Columbia Road flower market and shops are open on Sundays from 8am til 3(ish!). Columbia Road is in the East End, sitting at the edge of the City, with Shoreditch to the west and Brick Lane and Spitalfields also nearby.
Whats on…
Columbia Road will celebrate London’s Day of the Dead on Saturday 31st October 2026, bringing music, dance, flowers, costume and procession to one of East London’s best-known streets.
“The Mexican… is familiar with death. [He] jokes about it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates it. It is one of his favourite toys and his most steadfast love.”
— Octavio Paz, The Labyrinth of Solitude
Despite its name, Mexican Day of the Dead is a joyful celebration of life, death and remembrance. Traditionally, it is believed that the spirits of ancestors return to visit the living. Flowers are central to the celebration, particularly marigolds, whose colour and scent are said to help guide the dead home. They also remind us of the transience of life — making Columbia Road, famous for its flower market, a natural home for the festival. Programme details to follow soon.
Thank you to the artists Florent Bidois, Sue Kritzman, Cyd-Kassandra & Nidhi Uppal & to the photographers Evelyne Wynne (left and right image) and Andrea Corradini (middle image).
Pedal Me – Too much to carry home from the market
Too much to carry – talk to Pedal Me near the Bird Cage. A walk along Columbia Road is lovely way to start the day on Sunday morning. Open from 8am.
Pedal Me are offering a bicycle delivery service for you, your plants and any other goods such as furniture, tiles or just something that you would like delivered including yourself and your dog. Very simple to use by following the link or find out more here. Be cycle home in style.
A celebration of Columbia Road Flower Market in the heart of the East End
![Columbia Road will celebrate London’s Day of the Dead on Saturday 31 October 2026 from midday.
“The Mexican... is familiar with death. [He] jokes about it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates it. It is one of his favourite toys and his most steadfast love.”
— Octavio Paz, The Labyrinth of Solitude
Despite its name, Mexican Day of the Dead is a joyful celebration of life, death and remembrance. Traditionally, it is believed that the spirits of ancestors return to visit the living. Flowers are central to the celebration, particularly marigolds, whose colour and scent are said to help guide the dead home. They also remind us of the transience of life — making Columbia Road, famous for its flower market, a natural home for the festival. Thank you to the artist @florent.bidois & photographer @treycreative for the image.
Thank you to our sponsors The Royal Oak, TowerHamletsNow & Milagros.
London’s Day of the Dead is workings in collaboration with Let’s Discuss Death who have a series events at Bethnal Green Library exploring death literacy. Details to follow. #londonsdayofthedead #dayofthedead #columbiaroadflowermarket #eastlondon](https://columbiaroad.info/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)