Camden Town, London - 26 Things To Do Guide 2024

This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Camden is calling! A marvellous mix of markets and music venues (with street food and street art on the side), Camden Town is the spiritual home of London’s counterculture – you’ll even still see the odd Mohican punk here and there by the Stables.

Whilst Camden Town may have become a little glam and gentrified in recent years, Camden still boasts an eclectic mix of activities both by day and night.

This article was originally published in March 2020

It may be most famous today for its market, but exploring this North London neighbourhood doesn’t just have to be about shopping (although you can shop ‘til you drop if you so desire).

From canalside walks to rainbow houses, indoor theme parks to craft beer breweries, here are our top things to do in Camden Town, North London in 2024:

You might like – Best free things to do in London >

Table of Contents

Things to do in Camden Town

1. Camden Street Art

Camden is a colossal canvas of street art, most of which you can find within a 5 minute stroll of Camden Market. Highlights include Hawley Mews, a dedicated (albeit unofficial) alfresco ‘art gallery’ (the artistry here is incredible), along with Kentish Town Road and Bayham Street.

Looking for street art is one of our favourite things to do in Camden Town, and if you also like street art – check out our 20 top street art cities in the world blog >

Try this – Camden Market Tours and Tickets with Viator >

2. Camden Market

Easily one of London’s most famous and popular markets (and rightly so), Camden Market is a wicked warren of arts and crafts stalls, bars, restaurants and clothing shops.

Housed in former stables, there are loads of alleyways, nooks and yards to discover, including an Aladdin’s cave of retro stalls in the basement.

Open seven days a week (although some stalls only open at weekends), there are over 1000 stalls of various shapes and sizes to explore. Incidentally, if anyone mentions Camden Stables or Camden Lock Market to you, these are now both classed as Camden Market collectively.

YOU MIGHT LIKE:

3. CyberDog

One of our favourite things to do in Camden and a must visit when in Camden Market is Cyberdog, a futurist clothing and dance accessory shop, which has two giant robots at its entrance.

As you descend the stairs into its neon basement, you’ll be amazed at the goth gear and steampunk shizz Cyberdog sells.

YOU MIGHT LIKE – Best Pubs in Camden, London >

4. Camden Stables Umbrella Street

A utopia of umbrellas is one of the highlights of Camden Stables Market especially on a sunny day when the light shines through and one of our most colourful places in London.

Reminiscent of an Asian alleyway, this bevy of brollies is one of the most popular things to in Camden Town (you may well have seen them on Instagram before; they are quite the Camden tourist attraction).

You might like – the best Saturday Markets or best Sunday markets in London

5. Regent’s Canal walk

London is full of charming canal walks, such as Hackney Wick or King’s Cross. Camden is no different as the Regent’s Canal (named after Prince Regent) towpath passes straight through the middle of Camden, right to the market and high street.

If you want to make a whole day of it, you could start your trip to Camden by walking there along the canal, starting in Little Venice and passing by Regent’s Park and London Zoo on the way (you can even see some of the zoo animals from the canal towpath!).

As well as graffiti and street-art, you also encounter Camden Pirate castle (a rather cool looking recreation centre) and the occasional narrow boat, raft or paddle-boarder.

There are also lots of nice bars when you arrive in Camden Lock, in case you need a pint to cool off (or a mulled wine in winter).

Try this: Camden Market, Borough Market and Covent Garden Market Private Tour >

6. Primrose Hill

One of London’s best views, Primrose Hill Park is a 10 minute walk away from Camden High Street / Chalk Farm Road and offers incredible London panoramic views over Regent’s Park (including London Zoo) and downtown London, although be prepared to share the space as it can get incredibly busy, particularly with picnickers and the Pimm’s posse.

Primrose Hill Park London — *Primrose Hill*

To walk from Camden, it is best to walk via Regent’s Park Road, as it is a really nice neighbourhood street with lots of cute bars, cafes and restaurants plus several stops where you can pick up drinks and snacks for the park, such as Bottle Apostle (craft beers and wines).

Fancy a pint in a proper boozer and classic Camden pub? The Queen’s (also on Regent’s Park Road) is a nice place to sip on a sauv or sink an ice-cold beer.

You might like – The 25+ best activity bars and games bars in London >

7. Gig at The Roundhouse

Camden’s iconic music and performance venue The Roundhouse opened in 1966 and we’ve been back many times over the years, to events such as the summer ‘beach’ that take places on the rooftop through to the annual Roundhouse Rising gigfest.

Theatre performances here are also fantastic as some are staged in the round, a little like Shakespeare’s Globe.

The architecture inside is just as interesting as the performances as the building is an old converted railway engine shed that was built in 1847 (now a listed building).

Check out these London gigs and West End Theatre shows >

8. Camden High Street

An eclectic mix of chain stores and independent shops, Camden High Street is a retail rite of passage in London.

From tourist tat (souvenir stalls) to artisan arts and crafts, Camden High Street is unique in so much that many of the shops have massive murals and oversized objects / artwork adorning them (definitely the biggest pair of Converse sneakers you’ll ever see in London)!

We’ve also noticed lots of tourists taking pictures of all the sewing machines in the window in the All Saints clothing shop by the canal – we’re not sure why!

9. Camden Market Buck Street

Recently, the old school market along Chalk Farm Road (Camden Market’s less salubrious sister market, which we actually kinda liked) has made way for the new-ish Buck Street Market container mall (progress eh).

A collection of colourful shipping containers mainly consisting of ethical / sustainable street food stalls (many of which are vegan) and several boutique and craft shops. This still feels like work in progress and yet to find its feet compared to the other markets in Camden.

You might like: Things to do near Euston station

10. Camden Pubs

Camden is renowned for its nightlife and the Camden pubs and clubs scene here knows no bounds. From gastropubs to good old British boozers, every type of drinking establishment can be found here (and the live music scene is particularly good).

Our preferred pubs include:

Dingwalls

A well established live music venue located right on the canal in Camden Market, with a lush rooftop bar.

The Hawley Arms

A cosy as pub located just across the road from Camden Lock (and where Amy Winehouse used to work as a young girl), the Hawley Arms, tucked down a side-street right next to the famous railway bridge sign is a gem of a boozer.

Here you’ll find fireside arm chairs, snug sofas and a focus on live music (in the upstairs bar) and hearty pub fare.

Saved from development recently after a lengthy battle with property developers, this is one of Camden’s best bars and a great pub to pop into if you’re visiting Camden Stables Market.

Brewdog

Now a massive global brewery, the Camden branch of this ‘punk’ (their words) craft beer hangout was London’s first Brewdog pub – drink selections change regularly and you can see what is on offer by looking at the massive cinema style menu board behind the bar.

Jet Black Heart, a 4.7% ABV milk stout is highly recommended – they often have a nitro version of Jet Black Heart too. Prices at BrewDog Camden can be a little more expensive than other Camden bars incidentally.

The Lock Tavern

As you’d expect from the title, this pub is located on the canal and also boasts a lively rooftop area – live music is performed several nights a week.

The World’s End / Underworld

Of all the Camden pubs we’ve been to over the years, The World’s End was the most surprising as it looks tiny from outside but once you go inside, it is one of the biggest pubs in London!

There are actually two bars in the World’s End pub in Camden and the star of the show has to be the stonking Staropramen Lager specialist brewery tank and bar – ‘Czech’ it out!

Check out our guide to the best pubs in Camden >

You might like: Camden Pub Crawl group tour

11. Camden Kerb street food

Located in Camden Market with a charming canal side setting (several narrowboats are moored in between the food kiosks), Kerb Camden is a street food extravaganza, with around 30 stalls and kiosks selling all manner of cheap eats, from dutch pancakes to halloumi fries.

Try to get to Camden Food Market before the lunchtime rush as it can get busy and the area is quite compact – although it is partially outdoors, Camden Food Market is fine in all weathers as there are indoor sections too.

You might like our guide to London’s best street food markets >

Try this – Boogie Shoes Silent Disco Walking Tour Camden >

12. Camden Brewery

The home of Hell’s Lager (which you now see on tap in most of London’s pubs) offers brewery tours, plus tasters in their taproom – their incredible new beer hall (located in nearby Kentish Town) has over 20 different beers on tap plus a walk-in fridge and merchandise shop.

On our last visit to the Camden Brewery Beer Hall, we tried a couple of beer paddles plus took home some Marmite beer cans – the verdict is still out on the latter!)

Over the years, Camden Brewery has become increasingly popular and recently expanded into new production premises in Ponders End near Enfield Town so more tap-rooms may beckon (which is great as we all know beer at the source always tastes better).

You can book: Camden Town Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting >

You might like – Best London brewery and tasting tours featuring Camden Town Brewing >

13. Hawley Wharf

Camden’s newest addition to the London street food and shopping scene, located just across the road from Camden Lock and Holiday Inn Camden, Hawley Wharf has several floors of delicious and damn fine food stalls, with views and seating areas overlooking the canal.

On the lower levels and around the renovated railway arches, you’ll find independent and artisan craft and fashion stalls plus at the weekend, Hawley Wharf hosts a weekend market.

Hawley Wharf highlights include beautiful buns and dumplings from Baozilnn, Filipino flavours from Spoon and Rice plus Wonton and Char Siu Lo Mein from Three Uncles.

Hawley Wharf often hosts pop up exhibitions. Check out the latest exhibitions near Hawley Wharf in Camden here >

You might like – 25+ dazzling first date ideas in London >

14. Camden’s Colourful Houses – Hartland Road

Just across the road from London’s Camden Market and Stables, you’ll discover Hartland Road, a quiet residential side-street that boasts some colourful Camden street art that spills over from nearby Hawley Mews.

It is also home to Camden’s famous multicoloured terrace houses – Hartland Road that gives Lancaster Road in No t ting Hill a run for its money in terms of being competition for London’s most colourful street.

Camden’s Colourful Houses - Hartland Road

You might like – Things to do near King’s Cross Station in London (near Camden) >

15. Amy Winehouse Statue

Camden’s most famous daughter Amy Winehouse sadly died at the age of 27 in 2011 and a lasting tribute in the form of a bronze statue now resides in the Camden Stables Market area (at 407 Chalk Farm Road).

It was unveiled three years after here death in 2014 by sculptor Scott Easton, near to one her regular hangouts The Lock Tavern.

With the new Amy Winehouse biopic ‘Back to Black’ movie set to be released in 2023, expect to see renewed interest in this statue, one of Camden’s most visited ‘attractions’.

You might like – Things to do in Greenwich, London >

16. Werewolf Beer, Camden

Definitely one of the more unique (and slightly spooky) Camden breweries we’ve been to – Werewolf Beer strives to brew American style beer in the railway arches near Camden Town overground station.

Billed as ‘An American Brewery in London ‘ (nice), Werewolf Beer opened its taproom doors in April 2022.

You know you are for quite the experience as you first approach Werewolf’s Camden taproom – a ghostly ghoul mannequin points you into Werewolf’s Beer freaky but fun brewery beer garden chock full of scary spooky ghost-train style props (apparently from a genuine 1950s ghost-train; cool!).

As well as brewing their own beer on site (think quirky drops like their pumpkin ‘hell-o-ween’ pale or Psychobilly APA, there are other scary and werewolf related props and paraphernalia inside as well as a retro jukebox – bet it plays the ‘Killing Moon’ by Echo and the Bunnymen!

The Werewolf Beer taproom is open Friday through Sundays on Randolph Street – just look for the demonic ghoul outside!

YOU MIGHT LIKE: Guide to the Bermondsey Beer Mile in London >

YOU MIGHT LIKE: Guide to London’s South Bank walk >

17. Camden Live Music

Camden Town is a cracking spot to catch established bands or up and coming artists. As well as The Roundhouse mentioned previously.

Other great live music venues in the area include the Electric Ballroom, Camden Assembly, Koko, the Jazz Café and The Underground (the latter is banging basement venue on Camden High Street).

An honourable mention goes to The Dublin Castle, one of the forerunners of Camden’s live music scene and hosting plenty of huge acts before they came famous like Arctic Monkeys and Blur (plus Coldplay too but we won’t hold that against them!).

Check out Time Out London’s gig listings >

Try this – London Rock and Roll Music Tour >

18. Bandai Namco Cross Store Camden

New for summer 2023, London’s newest (and biggest) gachapon store has opened in Camden Market.

Bandai Namco Cross Store Camden. Gachapon gashapon in London

Sprawling across two floors, Camden’s Bandai Namco Cross store is one of the best Japanese shops in London and is a hotbed of Japanese gachapon machines (toy capsules), anime and manga merchandise plus gaming machines galore.

On the upstairs level, you also find a cafe with Japanese drinks (alas closed when we visited) and a London One Piece card game store and lounge.

For those of you not aware of what a gachapon is, they are vending machines that are big in Japan) that dispense capsule toys in a small round plastic case.

Most Bandai Namco Cross Store gachapon machines have four to six types of toy in each and you often don’t know which one you are going to get.

You can get everything from cute cartoon characters like Miffy and Hello Kitty through to more random toys like animals in saunas or miniature drum machines or sumo wrestlers.

Check out our guide to the quirkiest gachapons in Japan or our guide to the best manga, anime and kawaii shops in London.

You might like – Our guide to London’s Borough Market >

19. The Cheese Bar of Camden Market

We love cheese! From the cheese conveyor belt in Covent Garden to the Cheese Barge in Paddington, there are many cracking and cheesy bars in London.

Camden is no different – a suitably ‘cheesy’ thing to do in Camden is a trip to the Cheese Bar in Camden Market, located a stone’s throw from the Amy Winehouse Statue and Tomb Raider experience.

For fans of fondue or mac and cheese addicts, the Cheese Bar in Camden has got you covered – we recently popped by to try their five cheese mac and cheese with breadcrumb topping and loved every mouthful.

The Cheese Bar Camden also does a daily offer of a top cheese toasty with a soft drink every weekday lunchtime for £10 – we’d recommend the blue cheese toasty paired with a beer chutney.

Sit outside the Cheese Bar to enjoy gouda views of Camden Market with your cheese dishes or enjoy the industrial interiors inside, sitting around the bar itself.

You might like – things to do in Covent Garden, London >

20. Tomb Raider: The Live Experience (closed in 2024)

April 2024 update – Tomb Raider: The Live Experience in Camden closed down in early 2024.

From Cambodia to Camden… Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider: The Live Experience has now set up home in the basement of Camden Market and Stables.

Promising an immersive London experience like no other through themed puzzle rooms and worldwide settings (think glamourous settings like Finland, not Finchley!), this is one of the newest live experiences in London and perfect for large groups (possibly a fun team build beckons).

With live actors in character to help you along the way and stunningly designed sets, swing on by Camden to undertake Tomb Raider: The Live Experience.

Tomb Raider The LIVE Experience is played in teams of up to 8 and starts from £46 pp, as of February 2023.

You might like – Guide to booking free tickets to London’s Sky Garden >

21. Amy Winehouse 10th Anniversary Mural

Unveiled in 2021 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of her passing, a huge new Camden mural of local born artist Amy Winehouse can be found in the shadow of Camden Lock.

Created by London urban street artist JXC, this Amy Winehouse Camden mural is photorealistic and suitably painted on the back of the Hawley Arms Camden pub, the bar where Any used to pull pints as a teenager.

Amy Winehouse 10th Anniversary Mural street art Camden London

22. 3 Locks Brewing

New for summer 2023 and easily one of the best London brewery taproom views, 3 Locks Brewing Company recently opened overlooking Camden Locks – so if you fancy watching narrow boats with your beer, ‘navigate’ to Camden’s 3 Locks Brewing Company.

Located next to the new Camden canalside complex Hawley Wharf food court, 3 Locks Brewing Company is open daily from noon underneath the railway arches plus has a small terrace outside

One of the newest things to do in Camden and a nice way to round off a trip to Hawley Wharf, prices are a little more expensive at 3 Locks Brewing than most London breweries with prices around £7.50 to 9 per pint.

You might like – the 20+ best London brewery tours and craft beer tasting >

23. Camden Fish and Chips

Get your fish and chip fix at Poppies in Camden, one of London’s best-known fish and chips shops. If you are visiting London from overseas, you cannot go far wrong with a traditional ‘chippy tea’ – Poppie’s (one of several they have across London) is proper old school, and has a vintage / 1940’s feel too it.

Whilst fish and chips can be expensive in London, Poppies offer various meal deals including a £5 special takeaway dish of fish bites, fish cake or battered sausage (another interesting English food!) and chips.

You can also fill up at fish and chips at the eponymous Camden Chippy – make sure you try ‘mushy peas’ too.

24. Babylon Park Camden

Sci Fi fun for all the family, Camden’s Babylon Park is a bit like Doctor Who’s TARDIS when you first approach it.

It looks small from the outside but once inside Babylon Park, you realised this is a huge subterranean world of amusements and arcades

Babylon Park in Camden is a outer space sci fi themed theme park and amusement arcade with dozens of fun rides like merry-go-rounds, dodgem cars and plenty of arcade machines. You can purchase tickets when you first enter the Babylon Park on the upper levels then redeem on the lower levels.

Outside Babylon Park, there is also a traditional carousel plus a small Noddy style train that choo choos around Hawley Wharf and the surrounding Camden Canal area – all aboard for Babylon Park.

You might like – the best games bars and activity bars in London >

25. Coyote Ugly Camden

A little slice of movie magic and Americana in North London, Coyote Ugly Camden saloon bar recreates the famous 2000 movie of the same name – and if you aren’t aware of the movie, don’t worry, the bar doesn’t have any real coyotes (but there are lots of ‘cougars’ here….)

Yes, there is dancing on the bar, yes, there are shots and crazy cocktails on tap – just leave your dignity at the door and dance until the early hours.

Great for Camden hen parties and Camden’s booziest bottomless brunch, ‘you can’t fight the moonlight’ at Coyote Ugly (if you know, you know).

Camden Town & Market, London – our final thing to do

26. Camden Anime and Manga Stores

As well as the Namco Bandai New Cross store, Camden is also blessed with a couple of anime and manga stores (as of 2024).

Japan Craft Anime and Manga Store has two stores in Camden Market Stables, and is one of the most well established Japanese anime shops in London.

The comic and character cabinets inside are chock full of manga figures, anime cards, comics, t-shirts and plushies.

Across the road in Camden’s new Water Lane railway arches shopping complex, Camden Anime is a compact shop selling manga merch, awesome anime figures and comic book posters.

From Dragon Ball to Yusuke, Spy X Family to SEGA Camden Anime has cabinets full of characters, dolls and fine figurines so hopefully you’ll find that ‘One Piece’ of anime awesomeness you adore.

Accommodation in Camden

Holiday Inn Camden Lock

If you are planning a visit to Camden and want to focus your stay in the very heart of all the hustle and bustle, Camden Lock Holiday Inn is ideally situated, with selected rooms overlooking the canal itself and just steps away from the market.

From midweek stays to weekend getaways, Camden Lock Holiday Inn has an onsite bar and restaurant. Rooms include a full English breakfast, plus some penthouse suites have their own private terrace.

Check out Holiday Inn Camden Lock’s rates and availability >

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CK Travels (@c.k.travels)

Check out our other London blog posts

Did you enjoy our things to do in Camden blog post? Let us know in the comments or by sharing it on social media.

You can follow CK Travels on:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
YouTube
Pinterest

Disclosure: Our stay at the Holiday Inn was gifted.