{{Short description|Daily outdoor market in London Borough of Waltham Forest}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Multiple issues| {{one source|date=May 2016}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2016}} }}
{{Infobox retail market | retail_market_name = Walthamstow Market | image = Walthamstow Market - geograph.org.uk - 93317.jpg | image_width = 300px | caption = The market runs along the pedestrianised high street | location = [[Walthamstow]], Waltham Forest, Greater London | coordinates = {{coord|51.583|N|0.027|W|display=title, inline}} | address = High Street | opening_date = 1885 | manager = [[Waltham Forest London Borough Council]] | owner = Waltham Forest London Borough Council | environment_type = Outdoor | goods_sold = General goods, food, clothes | normal_market_days = Tuesday–Saturday | number_of_tenants = Approximately 100 | floor_area = | website = }} '''Walthamstow Market''', in the [[London Borough of Waltham Forest]], is the second longest outdoor market in Europe, the longest being the [[Porta Portese]] in Rome, which is 2 km long. It occupies all but the last {{convert|100|m}} of [[Walthamstow]]'s High Street. It is reputed to be a mile long, but in fact measures approximately one kilometre.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Walthamstow, London, is one of the best places to live in 2021 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/why-walthamstow-london-best-place-to-live-uk-g5g59hqcn |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Sunday Times |date=26 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
==History and characteristics of the area== The 19th century Marsh Street, a rural lane, was transformed into the High Street by Victorian expansion. The street market dates from 1885. Today it is the centre of Walthamstow, with the main rail and tube station, bus station, post office and Central Library, and most of the commercial development and activity located around the High Street.
Five days a week (Tuesday - Saturday), the High Street is dominated by Walthamstow Market, and Saturdays are crowded. The Town Square, adjacent to the main market, is home to an occasional Saturday [[French market]]. On Sundays the street is quieter, with some shops and cafes open. There is a Sunday morning [[farmers market]] at the Town Square.
The [[street market]] stretches the entire length of the High Street, apart from the last 100 metres of the street, and has about 500 stalls. The street is lined with shops of different sizes, from small traditionally sized shops to large supermarkets. Generally, the shops do not extend into the side streets, which are densely populated with terraced houses.
The High Street area has a diverse, ethnically mixed population. Forty-one per cent of residents (in the [[Ward (country subdivision)|ward]] as a whole) are classified as black or minority ethnic, mostly Pakistani and African-Caribbean.
The market has kept a traditional [[cockney]] feel whilst absorbing influences from the diverse cultures of the area. The overall tone is downmarket but with many interesting and enjoyable aspects.
==High street chains== There are two main areas of new building along the High Street beside the market, each containing a supermarket*
Sainsbury's supermarket is set in a development which includes a few other shops, which use the street frontage that [[Sainsbury's]] does not need, and a two-storey car park above. There is a lift connecting the public car park to the supermarket.
The Mall Selborne Walk is a much larger complex with shop frontages on the High Street, and an indoor shopping mall. Most of the units are chains, the largest being [[Asda]] supermarket. Selborne Road, which runs parallel to the High Street, provides access for cars and buses. On that side the complex presents a blank facade except for one pedestrian entrance, and the car park ramps.
==Independent retailers== There are many independent small shops specialising in ethnic foods (Polish, Russian, Indian, Chinese, Caribbean, South Asian etc.), Halal and English butchers, fabrics, household goods, etc. There are many cafes: English, Indian, Turkish, Portuguese, Chinese and others, and just one [[public house]], the Chequers.
==Market infrastructure and management== The market is managed by the [[London Borough of Waltham Forest]], with a 2019 redesign and development of the market completed by Matter Architecture and Mima Group.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mimagroup.com/case-studies/london-borough-of-waltham-forest |title=Celebrating Europe's longest street market through Wayfinding |publisher=Mima Group}}</ref>
==Transport links== {| class="wikitable" align="left" |+ '''Public transport access''' |'''London Buses''' |[[Walthamstow bus station]] [[London Buses route 20|20]], [[London Buses route 34|34]], [[London Buses route 55|55]], [[London Buses route 58|58]], [[London Buses route 69|69]], [[London Buses route 97|97]], [[London Buses route 212|212]], [[London Buses route 215|215]], [[London Buses route 230|230]], [[London Buses route 257|257]], [[London Buses route 275|275]], [[London Buses route 357|357]], [[London Buses route SL1|SL1]], [[London Buses route SL2|SL2]], [[London Buses route W11|W11]], [[London Buses route W12|W12]], [[London Buses route W15|W15]], [[London Buses route W19|W19]]<br /> [[St. James Street railway station|St. James Street station]] [[London Buses route 158|158]], [[London Buses route 212|212]], [[London Buses route 230|230]], [[London Buses route 275|275]], [[London Buses route 675|675]], [[London Buses route W11|W11]], [[London Buses route W12|W12]] |- | '''[[London Underground]]''' | [[Walthamstow Central station|Walthamstow Central]] [[File:Victoria line roundel (no text).svg|10px]] |- | '''[[London Overground]]''' | [[St. James Street railway station|St. James Street]], [[Walthamstow Central station|Walthamstow Central]] [[File:Overground_roundel_(no_text).svg|10px]] |}
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==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/content/walthamstow-market Walthamstow Market]
{{London markets}} {{LB Waltham Forest}}
[[Category:Retail markets in London]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in the London Borough of Waltham Forest]] [[Category:Walthamstow|Market]]