Spitalfields Market (right) is a vibrant indoor market. You can find all sorts of weird and wonderful things at the market, from trendy clothes to retro handbags, contemporary artwork and funky items for the home.

Inside there is an international organic food hall, 2nd hand books, music, clothes, costumes, hats and props, ornaments, art and antiques (The antiques market takes place every Thursday). There are plenty of places to eat and drink all under the same roof.

Spitalfields Market is open all year round and attracts over 25,000 people a week. The market runs from Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm and on Sundays, the busiest trading day from 9am - 5pm.

You can get there by Bus: numbers 8, 242, 149 and 67; by Underground: Central, Hammersmith and City, District, Circle and Metropolitan lines and by Train: Liverpool Street British Rail with all Great Eastern services.

Petticoat Lane, London's oldest and best known market was established over 400 years ago and still attracts visitors from all across the globe. The Huguenots who travelled to London from France sold pettitcoats and lace here but the prudish Victorians changed the name of the Lane and market, as they did not like the reference to women's underclothes!

The market is held in Wentworth Street on Monday - Friday, and spreads out to encompass 10 separate trading streets, including Middlesex Street on Sundays. There are bargains galore, including clothes, leather goods, watches and toys, so there's no need to wait for the sales and you can soak up the atmosphere, the bustle and banter of the traders and colour characters.

Roman Road Market (right) is placed on one of the oldest known trade routes into the UK, located in the heart of the East End the market sells 'the very best' in food, clothes, arts and crafts, home and garden wares and much more at knock down prices. First started in 1843 it remains big and colourful, sprawling its way down the length of Roman Road.

You can buy fruit and veg, hardware, shoes, fabric and much more at bargain prices. Situated on the oldest known trade route in Britain, the road to Colchester, the market is particularly well known for its 'cabbages' - not the vegetable, but a massive range of new clothes, seconds and discontinued lines. Within the market there is a traditional East End eatery -The Pie and Mash Shop. On Saturday lunchtimes, scores of shoppers queue for this traditional meal.

The market is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays 9am-5:30pm. You can get there by Bus: 8, S2 go to or near Roman Road Markets. Mile End or Bow Road Tube are the closest tubes and are about 12 minutes walk from Roman Road. If travelling by bus the 25, 205, 277, 323, 339, D6 and D7 all serve Mile End and Bow Road.

Columbia Road Market (left), a street flower market, is situated in the heart of Shoreditch, on the path between the City of London and the East End of London. It is famous for the bustling Sunday morning market which is cheap and crowded offering rare finds, bargains, lots of flowers and a seating area.

The market is in operation from 8 am to 2 pm. Traders arrive from 4 am every Sunday morning to set up their stalls. A wide range of plants, bedding plants, shrubs, bulbs and freshly cut flowers are available at competitive prices.

The market lies some distance from Liverpool Street station and Bethnal Green tube station and Old Street tube station; but is well served by bus routes 26, 48 and 55. Shoreditch High Street railway station will open in 2010.

Parking restrictions and over-eager traffic wardens make parking near the market difficult. One solution is to park free of charge on the Hackney side of Hackney Road where traffic wardens do not operate on a Sunday.

The market also has a number of shops selling bread and cheeses, antiques and garden accessories. There are also a number of outlets selling unusual international edibles, soap, candlesticks and Buddhist artefacts. There is a regular stall selling 'Columbia Carriers'; a cheap plastic/fabric bag with a large flat base (ideal for carrying trays of plants). What's more the steet is now home to a traditional sweet shop, selling such things as Army and Navy, Sherbet dabs, Black Jacks and Coltsfoot rock SUCK & CHEW at number 130.

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              Email: julie@shoreditchlife.com