Whitechapel Market has been crowned Best Large Outdoor Market at the 2025 Great British Markets Awards (GBMA).
A longstanding cultural centre at the heart of historic Whitechapel, Whitechapel Market was commended for its innovative approach to supporting young traders and its dedication to sustainability and community partnerships.
Whitechapel Market has centuries of history, with records of the farmers selling animal feed at the Whitechapel hay market from 1665.
The area has also been a significant landing spot for newcomers to London, including as a central location for the Jewish community from the late nineteenth century and then, later, as a hub for the Bangladeshi community from the 1970s.
Currently, the 6-day-a-week market has over 80 traders, and is the go-to destination for locals to purchase fresh produce, fish, clothing, household goods, and delicious street food.
Beyond its centrality to the local community and historic importance, in the past few years, Whitechapel Market has focused on supporting young and new traders starting businesses, hosting the National Market Traders Federation’s Young Traders Market in 2024 for three days, with 16–30-year-olds selling their goods as part of a national competition.
The market has also welcomed young secondary school students as part of the Know Your Onions campaign to sell their home grown produce and hosted a three-day art exhibition from a local artist showcasing her Women of Whitechapel work.
Tower Hamlets Council, in partnership with Tower Hamlets GP Care Group and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care also recently offered free health checks to traders during their working hours, helping to care for members of our community who make the market such a significant and iconic place.
Nurzaman Choudhury, a trader at Whitechapel Market, said:
“I’ve been trading 13 years in this market – I’m very happy to win this award.”
Hasan Darwish, a trader at Whitechapel Market, said:
“I've been working in Whitechapel Market for 23 years, and I'm really happy working as a self-employed trader here. Our community is very good, we get a lot of help from the management, and the traders are very friendly as well.”
Cllr Shafi Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said:
“Whitechapel Market is a hub of history, culture, and community – and it’s only getting better.
“Since 2021, the council has worked in partnership with traders and the wider community, investing £9.3m to improve market infrastructure, while enhancing the public realm around the market.
“With our passionate traders and the larger supportive community, we know that the market will continue to thrive with new offerings popping up alongside the traditional stalls, additional innovative ways to get the community involved, especially young people, and more investment into a sustainable future for generations to come.”
The annual awards, hosted by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA), celebrate the outstanding contributions of markets to local communities, regeneration, and tourism over the past year. Last year, Petticoat Lane Food Court was recognised as the Best Specialty Market by GBMA. Whitechapel Market was one of two historic and vibrant markets in Tower Hamlets collected awards at the 2025 GBMA on Thursday, January 30. Columbia Road Flower Market was also crowned Best Small Market at the recent awards.
You can find Whitechapel Market on Whitechapel Road, Monday to Saturday, from 8am-6pm.
Posted on Wednesday 19th February 2025