| Although I write regularly about the world famous | | | | whether inside or outside, where crushes develop, |
| Portobello Road antique market in Notting Hill, West | | | | particularly outdoors as many of the open-air |
| London, it certainly isn't the only hunting ground in | | | | stallholders will still be unpacking. Whatever you |
| London for all things antique and vintage. One of the | | | | collect, or buy and sell, Kempton will have dealers |
| best market for antiques and vintage; vintage | | | | offering it, whether antique or vintage. You will find |
| clothes, vintage accessories, vintage textiles, vintage | | | | oriental porcelain and works of art, silver and silver |
| homewares and vintage furniture within easy reach | | | | plate, paintings, furniture, English pottery and |
| of London is the Sunbury Antiques Market usually | | | | porcelain, continental pottery and porcelain, furniture, |
| held on the second and last Tuesday of each month | | | | vintage clothing, vintage textiles and fabrics, vintage |
| at Kempton Park Racecourse. | | | | accessories, collectible toys, dolls, teddy bears and |
| Sue Cruttenden's, bi-monthly, Sunbury Antiques | | | | jewellery. |
| Market has been held at Kempton Park since 1979. | | | | There are two very good reason why the Kempton |
| Up to seven hundred stallholders may attend on any | | | | Park, Sunbury Antique Market became a big success. |
| market day. Two indoor areas beneath the stands | | | | Firstly there are no entry fees and there's a large |
| will be packed with up to three hundred and fifty | | | | free car park. Unlike organisers of so many antique |
| tables laden with vintage and antique objects of all | | | | fairs Ms Cruttenden has, very wisely, refrained from |
| kinds. While outside a very large area can hold | | | | trying to make extra profits from entry charges, |
| another three hundred and fifty cars and vans spilling | | | | including early entry, realising that it's better to have |
| out their wares onto tables and the ground. There | | | | a large loyal following of both stallholders and buyers. |
| are many regulars, some of whom seem to bring the | | | | Even if I go away empty handed, which isn't often, I |
| same stock year in year out, leaving one wondering | | | | never feel disgruntled because I was charged fifteen |
| how they make a living, but most are keen to turn | | | | or twenty pounds entry. Secondly Kempton is a |
| over as much as possible on the day and prices | | | | market for serious dealers and collectors. Unlike |
| reflect that. There are always a number of occasional | | | | Portobello Road, Covent Garden and Camden Lock it |
| arrivals too. Some will spend months gathering a | | | | doesn't pander to tourists, so there is very little |
| vanload of goods, while others, first timers, may just | | | | reproduction on offer and almost no crafts or new |
| be clearing granny's house. Continental dealers arrive | | | | clothing. An added bonus is the outside pitches are on |
| regularly in large vans loaded with French and Belgian | | | | hard standing and even in wet weather there is no |
| vintage treasures, attracting vintage clothing and | | | | mud. |
| fabric buyers, stylists and homemakers. | | | | Coffee, tea and bacon rolls are available on site either |
| The doors open at 6.30 a.m. and hundreds of dealers, | | | | outside or in the large stand and at the nearby |
| many of whom will have been waiting around for | | | | Tesco store a good, cheap breakfast can be bought |
| hours, will flood in. Some will rush to favoured stands, | | | | prior to your drive back to London. |