Borough Market
Borough Market is London's best-known food market, trading near the foot of London Bridge for around a thousand years and on its present Southwark site since 1756. Come hungry: traders sell food and drink from across Britain and beyond, and the market is run by a charitable trust for the community.
Photos
Diodoros
A market with deep roots
The market traces its origins to around 1014 and probably earlier, with records of trading here from at least the 12th century. The present buildings date from the 1850s, and in 2004 the South Portico, rescued from the Floral Hall at Covent Garden during the Royal Opera House rebuild, was re-erected here and later Grade II listed. Volunteer trustees who must live locally run it as a charity.
How to visit
Arrive with an appetite and time to wander. Stalls range from fresh produce to ready-to-eat food, so it works as a lunch stop as much as a shopping trip. The market runs official tours, publishes recipes and events, and its Visit us page and market map are the best way to check trading days before you go. Allow at least an hour to graze, and bring a bag for anything you want to take home.
On screen and nearby
You may recognise the streets from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Bridget Jones's Diary and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Afterwards, the Shard is a few minutes' walk away, London Bridge is just to the north, and Shakespeare's Globe is about ten minutes along the river.
Highlights
- Trading for around 1,000 years
- On its current site since 1756
- Covent Garden's Floral Hall portico re-erected here in 2004
- Run as a charitable trust
- Official market tours
Good to know
- Check trading days on the market's Visit us page before travelling.
- The market address is 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL.
- Official tours can be booked through the market's website.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: boroughmarket.org.uk · en.wikipedia.org