Borough Market, London, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Borough Market is a historic food market in Southwark, London, beside London Bridge and the Thames. Locals trace its origins back to 1014, and today it is a busy place to buy British and European specialities and to eat street food. It is one of the oldest and best known markets in the city.

The story behind it

The market's own tradition says it has existed since 1014, and probably earlier, which would give it more than a thousand years of history. For a long time it was tied to the southern end of London Bridge, where its stalls added to the traffic crossing the river. In 1756 it was moved to its present site because of that congestion.

The new spot, close to the riverside wharves, suited the trade. Borough Market grew into one of London's most important wholesale fruit and vegetable markets. Today it welcomes the public with fresh produce, cheese, fish, meat, game, bread and pastries, plus a wide range of hot food. Its atmospheric streets have also been used as a film location, and the Globe Tavern on Bedale Street is linked to Bridget Jones's Diary.

What to look for

• The railway viaducts that run right over the market, so trains rumble past above the stalls and the covered lanes.
• The Victorian ironwork and glass of the market roofs, which give the covered halls their distinctive look.
• The Globe Tavern on Bedale Street, the pub tied to the Bridget Jones films, tucked into a corner of the market.
• The stalls of cheese, fish, game and freshly baked bread, which show the market's long role as a place for fresh produce.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about an hour to wander the lanes and stalls, and longer if you plan to eat lunch here.
• Go earlier in the day or on a weekday for more room to move, as the market gets very crowded at peak times. Check current opening hours before you go.
• Entry to the market is free to walk around, so you can look at everything before deciding what to buy.
• Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge and the Thames path are all a short walk away, so it fits easily into a wider stroll along the South Bank.

See it on a quest

The market sits on the route of Southwark Pirates: Adventure Walking Tour & Escape Game in London. You reach it on foot as one stop of a longer walk through Southwark. The app tells you about the place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is around you, so you look at the market more closely than a quick browse allows. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.