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 Camden is well-known for its markets: these are of relatively recent date, except for Inverness Street Market, a small food market good for fruit and vegetables serving the local community, though now with more touristy stalls on weekends. Camden Lock Market proper started in a former timber yard in 1973, and is now surrounded by satellites: Buck Street Market, Stables Market, Camden Canal Market, and an indoor market in the Electric Ballroom.
The markets are a major tourist attraction at weekends, selling inexpensive goods of all types including fashion, lifestyle, books, food, junk/antiques and bizarre goods; they and the surrounding shops are popular with young people, in particular those searching for "alternative" clothing. Stables Market also has a growing antiques and furniture trade. Several of the markets are infamous for selling recreational drugs such as cannabis in the form of lollipops and poppers.
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Until the 1970's Camden High street was a fairly average run-of-the-mill North London shopping area. Then things began to change - Camden found funky ! Over years it has become one of the great tourist attraction of London with many 'oddball' shops both on the high street and in the various parts of Camden Market that dot the area. So, If you are looking for way-out clothes, ethnic ornaments, tasty street food, giant boots, PVC nurse's outfits, african jewellery, turkish hookas and just about anything else that is not catered for by mainstream shops then this is the place to visit. It has become a veritable melting pot of all of London's many diverse cultures. One of the more striking features of the high street are the 'outsize' creations that are bolted or balanced onto the outside of shops in the area.