Camden London: what's on and things to do

Camden is a music town with a market attached, and the order matters. The Roundhouse, the Electric Ballroom, the Jazz Cafe, the Dublin Castle and half a dozen smaller rooms are within ten minutes of the Tube, and on most nights of the week several of them have something on.

Daytime

The markets run every day and are busiest and worst on a Saturday afternoon. Go on a weekday morning and it is a different, better place. Camden Lock and the Stables are the parts worth the walk; the stretch along the high street nearest the station is the part to move through quickly.

The canal towpath west to Little Venice takes about an hour and a half at a stroll, passes the zoo aviary, and is the nicest way to leave Camden. Primrose Hill is ten minutes north and has the view everyone photographs at sunset.

Evening and night

Doors at the small venues are usually seven or half past, with the main act on around nine. The Jazz Cafe runs a club night after the gig on Friday and Saturday that goes to three. The pubs along Parkway and Kentish Town Road are the ones locals use once the market has emptied.

Getting home

The Northern line runs overnight on Friday and Saturday, which is what makes Camden a viable late night. Note that Camden Town station is exit-only or closed at busy times on weekend evenings, so walk to Mornington Crescent or Chalk Farm rather than queue. Midweek, last trains are around half past midnight and the 24 and 88 run all night.