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London's top food markets

2023-04-16  Diana Solomon

Street food abounds in the gastronomic capital of the UK.

London has no shortage of food markets. There is a market on every corner of the city, selling anything from fresh fruit to the greatest street cuisine in London. But one must ponder which are the greatest in a city with so many possibilities. Since choosing which London food market to visit might be challenging, we've already done the legwork for you.

 

 

From Greenwich to Dalston, we've compiled 19 of our favorite food markets in London. However, if browsing flowers and vintage furniture is more your thing, go no further than our suggestions for the top London markets.

1. Berwick Street Market

1. Berwick Street Market

In the heart of London, there aren't many marketplaces remaining, yet after more than 200 years, Berwick Street is still going strong. This is the greatest spot in the West End for juicy fruit and vegetables, even though it is now mostly a collection of street food vendors (try Savage Salads for an outstanding assortment of invigorating salads or Jerusalem Falafel for a fantastic wrap). The old-school vendors are entertaining and provide paper bags full of vegetables for half the cost of a supermarket. For biodynamic eggs and organic milk, butter, and cheeses, there is also Soho Dairy.

The Berwick Street Market is located at Berwick Street in London, W1F 0PH.

Hours: Monday through Saturday

Website: berwick-street-market.thisissoho.co.uk

2. Borough Market

2. Borough Market

Borough probably comes to mind when you think of a food market in London. This location has been home to a food market since the 12th century, and it is still one of the largest and best locations to find artisanal goods and satisfy a peckish appetite with its more than 100 stalls, eateries, and bars. Under this exquisitely rebuilt market dome, you may get whatever you desire, including vegan cheese, mushroom paté, hand-dived scallops, ethically sourced dates, goat milk ice cream, and delicious Italian almonds. Along with British fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and meats, a stroll around the market is like traveling the world. There are dishes from all across Europe, Jamaican sauces, Argentinian sweets, Mexican household staples, and much more.

Address: 8 Southwark Street, Borough Market, London SE1 1TL

Hours of operation: Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Internet address: boroughmarket.org.uk

3. Brixton Market

3. Brixton Market

The center of Brixton is this bustling market. Although it has undergone several modifications over the past 10 years, it is still among the finest locations in the neighborhood to do a substantial food shop. You can get anything from £1 bowls of lemons to small batch brewed Brixton Gin if you stroll around the busy outdoor market on Electric Avenue and the businesses inside Brixton Village. There are numerous traditional fishmongers and butchers, Latin and Caribbean produce stores, First Choice Caribbean Bakery (stop in for a Jamaican patty), Guzzl deli for nice cheese, wine, charcuterie, and condiments, Brixton Cornercopia for locally produced goods like local honey and jams, and Nour Cash and Carry for everything else you need (and more).

Brixton Market is located at Electric Avenue in London, SW9 8JX.

Hours of operation: every day

Internet address: brixtonvillage.com

4. Broadway Market

4. Broadway Market

This Saturday market has become a go-to location for hungry Londoners since it was revived in 2004. Along with a nice assortment of boutiques, street food, flowers, vintage clothing, books, candles, and jewelry vendors, the market also has a great range of vegetable stalls. You can fill your pantry with fresh seasonal fruit and juices from the Chegworth Valley stand at the London Fields end to La Tua's decadent stuffed pasta (nduja with mascarpone and black truffle are our favorites) near the canal. There are vendors selling everything you'll need, including British cheeses, a wide variety of bread and cake stands, and olive oil. To keep you going, pick up a Climpson's coffee and a Finest Fayre scotch egg along the road.

Broadway Market, London, England, E8 4PH

Hours: Every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Internet address: broadwaymarket.co.uk

5. Chapel Market

5. Chapel Market

This charming traditional London market, which is hidden away on a backstreet in Angel, sells everything from kitchenware to basic household items (fill up on toothpaste and cleaning supplies), as well as clothing, flowers, plants, fish, and a wide variety of well-stocked fruit and vegetable booths. After you've finished shopping, go to Indian Veg, a unique and well-liked vegetarian Indian buffet, for an inexpensive takeout and unwind in the peaceful Culpeper Community Garden across the street. Additionally, a farmer's market is held here every Sunday where high-quality meats, organic vegetables, and freshly cooked pasta are sold.

Chapel Market, London, N1 9EN is the address.

Hours of operation: every day

6. Ridley Road

6. Ridley Street

This Dalston market is a veritable gold mine of delicious treats. You're going to want to load up on £1 bowls of bursting ripe figs, blueberries, aubergines, and mangos, so bring some sturdy tote bags. Along with an abundance of fruits and vegetables, the market also features a delightful booth selling eggs of all shapes and sizes and the most incredible naans you've ever tasted from Ararat Bread, a little bakery that produces bags of fluffy bready delights. Stalls offering South East Asian spices, well-stocked Caribbean and African fruit and vegetable shops, and on some days, you may even find huge African snails, a delicacy from West Africa.

Postal Code: E8 2NH Ridley Road in London

Hours: Monday through Saturday

7. Portobello Road

7. Portobello Street

West Londoners are aware that the Portobello Road market offers more than just antiques, vintage clothing, and tourist-oriented vendors. The best days to buy food products at this market, which is open all week, are Fridays and Saturdays when there is an even wider assortment of stalls, however, there are more customers to deal with. Pick purchase bread, pastries, fresh fish and shellfish, artisan cheeses, every type of olive, and fresh fruit and vegetables as you stroll along the busy street. Take a last journey up to Golborne Road for custard tarts from Lisboa Patisserie before you leave without stopping by the Spanish grocer Garcia's Food and Wine for manchego, chorizo, canned salmon, and many other wonderful treats.

Portobello Road Market is located at Portobello Road, London, W10 5TY.

Hours: Monday through Saturday

Internet address: portobelloroad.co.uk/the-market

8. Victoria Park Sunday Market

8. Victoria Park Sunday Market

East Londoners go to Victoria Park on Sundays to eat well and prepare for the next week. Every week, there are dozens of booths set up along the walkway between Bonner Gate and Gore Gate selling handcrafted goods, seasonal foods, kimchi, raw honey, pies, bone broth, olives, cakes, vegan cheese, raw milk, and, of course, lots of sourdoughs. If all of that has made you hungry, then get some crepes, mac and cheese, and strong coffee from the parade of street food vendors nearby.

Address: E2 9JW Victoria Park, London

Hours: Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

URL: victoriaparkmarket.com

9. Billingsgate Fish Market

9. Billingsgate Fish Market

Billingsgate, the largest fish market in the UK and once the largest in the world is visited by trade clients and devoted foodies who face an agonizingly early start. It is stuffed to the gills with all kinds of fresh seafood and is open from 4 am to 8 am from Tuesday to Saturday. It is both an experience and a place to shop. Enjoy the banter amongst the dealers or look for rare fish species from across the world (more than 150 kinds are sold here). The nearby Billingsgate Seafood School conducts trips to give visitors an insider's insight into the market.

Address: Trafalgar Way, Billingsgate Fish Market, London E14 5ST

Tuesday through Saturday, 4 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Internet address: billingsgatefishmarket.org

10. Maltby Street Market

10. Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street is the best place to go when you want to indulge wildly. Street food vendors offering up outrageously calorie-dense fare are lined up in front of a row of attractive railroad arches, and hordes of happy customers waiting to fill up with beakers of G&T or vermouth can be seen there. On our most recent visit, the menu comprised some of the greatest steaks in London, melting cheese toasties, fluffy naan pieces of bread heaped high with fresh toppings, and wonderfully chocolaty brownies. The permanent establishments beneath the arches are also always busy, such as the little Bar Tozino, a great place for an aperitif.

Address: 41 Maltby Street, Ropewalk, London SE1 3PA, Maltby Street Market

Hours: 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and 11 am to 4 pm on Sundays. 

Website: maltby.st

11. Mercato Metropolitano

11. Mercato Metropolitano

This sustainability-focused market, which was formerly a paper factory, serves outstanding Italian cuisine from different permanent vendors. While other foods are available, the market's lively ambiance makes it a terrific spot to spend an evening. The headline attractions include fresh pasta, crisp cannoli, and Florentine gelato. On the communal tables, you'll see smart young people mingling with the locals and devouring pasta. Una Drogheria and Enoteca, an outstanding delicatessen with a tasting area hidden behind the counter and a selection of biodynamic wines, are also located there.

Address: 42 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6DR, Mercato Metropolitano

Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. until 11 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. until 12 a.m. 

Sunday 11 am to 10 pm; Saturday 11 am to 12 am

Internet address: mercatometropolitano.co.uk

12. Herne Hill Market

12. Herne Hill Market

The fresh fruit, vegetables, baked products, and gourmet treats at this weekly farmers' market in a green South London neighborhood are proudly sourced from within a 100-mile radius. The market, which has around 60 stalls outside Herne Hill station's main entrance, offers local flavor in different ways because of its warm, neighborhood environment. Bring your food to neighboring Brockwell Park on nice days for the ideal picnic.

Herne Hill Market is located at Railton Road in London, SE24 0JN.

Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Web address: weareccfm.com/locations/herne-hill

13. Brockley Market

13. Brockley Market

If you want to avoid the crowds of hungry (and maybe inebriated) residents that arrive there every Saturday, get to the trendy Brockley Market as soon as you can after 10 am. They do so because of the restaurant's award-winning cuisine, which is prepared by a variety of small, artisan suppliers from southeast London and the neighborhood. Grab some mouthwatering, Filipino-inspired meals from BBQ Dreamz and Mother Flipper, then load up on fresh cheeses, organic veggies, and chutneys as you eat. Just be sure you have cash on hand.

Location: Lewisham College Parking Lot, Lewisham Way, London SE4

Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Internet address: brockleymarket.com

14. Chatsworth Road Market

14. Chatsworth Road Market

This venerable market, which goes back to the 1920s, was shut down in the late 1990s due to slow deterioration, but it was reopened in 2010 when local business owners and citizen groups decided there would be enough public interest. It turned out to be a smart move, as today days hungry Hackney customers fill the section of Chatsworth Road between Dunlace Road and Lockhurst Street every Sunday. Visit Sen Noods, where you'll find steaming bowls of ramen (including a filling vegan version with aubergine and sweetcorn), dan dan noodles, and other noodle-based wonders, to completely prepare yourself for the epic six-minute end-to-end trek. Those who enjoy sweets should head to Zoe's Artisan Bakery. Look for flavors like salted caramel and pistachio, as well as Biscoff and brown sugar, which is topped with an elaborate and lovely multicolored mini-forest.

Address: Lower Clapton, London, E5 0LH, Chatsworth Market, Chatsworth Road

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday

Instagram account: chatsworthroadmarket

15. Seven Dials Market

15. Seven Dials Market

If you enjoy street food, there's a good chance you've been to one of the Kerb markets spread out around the city. After seven years of serving meals outside, they eventually established their first inside food establishment in the heart of Seven Dials in Covent Garden. They are most known for creating London's unique street food culture and supporting street food start-ups. With more than 13 independent food establishments housed under one roof, a bar, and a sweet small branch of Stamford's bookstore, the former Thomas Neal Centre has been transformed into Covent Garden's most interesting dining destination. The entrance is through Cucumber Alley, a collection of pop-up shops run by The Pop-up Club that offer local products from London. Inside, on the second floor, you'll find a carefully chosen collection of little eateries with adorable pink terrazzo bars, including the world's first cheese conveyer belt Pick & Cheese, Club Mexicana's vegan Mexican treats, and Bong Bong's Manila Kanteen. While below, there is a more traditional street food environment with huge communal tables and takeout trays filled with ramen from Nanban, bao from Yum Bun, Truffle's '7 Dials Burger' comprised of seven pieces of meat (including pigs head, tongue, and bacon), and much more. Follow our suggestion and come hungry.

Address: Earlham Street, Seven Dials Market, London, WC2H 9LX

Hours of operation are 12 pm-10 pm Monday through Tuesday, 12 pm-11 pm Wednesday through Saturday, and 12 pm-6 pm Sunday.

Internet address: sevendialsmarket.com

16. Peckham Levels

16. Peckham Levels

It is where you should go if you enjoy eating Neapolitan pizza (from 081 Pizzeria, of course) while viewing the London skyline in wide-angle views. cuisine vendors selling Delhi-inspired street cuisine at Boxwallah, West African family favorites at Plaintain Kitchen, vegan Ethiopian delicacies at Beza, and Banh Mi breakfast rolls at Vando Belly, can be found on the fifth and sixth floors of a seven-story multiplex. There is also a cocktail lounge called Near & Far, where you can get cucumber-infused gin drinks, freshly squeezed margaritas, delicious Old Fashioneds, and tropical punch. It is the modern equivalent of a traditional street market selling apples and pears.

Address: 95A Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST, Peckham Town Center Carpark, Levels 1 to 6, Peckham Levels

Hours of Operation: 8 am-11 pm, Mon-Thu; 8 am-1 am, Fri; 9 am-1 AM, Saturday; and 9 am-11 PM, Sunday

URL: peckhamlevels.org

17. Greenwich Market

17. Greenwich Market

The 2016 renovation of Greenwich Market included the addition of a new pavilion and food court. Giant pans and deep fryers, fresh handmade noodles, and sugar-rush-inducing churros heat the cobblestoned outside area. There are large meals and tiny pleasures for every appetite, like the hand-rolled sushi at Koyul, the handmade noodles and dim sum at La Mian, the enticing squares of fudgy sweetness at Bad Brownies, and Ideal Espresso's takeaway coffees. The most notable dish is Pimp My Ramen, which substitutes ramen for the traditional burger bun and is as delicious as it is innovative (the Filipino-pulled-pork option is by far the most popular). Vegetarians are also well-served by Ethiopian Vegetarian Food and Plant-Powered Pizza, which defy all preconceived notions about vegan pizza by having generous toppings, flavorful combinations, and doughy crusts.

Location address: 5B Greenwich Market, London, SE10 9HZ 

Hours of Operation: Daily, 10 am-5:30

Internet address: greenwichmarket.london

18. Pop Brixton

18. Pop Brixton

The older brother of Peckham Levels is just as hip as you'd anticipate. There is a barbershop, radio station, restoration workshop, and music creation platform in addition to all the mouthwatering cuisine. Pop emphasizes supporting up-and-coming, independent, local enterprises, but the flavors are as global as they come. Try the flavorful vegan bao buns from Viet Box, Halo Burgers' plant-based patties, and Love Churros' hot, fresh churros covered in Belgian chocolate. When you've gotten your fill, escape to the cozy ABV cocktail and rum bar or pick up a special bottle of wine at Specialist Cellars, which specializes in wines from the New World.

Pop Brixton's physical address is 49 Brixton Station Road in Brixton, London SW9 8PQ.

Hours of Operation: Sunday through Wednesday, 9 am–11 pm; Thursday through Saturday, 9 am–12 am

URL: popbrixton.org

19. Kerb National Theatre

19. Kerb National Theatre

Currently, Kerb operates two markets (with plans to establish more after Covid), including Seven Dials (above), which serves food to theatergoers who missed dinner and office employees seeking a change of pace during lunch. Baba Dhaba serves hot Chaat boxes and Pakistani kebabs at Kerb National Theatre, while Lucky's Hot Chicken sandos savor pints of Gipsy Hill ale from The Understudy bar before the performance. For office employees who are interested in quitting their 9 to 5 jobs to try their luck on the other side of the awning, there is also a program of regular themed events and seminars, like a session on how to launch a street-food company.

Hours: Friday, May 12, to Saturday, September 23, Kerb National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX

URL: kerbfood.com

 

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2023-04-16  Diana Solomon