Any trip to London should definitely include visiting Borough Market, which I only learned after my 10th visit to the capital of England.
Borough Market
Borough Market is located in the Southwark district of London near the south end of London Bridge. The market was first officially mentioned in 1276, but probably dates back to hundreds of years before that. There are dozens of stalls through the 19th-century buildings, with train tracks running overhead. The market isn’t as big as Pike Place in Seattle, or Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, but there are some very high-quality food vendors to be found there.
In the early hours of the morning, the market is a wholesale produce and meat distributor for the smaller greengrocers around London. Then in the late morning and afternoon, the stalls are open to the public. Although it’s smaller than other markets, you can find a huge variety of products from all over the world.
Perhaps what’s even better than the products are the food stalls, serving all kinds of dishes. My personal favorites are wild mushroom risotto at Turnips, pad Thai at Khanom Krok, and empanadas at Porteña.
Borough Market is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10-6 on Friday, 8-5 on Saturday, and 10-2 on Sunday. It’s free to enter, and (unlike some markets) the prices are surprisingly reasonable, especially for London. If you’re in the UK but can’t make it to the market, you can also order online.
The London Bridge Secret Food Tour
A great way to explore Borough Market is on the London Bridge Secret Food Tour. The tour meets at the south side of London Bridge and, although there are other stops, focuses on Borough Market. You’ll learn about the history, what vendors have been like over the years, which are the best stalls, and how the market went from a dodgy, smelly spot to one of the most popular places to eat at in London. The tour lasts 3-4 hours, and will take you to 6-8 stops for tastings of local dishes. It’s a great way to discover the best of British cuisine.
What’s Around Borough Market
Between the market and the Thames River is the beautiful, 800-year-old Southwark Cathedral. A couple minutes to the east is the Shard, London’s tallest building, and a couple streets to the west is the Tate Modern Museum. If you’re looking for a nice place to stay by Borough Market, I’d recommend St. Christopher’s Inn Village where you’ll find private rooms and pods at very reasonable rates.
Borough Market is just one tiny part of London, but it’s one of my favorite spots in the city, and I always try to make my way there for at least one meal whenever I’m in town.
