You’re probably well aware that here at Secret London, we’re big advocates of stuffing ourselves full of outrageously good food on an outrageously regular basis. And whilst there are a whole host of spots to do that in London; ignoring the best food market in the city would be a crime against deliciousness.
Sitting in the heart of London Bridge, Borough Market has been a hub of food and commerce for over 1000 years – pretty impressive, right? But as it’s continued to go from strength to strength; planning a visit has got a whole lot more overwhelming. Luckily for you lovely lot, however, we’ve put together this handy little guide to help you plan the perfect trip to Borough Market. You’re welcome, folks.
The history of Borough Market
Look, I know we’re meant to be talking about the food – but I simply couldn’t resist throwing in a little Secret London history lesson to kick things off. After all, Borough Market has quite the story to tell.
The first genuine mention of the market comes from the Scandinavian saga Heimskringla, which mentions the great market town of Southwark during Olaf Haraldsson’s invasion in 1014. Several tumultuous centuries of petty squabbles, expansions, and Southwark’s lawless reputation brought the market to its current spot in 1756, where it has remained ever since.
The modern Borough Market was shaped by a period of decline in the 1970s, when the rise of supermarkets made wholesale trading far less profitable. By the mid-nineties, artisan retailers had taken over the market’s vacant warehouses, holding foodie events that rapidly grew in popularity. Soon enough, these market-wide events were a monthly – and then weekly – affair, until the overwhelming success led Borough Market to run six days a week.
That’s brings us to the present day. Now it’s a proverbial who’s who of London foodie outlets, with a huge range of cuisines and dishes filling the market each week. Taking a stroll through the heart of Borough Market is dangerously tempting so here’s a top tip: bring an empty stomach and a full bank account, because you’ll be making liberal use of both.
What to eat at Borough Market
To be quite honest, I’d be here all day if I attempted to name all of the delectable delights that you’ll find inside the market. The best thing to do, in our humble opinion, is have a wander, see what takes your fancy, and try your darn hardest not to buy one of everything as you stroll past tables of sweet treats, mounds of fruit and veg, and sizzling pans of street food.
However, as we’re trying to be as helpful as possible; here are some of our top picks to give you a little nudge in the right direction. Bon Appetit!
1. Bread Ahead
We’re (rather controversially) recommending that you start with dessert and head straight to Bread Ahead for one of their spectacular, mouth-watering, filled-to-the-brim doughnuts. Admittedly, this is more of a necessity than a desire because the beloved doughnuts are incredibly popular, and tend to sell out very quickly – so be sure to grab one if you get the chance!
2. Brindisa
Amongst the other iconic market offerings is Brindisa – and more specifically: their chorizo roll. High quality Spanish chorizo is sizzled on the grill, stuffed into a ciabatta roll, served with rocket and piquillo peppers, and most likely eaten in a flash. The chorizo roll is best eaten on the go, whilst scoping out your next snack.
3. Kappacasein
When in Borough Market, be sure to pay a visit to the absolute cheese wizards over at Kappacasein. They use their Bermondsey-made Ogleshield cheese in their gorgeously gooey raclette, and in their (quite frankly) legendary grilled cheese sandwiches. Truly un-brie-lievable stuff.
4. The Ginger Pig
Mighty meaty offerings come from best-selling butchers, Ginger Pig. Alongside their offering of meat, pork pies and scotch eggs; they serve up a much-hyped ‘world-famous’ hot sausage roll that (quite literally) has punters queueing round the block.
5. Greedy Goat
Deep in the heart of Borough Market, you’ll find this rather unique ice cream parlour. Greedy Goat is aptly named, as their creations are all made from goat’s milk, which makes a scoop here lower in fat and calories than cow’s milk ice cream, and suitable for the lactose intolerant. Who says you can’t have ice cream in the depths of winter, anyway?
6. The Black Pig
If you’re in the market for a ciabatta sandwich, look no further than The Black Pig. Hailed as one of the best sandwiches in London; they come generously-filled and damn tasty. Just how we like it. We’d highly recommend ‘The Best One’, because – well – it does what it says on the tin, really.
7. Padella
In my opinion, the undisputed champion of Borough Market restaurants has to be Padella, an absolute knockout pasta joint with an ever-present queue. I’m so passionate about the Cacio e Pepe that I gave it a (well-deserved) shoutout in our ‘Best of 2023‘ list. Trust me when I say that, even if you queue for two hours, it’ll easily be worth it.
8. Humble Crumble
Last (but by no means least) on our list of what to eat at Borough Market is, of course, Humble Crumble. The world’s first crumble bar; they serve up a variety of traditional and iced crumbles – with unlimited custard. Everything is customisable, even down to the ratio of fruit and crumble, so you can truly get the crumble of your dreams here.
Things to know before you go to Borough Market
The market is open Tuesdays – Fridays (10am-5pm), Saturdays (9am-5pm), and Sundays (10am-4pm). The market is closed entirely on Mondays and the opening hours of individual traders may vary. The range of produce on offer changes with the seasons, especially the fruit and veg stalls. You can also expect seasonal treats from food vendors. Possibly the best time to visit is early on a Saturday morning; you can dodge the crowds by turning up at the start, and jump to the front of the food queues in rapid time.
8 Southwark Street, London Bridge, SE1 1TL.
Nearest stations are London Bridge, Borough, and Monument.
Find out more and plan your visit here.