Where: Middlesex Street, E1

What: Petticoat lane is probably the most famous and oldest of all of London's street markets. It was established over 400 years ago and still attracts visitors from all over the world.

Where does the name come from (given that it is based around Middlesex Street)? The Huguenots, who came to London from France, sold petticoats and lace here. The street and the market became known as petticoat lane, but then the prudish Victorians changed the name of the lane and market to avoid referring to woman's underclothes. Although this (middlesex street) remains its official name, the old name has stuck and the Sunday market, held here and in the surrounding streets, is still known as Petticoat Lane Market.

The market actually takes place in Wentworth Street on Monday - Friday lunch times, spreading on a Sunday morning to take up 10 separate trading streets, including Middlesex Street. On a Sunday there is a huge variety of goods is on sale including cut-price fashion clothes, fabrics, jewellery, china, toys, textiles, household gadgets and electrical items, but there is still a bias towards clothing, particularly leather coats.

The market is always very crowded. Prices are not always shown, so haggling may be necessary (and even where prices are shown, haggling is often accepted).

There are also plenty of fast-food outlets and, as petticoat lane is on the boarders of the east end, some even sell traditional sea food such as cockles and jellied eels!

Nearest underground station: Aldgate East or Liverpool Street

Opening times: Sunday - 09:00 to 14:00 across 10 streets, there is a smaller market in Wentworth Street Monday to Friday 10:00 - 14:30.