Borough Market in London
Borough Market is one of London’s most renowned and historic food markets. While there has been a market on this site for about 1000 years, it was only since the late 1990s that Borough Market came into its present revitalized iteration as a destination for food enthusiasts. Located in the South Bank area, near London Bridge, it has been a hub for fresh produce, artisanal foods, and gourmet delicacies for centuries.
Market Offerings
Borough Market consists of three main areas: Three Crown Square (larger producers and merchants), Green Market for fresh produce, and Borough Market Kitchen for street food sellers of all ethnicities imaginable. Surrounding the market is a variety of shops, pubs, and restaurants. In other words, prepare to spend a long time here!
Visiting Tips
- Arrive early to beat the crowds and enjoy a more relaxed shopping experience.
- All the vendors that I saw took contactless payments which was nice.
- Take time to explore the surrounding area, including historic sites like Southwark Cathedral, Clink Prison, Winchester Castle, and Shakespeare’s Globe theatre is not far.
Eating Europe is a food tour company that I’ve enjoyed in both Paris and Rome, so I knew that when I returned to London I’d definitely love to experience more of their tours.
Y’all…… Borough Market is massive. And extremely crowded. And filled with more choices and selection than you can possibly imagine. So doing a food tour through this foodie destination is a great way to make sure that you see the best of the best of the market. Plus you get to hear the history and all the great little stories along the way that you just wouldn’t get on your own.
Sausage Roll at The Ginger Pig
The tour started off on a high note. The very first tasting was by far my favorite out of the whole tour. The Ginger Pig is famous for their hot sausage rolls, and it was epic. Many call it the world’s best? The pastry is buttery and flaky, and the sausage itself is clearly very high quality and beautifully seasoned. It’s served hot as hell but it’s the perfect breakfast for walking around. It’s also very greasy so get lots of serviettes!
Neal’s Yard Dairy: A Cheese Mecca
Neal’s Yard Dairy in Borough Market is a go-to spot for amazing British and Irish cheeses, all carefully sourced from top farmhouse producers. The staff really know their stuff and are happy to offer samples and pairing tips, which makes it an easy, fun stop for anyone wandering the market who loves good cheese. As a cheesemonger myself, this was an incredible spot to visit because I could see where the cheeses I work with actually come from. I even bought myself a Neal’s Yard tote bag as a souvenier of my visit.
At this stop, our guide bought two pieces of cheese for us to try: a Stitchelton and Montgomery cheddar. They were both absolutely delicious, being freshly cut right off the wheel.
Inside the Market
Borough Market features a wide array of vendors selling everything from organic fruits and vegetables to handcrafted cheeses, freshly baked bread, and exotic spices. You can buy fully prepared meals and desserts (you should see the incredible donuts!), or you can find any of the specialty ingredients you may be seeking. I saw everything from fresh seafood, to fantastic artisanal cheese, to truffles and traditional English produce.
London Cider House: A Curated Cider Selection
Hidden away inside the center of Borough Market, you will find the London Cider House. I never would have known it was there. This cider bar has more varieties than I never knew existed, with a full selection of unique ciders from small producers. Cider is just ok for me. I prefer wine or beer, but it was nice to try a cider because I probably wouldn’t have otherwise.
British Fish & Chips
One of our tastings was a hearty portion of award-winning fish & chips from a place called Fish! The fried haddock was flaky and crispy and the thick chips were lovely also. I added malt vinegar and of course lots of salt.
Another tasting just outside the market was at a Portuguese bakery called Santa Nata. They sell these little pastries called Pastel de Nata which are egg custard tarts. This was probably my least favorite tasting. It was nice, but kind of boring and I thought it was kind of random and didn’t really go with all the other foods that we tried. I believe in subsequent tours they have taken this stop off the list and replaced it with something else.
Sticky Toffee Pudding at The Boot & Flogger
Our final tasting was at an historic wine bar called The Boot & Flogger which was a few minutes’ walk outside the market. We were seated in a very comfortable parlor with leather wingback chairs and dark wood paneling. I was so excited to try sticky toffee pudding because I’d never had it before!
We were served a beautiful little mini portion of sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream. It was warm and rich, and just as nice as I expected. We also had our choice of wine, coffee, or tea.
I thoroughly enjoyed my 3.5 hour tour of Borough Market and the Southwark area. After the tour was done, I went over to the nearby Anchor pub with 800 years of tavern history and spent the rest of the chilly afternoon drinking a pint and enjoying a Sunday roast.
