Leather Lane Market
Tucked between Greville Street and Clerkenwell Road, this market in the heart of the city is almost unknown to tourists. It's an outpost of real London where office workers go to graze at lunch time in the numerous sandwich bars. And lunch times is when to see this market at its most frenetically busy.
As well as having a good feed, you can also buy shoes, clothes, handbags, potted plants, jewellery, fruit and veg and electrical goods, all at extremely keen prices. There's been a market here for over 300 years.
If you think you can guess the origin of the street name, think again - it's got nothing to do with an ancient leather trade. In the 13th century the street was called Le Vrunelane, possibly the name of a local merchant. In the 14th century this became corrupted to Loverone Lane, subsequently to Liver and finally to the Leather we know today.
But it's got nothing to do with leather, despite the confusing fact that you can buy leather shoes and handbags there. Honest.
The market is open from 10.30am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday. |
City
of London Features 
