Today I want to bring you my guide to the Hampstead Antique & Craft Emporium in London. This quirky warren of shops in Hampstead village is a fun place to browse and buy vintage treasures.
Hampstead Antique & Craft Emporium
Having lived in Hampstead for years, I thought I knew the area well. I’ve been to all the Hampstead museums, explored Hampstead Heath extensively, and eaten at almost every restaurant in the neighborhood.
I’ve walked down every street in the area and I’ve gone into most of the shops, but the other day I found a place that I had yet to discover.
My boyfriend and I spent the weekend in London, and we found it necessary to go grocery shopping on Saturday morning.
As we walked down Perrin’s Court to get to the supermarket on Heath Street, we found ourselves noticing several shops we’d previously overlooked.
First there was a quilting shop that was piled high with fabric, quilting squares, and sewing paraphernalia. Next to it we noticed a small alley with a low ceiling that led to a tiny pedestrianized street.
We’d passed by it many times and knew that it was home to a jumble of antiques shops, but we’d never taken the time to explore it.
But with the whole day ahead of us and nothing that demanded our time, we decided to walk through one of the last places in Hampstead we had yet to discover.
Up at the main entrance at 12 Heath Street there was a sign welcoming us to the Hampstead Antique & Craft Emporium. We hesitated for a second at the top of the alley, feeling a bit obtrusive in the otherwise dark and deserted lane.
Taking a few quiet steps into the market, we started to explore the exterior vendors’ wares.
There was one table with boxes full of buttons, several racks piled high with brightly-colored scarves and sweaters, and a few more with knick-knacks of various kinds.
We walked down to the end of the lane, where we discovered there was an indoor market at the Hampstead Antique & Craft Emporium as well. It was a crescent-shaped hall flanked on both sides with small stalls.
Some were open with their vendors attending them, while others were screened off with black nets. Apparently the opening hours were optional for the proprietors.
We made our way through the Hampstead Antique & Craft Emporium, stopping to check out the goods for sale.
There were stalls selling every kind of porcelain and silver imaginable and shops crammed with vintage clothing and costume jewelry.
There was a shop selling only doll house furniture and accessories, another selling only Edwardian side tables, one full of pastel-colored translucent vases, and another with Art Deco silver earrings and necklaces.
We made it to the end of the crescent without being tempted to purchase anything, but being very happy to have found a new place in our neighborhood.
Seeing as how we don’t plan on leaving Hampstead anytime soon, I hope we continue to come across many more new places like the Hampstead Antique & Craft Emporium in the next few years and beyond.
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