Borough Market

Borough Market lies in Southwark, at the southern end of London Bridge, under and around the railway viaducts leading into London Bridge station. It is one of the oldest and largest food markets in London.

A market has been held here since at least the 12th century, and the market itself traces its origins to 1014. In 1755 Acts of Parliament abolished the street market on Borough High Street and allowed local parishioners to set up a new market, which opened in 1756. The market is run by a charitable trust. Over the 20th century it worked mainly as a wholesale market, and in the mid-1990s the trustees revived it as a retail market, with a Food Lovers' Fair in 1998 that brought in fine food traders.

The market buildings include Victorian iron structures and the Floral Hall portico, moved here from Covent Garden in the 2000s. Stalls, shops and restaurants sell fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, cheese, bread, cakes, oils and spices, along with hot food from many cuisines. Nearby are Southwark Cathedral, The Shard and the Thames riverside path.

Entry is free. The retail market is closed on Mondays, except in December. Saturdays are very busy, so weekday mornings are better for a calmer visit. London Bridge station is a few minutes away.

When is Borough Market open? The full market trades from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday. It is closed on Mondays, and hours change over Christmas and on bank holidays. Restaurants inside the market keep their own later hours.

The market is split into three areas. Three Crown Square holds the larger producers and merchants, the Green Market gathers small specialist produce traders, and Borough Market Kitchen on Jubilee Place is given over to street food. Arrive hungry and graze: toasted cheese sandwiches, oysters, fresh pasta and doughnuts are among the stalls that draw the longest queues.

Access and practical points. All public areas are on one ground-floor level, though passageways narrow to 1.5 metres in places and some lanes are cobbled. Fully accessible toilets are open in four locations during trading hours. The market is run by a registered charity, Borough Market Trust. London Bridge station, on the Jubilee and Northern lines and National Rail, is next door, so the market fits well before or after a walk along the South Bank to Tate Modern.