Borough Market is one of the best known food markets in the world and, as a London tour guide, I get asked about it a lot!
Usually people want to know my favourite shop or stall is, when it's the best time to visit, and if there are Borough Market food tours.
Questions about the market are also popular on our London Travel Tips Facebook Page.
As for the last query, there are tours of Borough Market, but they come with a hefty price tag.
Although the guides are great and the food is delicious I know that paying over £60 per person for a tour is outside of some guests' budget!
So I’ve put together a self-guided food tour so you can explore Borough Market for FREE by yourself at any time* – you'll only pay for the tasty treats you’ll surely purchase yourself!
(Seriously, I don't think I've ever walked through the market without buying something.)
Borough Market is one of the largest food markets on the planet, and there is plenty here to get full without spending a fortune.
From British food on show or international treats from across the globe – there’s always something for everybody at Borough Market.
Oh, and if you are a foodie, make sure to join us on our fantastic East End Food Tour, where YOU get to choose your own menu!
- How To Get to Borough Market
- Borough Market Self Guided Food Tour
- Other Market Stalls to Visit
- East End Food Tour
- Where to Finish Your Tour
*NOTE: Borough Market is open every day but Monday for most of the year, however they are open on Mondays during the holiday season.
As for when you should go, that's up to you! I usually prefer to go early in the morning on a weekday, if possible.
Although the weekends have more stalls trading, the crowds can be overwhelming and I find it a bit of a stressful experience!
Lunchtimes are the busiest so I usually recommend people go either before or after the lunch rush (12:00 - 14:00).
Our City of London Tour and All in One Tour finish within walking distance of the Market so I sometimes direct my guests there after our tours to check it out for themselves.
Our Harry Potter Tour also begins there, which might be convenient to your plans.
And our Bermondsey Beer Mile Tour starts nearby so I like to tell people to have a few bites to eat at the Market before heading out for their tour with us!
Start: London Bridge Underground Station
Most people arrive at Borough Market from London Bridge Station.
I usually am coming from finishing a City of London Tour, so I arrive by walking across London Bridge, which takes me straight into the Market.
Borough Market has it's own exit at London Bridge Station, so I find it very easy to locate!
Just follow signs for Borough Market, or Borough High Street (West). That will take right to the Market!
I'll point it out on the map here so you can see where you will exit the station:
I mentioned that I usually walk to Borough Market but London Bridge Station does have a pier!
I have taken guests there via the Uber boat on private tours, however, which is a fun option!
You can learn more about the boats on a blog post I wrote about them.
To get to the start point of this tour, take the exit mentioned and when you come up the stairs immediately turn RIGHT and walk back past the steps.
Then take the first LEFT into the Market. When you enter the Market, keep to the LEFT.
Walk until you see the Parma Ham and Mozarella Stand, which will be on your RIGHT. This is your first stop.
NOTE: There's a map of the inside of the Market on their website.
SELF GUIDED BOROUGH MARKET WALKING TOUR
Parma Ham and Mozzarella Stand - Burrata and Buffalo Mozzarella
If you've read some of my other posts, you'll know that I'm a vegetarian.
So obviously, I come to the Parma Ham and Mozarella Stand (run by the Crouch family) for the cheese!
However, I used to be a meat eater and one of my favourite things to snack on was salami.
The team here do some fantastic parma ham, but the salami is some of the best I've ever tasted.
My go-to was the Milano but they usually have around 7 to choose from.
As for the cheese...well, I think this is the finest mozzarella London has to offer.
It's soft and fresh and I like to eat it on it's own, or with a little bit of fresh pesto.
They also do an amazing burrata - which I've noticed is becoming more popular here in London.
If you haven't tried it yet then I would recommend you have it for the first time here.
And, of course, I like to watch my pennies so the prices here are good.
I like the hard cheeses for cooking and their delectable Pecorino Romano is just £3.40.
Last time I was there, I saw they were also selling tiny cones of fresh gorgonzola for £3.50 which is the perfect size for the first stop on your food tour.
Facing this stall, go to the RIGHT. Take the first LEFT you can (look for the Gated Garden).
Walk around the florist and take the first LEFT you can again. Walk down until you see FOOD AND FOREST on your RIGHT. This is your next stop.
Food and Forest - Nuts
This is a personal favourite, and it's a guarantee that there is something for everyone at this stall.
Food and Forest provides sustainably sourced sweet and savoury nuts - as well as home made brittles!
I love salty snacks and nuts are the top of my list.
I love the ones from Food and Forest, and I usually pick up a few different kinds while I'm here.
For savoury, I recommend the sea salt cashews or the roast sumac pistachios (but those leave me with red fingertips so I tend to only get those to eat at home!).
As for sweet, the cinnamon and honey cashews are some of the most delicious cashews I've ever had.
If you've got a real sweet tooth, also pick up their hazelnut, cinnamon and vanilla brittle (another favourite pick when I'm shopping for stocking stuffers).
Also, I know nuts can be quite expensive but I find the ones here well priced with a bag of the sweet cashews just £6.25!
ADJACENT to Food and Forest in The Bath Soft Cheese Co., your next stop.
The Bath Soft Cheese Co. - Wyfe of Bath Cheese
"More cheese?" You might be asking yourself...well, yes!
The cheeses I mentioned previously are all imported from Italy, but The Bath Soft Cheese Co carries some of the best cheese offerings in all of the United Kingdom.
All the cheeses here are organic and are made on Park Farm near Bath using milk from cows owned by the same company.
Everything is made my hand and I swear I can taste the hard work that goes into it when I'm eating some!
Their signature cheese is the Wyfe of Bath: a semi-hard cheese which is named after a character in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
It's on of my favourites as it's vaguely nutty and slightly sweet with salt.
It's so hard to describe but I promise you won't be disappointed.
Their soft cheese is not to be missed - it is, after all, where they got their name.
It has a pedigree that goes back to the 1790's - and it is even claimed that Admiral Lord Nelson enjoyed this type cheese!
It's great spread on fresh bread and has a vaguely earthy taste with lemon tones.
Blue cheese is a bit too strong for me but if that's your thing, you'll find something here for you, too.
Their Bath Blue was named Supreme Champion at the World Cheese of Awards in 2014.
If you're not sure what to choose, just chat to the staff. They're lovely, friendly and they know exactly what they're talking about.
The first time I went there, I just told them my favourite cheeses and they were able to recommend some of their own based on the flavour profiles I was describing - talk about customer service!
Facing the Soft Cheese Co, turn LEFT. When you get to Stoney Street make a RIGHT. Then take the first RIGHT and walk straight ahead until you come to the Olive Oil Company. This is your next stop.
Olive Oil Company - Flavoured Oils and Vinegars
One of my favourite things about the Olive Oil Company is that they always have free samples so I can try before I buy!
(I'm a sucker for a free sample...)
I notice that the free samples usually include some fresh bread from the Market, too, so I like that I'm trying two products in one.
Now, I'm no gourmand - I just like eating!
So another reason I like coming here is that the staff know their stuff and will talk me through all the interesting flavours available.
Most of their oils come from Italy and they also have some amazing balsamic on offer (which I like to use as stocking stuffers).
Your next stop is right BEHIND the Olive Oil Company.
Borough Olives - Incredible Olives
Olive lovers (like me) get ready: this is the holy grail.
Once you've indulged in some olive oil, it's time to sample some raw product!
Borough Olives provides a HUGE variety of fresh olives from all over the world (think Spain, Morocco and Greece) at, what I think are, affordable prices.
Much like the Olive Oil Company, Borough Olives have free samples which has meant I've gone out of my comfort zone on numerous occasions to try some new flavours - and I've always been pleasantly surprised.
My favourite are the Spanish Gordal olives infused with green chilli.
They're meaty and moorish with just a hint of spice. And a tub of these is under £5.00 and are usually gone by the time I get home..!
For those of you who are not too keen on olives (like my best friend who describes them as "superfluous"...which I strongly disagree with, but I digress), don't worry!
Borough Olives also serves up delicious home-made harissa, pickled garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and sweet peppers.
This stall is usually my go-to if I'm looking for some nibbles to bring on a picnic.
ADJACENT to Borough Olives is your next stop.
Optional Bonus Stop - Cartwright Bros - Prosecco
If you’d like to grab yourself a cheeky drink (and I always do) to enjoy during your tour, pay a visit to Cartwright Bros.
This stall specialises in importing wines sourced from independent estates.
You can purchase a bottle (or three, if you're me) but they sell prosecco by the glass!
I like to buy one (the rose' if they have it) and enjoy a glass while I'm browsing the stalls.
Facing Cartwright Bros., turn RIGHT. When you get to Bedale Street turn LEFT.
Walk along until you see Bread Ahead Bakery on your LEFT. This is your next stop.
Bread Ahead Bakery - Sourdough Bread and/or Doughnuts
Once I've bought myself some olive oil and cheese, I know I am going to want some fresh bread to go with it!
And, in my opinion, there's no better place to get it than Bread Ahead Bakery.
In fact, if anybody asks me what my favourite stall is at Borough Market, this is my answer!
Bread Ahead is a pure London bakery, founded right in Borough Market back in 2013.
There's a huge variety of bread here and baked goods here and, in total truth, I have never bought anything I didn't love.
However, if you're looking for recommendations I would direct you to their sourdough bread.
It's tangy and chewy with a slightly crunch crust - I just love it. (Sometimes I will literally just eat a loaf of it dipped in butter...)
If you're wanting something a bit fancier, then check out their fresh focaccia.
Every time I go the flavours are different so I never know what to expect.
I've seen sun dried tomatoes with basil, ones with baked in cheese and olives (it was amazing) and also some made with nuts, which I haven't yet tried.
If you are doing this food tour, you might not be ready for something sweet yet.
But, I can't resist picking up a doughnut every time I'm here and I'd encourage you to do the same and just save it for later.
Again, their flavours change constantly but my absolute favourite is sea salted caramel and honeycomb (I am getting so hungry just writing this), or their standard vanilla custard.
Words couldn't do the justice so you'll have to try them by yourself!
With your back to Bread Ahead, look across the street to your LEFT. You will see Fish! Restaurant.
They have an adjacent food stall and this is your next stop.
Fish!Kitchen - Fish & Chips
I mean, what is a food tour in England without a stop for fish and chips?
While my favourite fish and chip shop in London is Poppie's, Fish! at Borough Market is the next best thing, and absolutely worth trying.
The fish here is fresh (which I find is not the case in a lot of pubs) and handled with car s this is Borough Market's premier seafood supplier.
The fish is soft and flaky, and the batter is crunchy without being oily which is always one of the ways I measure up the quality when I'm having fish and chips.
But, I have a confession to tell you: my favourite part of fish and chips is always the chips!
The ones here are traditionally thick cut and filled with fluffy potato.
Now, it isn't considered "traditional" in London.
But, I will vouch that my in-laws in the north of England love having gravy with their fish and chips and I always get a cup from here when I order. Try it!
If you're eating your way along Borough Market and you can't quite handle a full order of fish and chips, they do a fish finger butty (sandwich) for under a tenner.
I sometimes go for this if I'm after a fast lunch, and it could easily be shared by two to give you a sample without filling you up!
With your back to Cathedral Street (and Bread Ahead Bakery), with Fish! on your RIGHT, just walk around the Fish! Restaurant.
Comptoir Gourmand will be on your RIGHT. This is your final stop.
Comptoir Gourmand - Dessert
I don't know about you, but I have to finish any food tour with a dessert and Comptoir Gourmand is one of my favourite places to do it.
All the desserts here are created by owner Sebastien Wind, an exceptionally talented chef-patissier, who uses French technique to create all the delicious delicacies you'll find at this stall.
There's so much to choose from here, I always have a hard time deciding!
My favourite are the seasonal danishes.
The last time I went, I had one wish spiced plumbs and chantilly cream and the time before was pistachio and strawberry.
I love that they're always changing so I get to try something new.
If you're feeling a bit full by this point in the tour, consider a smaller option like their freshly made madeleines or an artisan macaron.
Or pick something up to enjoy later on at home (their cinnamon buns are even good the next day - not that they often last that long around me).
- Ginger Pig - The Best Sausage rolls in town and they have plenty of awards to prove it!
- Kappacasein - The BEST Cheese toasty to be found in London. They're huge and one keeps me full for hours.
- Monmouth Coffee - Widely considered to be one of the best coffee shops in London. I don't think I've ever seen it without a queue but many people consider it worth the wait.
- Padella - Their pasta is incredible. The cacio e pepe is one of the tastiest I've ever had.
Once you've finished your food tour - you have an option of where to go.
Perhaps you're going to take your goodies away, in which case you can follow the signs back to LONDON BRIDGE STATION.
But, sometimes I want to sit and snack a bit before I head home.
So, I'll walk to the nearby churchyard at SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL (just retrace your steps back to Cathedral Street between Bread Ahead and Fish! and turn RIGHT).
Or, if the weather is good and I'm in the mood to sit on the river, I'll get to STONEY STREET and follow it toward the river, where it dead ends into CLINK STREET.
From there, turn LEFT, go under the bridge then turn RIGHT and I'll find myself on the Southbank of the Thames where I'll find a nice bench to enjoy my treats.
NOTE: I recommend all foodies to check out our East End Food Tour!
