East London Antiques Walking Tour

We’ll begin our day at The Giant London Flea (£2 entry), from there we'll take a scenic walk along the River Lee and through some of East London’s most charming neighbourhoods—stopping at some of the area’s best antique and vintage homeware shops.

Having lived in East London for over twenty years, I know where the hidden gems are—shops that are easy to miss, and the best times to visit them. This tour is designed to save you hours of research and legwork: no more showing up to closed shops or wondering which ones are worth your time. I’ve carefully curated the route so you’ll discover a rich variety of finds, from different time periods and parts of the world—ranging from suitcase-sized treasures to larger furniture pieces (most of which can be shipped across the UK and internationally).

We’ll stop for lunch at Broadway Market, where you can choose from a wide variety of street food stalls offering delicious dishes from around the globe.

Those opting for the half day tour, should expect to walk around 5.5 miles (about 12,000 steps) and those opting for the extended tour should expect to walk around 6.5 miles (about 14,000 steps), so comfortable shoes are a must.

To keep the experience relaxed and personal, group sizes are limited to between 2 and 8 people.

Good to Note:

• Bring cash (often preferred, and helpful for bargaining)
• Pack an empty tote bag (not all vendors provide bags)
• The £2 entry fee for the flea market and the cost of lunch aren’t included in the ticket price — but you’re more than welcome to bring along a packed lunch and enjoy it in the park.
• Don't forget weather-appropriate gear (umbrella, sunscreen, layers, etc.)
• This is a tour focused on antique and vintage homeware (not vintage fashion)
• The Half Day Tour will finish at around 14:15 on Hackney Road
• The Extended Tour will finish around 15:30 on Shoreditch High Street and includes an additional five shops.

Tour Reviews:

Amy, Essex: "I loved Liz’s tour, I really enjoyed seeing parts of East London I’d never been to and we had a good mix of shops to look at, some more high end antiques and others smaller vintage pieces at affordable prices."

Jess, London: "It was magical, so fun to explore some places I hadn't been to before and I picked up some treasures! I really had a blast, and met some lovely people too."

Nina, London: "Liz's tour was fantastic. Exactly what I'd hoped for! She's knowledgeable, friendly and adaptable. I really loved the mix of shops - a painstaking curation of all sorts. Different time periods and places of origin. Some with smaller, trinkety-style ceramics, others with bigger investment style pieces, some that were more aspirational and heritage-led. It was really nice mooching around East London and soaking up the atmosphere - a lovely way to spend a Sunday especially as we got lucky with the weather. I'd recommend not only for those new to the city/area but also London locals (like me), as she took us to a whole bunch of vintage/antique hidden gems I'd have never found or considered on my own. She's clearly a seasoned local - knew all the shop owners and some were open for our appointment only. Thank you Liz!"

Ursula, Kent: "It was such a great experience. I would highly recommend it."

Info: Arrive early to grab a drink from The Breakfast Club. We'll gather and get ready to set off at 10:00 sharp.

Info: Wander through a vibrant mix of antique and vintage stalls. From mid-century ceramics to curiosities you didn’t know you needed (£2 entry

Info: We’ll wind our way through some of East London's most charming neighbourhoods, popping into hand-picked antiques and vintage homeware shops along the way.

Info: Enjoy your pick of delicious dishes from around the globe at this popular street food destination.

Info: Half-Day ticket holders will finish the tour at 14:15, after one final shop offering smaller items—and perhaps that perfect piece you missed earlier. Extended Tour ticket holders will continue exploring five more shops, with extra time to uncover unique treasures.

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Host or Publisher Liz Beardsell