leadenhall market

2019

“But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

     - Albus Dumbledore - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

As a child of the ‘90’s, I grew up alongside the infamous Harry Potter books and films and although I’ve not read the books (don’t hate me, I was never really a reader!) I have seen all of the films multiple times and like many people my age they hold a special place in my heart.

In the heart of the city, it served as the location for Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron in the film version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone film in 2001, as well as forming part of the London 2012 Olympic marathon course, where runners passed through the market from Whittington Avenue to Lime Street and continuing on towards Tower Hill and the Tower of London.

Dating back to the 14th Century, it’s home to a number of vendors selling everything from cheese to flowers to clothing. The ornate roof structure, painted green, maroon and cream, and cobbled floors of the current structure, designed in 1881, stands on what was the centre of Roman London and has become a popular destination for both tourists and locals.

As usual in England, just as I arrived, so did the rain which made the striking roof a welcome sign and as it was relatively early in the morning, I was able to get some great shots before all the stores opened and the crowds arrived.