North London Food & Culture

Top 10 Xmas Shopping Guide: Camden Lock Market


Brush off Camden Lock Market as a tourist-only ghetto at your peril. For those in the know, it’s currently brimming with all sorts of unique boutiques. And for those who find the whole festive consumer thing a chore, we can’t honestly think of another one-stop-shop destination (let alone one withing walking distance) that does it all quite so effectively and painlessly.

So with another of the late opening Night Markets swinging into action this evening, complete with street food and jolly festive fixings, we’re back with the last of our Christmas shopping guides, following on from the rather popular Kentish Town and St. Pancras editions.

Here, in no particular order, are 10 of the best little places to bag some ace stocking fillers or score a special something for a special someone.


LOCAL ADVERTISING


1. Books Iconica

Simply the best destination to find a little prezzie for your favourite Penguin book fetishist. It’s an intimate little spot, but still packs in shelves of vintage and new paperbacks (main pic above), plus all kinds of effortlessly cool paraphernalia sporting that distinctive orange logo. Boxed sets, Scrabble mugs (arranged in an amusingly sweary fashion on our visit), quality stocking fillers from the decent kids range or witty tea towels and travel trinkets for well-read grownups. It’s such a lovely place to indulge in real, traditional shopping it’s sure to make you regret that faceless online order you placed last week too. Lower Market Hall

2. Sugacandipop

A great concept that started here as a pop-up shop and has blossomed into a flourishing full-time business. Hand-stitched dolls are customised to look like your nearest and dearest (or can simply be bought ‘off the peg’ if the choosing from the extensive range of clothing and hair colours proves a bit daunting in the midst of a present-buying spree). We think they make the ideal gifts for young twins/siblings where duplication of presents is a festive peace-keeping requirement. Similarly an original and amusing present for newlyweds. Customised Xmas stockings and decorations on offer too. Dingwalls Gallery, Camden Lock Place

3. Jalal Leather

Market stall bags and belts can be synonymous with designer fakes or simply cheap tat, but not so in Camden Lock, where real leather craftsmen will create bespoke Christmas presents while you wait. Jalal is one such skilled operator who can be found up on the mezzanine floor. Pick from a big choice of belt buckles, shades of leather etc or select something bigger from a rail groaning with gorgeously soft, handmade bags that won’t break the bank either. Upper Market Hall

4. Killer Bunny

How about some warped comic urban art for your loved one this year? Artist Jeff Michalik sketches and paints canvases daily at his stall, and sells his own prints and originals while he’s at it. His Xmas themed work is suitably deranged. ‘I thought; what would happen if Rudolph got really pissed off?’ he says of this piece (pictured). Alongside manic Santas and hardcore interpretations of usually friendly cartoon characters come dangerous vixens, consuming monsters and of course that signature Killy Bunny himself. 54-56 Camden Lock Place

5. Heavenly Monsters

A shop of ‘hellishly good children’s clothing’, with baby and toddler clothes sourced from small designers in Europe and this country, you aren’t likely to have seen much of it before. Think soft, snow white baby sleeping bags, creepy-crawly babygrows, Batman–eared capes and hoodies, felt fox booties, dungarees and an awesome kids duffle coat. Nick, who owns the place, is ever helpful and will pack your purchases in a rather lovely canvas bag too. Pictured is one of their natty little festive numbers. 47 West Yard

6. Lorarty Jewellery

There’s obviously plenty of jewellery to be found glittering in and around the Lock, but we suggest scratching beneath the surface of the main drag to discover the more distinctive designers if you seek true Xmas prezzie originality. Highly pure copper, brass, silver or chrome twisted around semi-precious stones is what Emin is renowned for. He’s been perfecting his own style for over 12 years, starting in Istanbul and founding this, his first permanent shop, in 2009. Metals seem to become fluid in his hands, resulting in warped, spiralled broaches, necklaces, rings and more. 6B Camden Lock Place

7. Village Games

A firm fixture in the Lock for decades, this atmospheric corner shop, piled floor to ceiling with traditional and modern games and gismos, is prime Xmas shopping territory. Hundreds of packs of cards, from branded movie tie-ins to ornate tarot decks line one shelf, traditional big-box board games occupy a whole wall, and it’s the place to replenish lost dice or game pieces just in time for the annual Boxing Day family tournament. Magic tricks, unusual books, magnetic puzzles; Santa himself must surely be a regular. 65 West Yard

8. Forms

For the discerning urbanite in your life, find your way upstairs along the boardwalk of Camden Lock Market and then down a couple of steps to Forms. It’s small, but perfectly formed and filled with classy accessories, like leather camera straps and slick iPad covers. It has pretty crockery and kitchen bits and bobs, nicely bound notebooks and a cabinet of delicate jewellery. Just browsing is a pleasure. Unit 16 Camden Lock Place

9. Rokit

Although Rokit is not strictly in the Lock (OK, it’s actually on the high street), or unique to Camden (there are two branches in the east and one in Covent Garden), it is one of the best vintage shops in the area. Buy for the teens and hipsters on your list and sift through the Scandi-style chunky knits (think The Killing), cosy cashmere jumpers, and a host of stocking fillers in the form of blingy jewellery, silly sunglasses, hats and handbags. It is very reasonably priced and the stock is carefully chosen and constantly changing. Head upstairs for the £7 bargains, if only to replenish your dressing up box. 225 Camden High Street

10. Wee Clothing

Toddler gifts are a no-brainer as long as they are cute and colourful. In fact the main problem is holding yourself back from buying everything. The bibs, hats, tees and more on this regular Camden stall are just the ticket. Complete with cute, hand-stitched felt icons, their range of bold and ever popular designs is currently joined by plenty of Xmas-themed ones too. Various pitch locations in West Yard

Words: Tom Kihl & Georgia Grimond
Pics: Tom Kihl


1 thought on “Top 10 Xmas Shopping Guide: Camden Lock Market”

Leave a Comment

1 thought on “Top 10 Xmas Shopping Guide: Camden Lock Market”

Leave a Comment

About Kentishtowner

The award-winning print and online title Kentishtowner was founded in 2010 and is part of London Belongs To Me, a citywide network of travel guides for locals. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section.