London’s best markets: a round-up
Fill your basket with seasonal produce and festive goods at the capital’s most coveted neigbourhood markets.
Fill your basket with seasonal produce and festive goods at the capital’s most coveted neigbourhood markets.
It’s no secret that Londoners love a market. Free to visit and rich in neighbourly charm, they are at once part of the city’s heritage and the places where exciting trends and tastes are first sampled.
Market streets are multifaceted in their offerings throughout the year: fresh fruit and vegetables from local farms, entrepreneurial pop-up stalls, and innovative delicacies from creative epicures. Yet there's something singular to the way they come alive during the wintertime. What better way to spend a festive weekend than delighting in global street food and stocking up on seasonal ingredients? Here, we’ve rounded up our favourite markets that are well worth a wander.
8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL / Mon – Fri: 10am-5pm, Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 10am-3pm
Dating back to the 13th century, Borough Market is one of the city’s oldest haunts for local produce. Nowadays, the market is something of a pilgrimage for foodies on the quest for trailblazing gastronomy. There’s a dizzying variety of global flavours to explore from independent sellers at the forefront of London’s culinary creativity. Head to Brindisa for exceptional Iberian charcuterie, Humble Crumble for pudding at any time of the day, and stock up with nibbles from Borough Olives to elevate your next drinks party. If you’re feeling inspired by the baked goods on display, Bread Ahead offers courses at their bakery school nestled in the heart of the market.
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Covent Garden, WC2E 8RF / Mon – Sat: 10am - 6pm
From the mid-1600s onwards, The Apple Market was home to London's bustling fruit and vegetable trade. Positioned in the heart of Covent Garden's piazza, nowadays it boasts a range of antiques and quirky collectables alongside leading lights in luxury fashion and beauty. On Mondays you'll find a treasure trove of antiques: silverwear from Goldsmith & Perris and vintage jewellry from Touch Class Antiques. From Tuesday to Saturday, the Market is brimming with British-made crafts - be sure to check out original ballet paintings from Art of Dance and hand-crafted timepieces by Rock 'n' Clock. Whilst perusing the stalls, there's plenty of mulled wine and hot chocolate stands to keep you fuelled.
Aybrook Street, W1U 4DF / Sun: 10am-2pm
The Marylebone Farmers’ Market has been a Sunday fixture since 2003, frequented by locals come rain, snow or shine. The atmosphere is thoroughly welcoming, thanks to the passionate stallholders ready to swap culinary tips and well-loved recipes. Stock up with fruit and vegetable essentials from Chegworth Valley greengrocer and the catch of the day from North Sea Seafood. If you’re lucky, get your hands on The Garlic Farm’s cricket-ball sized Elephant Garlic, before curating a box of artisanal macaroons from Giselle Richardson. On sunny days, enjoy an Opera Ice Cream and performance from owner Kerry: a trained opera singer, she’ll often belt out a classic tune as she scoops the locally-crafted ice creams.
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Columbia Road, E2 7RG / Sun: 8am-3pm
Fragrant and colourful, Columbia Road comes alive with seasonal flowers and verdant greenery every Sunday. It’s a hugely popular spot for locals and tourists alike, with stalls offering blooming bouquets, shrubs and perennials, fresh kitchen herbs, and tropical banana trees. Get to the market early in the morning if you want to avoid the inevitable lunchtime crowds. Parallel to the flower stalls, an array of independent shops and cafes await your perusal – standouts include perfume from Angela Flanders, Milagros for Mexican glassware and ceramics, and the cherished Lily Vanilli bakery.
Orange Square, SW1W 8UT / Sat: 9am-2pm
Every Saturday a host of eclectic stalls take to Orange Square, the former neighbourhood of Mozart when he resided in London as a young musician. Beneath the leafy trees, you’ll find smoked fish from Charlie’s Trout, flowers from Wild At Heart, small-batch gins and vodkas by Green Room Distillery and Lord Pesto’s fresh pasta and sauces – among other fantastic seasonal offerings. The market is within walking distance of Sloane Square; stop by the Saatchi Gallery for a spot of culture before some retail therapy along the King’s Road.
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Portobello Road, W10 5TY / Mon – Sat: 8 am-6pm. Visit their website here for more details.
A round-up of London’s best markets wouldn’t be complete without the iconic Portobello Road in Notting Hill. Whilst best known for its array of vintage boutiques, its food and produce offerings deserve equal recognition. Walk northwards towards Golborne Road and you’ll find mouth-watering street food from around the globe at Acklam Village. Be it Cuban, Polish, Chinese, French or Moroccan, introduce your taste buds to a world of exciting flavours. On the weekends, live samba, jazz and blues performances are a soundtrack to your market feast.
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