Its still there been going for years, you can get any sort of plant ,flowers seeds,trees that you want, dont go on Mothering Sunday as everything especialy cut flowers the price goes up, the pub on the corner of Ezra St [ I think thats the right one] off the flower market is the pub they used for Goodnight Sweetheart tv comedy and the alley where you buy the lovely food, and cofee they used at as background, in the summer there is usually a band playing & the shops behind the market stalls sell lovely smoked salmon bagels and bread, its a lovely relaxed atmosphere, you often spot minor tv celebs down there.
You cant park in Columbia Road, park in Hackney Road and walk just follow crowds its only a few mins away after that go on to Old Spitalfields market which is now very trendy and good for lunch, you also have Club Row and Petticoat Lane though the latter is pathetic compared o a good few years ago its now all Asian traders the colourful cockney characters that used to dominate the market have long gone[ anyone remember China King selling dinner services every Sunday?] dont even sell potato lutkas in Wentworth Street anymore apparently there is no call for them !
We usually take any visitors who come to London to Columbia Rd and they all like it.Aim forgetting there no later than 10am.