Camden Passage, Islington is a picturesque car free London street filled with antique, vintage and contemporary shops, outdoor markets, cafes, restaurants & bars.

About Camden Passage, Islington

John Peyton, Camden PassageCamden Passage is hidden down a traffic free, cobbled back street, just off Upper Street in Islington. Since the 1950's Camden Passage has ranked alongside Portobello, Kensington Church Street and Spitalfields as one of London’s leading antique locations, In later years the area has diversified with many new shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafes and market stalls. Camden Passage, Islington should not be confused with Camden Market or Camden Lock, which is nearby in Camden Town.

Within Camden Passage you can find fashionable contemporary clothing, modern designer jewellery, Japanese art prints, handmade chocolates, specialist delicatessens, a fishmonger and excellent restaurants and cafes. Together all rubbing shoulders with the world famous specialist antique, silver ware, vintage clothing and retro shops which provide the backdrop for market stalls selling affordable collectables, ephemera, vintage clothes and objets d’art that find their way into antique shops and homes all over the world.

On the outdoor markets the traders work hard to find interesting pieces, and it is often at market level that new trends for collectables develop. There is a rich source of inspiration in the Passage, it’s an exciting place to explore.

Camden Passage has made regular appearances on 'Cash in the Attic', 'Bargain Hunt' and many other TV programmes both here and abroad.

This corner of Islington is delightful and interesting and it also has a vibrancy that makes Camden Passage an interesting place to search out an unusal gift, find fine antiques and furniture, 20th Century design, period and costume jewellery, contemporary and vintage clothing and affordable stylish objects for the home.

The photo (above right) shows John Payton, born in Camden Passage in 1920 and the driving force behind the creation of the area as an Antiques Centre in the 1950's and 1960's. The photo shows John studying the plans for Pierrepont Arcade before the builders moved in.

Camden Passage in 1953

A photo of Camden Passage taken around 1953

Camden Passage, Islington

Camden Passage today

Vintage Photos of Camden Passage by John Cole

These wonderful vintage photos of Camden Passage have recently resurfaced, taken by the late John Cole as part of a fashion shoot in 1969. John was a photographer with studios based in Mayfair.

You can see more fabulous images shot by John at johncolestudiofive.co.uk


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