A stroll around Primrose Hill
While most people emerge into Camden via the melee of Camden Town tube station, we'd suggest alighting at the calmer Chalk Farm (which is also a doozy of a station when it comes to glossy green tiles). From here, amble your way towards Primrose Hill Park, via the chocolate-box-gorgeous Chalcot Crescent. If this pastel-hued sweep of townhouses looks familiar, it's probably because of the Paddington films. And it's at this point you realise just how moneyed the Brown family must be. Well, they do have a housekeeper after all...
Arrive at Primrose Hill soon after, and embrace the morning air with a leisurely stroll, being sure to head to the tippy-top of the park, where one of THE London panoramas awaits. Drink it all in, from Canary Wharf to Battersea Power Station, while nimbly ducking out of other people's selfie shots. Disclaimer: weather and visibility may vary.
Elevenses at Primrose Bakery
Time for a coffee, and more importantly, cake. Join the canal at the bottom of Primrose Hill, where you'll find a free taster of London Zoo courtesy of the Snowdon Aviary, which looms over the canal and is home to eastern black-and-white colobus monkeys.
Then amble along the towpath (swerving the occasional speeding cyclist), turning off at Gloucester Avenue, where you'll find the Primrose Bakery and its much-celebrated cupcakes (flavours include lemon meringue, custard cream, apple crumble, bubblegum and Crunchie). Park yourself on a table outside with an espresso.
This is a sponsored inclusion on behalf of The Camden Collection.
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Drift around Camden Market
Back to the canal, which'll soon lead you, via the scenic route, into the throbbing heart of Camden Town, namely Camden Market. A magnet for tourists — and ensconced in a fug of nag champa — the market is nonetheless a Camden must-do. While many of London's markets have ancient origins, Camden Town's is relatively fresh-faced: it first opened on 30 March 1974 with just 16 traders selling antiques, jewellery and the like. Nowadays, Camden Market is awash with hundreds of vendors hawking anything and everything: CBD gummies, Moomins, ukuleles...
Everyone will find something that tickles their fancy, but here are a few pointers from us:
📚 Rifle through the tomes at Boom Cat Books
🐎 Dive into the multi-level labyrinth that is Stables Market and pick up some vintage threads or jewellery
🥳 Have a daytime rave at Cyberdog
🥾Get the Camden look, with a pair of Dr. Martens (they're designed right here in Camden)
💿 Sift through the 12-inches at Camden Lock Vinyl
📷 Get your pic with the Amy Winehouse statue
🍸 Buy a bottle of Half Hitch Gin, distilled in Camden Market and which recalls the old distilleries that once operated here
Do lunch
Lunchtime! And you're already in the right place for it. Camden Market and its surrounds are awash with pretty much any cuisine you might care to dream up. Remember, apart from the spread of outlets to the west of Camden High Street, you've now got Hawley Wharf a smidge to the east — a whole other food court brimming with goodies. Do your own exploring, but if you're struggling to decide, here are a few tips from us:
🧀 The cheesiest, freshest bowl of pasta you're likely to encounter this side of Florence, from The Cheese Wheel
🌯 Make like a Mexican (in Malton) at Yorkshire Burrito
🥦 Tuck into reliably excellent vegan dishes at Mildreds Camden
🥢 Chow on some of the best Cantonese char sui you've had in this country at Three Uncles
🍨 Scoff a ludicrously dramatic/unctuous ice cream from Chin Chin Labs
As of late September 2024, Boxpark Camden is also flinging open its doors, with even more foodie options.
Check out some art
Time for some culture. Camden feels like you've stepped into one big art project, not least because of the whacking great 3D signs — ranging from Indian elephants to a pair of lips smoking a cigarette — adorning many of the frontages on Camden High Street. Commercial they may be, but they're most certainly art too, and deserve the attention of your camera. There's an interesting story behind these signs too.
The al fresco art doesn't end there: from Amy Winehouse to robotic dogs, it's well worth wandering around the hood to see what you can find.
After classic gallery vibes? Head to the Cob Gallery for free exhibitions.
Go for a pint in a classic Camden pub
🦌 The Hawley Arms for living your best/worst Baby Reindeer life (this is the boozer where Donny works — it's also pretty famous for its links with sundry rock 'n' roll stars)
🐑 Sheephaven Bay for footy scarves draped from the ceiling, and the best pint of Guinness in Camden
🏴 The Edinboro Castle for one of the most sizeable beer gardens in north London — some of it covered, too
🧊 The Ice Wharf for sub-£4 pints beneath willow trees overlooking the canal
🍺 3 Locks Brewery for beer brewed fresh under the arches
🎸 The Good Mixer for old skool Britpop vibes, haunted by the ghosts (or corporeal forms) of Jarvis Cocker, Damon Albarn and Liam Gallagher. (Apparently this is where the whole Oasis Vs Blur feud kicked off.) You could also stick around for a gig to start up in the Good Mixer's back room, speaking of which...
Go to a gig
With a couple of bevvies sunk, it's time to head to a gig, and by jove does Camden have one or two (hundred) of these every night of the year...
🎸Get sweaty to indie and rock at Dingwalls or the Dublin Castle
⭐Go see legends play in stunning surroundings at either KOKO (Mornington crescent) or Roundhouse (Chalk Farm)
🎻 Jig along to folk music at Cecil Sharp House
🎷 Nod your head sagaciously to Charles Mingus and Ella Fitzgerald covers at Camden Jazz Cafe
🤘 Bang your head furiously to heavy metal at the Underworld or the Black Heart (if you're going to the latter we (black) heartedly suggest you order some vegan Buffalo chicken wings — they rock!
🎵 Take things slow with an acoustic set and vegan scran at Green Note
Other ideas for another day in Camden
There's no way you can do Camden justice in one day. Here are few more things you might consider on a return trip:
🦁 Spend the day at London Zoo (you'll need a few hours for this one)
🛥️ Take a ride along the canal on the Waterbus (it stops just outside Camden Market), go for a self-steered pooter around the canals in a GoBoat or set out on a paddling expedition along the canal, from the Pirate Castle
😂 Giggle away at Camden Comedy Club, or see some pub theatre at Etcetera Theatre above the Oxford Arms
🎡 Treat the kids to an afternoon out at Babylon Park
🥪 Have a picnic in Regent's Park
👀 Go in search of these Camden oddities
