The Camden Stables Market is a fairly well known area which has been a trading area for centuries. Today it contains a warren of shops selling everything from ‘antiques’ to cheap luggage and clothing. You can read about it more here. It also seems to be the Goth center for London. This trip bypassed the area and instead strolled down Camden Passage, doing a bit of window shopping and finding a casual place for a pint and to rest and read a book I’d picked up earlier in the day.
One of the places I wanted to visit was a small knitting shop that advertises in some of the magazines to which I subscribe, so I found it on Camden Passage, on a quiet side street line with upscale antique shops and perfumeries. Yarns are universal, so much of what is for sale here is found in the States, as well – yarns tend to be made in Peru, New Zealand, and the US. So, these pictures are for Kitty and Natalie!
The Loop, in Camden Passage
The little old lady sitting near the front of the store was taking knitting lessons.
As everyone knows how much shopping wears you out (even if your purchases are only a single skein of yarn), I had to find refreshments. My next stop was a pub, of course. I stopped in for a half pint, and a chance to read for a bit. The young bartender, who was from Sweden, helped me pick out a cask ale, and kindly allowed me to top off the charge on my iPhone, which was loaded with a lovely London Tube app as well as a GPS.
Side street in Camden area.
This time of year, it gets completely dark in London, so even though it was early in the evening, it always felt very late. After leaving the pub, I took the double-decker bus to Regent Street, which is along street lined with very expensive shops. It also happens to be adjacent to the theatre district, where I met my friend Pat for my special birthday trip: front and center tickets to see Les Miserables at Queen’s Theatre!
The nearest pub is often the best one.
Sven helped me with an authentic British ale.
Related articles
- Camden Market: Shopping an
- Food with an Attitude (jetsettimes.com)
- ♥ Back to the Past: Islington (justaddattitude.com)
- Camden Lock Market (London) is open 7 days per week. (thestayclublondon.wordpress.com)
- In the loop (ivegotknits.wordpress.com)
- Meet a local: Lucy in Islington (onefinestay.com)
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Categories: Travel
Two Different Girls 
I also have been sad with international knitting shops. I know that many of our stores here in the US carry locally made yarns (at least in New England). You can find some pretty terrific yarns as there are many sheep and alpaca farms. Still, it’s fun to look! This is one of my favorites, though the “store” part is tiny! http://www.spinnery.com/