Camden High Street is bright and bustling and has a real youthful and trendy vibe. At its centre are the Regent’s Canal/Camden Lock, and the extensive surrounding markets offering more than 1000 stalls with cafes, bars and shops. The lock itself was built in 1820 on the Regent’s Canal, which allowed goods to be transported from the London docks to the rest of the country. Interestingly, Stable market is the site of mid-nineteenth century stables which accomodated over 800 working horses which pulled barges and wagons. As the importance of the canals decreased, Camden declined but from the 1970’s, it rose as a hub for alternative culture, artists, deigners and musicians with famous music venues like the Dingwalls which became epicentres for the punk and rock scenes hosting bands like the Clash, The Sex Pistols and Blondie. Recent years have seen expansion of the market and massive investment in the historic canal-side area.

If you’re visiting Camden there is a fabulous walk all along the Rengent’s Canal to pretty Little Venice and Paddington Station. If you want to, you can also leave the canal at the top of Regent’s Park and walk south to tour the parks meadows and lake, or alternatively north up Primrose Hill with its famous view and charming shops and colourful houses.

You can also walk the other direction along the canal to King’s Cross and visit the atmospheric warehouse shops of Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square.