Flowers Cool Springs

Browsing London's street markets is one of the most fun things to do in the city, but not so much for the kids who soon lose patience with shopping. Camden Market can be combined with a little fun shopping for the grown ups and a fun London walk through Regent's Park playground for the kids. Families who jump on the tube early enough can enjoy a full day out and be back again in time for tea, having had some bargain-hunting, market haggling and a letting off of steam in a green open space in central London all in one day.

Camden Market is not difficult to find either - just turn right out of the tube station and it's right there. Our first stop was the Electric Ballroom indoor market. Metamorphosing from a nightclub at night into a street market on Saturdays, the place had a slightly 'Hammer House' feel about it. It was very dark and airless and the 'shut-up shot' atmosphere was furthered by closed bar screens. Here we mostly found street market fashion - the floaty dresses echoing the mood in sombre colours of bronze, pewter and black lace.

The main shopping area of Camden Lock itself was more suitable for children and those with an eye for hand-made design products. Stalls we enjoyed were ones displaying hand-decorated T shirts retailing at about twenty pounds each, others which offered bowls of brightly coloured beads for filling containers such as vases, handmade textile phone charms and another selling pocket money toys and gadgets for kids. Regular shops worth a look included a theatrical props shop and a circus skills shop specialising in juggling equipment.

For those who had worked up an appetite, there was a veritable Aladdin's cave of ethnic food on offer both outside and in the main indoor market. Everywhere we were plied with sweet and sour pork balls, dim sum and spring rolls. Also on offer was curry and Thai food. Prices seemed to range between seven pounds and three pounds per bowlful.

We decided to burn off those extra calories with a walk which would entertain the younger ones of the family. We walked away from Camden high street through the main street market area passing street barrows of 'olde London town' on the way towards Regent's Park. Here the streets became quieter, and the houses bigger and more expensive looking. Soon we were passing the mansion-sized properties that skirt regent's Park. We walked in through one of the smaller side gates and rested for a while on the cool green grass while the kids enjoyed this massive green open space in the centre of London. As the children let off steam we watched some rugby teams from other nations competing and training.

After enjoying some ice creams in the outdoor area of the cafe, the kids dragged us off to the playground, which had ample seating areas and toilets for the kids and seemed regularly patrolled. A gentle stroll past fountains, ornamental flower beds and wild flower meadow areas brought us eventually to the much busier main entrance. From here it was only a short walk to the tube where we could head for home, after a full enjoyable day without too late a finish time for tired kids.

, London fun blogger.

S Cullen also writes for Bellaonline as Short Stories site editor, and has articles also at Helium and Suite 101.

She is a freelance internet writer, mom and teacher and runs a website dedicated to passing on her experiences to newbie writers wanting to learn to write for the internet at mywork.name/loans/go/go.php?sid=1.inspiredwritingresearch]

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