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Borough Market sits under the railway arches, not far from London Bridge Station, and has, in some way, existed for 1,000 years.
It originated on London Bridge back in 1014 and has been located on its current site since 1756.
Today, it’s up there with Camden Market, Portobello Road Market and Columbia Road Flower Market as one of London’s best markets.
Borough Market, London
If you are a foodie, there’s no better offer in London than Borough Market.
Be warned, though, it gets disgustingly busy.
So, if crowds aren’t your thing, the market is best avoided at peak times.
In the market, you’ll find all sorts of stuff spread across three distinct parts:
- Borough Market Kitchen (street food zone)
- Three Crown Square (main produce area)
- Green Market (a mix of coffee, bread and sweets)
Across the three areas, you’ll find over 100 stalls, shops, and restaurants to entice you.
The market functions partly as a ready-to-eat food source and partly as a grocer, so there’s almost anything you could imagine on offer.
You’ll find plenty of the usual fare: coffee, bread, bagels, cheese, fish (both fresh to take away and cooked), live lobster and paella, plus some unusual offerings, such as dried insects and rare fruits and vegetables you won’t find in Tesco.
If you’re wondering, the dried insects can be found at Raya Grocery.
There’s even a market shop, selling a wide range of non-food goodies, from books to bags and even some lovely, recycled wool blankets.
Between the market and the market shop, there’s everything you need for the perfect picnic, actually.
So, perhaps you can pick up your picnic supplies and head to one of London’s great green spaces, like St James’s Park.
After saying all that, there’s a drawback to the market, and that’s the sheer volume of people it attracts.
Although it’s pretty large, at around 18,000 square metres, it struggles to cope with the high foot traffic during busy periods.
So, if you’re a massive foodie and don’t mind the crowds, it’s worth a visit.
If you’re not a massive foodie or don’t enjoy crowds, it’s best to avoid during peak times.
Saturdays are the market’s busiest day, so if you can manage to get there during the week, you might find it’s slightly quieter and the crowds more bearable, or avoid the peak lunchtime hours.
If you fancy something quieter and you’re visiting on a weekend, you could try Maltby Street Market, just a 15- to 20-minute walk away.
It’s a smaller market with a more limited offering, but it has fewer crowds and is one of London’s most underrated markets.
Plus, the Bermondsey Beer Mile is right next door.
Food and beer.
What more could you want?
Visitor Information
📍 8 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TL
🕙 Closed Mondays
Tue to Fri 10 am – 4 pm
Sat 9 am – 5 pm
Sun 10 am – 4 pm
Borough Market Photos
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