There is a commonly held belief that England is a land of three things: bad teeth, bad food and bad weather. While on any given day in London it may be possible to experience all three of these, a visit to London's Borough Market must surely dispel the belief that this is a country void of culinary delights. Situated near London Bridge and Borough stations in Southwark, Borough Market is one of the most famous markets in the world, and supplies businesses and consumers with high quality foodstuff from all across the globe.
The wholesale market operates on all weekday mornings (2 a.m. to 8 a.m.), but the retail market only operates on Thursdays (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Fridays (12 p.m. - 6 p.m.) and Saturdays (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.). Though the market has historically focused on fruits and veg, it has recently added stalls dedicated to gourmet foods, as well as cooked dishes, and drinks.
A visit to the retail market can be quite an overwhelming experience. The sheer amount of visitors that the market attracts, along with the number of stalls on display, can make navigation a bit of a challenge, especially on Saturdays. Serious shoppers (rather than tourists) tend to go early, around 9am to beat the crowds. You can plan your visit using the Borough Market official website map.
Food
Pie Minister
The great British pie tradition just got better. Pie Minister offers a selection of 8 handmade pies that are really delicious and worth the trip to the market all by themselves.
Brindisa Spanish Foods
No visit to Borough Market will be complete without seeing an endless queue leading into Brindisa Spanish Foods, with good reason. Their BBQ chorizo sandwiches are their crowning glory.
Gamston Wood Farms
Gamston Wood Farms satisfies the most obscure carnivorous cravings by supplying cooked Ostrich burgers, and fresh meat in a variety of cuts. Elsewhere in the market you may also find kangaroo, wallaby, wild boar and venison meat.
The Veggie Table
If you're cringing at the thought of Gamston Wood Farms, The Veggie Table make absolutely fantastic Veggie Burgers. This and everything else on their menu is made exclusively from local ingredients.
Drink
Monmouth Coffee Company
This place supplies some of the best coffee in London. About a dozen different varieties are available as freshly roasted beans, grounds or by the cup; it may be a bit pricier than gourmet supermarket brands, but coffee fanatics won't be disappointed.
East Teas
Tea making and drinking is a quintessential British tradition and East Teas satisfies on all fronts. They sell a selection of unique from the Far East, both loose-leaf and powdered, as well as ceramic cups, pots and accessories.
Utobeer
A specialist drinks stall that carries over 600 beers from around the world, including large selections from the UK, Belgium, and the US.
New Forest Cider Company
Put down that Magners immediately and have a real cider. The New Forest Cider Company sell their organic traditional pear and apple ciders every week at the market. Dry, tasty and much better than a can of that sugar filled stuff.
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