A visit to London England is incomplete without a visit to at least one London food market. Read on to learn how to eat your way through the best food markets in London during your next trip to the bustling world capital.

London’s culinary melting pot spans the sprawling city from the centrally located Chinatown to Little India in Southall. Sure, it would be fun to visit each and every neighborhood to try all of the city’s global treats, but that would take years considering all of the markets to visit in London, not to mention all of the London Christmas markets during the holiday season.
That’s a lot of time, not to mention tube fares! Yes, England’s sprawling, global city is that big.

Luckily for visitors without unlimited time and bottomless oyster cards, the city has a vibrant market scene scattered throughout the city. With a little strategic planning, it’s possible for a tourist to sample a variety of London’s exciting cuisines at one of these markets. Better yet, visit a few. Or be like us and visit a lot.
Best Food Markets In London

We recently spent two weeks eating our way through the best markets in London. During this time, we grazed our way through outdoor and indoor venues in our quest for the city’s tastiest food, logging in thousands of steps on our Fitbit as well as hundreds of miles on the tube and overground.
In the end, we ate some of the best food in London while getting a great feel for the city’s neighborhoods. These are our favorite London markets:
1. Borough Market

Dating back to the 11th century, Borough Market is arguably London’s most historic and epic food market. We first visited Borough Market in 2012 and always make a point to visit the popular food market located just south of the London Bridge whenever we’re in town.
This market sells all kinds of seasonal produce as well as a range of prepared foods. Be sure to try a meat pie at Ginger Pig and a baguette at Bread Ahead or some cheese and saucissons at The French Comté. Otherwise, just wander and eat whatever Borough Market food catches your eye.

Pro Tip
Budget some time to wander beyond the Borough Market for a cappuccino at Monmouth Coffee and some cheese at Neal’s Yard Dairy.
Borough Market is located at 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL, UK. This market is open Monday through Saturday.
2. Maltby Street Market

Smaller, cooler and younger than nearby Borough Market, Maltby Street Market is where locals go on the weekend to enjoy lunch and craft beer. Located directly beside rail tracks in Bermondsey, many vendors sell and make their wares in the brick arched recesses of rail trestles. This makes Maltby Street a cool sightseeing experience along with a tasty one.

While there, you can bump up against a hip crowd while choosing from top-notch global food vendors serving Vietnamese pho, Chinese dumplings and Belgian waffles. As for us, we were drawn to The Cheese Truck stall where we shared a decadent, oozing, melty grilled cheese sandwich loaded with Keens Cheddar, onion and bacon cooked to a lovely crisped, chestnut brown.
Pro Tip
Spend some time on the Bermondsey Beer Mile where you can crawl to ten different microbreweries or park yourself at Hiver Beers and drink your fill of the brewery’s signature honey beer.
Maltby Street Market is located at 37 Maltby Street, London SE1 3PA, UK. This market is open on Saturday and Sunday.
3. Broadway Market

Hackney comes alive every Saturday when the Broadway Market opens for business. Here, you can eat burgers and sip on Vietnamese coffee while soaking in a gentrified yet still cool East London neighborhood vibe.
It’s not just about prepared food at this market. Vendors sell buckets of olives and trays of treats like the salted caramel whoopie pie we scarfed down at the Eat “n” Mess stall.

Pro Tip
Although Broadway Market is only open on Saturdays, the neighborhood bustles all week long with a selection of cafes and boutiques.
Broadway Market is located in Hackney, London E8 4QJ. This market is open on Saturday only.
4. Mercato Metropolitano

At first glance, Mercato Metropolitano is an upscale Italian market selling a variety of meat, cheese and dried goods. However, a massive, modern food court hides in a 45,000 square foot warehouse just behind the Elephant and Castle shop.
Guests dine on yellow communal tables with food selections ranging from Kansas City BBQ to Vietnamese Pho to Lebanese wraps. However, it would be difficult to beat the Neapolitan pizza served at Mercato Metropolitano’s La Pizza Napoletana.

The yeasty flavors and slightly crunchy texture transported us straight back to the pizza we ate in Naples Italy. Shoppers can also dine on pasta or just enjoy a plate of charcuterie with an aperitivo.
Pro Tip
You won’t go thirsty at Mercato Metropolitano. The market has an enoteca (Italian wine bar) and craft beer in addition to the food.
Mercato Metropolitano is located at 42 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6DR, UK. This market is open Tuesday through Sunday.
5. Brixton Village and Market Row

Situated inside a former arcade, Brixton Village Market is an indoor market with rows of cafes, restaurants and shops. The market’s crowd includes hipsters sipping on third wave coffee and locals getting hair weaves, a mix that results in something that’s funky yet congenial.

Though we may not be hipsters, we went the third wave coffee route with flat whites at Federation Coffee. Just outside the market, international vendors sell fresh produce alongside fishmongers and Halal butchers making Brixton a one-stop location for shopping and people watching.
Pro Tip
Don’t get fooled by all of the outdoor vendors. To us, the best Brixton market action is inside the covered market.
Brixton Village and Market Row is located at 10-11 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London SW9 8LB, UK. This market is open Monday through Sunday.
6. Leather Lane Street Market

A veritable newcomer by British standards, Leather Lane Street Market has been on the London food scene for the past 400 or so years. Dozens of food market stalls cater to a hungry weekday lunch crowd that enjoys a diverse lunch selection with vendors from Japan, Spain and even England serving hearty fare at reasonable prices.

Pro Tip
Despite its name, you won’t find leather apparel at this food-focused market.
Leather Lane Street Market is located at Leather Lane, London EC1N 7TJ, UK. This market is open Monday through Friday.
7. Brick Lane Market

This busy East London market comes alive on Sunday when masses arrive to pig out at the Sunday UpMarket. The street literally swells with people nibbling on food sold by outdoor vendors as well as inside the Old Truman Brewery. London street musicians add to the festive atmosphere, though the international food selection is the real star of the show.

Pro Tip
Stop by nearby Beigel Bake for London’s greatest bargain – a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon.
Brick Lane Market is located at 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QR, UK. This market is open on Saturday and Sunday.
8. Partridges Food Market

We stumbled upon this weekly market on our way to the Sloane Square tube station and were quickly dazzled by the selection of artisan goods like cakes, scotch eggs and quiche. Not as famous as other London markets, Partridges Food Market offers a well-rounded London market experience in the tony Chelsea neighborhood.

Operating in the Duke of York Square since 2005, the market hosts 70 vendors selling to hungry families and neighborhood locals.
Pro Tip
Pop into the flagship store Partridges to shop for British food souvenirs at the posh shop. Options include tea, biscuits and preserves.
Partridges Food Market is located at 2-5, Duke of York Square, King’s Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4LY, UK. This market is open on Saturday only.
9. Old Spitalfields Market

Originally operating as a wholesale market in 1875, Old Spitalfields Market is now an East London fixture with its rows of stalls selling both food and clothing. Whether you splurge on oysters or indulge in a cupcake, there’s no need to worry about the inevitable London rain.

Since the market is covered, you won’t get wet at Old Spitalfields Market. The market also features Abondance, a French cheese shop that sells a wide variety of top fromage from all over Europe.
Pro Tip
Stock up on French cheese when you shop at this market. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better selection outside of France.
Old Spitalfields Market is located at 16 Horner Square, London E1 6EW, UK. This market is open Monday through Sunday.
Other Notable Food Markets

There’s never enough time to see and do everything in London! If you have extra time, be sure to include these additional markets in your London itinerary:
Hungry For More In London?
Check out our London Food Favorites.
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About the Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website and YouTube. The married Food and Travel content creators live in Lisbon, Portugal.
Original Publication Date: November 20, 2017
Danial
Wednesday 18th of July 2018
So many tantalizing markets, so little stomach space!
John Bynx
Tuesday 23rd of January 2018
Did you take the photo at Maltby Food Market in London? Someone is on Steve's Digicam photo forum claiming they took it. Could you be one in the same?
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Tuesday 23rd of January 2018
Thanks for bringing this issue to our attention. We personally took all photos in this article. We have contacted the forum to have the photo removed since the person who posted it stole it from this site.
Emmalene
Sunday 31st of December 2017
Broadway Market is fab and was one of the best hidden gems on our May London trip; it's a great detour from walking along Regents Canal
Sarah
Friday 29th of December 2017
A great read! It's good to be able to read about all these scrummy markets, although now the difficult decision is which one to visit first!
Connie S Reed
Tuesday 21st of November 2017
OMG—That grilled cheese sandwich from The Cheese Truck looks sooooo delicious!