About Camden
Camden Area Guide
One of the cultural melting pots of the capital, Camden is a hive of bustling market stalls and trendy hangouts. The fourth most visited tourist attraction in the UK, this energetic area of London is more than just rabbit warrens of market stalls and street food. With an abundance of places of interest and local history, it is the perfect mix of a busy shopping destination, with bountiful food and drink locations and pretty residential streets and mewses.
Shopping in Camden
Most well-known for its offering of shops and the amalgamation of six markets to form an attractive and alternative shopping destination, there is an array of crafts, antiques and all means of treasures to be found in Camden Market. Everything from Vintage and retro fashions to unique and quirky handmade products including jewellery to curiosities, there is definitely something for everyone. Camden also benefits from good transport links in to London’s West End and Westfield Stratford or Westfield Shepherds Bush.
Eating & Drinking in Camden
For all things dining and drinking in the area, the offering is as diverse as the crowds that the area attracts, there is no shortage of good pubs such as the famous Hawley Arms Camden situated right next to the market to the enviable location of the Princess of Wales near Primrose Hill. The Market offers amazing street food to tempt your taste buds if you’re eating on the go, but there are other diverse dining options such as the trendy ‘Blues Kitchen’ on Camden High Street (which is also home to London’s largest Whiskey collection) to ‘Shaka Zulu’ situated in the centre of ‘The Stables’ over an impressive 27,000 square feet offering a dining experience of South African inspired food, dancing and live music.
Parks and Green Spaces in and around Camden
Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill are the most popular nearby parks and, away from the busy streets, St Martin’s Gardens has recently undergone refurbishment and has a children’s playground and provides a green haven of recreational space and is a popular lunchtime spot for locals.
Transport in Camden
Camden Tube Station is serviced by the Northern Line and is situated within Zone 2. Camden Road is on the Overground with regular trains to Stratford. Camden is well served by commuter bus routes including six 24-hour buses the 27,88,134,214, C2 and the No24 (London’s oldest bus route, unchanged since 1912!)
Schools and Education in Camden
Primary Schools
- Hawley Primary School
- North Bridge House (Prep)
- The Cavendish School Secondary Schools
- Camden School for Girls
- Maria Fidelis Catholic School
- Regent High School
Property in Camden
With elegant Georgian houses and smaller Victorian terraces, the Camden area is attractive to professionals (particularly within the creative industries). Albert Street and Arlington Road are favourable locations with immaculate four-storey Georgian properties with private gardens and of course excellent transport links. There are some notable new developments appearing on the Camden landscape, providing exquisite homes for discerning purchasers.
And now for a bit of History on Camden
Camden Town stands on the land that once formed the manor of Kentish Town, with the railways and canals emerging in 1820 the area transformed and welcomed industries such as piano manufacturers, gin distilleries and wine merchants. The introduction of these businesses meant a boom in the need for residences within the immediate area, along with public houses, theatres and cinemas and an accumulation of different cultures and backgrounds which led to the modern day Camden that is so well known and loved.
Business partners, Dr Bill Fulford and Peter Wheeler founded the original Camden Market in 1972 at the location of an old timber yard and was London’s first craft and antique markets which now attracts over 28 million people a year and is still a go-to place for unique artisan creativity and trading.