If you’ve ever wanted to appear on the BBC show Eastenders, or wondered what it’s like to stroll around Albert Square and pick up some groceries in the market, head down to Dalston, E8 to find out.

Dalston’s Ridley Road market is the inspiration for the long-running soap-opera, famous for its portrayal of life in East End London. Ridley Road is one of London’s original markets, dating from the late 1800s. Unlike the TV version, you won’t see stallholders slip into the local pub every 10 minutes, or ask someone to “mind me stall” while they disappear either to commit a criminal act, sleep with someone’s partner, or simply to shout “woss goin on” and “leave it aht”.

Instead you’ll find them working hard to maintain Ridley Road’s reputation as one of the best markets in London to buy fresh food. Fruit and vegetables from all parts of the world can be found here, reflecting the local area’s ethnic mix. At The Islington Company we enjoy our 5 a day and what better place to get a kilo of apples and pears.

If it’s clothes you’re after, the market has a variety of stalls selling all types of fashion; from dresses to jeans to footwear – enough to make sure you look the part if you ever decide to audition for Eastenders.

When we have a break from running our busy Lettings Agency in Islington we can pop down here on our bikes and enjoy the justle and bustle. If you want somewhere to sit down, head to Fassett Square. It’s situated close to the market and has a small grassy space, with rows of neat houses overlooking it, and a metal fence surrounding it. If you’re thinking the description reminds you of somewhere, it’s because Fassett Square is the model copied by Eastenders designers when they constructed Albert Square.

Walford is the fictional borough where Eastenders is set. Like Dalston, it has its own train station – Walford East. Many visitors for next year’s Olympic Games are likely to stay in areas close to the Olympic stadium, such as Dalston. At The Islington Company we are only too aware of Eastenders seeking to let out their properties in North East London to Olympic spectators. Many of them will also be Eastenders fans so don’t be surprised if next June you hear people around Ridley Road market or Fassett Square asking “where is Walford East station?”