Borrough Market

Borrough Market is a foodie’s paradise. After I watched a segment about this legendary market on the Travel Channel (thanks for the tip, Anthony Bourdain!) I put a visit on my Must-Do-In-London List.  I wasn’t disappointed!

Located near London Bridge Tube station, Borrough Market is one of London’s largest food markets. You’ll find fruit and vegetable stands for sure, but also delicacies from around the world. I was greeted by a giant outdoor paella stand where workers churned the dish in large steel pans.

That’s what great about Borrough Market – there are a ton of international influences, just like the city of London itself.  Items from the Middle East to Croatia to Britain are represented. You can purchase burgers made from wild boar, grab a loaf of fresh crusty bread, pick up some gluten-free pastries or stock up on teas, jams and chutneys. Its one-stop shopping. And then there are the samples. Most vendors will give you a taste of their products before you purchase. I tried a great date and spice chutney that sure had some kick, some stilton cheese and a small cup of tea.

Speaking of stilton cheese, be sure to visit the branch of Neal’s Yard Dairy which is located inside the market. That’s where I picked up some rhubarb and ginger jam to take home. Believe me, if I thought stilton cheese would have made it through Customs, I would have brought some home! There are also other specialty shops like Rabot Estate, a chocolate shop which offers everything from cocoa pasta to cocoa and chili olive oil.

If you come to Borrough Market, bring your appetite. There’s so much to choose from , you’ll want to try everything. I went at lunch time and enjoyed a pork and stilton cheese burger with mayo and some Daddies Brown Sauce. It was delish, although I would have enjoyed more cheese. For dessert, a salted caramel ice cream cone – one of my new favorite flavors.

There are a few places to sit down inside the market, but since it was such a beautiful day, I chose to sit on the curb outside to enjoy my sandwich and people watch. Borrough Market would also be a great place to pick up some bread, cheese and sliced meat to enjoy a picnic at one of London’s public parks.

After my lunch and people watching, I headed to nearby Southwark Cathedral. It’s a stunning church which has been on the site since the 7^th century and was one of the first to be built in London in the Gothic style.

I didn’t find Borrough Market to be particularly expensive as a solo traveler. But I can imagine that feeding a family of four might be pricy. And I sure could have gone to town purchasing jars of chutneys and jams. But all in all, I thought Borrough Market was a pretty low-cost way to spend a few hours. Don’t forget, the market is only open from Thursday through Saturday.