If you have never been to the Flower Market in Columbia Road you cannot call yourself a Londoner. Today I am going to speak about one of favourite parts of London.

Columbia Road is a tiny and narrow street in east London, is located between Shoreditch and Bethnal Green and it´s really well known because of its Sunday Flower Market.

This small place in London is one of those spots where the tourist get difficult to arrive, even though it is on most tourist maps.

I don’t have anything against tourism, but sometimes some spots lose their authenticity and become just stages where everything is designed to make money.

However, the Flower Market is still one of those places where local people go on Sunday mornings. They go to buy flowers and plants or just to have a walk while enjoying the atmosphere.

Some street artists add their music to the mornings, transporting the visitors to a different place outside of London. Even though it is busy the people don’t rush, everyone is in a good mood and no one would care if you’re walking slow because it’s Sunday morning.

Sunday morning in London

This quiet Sunday plan is one of my favourites, mostly when the good weather arrives. The buildings around the street are beautiful in a light brown colour and with sunshine, the flowers are looking better than ever.

It’s dangerous because you love all the plants and bouquets, you will find yourself on the bus back home with no free hands and trying not to squish your beautiful roses. I have myself been in this situation more than once.

This is a proper Londoner’s plan for a Sunday morning. But, coming from a young Spanish guy, this Sunday can bring you one of the best Spanish lunches that you can have in London.

In Columbia Road you can find this little bar called Laxeiro where you can have the best sangría that I have ever tried in London. All the food is Spanish but on the menu, you will find that most of the dishes come from the north of Spain, Galicia, because the place is originally a Galician restaurant.

After this lunch, the best you can do is to have a nice coffee and let the Sunday afternoon get you the mood for being lazy and chilled!

Nacho Martín

Spanish Express blogger

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You can also find out more about the tapas bar that Nacho mentions by visiting their website.