Camden Town

Welcome to Camden, the alternative heart of London. The neighbourhood grew up around the Regent's Canal, dug in the 1820s to bring goods from the docks of east London into the heart of the city. The old warehouses and stables that once handled horses and barges have been transformed, since the 1970s, into the famous Camden Market. Today you are walking through one of the most eclectic places in Britain: a maze of food stalls from every continent, vintage clothing, vinyl records, leather, and street art. Look out for the giant signs hanging from the buildings — boots, dragons, planes — they are a Camden tradition. Camden has long been associated with music: punk, indie and rock all flourished here, and venues like the Roundhouse and the Electric Ballroom still host major artists. A fun fact: the singer Amy Winehouse lived and recorded much of her work in this area, and a statue of her stands in the Stables Market. A practical tip: arrive hungry — the global street food at the market is generous and wildly varied. Walk down to the lock and watch the narrowboats rise and fall — you can follow the towpath west to Little Venice, or east to King's Cross. Camden does not pretend to be polished. It is loud, busy, and very much itself. That is exactly why people love it.