Borough Market is one of London’s most popular spots for foodies and it’s no surprise as to why. From fresh oysters to strawberries covered in chocolate, to indulgent sandwiches, moreish sausage rolls, and lots of pubs – you can’t miss this food market! We’ve got all the information you need to have the best visit to Borough!
Table of Contents:
- Location
- Opening Hours
- Food Stalls
- Restaurants
- Bars and Pubs
- Our Top Recommendations at Borough Market
- Why Borough Market is Famous
- The History of Borough Market
Location & How to Get Here
Borough Market is nestled just to the west of London Bridge by Southwark Cathedral (also well worth a visit whilst you’re here), and can be easily accessed just a short walk from London Bridge tube station.
You can get to Borough Market by taking the Jubilee or Northern line to London Bridge underground station. There are also lots of bus stops in London Bridge, Borough, and Southwark that are all a short walk from the market.
Opening Hours & Best Days to Visit
Borough Market is open every Tuesday – Sunday.
Weekday Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm
Saturday Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Sunday Opening Hours: 10am – 4pm
For the best time to visit avoiding the crowds, we’d recommend either getting there as soon as it opens at the weekend. Or opting for a weekday visit – you’ll find times that are slightly outside of lunchtime e.g. pre 12pm, will be slightly less busy.
Food Stalls at Borough
Borough Market is best known for its food stalls: whether it’s quick snacks, lunchtime meals, or produce to take home and make your own creation – this London food market has it all.
There’s a few locals favourites that we’d recommend taking a trip to visit:
- Bread Ahead – One of London’s favourite bakeries, and it’s no surprise when they serve up doughnuts as delicious as this! If you fancy making them for yourself, book yourself into their bakery school!
- Neal’s Yard Dairy – From yoghurt to cheese, this historic London dairy is a favourite amongst locals.
- Bath Soft Cheese Company – Whilst Bath isn’t local to London, we adore the produce from the Bath Soft Cheese Co and would highly recommend that visitors to the UK take a taste of some of our West Country cheese! Perhaps the creamy texture and delicious taste will inspire a trip to the historic city of Bath – it’s well worth a visit!
- Olivier’s Bakery – Based in Bermondsey, Olivier’s bakery creates tasty bread and mouth watering brownies that we know you won’t be able to resist (because we know we can’t)!
Restaurants in Borough Market
For those wanting a sit down meal in one of London’s best markets there’s a few choices of restaurants in Borough Market. Here are a few to tantalise your tastebuds:
- Bao – Serving up tasty bao buns, fried chicken, dessert buns and so much more.
- Arabica – We’re big fans of a mezze meal here and Arabica is just the spot to indulge in Middle Eastern flavours and vibrant cocktails. With food that caters for meat-eaters, vegans, veggies, and pescatarians alike.
- Berenjak – Persian food inspired by large family meals, with stews and kebabs, to sharing plates to share with friends.
- Mallow – Borough Market’s resident plant based eatery from the minds at Mildred’s, Mallow is fast becoming one of the go-to vegan spots in London. Choose from small plates to get a taste of lots of different flavours, or opt for a large plate to satiate your hunger.
The Pubs & Bars of Borough Market
When it comes to pubs, nobody does it better than us Brits and Borough Market is full of them! Whether you’re waiting in a virtual queue for the latest hot restaurant, or just fancy a quick pint here are some of our favourites:
- The Globe Tavern – A pub situated right in the heart of Borough Market – you may recognise this pub as the one Bridget lives above in the classic Bridget Jones films!
- The Cider House – A perfect destination for those who perhaps aren’t so keen on beer, this drink house specialises in cider and perry!
Our Top Recommendations of Where to Eat & Drink at Borough Market
We’ve visited Borough Market a fair few times now and have drawn together our favourite places to eat and drink to make sure you visit the very best spots!
- Humble Crumble – We’re pudding people here and so Humble Crumble is right up our street. London’s favourite apple crumble bar has a location in Borough where you can indulge in delicious cooked fruits, topped with moreish (and unlimited) custard, and finished with tasty crumble and even torched marshmallow.
- Fish! – If you’re looking for a sit down restaurant that’s a little on the fancier side than Fish! is for you. We’d recommend the fish cake and the samphire on the side. For something a little more casual, pick up some classic British fish and chips from their takeaway next door.
- Padella – This place has a queue for a reason: delicious pasta, yummy desserts, warm atmosphere, and great prices. Well worth joining their virtual queue, grabbing a drink, and heading back when it’s your turn.
- The Rake – For a hidden away pub option in Borough Market, head to The Rake. They specialise in beer but have a few ciders on the menu too.
- Bedales – For a classy evening head straight to Bedales wine bar, we recommend booking in advance but you can still sometimes get in on the day. Ask to be seated on their outdoor balcony overlooking the market for the best spot, before pursuing the wine menu for your preferred tipple.
Why Borough Market is Famous
Borough Market is said to be the oldest food market in London, with over 1,000 years of history. Today the stalls and restaurants are known for serving up locally sourced ingredients, which has become popular with both tourists and locals alike. If the crowds at weekends and peak seasons are anything to go by – it’s a popular spot for a reason!
Other reasons Borough has become famous over the years is its features in TV and film. We’re big fans of rom-coms set in London, and one of the classics featured part of Borough Market heavily. Bridget Jones lives above The Globe pub and right opposite a Greek restaurant that is today Beadles. In the first film, you may remember that very restaurant’s window being shattered by a fighting Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver.
Southwark Cathedral also calls Borough Market home, with construction starting in 1839 by Arthur Blomfield. It’s a grand Cathedral with an impressive interior that is well worth a visit – if you’re lucky enough you may stumble across it whilst one of Luke Jerram’s artworks is calling it home.
The History of Borough Market
Starting over 1,000 years ago as a produce market for London’s greengrocers, Borough Market has since transformed into a food mecca for London’s locals and tourists. Foodies visiting the city have this market right at the top of their lists.
It wasn’t until the 1990’s that the market opened to retail customers, with new tenants taking premises, including both Neal’s Yard Dairy and Monmouth Coffee.
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