Markets And Shopping Events: April 2014

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 120 months ago
Markets And Shopping Events: April 2014

It’s easy to get caught up in the large shopping centres and accessible chain stores that London has to offer. But look a little further and there are plenty of one-off shopping events too. We’ve rounded up the best pop-up shops, markets and fairs that are happening in London this month.

North London Vintage Market happens on 5 April

Pop-Up Shops

Have you ever wanted to run your own pop-up shop? Croydon Council is giving entrepreneurs a chance to win help with launching their own pop-up shop or project, funded by the Mayor of London’s riot regeneration fund. The deadline for applying is 31 March, so get in quick. More details here.

Online gallery Scream Editions has a pop-up store in Foubert's Place, Carnaby, which is open until 18 April

Boxpark makes way for new brands this summer. Swedish Hasbeens arrived in early March for six months. Footwear brand Solillas, which hails from the sunnier climes of the Balearic Islands and sells handmade sandals, moves in for the summer from 1 April. Plus, from 6 April, every Sunday afternoon will see Busk The Box, a live acoustic event, taking place at the new event space outside Shoreditch station.

At possibly our favourite pop-up shop to date, commuters will be able to buy limited edition prints from Print Shop, which will be Art on the Underground's temporary home in Piccadilly Circus underground station. 8-19 April

Wasted Chic holds a one-day pop-up sale at McQueen cocktail bar in Shoreditch on 12 April. The focus is on up-and-coming London designers, with men and womenswear and accessories available to purchase. Hair stylists and make-up artists will also be on hand to offer beauty advice and makeover. Best of all, nothing is over £100. Free, 12.30pm-5pm

Gourmet food company Melrose & Morgan open a pop-up shop in Selfridge's from 17 April.

Events and Sample Sales

Chosen Wedding Fair in Islington. Photo by Caroline Hancox.

Foodies, rejoice. Selfridge's has a Tastes of Spring event taking place in store on 27 March, giving you the option to try some of its food products before you buy, including Peggy Porschen cakes. 6pm-8.30pm

Menswear designer Matthew Miller is holding an archive and sample sale in Palmer's Road, Mile End on 29 March. It's cash only, so stop off at an ATM on the way. 11am-4pm

Upmarket jewellery and accessories brand MAWI is holding a sample sale at its headquarters near Dalston Junction on 4 April, from 9am-8pm

Fenwicks on Bond Street offers customers a chance to Shop With The Stars on 10 April. Celebrities including Joanna Lumley, Sheila Hancock, Emilia Fox, Jim Carter and Julian Fellowes will be manning the store to raise funds for charity Acting For Others, with Christopher Biggins on the tannoy. Prebook via the website, 6pm-8pm

Fashion retailer Peter Jensen holds a menswear, womenswear and accessories sample sale with discounts of up to 90% at the Peter Jensen Studio in Dalston. 11 (3pm-8pm) and 12 April (1oam-5pm)

The Designer Warehouse Sales, which take place near Finsbury Park, used to be one of London's best kept fashion secrets, but the well-clad cat is out of the bag. This month it has a womenswear sale 4-6 April, and menswear 11-13 April

Stylist's Rail's Spring/Summer event at Hoxton Hotel is a chance to update your wardrobe with items from a curated collective of stylists, independent designers and on-trend vintage traders. There will also be DJs playing party tunes throughout the event. £10 before 12.30pm, free after, 12 April, 11.30am-5pm

With prom time coming up, Beyond Retro on Brick Lane are holding a prom night shopping event, with over 200 dresses from as little as £18. Men's prom attire will also be available, and there will be drinks and a live DJ. Open to everyone, not just prom attendees. Free, just turn up, 24 April, 6pm-8pm

The Chosen Boutique Wedding Fair takes place at the Islington Assembly Hall, offering couples the chance to organise all aspects of their wedding under one roof. £3, prebook, 27 April, 11am-4.30pm

Vintage Fairs

Frock Me!, 6 April

So Vintage London hosts a vintage fair at Spitalfields, selling fashion dating back to the 1950s, vintage wall prints, homewares, maps and books. There's also a chance to book a personal shopping appointment with a vintage stylist, and street snappers will give out £5 vouchers to the best-dressed shoppers. Free, 5 April, 11am-5pm

North London Vintage Market takes place in Crouch End, with fashion, homewares and collectables dating as far back as 1800 available to buy. These markets are always popular so it's worth getting there early to bag the best bargains. £1.50, 5 April, 10am-5pm

Bethnal Green Affordable Vintage Fair, curated by award-winning vintage maestro Judy's Vintage Fairs, has been running since 2006, and aims to keep vintage prices in the East End low. £3/£2, 6 April, 10.30am-4.30pm

Frock Me! vintage fairs pull in traders from across the UK and France, and have been rocking up in Chelsea for 10 years. After digging out a few bargains, reinvigorate at the Blackbird Tea Rooms. £4/£2, 6 April, 11am-5.30pm

This is no ordinary market. This is the mid-century market, selling all manner of 1950s memorabilia. Takes place at Rutland Grove in Hammersmith. £3, just turn up, 12 April, 10.30am-4pm

Belle's Vintage Wedding Fair brings photographers, stylists, cake decorators and other vintage style suppliers all together at Old Spitalfields Market. 26 April

Art and Craft

Asia House in New Cavendish Street hosts the Asia House Fair, a weekend event with 30+ exhibitors selling art, crafts and fashion from across Asia. A late-night shopping event on 28 March also offers live music from musicians playing the bamboo pipe and Chinese mouth organ. 28-30 March, 12pm-5pm

The fourth London Antique Rug And Textile Art Fair has rugs sourced from as far afield as Persia, India, China and Africa, including rare and beautiful antique rugs, carpets and textiles. Takes place in Marylebone, 3-6 April

The monthly Spitalfields Art Market is a chance to buy affordable art directly from up-and-coming artists, including painting and photography. Recent exhibitors have included treescape artist Gillian Beadle and internationally renowned photographer AJ Silistrie. Free, 3-6 April and 10-13 April

Wouldn't it be nice to know the story of that cushion on your sofa or gift you buy for a friend? The Spitalfields Made Locally With Love market gives shoppers a chance to buy directly from the craftspeople, and talk to them about the process of creating the product. Products include art, gifts, homeware and food. 12 April, 11am-5pm

Alexandra Palace Library is hosting a craft fair, offering handmade crafts and gift ideas. 12 April, 11am-4pm

The E17 Designers Market takes place at the Asian Centre in Walthamstow. Buy traditional and contemporary jewellery, adult and children's clothing, handbags and more from specialists in crafts such as crochet and etching. There will be live music, and refreshments from Suzie's Kitchen. Entry £2, 13 April, 2pm-6pm

Crafty Fox Markets not only offer a chance to buy unique craft products from a carefully curated set of traders (this time the guest curators include Telegraph Magazine Design Editor David Nicholls), but there are also craft workshops. These include bunting-making, screen printing, and fabric earrings workshops. At The Bussey Building in Peckham on 12-13 April (12pm-5pm) and The Dogstar in Brixton on 26 and 27 April (11pm-5pm)

DesignersMakers monthly market gives new designers a chance to increase their profile. Products include jewellery, accessories, greeting cards and artwork. This month it takes place on 19 April at Spitalfields Market. Free, 11am-5pm

Flea Markets

Hackney Flea Market

The monthly Hackney Flea Market takes place at Abney Hall in Stoke Newington on 5-6 April and offers bargain hunters a chance to buy vintage clothes, furniture and records, Scandinavian glass, handmade jewellery and more. Free, 11am-6pm

Not so much a flea market as an everything-you-could-want market, Myddleton Road Market is a new street market and community event in Wood Green, featuring international street food, artisan bread, cakes, preserves and sauces, bike repair, crafts, clothing and jewellery, charities, coffee, ice cream, face painting and busking. It launches 26 April, 10am-4pm

Books and Music

Dig A Little's record fair is a 'monthly excursion into the joys of vinyl' at the Forest Tavern in Forest Gate. Buy a record, have a beer. Merriment all round. Free, 5 April, 12pm-6pm

Berwick Street, a destination for record collectors since the 1980s, celebrates Record Store Day and the area's wealth of independent record and music shops. Live music will cheer shoppers as they rummage around for those rare and limited edition records. 19 April

New openings

Fashion designer extraordinaire Karl Lagerfeld has opened a new store in Regent Street, his biggest in Europe. It's as much a PR stunt as it is a functioning retail store — all fitting rooms have a camera to allow shoppers to take selfies, and there's a digital guest book where shoppers can leave a message for Karl himself.

Filling Pieces opened in Boxpark in late February, selling footwear and claiming to bridge the gap between Haute Couture and Street Couture.

Luxury French skincare brand Caudalie has opened its first UK-based flagship store and boutique spa in Seven Dials.

We want to keep these monthly shopping and market listings as relevant, up-to-date, and interesting as possible, and we want your input. Got any top tips, for great local markets or upcoming shopping events? Know of any pop-up shops opening soon? Leave a comment below or hit us up at hello@londonist.com.

Last Updated 26 March 2014