Car Hire Camden

The closer you get to Camden, the more the city shifts—tighter streets, louder colours, unexpected turns. Set between Primrose Hill and Mornington Crescent, Camden hums with a restless energy that rarely stops. Driving in along the A400 is straightforward enough, though parking can be a challenge, especially when the markets fill the streets.

Camden is housing around 25,000 souls and its weather follows no set pattern. A warm morning along the canal can slide into sudden rain, while autumn sharpens Camden’s edges in the best way—cooler air, easier walks and more space to wander. However you arrive, Camden rewards those who leave time to drift a little.

Attractions In Camden

Camden isn’t built for step-by-step touring. It’s the kind of place where you follow what catches your eye—a market stall, a snatch of live music, a canal path shimmering under shifting light. Some places we sought out deliberately; others, we simply drifted into.

Camden Market

At Camden Lock Place, the market unfolded into a maze of food stalls, leatherwork, vintage clothes and record shops. We drifted between the scent of grilled meats and the glint of handmade jewellery, only realising how much time had passed when the midday rush crowded in.

A popular option with those based in Euston, Camden Market rewards slow wandering. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, drivers will want to arrive early—by noon, the streets near the Lock tighten considerably.

Camden Lock Market

Just a few steps away but quieter in tone, Camden Lock Market sharpens the focus. Independent artists laid out screen prints and ceramics under wooden beams, the canal murmuring behind them. We lingered at a printmaker’s stall, caught up in a conversation about how the markets had changed since the 1980s.

Earlier visits feel more personal, especially for those planning a morning outing from Bloomsbury, where Camden makes for a lively start to the day.

The Music Walk Of Fame

Stretching along Camden High Street, the Music Walk of Fame doesn’t demand attention—you find yourself following it almost by accident. Plaques embedded into the pavement chart decades of musical innovation. This spot draws a lot of interest from people in Tottenham Court Road, drawn by Camden’s enduring music legacy. It’s always open but dusk brings a little more atmosphere as the pavement lights up beneath your feet.

Amy Winehouse Statue

A turn off Chalk Farm Road and into Stables Market brings you to the bronze figure of Amy Winehouse. There’s a rawness to it—hands on hips, slight lean, gaze unguarded. In the hush of closing hours, it carries real weight.

During a visit to Kentish Town, we found time to detour through Camden’s quieter evening streets and pause here.

Umbrella Alley

We almost missed Umbrella Alley entirely. A short corridor off Chalk Farm Road, it lifts your gaze skyward to a riot of bright umbrellas strung overhead. Tucked within easy reach of Tufnell Park, this pocket of colour offers a playful moment against Camden’s denser backdrop.

Camden Lock And Regent’s Canal

Following Gloucester Avenue away from the markets, we found ourselves beside the Regent’s Canal. Here, Camden’s urgency peeled back into slow waters and shifting reflections. Houseboats floated beside worn brick warehouses, some converted into studios and cafes.

Approaching from St Johns Wood, this was an easy first stop before delving into Camden’s busier core. A walk here gives you the perfect reset—a way to stretch out the day without fighting for space.

Saint Martin’s Gardens

Back toward Camden Street, Saint Martin’s Gardens offered a compact patch of calm. The scent of cut grass hung over worn benches and a few families circled the playground. It’s not a destination in itself but when you need a space to breathe after the chaos of the markets, it’s exactly right.

Camden Square Gardens

Past Camden Road, the atmosphere shifted again. Camden Square Gardens opened out into neat, symmetrical lawns where locals walked dogs and children raced scooters along the paths. We sat under a heavy-limbed tree, sharing takeaway coffees in the cool shade. Open from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays, it’s the kind of space that gives more than it promises.

Ready Money Drinking Fountain, Regent’s Park

Driving the Outer Circle of Regent’s Park, we stopped at the Ready Money Drinking Fountain. A relic of Victorian philanthropy, the ornate stonework stood weathered but graceful among the lime trees. The trickle of water and soft crunch of gravel underfoot were almost the only sounds.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum

Baker Street lies a short drive east and 221B—or at least its reimagined version—waits behind a heavy green door. Inside the Sherlock Holmes Museum, narrow staircases, waxwork figures and dense period furnishings build the atmosphere carefully. It feels less like a standard museum and more like stepping sideways into a novel.

Open daily from 9:30 am to 6 pm, it’s a place best tackled early in the morning before larger groups crowd the tight corridors. Parking nearby can be tricky on weekends but with a bit of patience, it’s well worth the effort.

Between Canals And Streets

Camden rarely offers the same day twice. A few early hours might land you at Coffee Jar along Parkway, where the pastries are almost impossible to resist, while late afternoons call for a lazy plate of something rich and aromatic at Mildreds Camden. If you’re staying overnight, The Camden Town Hotel offers a straightforward base close to the heart of the markets, ideal for those wanting to stay stitched into the neighbourhood’s rhythm. Whether you roll in for a few hours or stay a little longer, Camden works best when you don’t try to out-plan it.