03/05/2026
Did you know I was a market trader for many many years?
This morning, walking down Columbia Road Flower Market, I felt it all come rushing back.
The early starts.
The hum of traders setting up before sunrise.
The rhythm of market life that once shaped my weekends — first as a child helping my dad, then earning my own money on a Saturday stall, and eventually running a stall of my own.
It’s been nearly ten years since I was last here. And today, for the first time, I’m not trading at the Sweeps Festival — a strange and tender shift. Being here instead felt like stepping into a memory… one that still lives and breathes, but has changed.
There was a bittersweet edge to it.
Fewer stalls than I remember.
A quiet awareness of how much the world — and the way we consume — has evolved.
And yet… some things remain beautifully untouched.
Stalls passed down through generations.
Voices calling out prices with pride and humour.
Flowers spilling onto the pavements in every colour imaginable.
You can still breathe it in — that unmistakable mix of fresh blooms, strong coffee, and warm pastries drifting through the street. It’s alive in a way that feels both grounding and fleeting.
This little corner of East London, once known as a notorious slum in the 1840s, now holds layers of history, resilience, and community — woven into every petal and every person still showing up.
And maybe that’s what nostalgia really is…
Not just remembering how things were, but feeling the thread that connects who you were to who you’ve become.
If you ever find yourself wondering what to do on a Sunday, and you love flowers, people, and a touch of London soul — it’s still worth the visit.
Go early (around 8am) if you want the calm and a place to park.
Or go later (closer to 2pm) for the bargains and the buzz of it all winding down.
Either way… you might just find a piece of yourself there too. 🌸🌼🌺
