Must-Do London: Borough Market

Background

Years ago, I bought a Groupon voucher for a tour of the Borough Market and a brunch-making course. The chef who took us around lived by the market and knew all the vendors. We immediately made a meal in her kitchen from the delicious ingredients. I fell in love with the market then.

I like to think of myself as a foodie. I even taught a U. S. History course devoted to bread in my Back to the Foodture collaboration. At the very least, I love to eat different types of food, taste interesting combinations and learn about where ingredients come from. So, Borough Market is on my must-do list every time I’m in London. It has 1,000 years of history, starting with a medieval market and evolving into the artisan food hub it is today.

Fruits and Vegetables

I love fresh produce and I’m a sucker for colorful stands. Seeing so many British fruits and vegetables is a treat. We bought some British raspberries and nectarines. If you go to the market shortly before closing, particularly on a weekday, you’ll get discounts. We once got five punnets of British strawberries for £1!

One of the many vegetable stands

Specialty Stores

Anything from vegan pate to cheese shops to spice shops and loads in between, you can wander for a while exploring all the goodness. My husband loves to make paella so we spent time in Brindisa where he was (easily) talked into purchasing hot smoked paprika and saffron (way cheaper than purchasing in America!).

Sweets

Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, have a look in the Green Market for the aesthetics of some beautiful confectionary treats. I do have a sweet tooth and therefore have a difficult time narrowing it down.

Truffles and other chocolate-covered goodness at So Chocolicious

Gorgeous Eclairs from Taste of Joy

Where to Sit

Here’s a bit of a hack for you. After several visits wandering around searching in vain for a free table and ultimately ending up balancing our food on the top of a bin or something, we discovered The Rake. It’s a craft beer bar that allows you to bring food from the market provided you buy a drink. I had a nice blackberry cider and my kiddo was happy with their juice selections. We grabbed delicious sandwiches from The Black Pig and enjoyed our drinks while sitting at an actual table!

The Rake

After the market, I suggest a walk along the River Thames down to the the Tate Modern Museum. Maybe put a few extra market goodies in your bag for your stroll!