Greenwich Market in London has been in operation since the 14th century, although it was not officially granted a charter until much later. Lord Romney assigned a 1000 year charter to run a market in town to the Greenwich Hospital in 1700, and they have managed things ever since.

In August 2009 the town council voted down Greenwich Hospital's plan to redevelop the market, so for at least the foreseeable future, the Greenwich Market will continue on.

Greenwich Market operates in an area of the town called the Island Site. The market itself is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Wednesdays are the day for produce and homewares, while on Thursdays and Fridays the market specialises in antiques and collectibles. The weekend stalls tend to carry more arts and crafts and a variety of meals and snacks are available then, too. The market is well known for its arts and crafts market on the weekend, which was established in 1985.

One thing that has set this market apart over the years from some other London markets is the consistent effort that they have made to ensure the high quality of their merchandise. The preference is always for original goods, preferably sold by their makers.

There are also stalls with high quality fair trade imported goods, so when you buy arts and crafts from Greenwich Market you can be reasonably sure that your items are made with care in an ethical atmosphere. These kind of scrupulous management practises also mean that you are unlikely to see the same items anywhere, so the things you buy here will be entirely unique.

This dedication to bringing visitors a singular experience extends to the food stalls, as well. You can find Nigerian, Japanese, or Turkish food here.

Hungry customers can sample Vietnamese Pho, Argentinian grilled chicken sandwiches, or Brazilian rib-eye steak. The Hog Roast is quite nice, featuring free-range pork raised in nearby Essex.

Greenwich Market in London is a market like no other, and definitely worth the trip.

Visiting Greenwich Market

College Approach, SE10 9HZ

Telephone: 020 8293 3110

Email chris.smith@urban-space.co.uk

Photo courtesy: yisris

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