London Neighbourhoods: Our Guide to Camden

Here's our guide to Camden; home to a quirky market, tasty street food and winding Little Venice canals. Read on to find out our neighbourhood favourites.

Published: July 17, 2024
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There's always something to do and see in Camden, whether you're combing the markets for amazing handmade jewellery or grabbing a bite to eat at a hidden gem street food stall. With so much going on, we've narrowed the highlights down for visitors below.

Things to do

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London Zoo Wander over to Regent's Park and enter London's own animal kingdom, away from the bustling city. Filled with varied enclosures ranging from chilly Penguin Beach to the walk-through spider enclosure BUGS exhibit, explore and meet over 750 different animal species.

There are a number of special activities for visitors including an animal encounter accompanied by zoo keepers, photography courses, and even the option to stay overnight at Gir Lion Lodge, just a stone's throw from the zoo's sleeping lions. 

Camden Market There's not a single London tour guide that doesn't mention this vibrant market, full of colourful stalls and characters. With over a thousand different stores, stalls, bars, and restaurants to explore, Camden Market has been open since 1974 and continues to thrive to this day. With everything from sunglasses to hot chocolate, there's something for everyone here.

Little Venice

Jason's Original Canal Boat Trip See Camden from the water on an authentic canal boat, trailing along the canal between Little Venice and Camden. A tour guide accompanies the Little Venice to Camden route, providing information about the 108-year-old boat, the surrounding area and the history of the original Regent's Canal tour. For those who want to take in the scenery without the commentary, hop on the boat going towards Little Venice from Camden. 

The Roundhouse Camden lives and breathes creativity, so it's no surprise that it has its own performing arts space. There's always a live performance at The Roundhouse, a theatre whose main mission is to promote arts and creativity with young people, and their shows feature spoken word artists, musicians and more. Have a look on their site for their current lineup and arrive early to grab a drink at one of their bars. 

The Jewish Museum Founded in 1932, the Jewish Museum of London celebrates Jewish life, culture and heritage from 1066 to the present day. Whether you're part of the Jewish community or not, it's a fascinating museum filled with key objects and artefacts of historical and modern Jewish life as well as exhibitions and interactive displays.

Currently, you can visit the Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait exhibition and learn about the woman behind the music. Featuring a collection of her personal belongings, it's an up-close and personal exploration of the real Amy Winehouse.

Things to eat

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KERB Camden KERB specialises in street food markets and they've set up a forever home in Camden Market, just a little walk away from the main hustle. Located by the water, it's picturesque and worth a visit after you've tuckered yourself out in the main throng. The 34 food stalls range from the classics to the truly adventurous - Swedish, Mexican and Korean fusion tacos anyone? 

Poppies You can't come to the U.K. and not have fish and chips. Poppies is one of our favourite places to indulge ourselves with a charming, retro vibe inspired by the founder's childhood. Using only sustainable seafood caught by their in-house fishmonger, their menu not only serves fish and chips but other seafood dishes, as well as delicious rotisserie chicken.

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Megan Hills
London Travel Expert

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All About the Thames River Boat Cruise

As you plan out your trip to London, you won't want to miss out on a Thames River boat cruise. It's simply a must-do. Whether you're interested in a sightseeing tour or a dinner cruise, there are plenty of Thames River cruise options. Where does the Thames River Boat Cruise leave from? And where does it go? The boat departs from four locations: Westminster Embankment London Bridge Tower Bridge To validate your ticket, you'll start from one of these four locations between 10am-6pm. The boat tour has 23 stops - and much like the London Underground, it has different zones through West, Central and East London. If you're rding the full length of the river from west to east, you'll travel from Putney Pier to Barking Riverside Pier. Starting in West London, you will travel through Wandsworth, Chelsea Harbour and Battersea Power Station. See the London Eye, Westminster and London Bridge, before travelling towards East London. You'll pass through Canary Wharf and Greenwich before arriving at Barking Riverside. Most of the piers are wheelchair accessible, and many have nearby Santander Cycle stations for easy commuting. How much does it cost? The hop-on hop-off Uber Boat by Thames Clipper normally sets you back: Adult River Roamer: £24.60 Child/Concession River Roamer: £12.30 Family River Roamer: £49.20 However, it’s included with The London Pass® How often do the boats run? The boats run every 10-20 minutes at key London piers. The service operates every day of the year except for Christmas Day. Make sure to check the latest timetable for the most up-to-date information. How do I use The London Pass®  to board a hop-on hop-off cruise? Simply show The London Pass® at the ticket office at one of the four main entry points. You will receive a 24 hour hop-on hop-off ticket. The 24 hours starts at the time you receive this ticket from a City Cruise ticket office. What are the boats like? All boats have an indoor lower deck, while most have an open-air upper deck, giving you unimpeded views as you sail by lots of iconic London sights. What can I see from the boat? From the comfort of the sightseeing boat, you can see many of London’s most famous buildings and cherished landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tate Modern, Cutty Sark and The Shard. If I get a return ticket, do I need to stay on the boat for the return journey or can I disembark? You don’t need to stay on the boat. You can disembark, explore the area and get on a later boat for your return journey. Just be sure to check that the service will still be running! Are the sightseeing boats fully accessible for people in wheelchairs? Most of the boats are, with a maximum of two spaces for wheelchairs. It’s best to call the reservation team to check which services will be best for you. You can reach them on +44 (0)207 7400 400. Their hours at 8am - 6pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am - 4pm on weekends and bank holidays. Are the sightseeing boats heated? Yes, they all are, and all Thames River Boat Cruise boats have indoor seating. Can I get food and drink on board? You can. There’s a bar onboard all sightseeing boats offering hot and cold drinks, snacks and sandwiches. Is there an audio guide? There is a live or recorded commentary in English on board all sightseeing cruises. This is entirely complimentary. Is the guided tour available in other languages besides English? Yes, you can get an audio guide in seven other languages: Italian, French, German, Russian, Japanese, Spanish and Chinese. Pick up your free audio guide from the bar aboard the boat. Can I bring a bike aboard? No, unfortunately not, but kids' scooters are allowed aboard a Thames River Boat Cruise. Experience everything London has to offer with The London Pass® Planning your London trip? With The London Pass®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50%, compared to buying individual attraction tickets. ✈️ Buy The London Pass®✈️
Matthew Pearson
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