic outfits, rare Doc Martens finds, everything new, vintage and retro – you name it, Camden Town has it.
For us, adding to our personal collection of vinyl records is part of the fun. If that’s your thing, peek into the record store called ‘Out on the Floor’ on Inverness Street (where there’s also a local market).
Eating in Camden: world foodie heaven
If you’re just rushing by on a quick mission, don’t let yourself get too distracted. Grab a sandwich and gobble it down while walking. However, if you really want to enjoy this neighbourhood, Camden Lock Market is the ideal stopover. Pick what looks and smells best at one of the dozens of food and coffee stalls. Authentic Caribbean or Argentine meat plates, followed by Ethiopian coffee, anyone? Tried and tested: simply amazing.
You may know I’m a huge fan of traditional, rustic British pubs and local ales. Camden Town, unfortunately, does not boast the best choice in that department. Still, there are a few spots you can drop in to ease those cravings – I can report Elephant’s Head and The World’s End will serve nicely.
The right kind of casual look
When I want to be comfortable all the way but don’t want to compromise on style, I often choose a monochrome look. A black, white and grey outfit has a way to appear smarter and somehow more polished than anything else. Here I wore my old fave black washed slim bootcut jeans, a fine white t-shirt, a soft grey casual military jacket and a cool black metallic messenger bag. The twist I really liked was the satin stripe tie, worn as a belt to shake things up a bit.
The verdict
Camden Town is perfect for getting your weekly dose of colour, swarming crowds, style, treasure hunt, good food, drinks, music and other sensory attacks. Yep, it often has that distinctly dirty-sticky feel that you want to avoid when you need zen-style chill-out time. But, hey, we’re still in the city, and you can get that festival feel without all the mud. Just make sure you’re dressed comfortably and don’t be overly picky about the conditions in tourist-ridden coffee shops and bathrooms. Camden Town is life itself, in all its busy ways, tribal vibes and swirling colours. For one, I love how the way Camden High Street shop facades tend to look like a pair of rough, worn-in, over-customised Dr. Martens boots in patchwork suede 🙂
Cheers, G
jacket: Aboriginal
jeans: Mango
top: Gap
tie, worn as a belt: C&A
bag: Primark
