Borough Market is London's best-known food market, a maze of stalls under the railway arches beside London Bridge where traders sell cheese, bread, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, along with plenty of street food to eat on the spot. Whether you come to stock up or simply to graze your way through lunch, Borough Market is one of the most enjoyable places in central London to spend an hour or two.
Why visit Borough Market
A market has existed near the southern end of London Bridge for centuries, and the market has been on its present site since the 18th century. The covered halls, with their green-painted ironwork and the trains rumbling overhead, give it a character that newer food halls cannot copy.
The stalls lean towards quality produce from British farms and specialist importers. You will find farmhouse cheeses to taste before buying, bakeries with queues out the front, butchers, fishmongers, mushroom foragers and stalls selling olive oil, spices, honey and charcuterie. Even if you have no kitchen to cook in, browsing is half the fun.
Getting to Borough Market by Tube
The nearest station is London Bridge, served by the Jubilee and Northern lines and by National Rail. The market is just west of the station, a walk of a couple of minutes. London Bridge is a large and busy station, so follow the signs towards Borough High Street and you will find the market immediately on the other side of the road.
- Borough station on the Northern line is a five to ten minute walk south along Borough High Street.
- From the north bank, it is a pleasant walk across London Bridge itself from Monument or Bank.
Contactless and Oyster cards work across the network.
Opening days and entry
There is no entrance fee for Borough Market. It trades on most days of the week, but not every day is the same: some days have the full market with all produce traders, while others have a reduced range, and individual traders set their own hours. Rather than rely on an old guidebook, check the official website, boroughmarket.org.uk, for the current trading days and times before you plan your visit.
Most traders accept cards, and many are happy to give a small taste before you buy, especially at the cheese and charcuterie stalls.
Best time to visit Borough Market
If you want space to browse and talk to traders, come on a weekday morning. Lunchtime fills up quickly with office workers, and Saturday late morning to mid afternoon is the busiest stretch of the week, with slow-moving crowds in the narrow lanes. Arrive early on a Saturday if that is your only chance.
An hour is enough for a walk round and a snack. Allow two hours if you plan to eat a proper lunch and do some shopping.
What to eat and drink
Stalls change over time, so it is better to follow your nose than a fixed list, but some things are reliably good here:
- Cheese: British cheesemongers sell aged cheddars and other farmhouse cheeses, and the hot cheese toasties and raclette are among the most popular snacks.
- Baked goods: bakeries sell sourdough, pastries and doughnuts, and these often sell out by the afternoon.
- Hot food: you will find stalls cooking dishes from many cuisines, from paella pans and curries to grilled meat sandwiches and fresh oysters.
- Coffee and drinks: coffee roasters, juice stalls and pubs around the edge of the market keep everyone going.
Seating is limited. Some covered areas have benches, and many people take their food to the grounds of Southwark Cathedral next door.
Nearby on the same Tube stop
London Bridge station is surrounded by places worth combining with the market:
- Southwark Cathedral: a Gothic church right beside the market, one of the oldest buildings in the area.
- The Shard: the tall glass tower above the station, with a paid viewing gallery.
- The Golden Hinde: a full-size replica of Francis Drake's ship, in a small dock a short walk west.
- The riverside path: walk west towards Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern, or east to Tower Bridge.
Discover more around this station on Borough Market on Around the Metro, or browse every stop on the London Tube map.