Sundays At Columbia Road

Excuse the hyperbole, but Sundays in London are the best. It's almost as if the city workers, bankers and businessmen stay in bed all day for all of the young families, artists and creatives to roam free around the city. It's the day where food and flower markets lure us out of the warmth with their bittersweet smells and the perfect time to explore somewhere new in the capital's quiet charm.

I usually work on weekends, but I made sure to book a couple of Sundays off come September (my favourite month in London - goodbye tourists and hello autumnal colours!) to enjoy the city I call home. Since Columbia Road Flower Market only runs on Sunday mornings, we headed to Bethnal Green bright and early to grab the freshest bunch.

BETHNAL GREEN, LONDON

Like much of east London (or a lot of the city in general), Bethnal Green is a bit run down, dirty and unpleasant. A large part of it still is, but there are small spots that are growing and drawing in a fun crowd. Here, you'll find plenty of independent coffee shops, antique stores and vintage boutiques, all perfect for slowing down time and rummaging in the past.

Columbia Road is no exception but its treasures are probably best explored when the flower market doesn't take up the entire street. However, the beautiful, seasonal blooms are undoubtedly why you'll be visiting this road. The flowers are bursting with colour, freshly cut and suitable for the season. What's more, the traders are often the second or third generation of their family to sell at the market, adding to the traditional sense of the experience. It's proper east end cockney accents that you'll hear them blurting out at you..."c'mon five for a fiver!" And boy is it utterly charming.

Interestingly, Columbia Road began as a food market in 1869 with over 400 stalls selling local produce, before later turning to flowers due to an influx of French immigrants flocking to the East End. So yes, by all means pretend your Jane Birkin in Provence when your work your way through!

It would be considered a crime to not take my straw basket bag, that I've been toting all summer, to a flower market. And to add even more Gallic charm, a raspberry-red striped tee was tucked under a cropped trench coat and layered with loose denim, finishing with smart, suede loafers. Oui oui, I'm not French but I adore Parisian style and incorporate the effortless chic philosophy into my looks on a tous les jours basis. (Note how I'm throwing in the odd French phrase for added impact...)

Top - Cath Kidston
Jacket - Zara
Jeans - Topshop
Bag - Zara
Shoes - Office

Sunflowers, hydrangeas, irises and lavenders pour out into the road with their colour and fragrance, while the shouts of traders bellow around you. It's a squeeze to make your way up and down the market as it draws in pretty much everyone in London but you won't find locally grown and freshly-cut blooms quite like these.

Many east-enders complain about the gentrification of Columbia Road, proclaiming that what was once a place to collect fresh flowers and come together as local community in the east, is now a mecca for Chelsea and Fulham-living mummies, pushchair and iPhone in tow, and bohemian (or 'indie') couples in want of a cool Instagram. Sure, I totally agree but the support of local traders is still in focus and it also helps in ushering in economical growth for the area, as many people tend to spend the day and enjoy lunch, dinner and drinks nearby.

Grab a loved one, wrap up warm, and head out bright and early on a Sunday morning. Escape the crowds of locals and tourists and head here sharp at 8am when it opens. See you there this Sunday!