Shop ’til you dock

Begin with a browse around the hip and funky stalls at Stables Market, which gets its name from Victorian times when it was the site of a horse hospital. After a bite to eat at the Hawley Arms on Castlehaven Road – once the late, great Amy Winehouse’s favourite Camden hangout – grab a Santander bike from the docking station opposite.

Head back up to the bridge, cross the road and look for the path marked Camden Lock East Road. The Regent’s Canal towpath provides a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle, and it’s a pleasant cycle to Angel. At Islington tunnel (878m long) leave the canal and cycle east.

Dock your Santander bike at Islington Green and go down Camden Passage, where antiques and contemporary shops compete for your attention. After bagging a bargain it’s also the perfect place to grab a coffee before getting back in the saddle and heading on to Exmouth Market, home to the green tile-fronted Exmouth Arms from which the market gets its name. Here there’s a fine selection of independent boutiques and restaurants to explore.

Then pick up a bike from Hardwick Street and make a beeline for Spitalfields. London’s oldest market is open seven days a week and ideal for vintage and gift shopping (the Santander basket is small so you may need a rucksack).

Did you know?

The new, official Santander Cycles app from Transport for London is the only app to send bike release codes straight to your phone, bypassing the docking station terminal. Free to download; Apple App Store & Google Play

Santander Cycles is easy