walking tour london borough market

7 Best Borough Market Tours in 2024 (ranked!)

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Ready to book the best Borough Market tours?

You’ve come to the right place because I’m covering the top 7 Borough Market tours here.

How do I know?

I’ve lived in London since 2012 Borough Market is one of my absolute favorite places to explore.

This lively market is 10/10 for fun and foodies, but it’s so big that the best way to see it as a visitor is to take a guided tour!

Only quality tours are included in this list so you know that every tour you book is worth your money and time.

Want me to cut to the chase?

The best tour of Borough Market is: London Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours.   

⏳ Don’t have time to read the whole list?

The best London Borough Market tour is this London walking food tour with Secret Food tours .

Click here to check prices and availability.

There are plenty of Borough Market tours to choose from, including Borough Market guided tours, Borough Market food tours, and Borough market tasting tours so let’s get right down to it.

In this list, you’ll find 7 of the top-rated Borough Market tours so you know you’re making the right choice.

Hey! Want more honest UK tips and planning advice? Click here to join my London and UK Travel Tips Facebook group , where I can answer more of your questions!

Easy Guide: Best Borough Market Tours

1. london walking food tour with secret food tours.

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 1000+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3.5 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR

• Food tour in small-group 
• Several foods
• A Secret Dish (to be revealed on the day)

This tour is a great way to try British cuisine.

You can choose from a couple of itineraries.

The London Bridge tour focuses on traditional cuisine. The SoHo tour will visit some hidden gems with the best food in London.

This tour includes the price of all the food you’ll get to try. And you’ll get to try quite a variety. 

You’ll visit the best food stalls in the Borough Market and try their best foods! 

This is a great way to taste the best food in London!

You won’t have to worry about eating at the over-rated tourist traps because you’ll be eating right along with the locals.

2. PRIVATE London Food Tours – Borough Market, Soho, East End

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 180+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Multiple itineraries

This private tour is easily customizable to meet your needs and one of the best food walking tours in Borough Market.

You can choose the start time and the itinerary.

You can also ask your tour guide questions and learn everything he knows about British cuisine!

If you’d rather explore more than just Borough Market, you can. Would you rather eat at the East End, SoHo, or Chinatown?

No matter where you go, you’ll be eating where the locals eat.

The samples you’ll enjoy throughout the tour will add up to a hearty meal that will keep you full for hours!

3. Walking Food Tour in the Borough Market with Eating Europe

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 90+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• London – A food Lover’s Guide

While this tour takes place mostly in Borough Market, you’ll have the opportunity to see a few other landmarks in the area!

But the main highlight of this trip is that your guide will take you to the best food stalls in the market.

You don’t need to be overwhelmed by all the options because the local guide will tell you what’s worth trying!

This tour will include a variety of samples.

Some of these will include coffee, a sausage roll, fish and chips , wine, and more!

After the tour, you’ll know where to get the best food in the market!

4. Borough Market and beyond

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 50+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  90 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Details of Borough attractions
• Small group tour

This tour of the Borough Market area covers the dark history of the area.

If you’re into spooky history, you’ll love this tour!

Because it’s so unique, even locals will book this tour.

Your guide will be able to share recommendations to last for your whole visit.

You’ll also have a personalized experience where you’ll learn a lot about obscure history.

Since the tour starts in Borough Market, you can grab something to eat while awaiting your tour guide.

Then visit places like Southwark Cathedral and the Golden Hinde. See some notable places in Shakespearean history.

And check out some art you can find throughout the city!

5. London Downtown and Borough Market Doughnut Tour

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 60+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  2 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Bottled water
• Walking tour
• Insider perspective

If you have a sweet tooth, this is the food tour for you!

Walk around downtown London and Borough Market to try some of the best donuts in the city!

You’ll also have the opportunity to try other sweets, such as cookies, chocolate, and coffee.

This tour visits 5 places where you can buy a sweet treat.

You’ll also be able to enjoy iconic London views while eating your delicious snacks.

Bring your camera because you’re going to want to snap pictures of these beautiful treats and the city!

6. Borough Market – Inns and alleys 700 years of literature explored

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 5+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  90 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Qualified guide
• Small group

Walk along Borough’s historic streets and learn so much about the area!

This tour specifically focuses on the literary works of people who once lived in this area.

Visit the site of Tabard Inn, the Marshalsea Prison, and Crossbones Graveyard & Garden of Remembrance.

Learn the literary significance of each of these places as you walk along the route.

You’ll learn so much about English literature, especially Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Dickens.

England is proud of these authors, and for good reason.

Find out why on this tour!

7. Ultimate London Food Tour: Borough Market & Southwark : Borough Market walking tour

⭐️  RATING:  4.5 out of 5 Stars, 7+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  4 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Local English-speaking guide
• Expertly guided walking tour
• 7 food tastings

This tour will take you to favorite places for locals to eat.

You’ll learn about the history of British cuisine, which spans over 1,000 years! 

Eat some classic British foods as well as some modern and diverse eats, like you’ll find in Southwark. 

Your tour will begin at Brood, London’s oldest borough.

You’ll get to try the best oysters in the city.

The best fish and chips in London is a controversial topic, but this tour might have found the best place to eat this classic dish!

You’ll get a few classics at Borough Market and end the tour at the historic Mug House. 

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Borough Market

1) for foodies: borough market.

H eading our list of best markets in London is Borough Market. Borough Market is one of the best markets in London and is London’s worst kept secret. In recent years it has become the undisputed haven for hipster-foodies and enthralled tourists alike. Nestled close to London bridge, you’d be forgiven for thinking it doesn’t look very appetising at first glance. Yet below its grimy facade lies a haven of superb culinary exploits. From scones to bratwurst, from jerk chicken to chow mien; Borough Market hosts a wide range of international cuisine. You can find anything you can think of: fresh bread, cheeses, pickles, chutneys, jams, oysters, hot dogs, burgers, paella, falafel, fish&chips, pasta, noodles, local beers, juices, pastries and cakes. Aside from the market stalls, there are also plenty of cafes and restaurants to sit down in.

Opening Hours: Monday: 10am-5pm Limited Market Tuesday: 10am-5pm Limited Market Wednesday: 10am-5pm Full Market Thursday: 10am-5pm Full Market Friday: 10am-5pm Full Market Saturday: 10am-6pm Full Market Sunday: Closed

Getting Here By Tube

London Bridge (Jubilee, Northern Line)

Getting Here By Bus

There are bus stops very close by at London Bridge, Borough High Street and Southwark Bridge. 43, 141, 149, 521 to London Bridge/Borough High Street

Getting Here By Car

Union Car Park, 53 Southwark Street, London SE1 1RU.

LONDON IN A DAY TOUR

You can find out more information of this site, and some of the most iconic sites in the city, on our London In A Day Tour!

Previous Tour

Booking for borough market.

London Guided Walks » Borough Market

Borough Market

• January 5, 2022

Hidden behind the world famous Borough Market is one of London’s most historic quarters. The streets South of London Bridge team with 2,000 years of history. Borough Market is an excellent place to start to explore this history.

The Romans landed on the Kent coast in the 1st century AD. They then built some roads, as Romans always did: Watling Street, and Staines Street. These met at the bottom of Borough High Street, which was a raised bit of land across boggy marshes. This led to the Romans’ wooden bridge over the Thames, London Bridge. London Bridge remained London’s only bridge across the Thames for the next thousand years.

Borough was the gateway to London, where goods and people arrived from the continent and Kent, the garden of England. Unsurprisingly, a market was set up. How old this market is no one is quite sure, although we know by early medieval times there were complaints about it blocking the route to London Bridge. After moving around in the local area, in 1756 following an Act of Parliament the market found its permanent home. The Victorian period saw the market grow rapidly, but its heyday as a wholesale market was the 1930s, selling goods to London’s shops and restaurants. Even in the 1990s Borough was still a wholesale market and if you arrived after 9am it would be closing up. Its reinvention in the 21st Century as a global foodie hub builds on this rich history and it shows no sign of ending!

Find out more about Borough Market. Book tickets for Dr Stephen King’s Southwark Walking tour now. Private Southwark tour also available.

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10 Places to Eat in Borough Market

London is a culinary capital and food tours here are becoming more and more popular.

But at Free Tours By Foot we think paying upwards of £50.00 for a food tour for a set time and date is not necessarily affordable or flexible for many visitors.

So we’ve put together a self-guided food tour so anybody can explore Borough Market for FREE by themselves at any time* – you'll only pay for the tasty treats you’ll surely purchase yourself!

This self-guided food tour leads through the world-famous Borough Market, where people come from all over the world to eat and drink.

Borough Market is one of the largest food markets on the planet, and there is plenty here to get full without spending a fortune.

From British food on show or international treats from across the globe – there’s always something for everybody at Borough Market.

[*Note: We recommend you visit Borough Market on the busiest days, to get the chance to see all of the stalls. This means Thursdays to Saturdays. The market closes before dinner time so try to come in the afternoon for the best experience.]

How to get to Borough Market

Start: London Bridge Underground Station

When you exit the station, follow signs for BOROUGH HIGH STREET. Walk along the High Street. Walk until you come to STONEY STREET and turn RIGHT.

Take the FIRST entrance into the market on your right and immediately turn LEFT. You will pass one lot of stalls then come to a second. Your first stop is at the second lot. Here is a map of the inside of the market.

1. Olive Oil Company - Flavoured Oils and Vinegars

This is a perfect place to start your tour as the Olive Oil Company is always offering up free samples of their amazing flavoured oils and vinegars.

Taste all you like - with fresh market-baked bread, of course - and purchase your favourites.

The staff here know their stuff and will talk you through all the interesting flavours available - the perfect appetiser before your feast begins!

When FACING the Olive Oil Company, go to the LEFT and follow the circle of stalls around, keeping the stalls on your right.

You will then come into your next stop on the other side from where the Olive Oil Company is.

2. Borough Olives - Nocellara Olives

Olive lovers get ready: this is the holy grail! Borough Olives provides a HUGE variety of fresh olives from all over the world (think Spain, Morocco and Greece) at very affordable prices.

Feel free to sample to help you discover the ones you like best, then pick up a tub of your favourite for under £5.

Our suggestion is the Nocellara olives - vibrant green, HUGE, and with a thick meaty texture, they're the best you'll have ever had.

For those of you who are not too keen on olives, don't worry! Borough Olives also serves up delicious salty Feta cheese, gorgeous sun fried tomatoes and a range of pesos.

Think about picking up a jar, grab a delicious loaf of bread, and snack on later!

With your BACK to the Olive stall, step forward toward the next group of stalls directly ahead of you. Then go to your LEFT. Keep the stalls to your RIGHT and walk around until you get to your next stop.

3. Parma Ham and Mozzarella Stand - Burrata and Buffalo Mozzarella

Here you'll find some of the finest mozzarella London has to offer - soft and fresh - and we recommend stepping things up and getting the Burrata - a fresh Italian cheese made of mozzarella and cream which is impossible NOT to like.

You'll also be able to taste incredible Parma ham which is imported direct from Saint Ilario, a world renowned producer of Prosciutto di Parma.

The ham, which is cured for 24 months, is described as 'tender, lean and packed with flavour...' We agree!

FACING the Parma Ham and Mozzarella stand, turn to your RIGHT and walk a few steps - your next stop will be directly in front of you.

4. Bread Ahead Bakery - Foccacia Bread

To perfectly accompany your olive oils, dips, ham and cheese, you need to pick out a perfect artisan bread, and this is where you'll find it.

Bread Ahead is a pure London bakery - based in Bermondsey, in the South East of town.

There's a huge variety of bread here and, if we're honest, everything is good!

Prices run from between £2 - £7 depending on what you'd like but our personal recommendation is the foccacia bread.

Depending on the day, the selection of foccacia on offer could have garlic and rosemary, tomatoes and olives, herbs and nuts...and the list goes on!

FACING Bread Ahead Bakery, walk to your LEFT. Walk until you get to the last stall on your right and then turn RIGHT. The second lot of stalls on your right will hold your next stop.

5. Bath Soft Cheese Co. - Wyfe of Bath Cheese

The Bath Soft Cheese Co. is perfect British product. All the cheeses here are organic and are made near Bath using milk from cows owned by the same company.

Their signature cheese is the Wyfe of Bath semi-hard cheese which is named after a character in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

Their soft cheese is not to be missed - it is, after all, where they got their name.

And it has a pedigree that goes back to the 1790's and it is even claimed that Admiral Lord Nelson enjoyed this cheese!

For blue cheese lovers, there's plenty here for you, too.

It can sometimes be a bit overwhelming so talk to the staff - they're lovely, friendly and they know exactly what they're talking about!

When facing the Soft Cheese Co. you will see an exit out of this part of the market behind the stalls, in the direction you are facing.

You are now standing on WINCHESTER WALK. Walk toward CATHEDRAL STREET and turn RIGHT. You next stop will be on your RIGHT as the road starts to curve.

6. Fish!Kitchen - Fish & Chips

Good ole' fish and chips! Fresh, flaky fish in delicious batter served up alongside traditional thick-cut chips. This is an offshoot of the Fish! Restaurant which has been trading in Borough Market for years. This handy little stall serves up proper British fish and chips with mushy peas and classic tartare sauce.

Continue down CATHEDRAL STREET as it turns into BEDALE STREET. Turn RIGHT into the tiny alleyway a few metres down and as you come back into the market, your next stall is up ahead of you.

7. Borough Nuts - Nuts and Snacks

This is a personal favourite, and it's a guarantee that there is something for everyone at this stall.

Huge baskets overflowing with dried fruits, nuts, and baklava are on display, alongside yogurt and chocolate coated goodies - all of which are priced by the weight.

This makes it a perfect budget-friendly stop because you can choose to spend exactly how much you'd like to spend!

Our personal recommendations are the spicy cashew nuts! For those with a sweet tooth, take a look at the yogurt coated banana chips - yum.

With Borough Nuts BEHIND you, walk to your RIGHT. Walk a few paces and your final stop will appear on your LEFT.

8. Comptoir Gourmand - Canele' and Desserts

It's time for dessert and Comptoir Gourmand is the place to get it!

All the desserts here are created by owner Sebastien Wind, who is an exceptionally talented chef-patissier who uses French technique to create all the delicious delicacies you'll find at this stall.

Try the Canele' de Bordeaux - a pastry with a smooth custard centre and a thick caramelized sugar crust, or the beautifully colourful meringues, or even gorgeous shortbreads boasting plump raisins and crunchy pecans.

There's so much to choose from here, you'll have a hard time deciding! It's the perfect way to end your feast.

9. OPTIONAL BONUS STOP

If you’d like to grab yourself a cheeky drink to enjoy during your tour, pay a visit to Cartwright Bros.

This stall specialises in importing wines sourced from independent estates.

You can purchase a bottle (or three!) or you can also buy by-the-glass.

The delicious prosecco is our personal favourite! You’ll find this stall on MIDDLE ROAD which cuts through the Market.

Other Stalls Worth Mentioning and What to Get There

• Ginger Pig - The Best Sausage rolls in town and they have plenty of awards to Prove it!
• Kappacasein - The BEST Cheese toasties in town.
• Monmouth Coffee - You can tell that it is a good place by the constant queues! Although it is popular, these guys do a mean coffee.
• Padella - If you love Italian food, these little Pasta creations are amazing. Not only do they taste good, but they are great for Instagram also!

Either River Thames or London Bridge Underground Station

Once you've finished your food tour - you have an option of where to go. Perhaps you're going to take your goodies away, in which case you can follow the signs back to LONDON BRIDGE STATION.

Or maybe you'd like to sit somewhere nice and enjoy your snacks! If so, you have the option of sitting in the courtyard of SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL - which you can see from the Market itself.

Or, if you'd like, you can go back to STONEY STREET and follow it toward the river, where it will dead end into CLINK STREET.

From there, turn LEFT, go under the bridge then turn RIGHT and you will be on the Southbank of the Thames where you can find a lovely bench to sit and enjoy the London skyline!

+++We recommend all foodies to check out our other (self-guided) food tours  as well as our regular  pay-what-you-like walking tours !+++ 

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Borough Market & Bankside Food Tour

The 'best of british' food tour with a side helping of breweries, the bard, bad behaviour and other local history..

Daily Morning

Immerse yourself in the 1000-year history of this internationally acclaimed food market , just steps away from London Bridge . Taste your way through Borough Market and Bankside with creamy British cheeses, the best sausage roll in the land, a classic sticky toffee pudding in our favorite hidden gem and much more. Hear fascinating stories about the market’s history and cultural importance within London’s food scene as you discover local flavor from some of its best traders .

This was a wonderful, entertaining food tour with a little history/city knowledge included! Knowing almost nothing about this overwhelming food market, now I know what is offered and what is the best. I also know much more about London food and the whys behind it.

Perusing Borough Market by yourself can be overwhelming. Skip the faff and let us lead you to its best vendors 📍

Taste British beer and apple cider whose fruit can be traced all across the country 🍻🍎

Experience genre-bending desserts from two of Britain’s most loved pastry chefs 🍩

Savor rich, decadent, distinctly British cheeses and learn what makes them special 🧀

Everybody’s got a favorite chippy (fish & chips spot, that is). Ours just happens to be one that’s won multiple awards 🏆

See firsthand and hear about Bankside’s iconic sights, like London Bridge and Clink Prison 🏛️

Vegetarian-friendly tours available, but we’re unable to offer gluten-free and vegan options to ensure the highest quality, as we cannot guarantee this with those restrictions. Kosher choices may be limited. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions when booking for optimal accommodation.

• Expert Local Guides : Fun, knowledgeable, and English-fluent London locals.
• London’s Hidden Gems : Enjoy exclusive access to local favorites where you’re treated like family.
• Culinary Diversity : Taste a variety of delicious dishes, and hear the stories behind the food.
• Cultural Immersion : See London through the eyes of a local.
• Established Expertise : Since 2011 simply the best food tours in London!

Adult (From 18 years) From £89

Adolescent (13-17 years) from £75, child (4-12 years) from £55.

Private tours

If you are coming to London with your entourage and you’d like to take a private tour just for you and your group – we can make that happen! Just visit our private tours page and fill out the form or simply upgrade during your booking!

We had the best time on the food tour! Our guides were friendly and fun with lots of interesting information about each stop. We would highly recommend this food tour to anyone visiting London!! - Maggie P (TripAdvisor)

This was a great introduction to the food and culture of the East End. Our guide Alex was knowledgeable and charming, and a great source of information. The food was fantastic and varied. Thank you for a great time – we will definitely look at your tours in other cities! - Karen J (TripAdvisor review)

Josie was a fun, approachable and knowledgeable guide. The team put together a great variety of foods that showcases all of the ethnic influences in the East End. Wonderfully done. - Paula (TripAdvisor review)

We loved our East End food tour with Dinah! She made the history come alive by sharing the stories of her family’s own history in the neighborhood. And the food stops were outstanding. Such a wonderful variety of food and every proprietor knew and clearly liked Dinah. - Suzanne S (TripAdvisor review)

We had so much fun on our food tour. The food was fantastic and our guide was really fun, informative, and helpful. It was an excellent combination of delicious food and interesting history. We would highly recommend! - Marti (TripAdvisor review)

We had many wonderful experiences during our trip to England, but this was our favorite! It was so memorable. The food and the food selections could not have been better! We loved the bacon sandwich and of course the caramel chocolate ganache tart. How lovely it was with the Prosecco. Curry and beer at noon? excellent. Our guide Sarah was fun, knowledgeable and interesting. - Nancy Fohner

Wonderful way to spend a long layover in London. Food was great and Dinah was so fun and knowledgeable, especially with her family connection to the area we grouped. Wish it could have been longer. - Lesley Kriewald

Meet Your Local London Tour Guides

One of our London food tour guides will show you the very best the city has to offer.

EATING EUROPE INC. CANCELLATION POLICY

Small Group Tours

A tour can be cancelled with a full refund up to 24 hours before tour departure.

Private Tours

A private tour can be cancelled and fully refunded up to 7 days before tour departure

Gift Cards, Travel Vouchers & Flexi-Pass™

Gift cards, travel vouchers and Flexi-Pass™ are non-refundable.

LATE ARRIVALS AND NO SHOWS

Due to extremely strict time slots for entry into attractions and for food preparation, both in-person & virtual/online, we recommend you show up 15 minutes before the scheduled starting time of the tour or experience. Our group tours begin & depart precisely at the scheduled tour or experience start time. If you show up late or cannot find the meeting point, for any reason, refund requests are not honored per policy. If you are having a hard time arriving on time we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible so we can do everything in our power to assist you with arriving at the meeting point at the scheduled time or reschedule to the next available tour.

CANCELLATION DUE TO PLANES, TRAINS, AUTOMOBILES OR ILLNESS

Inside of 24 hours, your spot on the tour has been reserved exclusively for you. Since we are unable to fill your spot if you’re unable to attend for any reason (including transportation or illness), we do not offer refunds after that time. Please plan ahead so that you are able to join us and don’t miss out!

DISCOUNT CODES

Discount codes are valid for new bookings only. They are not eligible for pre-existing bookings and can not be applied retrospectively.

AMENDMENT POLICY

We would be happy to assist you with rescheduling your tour, free of charge, with any requests made more than 24 hours of 8am CET on the date of the tour. We reserve the right to charge an amendment fee should you request to reschedule within 24 hours of 8am CET on the date of your tour . Once again, this is subject to availability and price changes. In general, we only charge you for any additional costs that we incur such as tickets. We have no intention of profiting from disruptions to your vacation and will work with providers and suppliers to get this cost reduced to a minimum.

CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

From time to time, the terms of this policy may change at the Company’s discretion.

If you have any questions regarding this privacy policy, you can contact us using the information below:

E-mail: [email protected]

Adult From £89

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Borough Market

Borough market ultimate guide.

Covent Garden may have its trendy hipster fashion and Portobello Market may have its antique and vintage items, but if you want to sample as much international cuisine as humanly possible during your visit to London, then Borough Market is the place to be.

With a history stretching back well over 1,000 years, not to mention some of the most mouth-watering street food you won’t find anywhere else in the UK, the Borough Market can certainly give other London markets a run for their money – it is the oldest market in London, after all.

Although its exact starting date is difficult to determine, it is believed that Borough Market has been around since at least 1014. Being next to the London Bridge (which was the only route across the river into central London for hundreds of years), its location made the market easily accessible for locals who travelled from all over the city to shop around the many stalls.

Today, Borough Market has evolved into a sprawling street market which attracts over 4.5 million visitors each year, and consists of more than 100 different stalls selling everything from meat, fish, vegetables, olive oil and ciders to breads, coffees, cakes and so much more.

As soon as you enter the vicinity of the market, you will bombarded with all sorts of smells, sights and sounds that will ignite all the senses. With international cuisine from nearly every corner of the world (most of which has been imported from abroad), and street vendors selling everything from paella, duck wraps, and Thai coconut pancakes, a lot of visitors head to Borough Market just for the sole reason of sampling some of the many street food items. Not only that, Borough Market is also a popular destination amongst London locals doing their weekly grocery shopping, as here you can find fruits and produce, fresh fish and meat, and all sorts of different spices and cooking ingredients. If you still believe the old trope that British food is tasteless, you only need to join a free food tour in London or go for a stroll around the Borough Market to dispel that myth - in the most delicious way!

Borough Market Highlights

Borough Market has a unique layout with sprawls through a maze of narrow passageways, so you could easily get “lost” in the market and stroll around for hours, stumbling upon all sorts of delicious delights during your wanders.

Out of all the areas in the Borough Market, the Three Crown Square is the market’s largest trading area, and focuses specifically on fruit and veg, cheese, meat and fish. However, another must-see is the Market Hall (facing onto Borough High Street) which acts as a sort of “greenhouse” for growing plants, and is now used as a venue for foodie demonstrations, tastings and even workshops as well.

If you’re short on time, then try to stick to the stalls just south of Southwark Cathedral, which offer everything from artisan foods, mouth-watering chocolate, and food from Ethiopia, the Balkans, France, Cumbria and much more. Joining a free tour of the Borough Market with a guide is also a time saver.

There are also a handful of cafes located along Stoney Street, and if you want to grab a quick bite to eat for lunch, then try to stick to the stalls in Green Market (which is the area closest to the Southwark Cathedral).

Special Tips

Getting There

Visiting borough market.

Recommended visiting time is around three to four hours, however, if you’re visiting on a weekend, you may find yourself strolling around the market’s many winding streets for up to five or even six hours.

Be aware that the Borough Market is a smoke-free zone, and no dogs are allowed (with the exception of guide dogs).

There are toilet facilities located in Jubilee Place and the Market Hall, and several cash points in the vicinity of the market as well.

During the busier periods, keep a close eye on your belongings as the area can be prone to pick-pockets.

Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes for your visit, and it may not be a bad idea to bring a raincoat or umbrella with you as well, just in case it rains.

When to Visit

Borough Market is free for anyone to enter, and its opening times are:

• Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Fridays (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Saturdays (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Be aware that on Mondays and Tuesdays, not all of the market’s traders will be present as they are both limited-market days; however, all of the street food traders will be open for business, as well as fruit and vegetable stalls, bakers, cheesemongers and charcuterie sellers.

If you are checking out the Borough Market, you might also want to join any of the free tours of London  that are available on offer.

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