We lived in London for many years before relocating to Surrey when I was pregnant with POD. Much of our time was spent in South London and we have fond memories of the decade or so we spent there. Those pre-parenting days seem such a long time ago, given we’ve been a three for 7 years, but we had some great times. Borough Market was only a few miles away from where we lived and a fairly regular haunt so it always feels special heading back there. That said, London’s oldest food market IS special and one of the most well-known food markets in the world. It’s also famed for being the location of Bridget’s flat, located above The Globe, in Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Situated in Southwark Street by London Bridge station, Borough Market has been around for about 1,000 years. It’s where you can find the most exceptional high-quality food but it’s more than that. Many of the stallholders are producers from the baker who baked the bread to the farmer who reared the animal or the fisherman who caught the fish. This market is crammed with stalls run by knowledgeable producers and there’s an undeniable sense of community.
The aromas in Three Town Square, and along the surrounding pathways, are out of this world. Much of the fruit, vegetable and cheese on offer will be like nothing you’ve ever seen. Borough Market caters for everyone and you cannot come away from there without sampling some of what’s on offer and taking some of this outstanding produce home with you. Here are 7 reasons for paying this remarkable market a visit.
Savour a shredded duck sandwich
One of my favourite places for a snack at Borough Market is Le Marché du Quartier. The first time I came across them, I’d not actually seen the giant paella pot sizzling with shredded duck. I’d smelt it. It can be a messy sandwich but mouthwatering and so delicious, you’ll be savouring the taste a good half an hour afterwards. In the cooler months, you can even grab yourself a mulled wine at the same time. Absolute heaven!
Tuck into a colourful seafood paella
The great thing about Borough Market is that you won’t go hungry. If meat isn’t your thing, why not opt for seafood? Even having had a shredded duck sandwich, the aroma coming from this colourful beauty was something else. There are numerous seafood and fish traders at Borough Market so plenty of opportunities to take some fresh produce home. Even oysters!
Visit the cheesemakers
The selection of cheese at Borough Market, much of it award-winning, has to be seen to be believed. From spectacular wheels of comte to cheese wrapped in parchment with a red wax seal, Italian mozzarella made by nonno’s century-old recipes and cheese produced exclusively in the French Alps. There’s even ‘drunken’ cheese with a fruity afterbite and cheese invented in honour of the London 2012 Olympics! If that’s not enough, there is seriously good charcuterie on offer at Borough Market along with an array of condiments, preserves and olives.
Follow your nose to the bakeries
On Cathedral Street, you can watch the expert team of bakers at Bread Ahead working at the glass-fronted bakery. This bakery is also home to the Bread Ahead Bakery School which offers courses to professionals and amateurs alike. In Three Crown Square you will find a selection of bakery and pastry products available from Bread Ahead with other bakery stalls in the market.
Admire the fruit and veg
The fruit and veg at Borough Market are colourful with all the stalls beautifully displayed. Some of the traders have been working this market for over 30 years so they have a wealth of knowledge with excellent seasonal produce on offer. I’m always fascinated by the vibrant colours and the variety, not to mention produce you’d never see in a supermarket.
Grab a coffee at the Monmouth Coffee Co
Coffee lovers should certainly pay the Monmouth Coffee Co a visit. A pioneer in the renaissance of cafe culture, it was one of the first specialist retailers to arrive in the late 1990’s. Their coffee imports its beans from around the world which are roasted locally. Coffee is available to buy as whole or ground beans with drinks available to have in or take away.
Soak up the atmosphere
The produce on offer at Borough Market is top quality. Always. What makes this market like no other is the people. The stallholders are only too happy to impart their knowledge if you ask them. Many have been a part of Borough Market’s history for a long time, they can tell you stories about London you may never have heard before. Even if you’re a Londoner. Never rush through Borough Market. Just stop for a few minutes and soak up the atmosphere. As I said at the beginning of this post, it’s special and that’s why we love it so much.
Borough Market is open Monday to Saturday (closed on public holidays). The full market is in operation from Wednesday to Saturday with a limited market on Monday and Tuesday. On these days the street food traders are open along with produce traders like cheesemongers, bakers and charcuterie sellers with the focus on the Green Market area. So certainly worth a visit! Borough Market is open on Sundays in December. The Borough Market opening times are here and you can read about the traders here.
