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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 06 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Sarah Barrell

A food market has stood beside London Bridge since at least the 12th century, and the current model – with Victorian architecture and railway arches covering many of the food outlets – has had a huge revival in recent years as London has become one of Europe’s biggest foodie hubs.

Stalls range from traditional fruit and veg to artisan bakers, charcuterie, cheese counters and chocolatiers, with some of the capital’s best restaurants in the historic streets that wind out from the main marketplace. Unquestionably London’s biggest culinary draw with over 100 stalls, it’s phenomenally popular with tourists, but local foodies also flock here for the fantastic street food, which ranges from artisan chorizo sandwiches to Egyptian curries, fresh pasta and Indian dosas, eaten on the go as trains rumble overhead.

Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 8+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The nearest underground station is London Bridge. The market lies underneath the railway line and the Bridge itself, next to Southwark Cathedral.

When to do it

The market is open Monday to Saturday, although there are less stallholders on Mondays and Tuesdays. Go on Thursday or Friday to avoid the Saturday crush. If you’re planning to shop, arrive before lunchtime, when the market packs out with lunching workers.

Allow half an hour or so to explore the market, and possibly have a meal – as well as the traditional stalls selling everything from bread to truffle products and fruit juices, and take-away vendors, the market is trimmed with brilliant, locally-acclaimed restaurants.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Borough Market and beyond

Borough Market and beyond

London

While Borough Market is firmly on the tourist trail I will show you the hidden, quirky history that only the locals know. Starting from the ...

£15 | Rating 4.97 / 5 [44 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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London Bridge walking tasting tour with Secret Food Tours

London Bridge walking tasting tour with Secret Food Tours

London

On our Secret Food Tour: London Bridge, you'll enjoy a variety of classic British foods such as award-winning Fish & Chips, World Famous Sau...

£88 | Rating 4.88 / 5 [817 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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PRIVATE London Food Tours - Borough Market, Soho, East End, Camden

PRIVATE London Food Tours - Borough Market, Soho, East End, Camden

London

Whether you’re travelling to London, planning an event or looking for a unique gift idea, Chubby Fellow is at your service. Choose from one...

£135 | Rating 4.98 / 5 [165 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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London Bridge walking tasting tour with Secret Food Tours (Private Tour)

London Bridge walking tasting tour with Secret Food Tours (Private Tour)

London

Your guides are real foodies, and they have made it their goal to introduce visitors to the ‘excellence of British’ traditional food. The gu...

£189 | Rating 4.96 / 5 [27 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Shangri-La at the Shard

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.3 miles]

Housed in London’s newest landmark, the Shangri-La offers the best views in town, along with fine dining, innovative cocktails and a lofty infinity pool.

Official star rating:

Sea Containers London

London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.1 miles]

Right on the Thames, with views of St Pauls across the water, this cleverly-converted former shipping office has become one of the capital’s grandest and most glam hotels.

Official star rating:

CitizenM Tower of London

London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.1 miles]

An affordable design hotel overlooking the Tower of London, with pod-style rooms and a hip bar and restaurant.

Official star rating:

Batty Langley’s

London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.9 miles]

An elegantly eccentric Georgian period piece on the edge of the City of London, with decadent rooms and an under-the-radar vibe.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

London

Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)

World-class culture, fashion, music, food and history – and a mind-boggling array of bucket list experiences – packed into one extraordinary, incomparable destination. 

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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Shakespeare plays at The Globe

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.5 miles]

Shakespeare’s works are brought vividly to life at this half-timbered, riverside replica of the Bard’s Elizabethan theatre. A pilgrimage for Shakespeare fans.

Best for ages: 13+ | £10 | 1-3 hours

Tate Modern

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.6 miles]

This iconic, renovated power station on London’s South Bank showcases headline-grabbing Modern and contemporary art.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

HMS Belfast

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]

A treasured survivor of the Second World War, this towering naval warship moored on the Thames is now one of London’s most fascinating military museums.

Best for ages: 4+ | £23

St. Paul’s Cathedral

London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.1 miles]

This iconic, domed cathedral is an architectural masterpiece and a highlight of London’s skyline, designed by the great Sir Christopher Wren.

Best for ages: 10+ | £17

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Exterior view of the grand building surrounding a large square
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Somerset House

London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.9 miles]

Famous for its picturesque alfresco ice rink in winter and the Edmund J Safra fountains in the summer, this elegant neoclassical building is also home to an art gallery and upscale restaurant.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Exterior view of front facade with people walking in front
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SEA LIFE London Aquarium

London, United Kingdom (UK)[2 miles]

London’s impressive aquarium, set on the South Bank, home to hundreds of species of fish and a selection of sharks.

Best for ages: Any | £27

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