Merton Abbey Mills — Local services in London

It's good to hear that people who are only just discovering Merton Abbey Mills are enjoying it for what it is now, however I think if you'd known it back in its heyday, I'm sure you would be as disappointed with it as I was on my last visit. It used to be crammed with craft stalls and interesting bits and pieces to buy from all over the world, as well as all kinds of crafts hand made/painted/photographed by local artists - we used to think of it as a scaled down, local version of Camden Market. It was a great place to shop for unusual Christmas and birthday presents, as well as interesting bits and pieces to brighten up your home. I've still got a number of things I bought there back when my sister and I were regular visitors, when we used to stop off there either before or after doing the weekly shop in what was the Savacentre across the road! Back then there were food stalls where you could get a quick bite to eat before browsing the market - a stall that sold empenadas was always a particular favourite. Now it seems that the main focus is food, with the craft aspect taking a rather neglected back seat. So, go there and enjoy, but just bear in mind that what you're seeing today is not a patch on what it used to be.

UPDATE - January 2020. It's interesting to look at the additional reviews of this place since I first wrote my own review. It seems that everyone who knew Merton Abbey Mills back in the 90s and early 2000s are those giving it poor reviews now, because they knew it as the thriving, vibrant place that it used to be, rather than the collection of eateries and handful of stalls that it is now. It's a real shame. I don't know who manages the place these days, but I really do hope that they're taking note of the poor reviews. The way it has changed could never be described as "progress", or "moving with the times", it's just "different", but not in a good way. I do wonder what happened to all of the people who had permanent stalls in the central hall. I remember there was one particular stall that sold brilliant black and white photos of local landmarks, all taken by the stallholder themselves. There was another who used to import hand made crafts from rural South Africa - I still have a wire (decorative!) saxophone that had been crafted in some village thousands of miles away. I could go on, but I'd just be accused of wallowing in nostalgia! But do trust me when I say that what you see there today is not a patch on what you would have seen, sometimes nostalgia can be a good thing!

But...do continue to enjoy it for what it is now, I'm sure there must be some ordinary local people who still profit from it, and I'd never want to take that...

I find it hard to understand one comment that Merton Abbey Mills is evolving. In my view just the opposite is happening. Originally, before the overbearing flats and many other monstrosities where built around the market area, it had an open and welcoming aura, and was crammed with, lovely and bohemian people, fascinating craft and food stalls, along with some varied and interesting shops and a few more formal eateries. All this was usually accompanied my various kinds of music and entertainment. The long building was also full of interesting stalls: holding everything from tarot readers, painters, a dressmaker (of wild and wonderful clothes), yummy cakes and good coffee and many more delights. The market had an amazing atmosphere. Family and friends who lived outside Merton always asked to go and spend time there when they were visiting us. As well as all of the above there is the history of the area, this in itself is of note. Now,the few stalls still there are the 'same old'. The long building has been handed over after being glamorised, though most occupiers do not stay for long. The old car park, with its brilliant car boot sales, circuses etc has gone. Merton seems to have destroyed the very aspects that made the place attractive. Most of those original stalls were run by small independents and I guess their charges rose and rose, and health and safety didn't deem the ordinary person able enough to decide what and from whom they might eat. It is really a rather uninspiring place now. All that remains attractive is the river,, the mill, Morris's buildings and the little bit of flora and fauna still around. Sad. One exception is Charlie's Rock Shop, which has been there for a very long time and is full of...

As part of a walking circuit through Merton Hall Park's trails, you could stop here for lunch. There are a variety of eating places and events organised during weekends.

However, as a place to explore and shop on its own, the venue looks tired and it's variety of stalls are very limited. The products on show are commonplace. Many stall staff were smoking as they manned their stores. We even encountered a stall owner, smoking next to her clothing products. I cannot imagine the amount of second hand smoke and filth in the clothing products on display that have been absorbed day in, day out. One stall person was rude and grumpy when we stood in front of her stall during a performance in the main square.

We left feeling like Merton Abbey Mills had an interesting history. It is evolving and holds a lot of potential in a quaint way, esp with the water mill and pottery making place. However, the stores in the venue let it down big time -- products are not classy, unique nor differentiated in any way.

In this current pathetic state, I believe that something needs to drastically change in order to fully realise any latent potential. We won't be returning here anytime...