Native Places

Native Aparthotels & Apartments In London

Native Bankside

Bear Baiting and Tea Trading: The Secret History of Native Bankside

Bear-baiting and Shakespeare

Bankside has always been a hub for entertainment. Bear Gardens gets its name from the famous ‘bear-baiting’ ring that stood here, where exotic animals were forced to fight each other as a form of violent entertainment. Luckily that all stopped in 1835! To this day theatre-goers are still attracted by the bus load thanks to the famous Shakespearean theatre The Rose and Globe theatre close by.

Bear-baiting in action

Empire Warehouse was born

Fast forward to Victorian times, and thanks to the industrial revolution, the Bankside area became crammed with the iconic brick warehouses and factories. It was then that the original Empire Warehouse was born.

Over its lifetime spanning the 20th Century, the Empire Warehouse and its surrounding buildings became home to Victorian pattern card makers and tobacconists, to name a few. Tea traders Appleton Machin & Smiles operated in the warehouse for most of its life, giving it a lot of it’s original features that you can still see today.

The transformation of Native Bankside

After the 1970s, the Empire Warehouse sat empty for decades, until we came along and breathed new life into it. We’ve restored many of it’s original features and injected charm and glamour into these unique warehouse-style apartments.

The Empire Warehouse Today, Native Bankside

Visit Bankside

Walking down quiet Bear Gardens, you won’t feel like you’re in one of London’s most visited neighbourhoods. So why not come and explore the area and find out why it’s so popular?

Book your stay at Native Bankside today.

Guide to London’s Street Markets

Portobello Road

It’s been here since the 1800s and is one of the oldest markets in London. It’s in full swing on Saturdays but you can soak up the amazing atmosphere there any day from Monday – Saturday. It’s famous for antiques but now you find handmade items, food, vintage clothes and bric-a-brac.

Opening times:
Monday – Wednesday: 09:00 – 18:00
Thursday: 09:00 – 13:00
Friday & Saturday: 09:00 – 19:00

Camden

Camden is the place to be. With over 100 stalls and shops, you’ll be spoilt for choice perusing here. You can find cool one-offs, designer clothes, workshops, pieces of art and furnishings, alongside good bars, cafés and restaurants too.

Opening times:
Camden Lock is open seven days a week, every day, apart from Christmas Day

Old Spitalfields Market

Explore this brilliant covered market in East London. You’ll find a bit of everything, from smaller boutiques and handmade clothes, to designer brands and cutting edge fashion. It’s brilliant for jewellery, artwork and food too. Thursday is antique day, on Friday’s you’ll spot the best clothes and art, while weekends have a bit of everything.

Opening times:
Restaurants open daily – hours vary.
Shops open daily – hours varying but generally 11.00 – 19.00

Brick Lane

The best spot to find both junk and gems. What true street markets are all about right? This East London street market spreads across several streets and is perfect for picking up bric-a-brac, vintage clothes, second hand furniture, shoes and one-off finds. You can also find a colour selection of exotic spices and beautiful saris.

Opening times:
Sundays, 10am-5pm

Borough Market

A foodies paradise. For any food lover, there really is no better spot. It’s near London Bridge and is full to the brim of fresh and organic produce, baked treats and street food. You’ll find every cheese worth tasting and more bread than you can shake a French stick at. Try amazing seafood, salt beef bagels and dreamy street food. There’s lots of bars and restaurants and aparthotels in the surrounding area too.

Opening times:
Open for lunch:
Monday – Tuesday: 10:00 – 17:00
Full Market:
Wednesday – Thursday: 10:00 – 17:00
Friday: 10:00 – 18:00
Saturday: 08:00 – 17:00
Sunday: closed

Columbia Road Flowers

The clue is in the name but this really is a must see for any flower lover, or just anyone appreciating things of fine beauty and scents. It’s a must visit for super fragrant blooms and colourful displays. You can pick up plants, bulbs, shrubs, trees and gorgeous cut flowers.

Opening times:
Sunday 08:00 – 15:00

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay whilst exploring the city’s intriguing markets, search our holiday apartments in London, which make the perfect base for a weekend away.