Romford (Greater London border, but 100 % Essex vibe) ★★★★★ 4.6 Wed & Sat 8am–4pm, Fri late-night till 7pm Free parking after 11am at The Brewery
Romford Market is one of the biggest and oldest in the south-east – trading since 1247 and still absolutely buzzing. Over 150 stalls stretch from South Street to the Market Place: fake designer handbags (£20–£50), vintage band tees, rails of £5–£15 high-street stuff, plus-size sections, kids’ clothes, and proper retro leather jackets from the old-school traders. Wednesday is slightly quieter and better for bargains; Saturday is chaos but has more stock.
Food stalls are legendary – jerk chicken, German sausages, fresh doughnuts – and there are charity shops nearby for extra vintage hunting. Train from Liverpool Street is 20 mins, or drive and park free after 11am at The Brewery multi-storey.
Pros
- Massive selection, something for everyone
- Real haggle culture – knock 20 % off if you buy a few things
- Friday late-night in summer
- Right next to Romford station
Cons
- Saturday gets rammed
- Some fake designer stalls are obvious rip-offs