One Last Day in London: Markets, Hilltop Views & a Famous Crossing

We ambitiously planned to cover three places on our last day in London—and started early to give ourselves a fighting chance. First stop: the Tube to Camden Market.

Camden Market

What began decades ago as a cluster of craft workshops by Regent’s Canal has grown into one of London’s most recognisable creative hubs. Camden Market is packed—often to the gunnels—with stalls selling handmade clothes and jewellery, music memorabilia, vintage oddities, and food from every corner of the world.

Camden has always marched to its own beat. It’s a haven of counterculture, drawing tourists, teenagers, punks, and the endlessly curious. By night, the area comes alive with alternative clubs, old-school pubs, and live music venues like the Jazz Café and the Roundhouse. By day, cafés buzz and the market hums with energy.

A fun fact I didn’t know before: Camden Lock doesn’t actually exist. The waterways flanking the market are actually three dual locks built in the early 1800s as part of the Regent’s Canal—but the name stuck, and so did the legend.

Primrose Hill

From Camden, we hopped on a bus to Primrose Hill. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, we took a slow stroll up the hill.

Primrose Hill has a character all its own. Sitting just north of Regent’s Park and separated by Prince Albert Road (with ZSL London Zoo in between), the grassy summit offers one of London’s most beloved viewpoints.

Historically, this area was once part of a royal chase claimed by Henry VIII. In 1841, the land was purchased from Eton College to provide open-air recreation for the people of north London. Over the years, Primrose Hill has seen duels, prize-fights, and even ominous prophecies by Mother Shipton warning against unchecked city sprawl.

At nearly 63 metres above sea level, the summit is one of London’s six protected viewpoints. Trees are kept deliberately low so the skyline remains unobstructed—on a clear day, you can even spot Hampstead to the northeast.

Unfortunately for us, the sky was heavy with clouds. No sweeping skyline views this time. Still, the park felt peaceful and promising—a perfect picnic spot in spring or summer.

Abbey Road

Our final stop was the legendary Abbey Road crossing.

Made famous by The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover, the zebra crossing has become a full-blown pop culture icon. George, Paul, Ringo, and John walking across it in 1969 created an image that’s been endlessly imitated ever since.

The album debuted at number one and remains one of the greatest albums ever made—cementing the crossing’s place in music history. Today, it’s permanently busy. Tourists queue patiently (or not-so-patiently) to recreate the shot, while drivers alternate between resigned tolerance and visible road rage.

If you didn’t know who The Beatles were, you’d probably think everyone had collectively lost their minds—crowds cheering, laughing, posing, and spectators sitting around just to watch the chaos unfold.

How to get there:
Take the Jubilee Line and get off at St John’s Wood station. Exit, walk straight ahead, turn right—and follow the crowd. You literally can’t miss it.

Weekends are especially busy, so plan extra time if you want a decent photo (and a calm driver in the background—good luck).

Closing

That last day perfectly summed up London for me: eclectic, historical, slightly chaotic, and endlessly entertaining. From Camden’s creative energy to Primrose Hill’s quiet charm, and finally the madness of Abbey Road, it was a reminder that London never tries to be just one thing. And somehow, that’s exactly why it works—and why saying goodbye is never easy.