Walthamstow Market - popular market for all

Want a taste of street life? Head for Walthamstow.

Walthamstow hosts the longest street market in Europe, straggling along Walthamstow High Street for more than half a mile. With about 500 different stalls, it has everything - clothes, greengrocery, tools, toys, even bathroom taps.

It's very much a locals' market - not aimed at the tourist trade. Unlike some of London's other markets, you're not likely to find one-off craft items, fine patisserie or anti ques (though there is a farmers' market near the town hall on Saturdays).

You're more likely to find cut price confectionery, pile-em-high-sell-em-cheap shirts, and knocked down mp3 players. Budget items are the order of the day.

So maybe not somewhere to look for souvenirs - but of course you can have fun people watching.

And the market also reflects Walthamstow's heritage. Tubby Isaac's stall is a true Cockney tradition, selling whelks and other seafood. More recent arrivals from Pakistan and India and the Caribbean have brought their own flavours to the market - you can find sari silks, for instance, or salwar kameez - the Pakistani 'trouser suit'.

I like Walthamstow. It's got some of the same feel as Whitechapel with its higgledy piggledy stalls strung out along the side of the main road, or Roman Road in Bow - but it's much bigger than either. A great place to spend a morning watching life going on around you.

Where: Walthamstow High Street (Walthamstow Central, on the Victoria Line)

When: Thurs-Sat 9-4