Shopping at flea markets

"With a history stretching back hundreds of years, there's a good chance you'll find a souvenir or two while shopping at one of England's flea markets." One man's garbage is another man's treasure, as the saying goes. If you have the effort and patience, second-hand shopping at markets in England can be a true delight, from antique silverware to Elizabethan and Victorian-era apparel and dusty, leather-bound books.

Although some of the major fairs are only held a few times a year, the greatest time to go treasure hunting in England's flea markets is all year round. Some of the best places in London for antique collectors to explore include Portobello Road in Notting Hill (books, silverware, jewelry), Chatsworth Road Market in Clapton (furniture, books), and Alexandra Palace in Wood Green (art deco design, vintage clothing & accessories).

Going a little further afield, the Peterborough Festival of Antiques in Cambridgeshire is held twice a year, the Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair in Nottinghamshire attracts home decor fans (up to 6 times a year), and Sunbury Antiques Market in Sunbury-on-Thames is popular with young people looking to decorate their flats with unique,'shabby chic' pieces (held twice monthly on Tuesdays). Many antique roadshows and fairs require a nominal admission price, while ordinary weekly markets are free and open to serious vendors, frequent meanderers, and curious passers-by."