A market can be about much more than buying things.

For a growing number of people, it's also a place to spend a leisurely afternoon, discover something they love and meet others who share the same passion.

That's the idea behind themed markets – where everything revolves around a particular interest, whether it's coffee, food, fashion or accessories.

So, what makes these niche markets so appealing, and what do they tell us about the way people are spending today?