Borough Market

We loved it so much and had a flat just around the corner! We are big fans of markets in general as well.

I remember lots of food stalls and vendors, very crazy even on the fringes of the area with stalls and pop ups. I remember a filled doughnut place outside the central market area in a stand that opens from inside a big building, and some great fish and chips over near the waterfront from a place that has sit down and takeaway. It's a great area to wander and the food choices are nearly infinite. Over on the riverbank is a great series of bars and places to have a pint and watch the boats come and go as well as the people.

There was a place selling breakfast sandwiches out of a little red stall that was amazing but I think most things are closed on Mondays so be aware. My wife ate what she still claims is the best burger ever at a place called Yen burger near the market, but your mileage may vary!! :)

Dennis, you'll find some snarky critics who just love to sneer about how Borough ('burra') market is too touristy. Ignore them.
One can have a great time there. Nonetheless, we made sure to visit another market too during our trip a couple years ago, a market that seemed more local. That was Herne Hill market.
One could read about those two markets and much more in our loooong and photo-dense TR here below.
Good luck!
I am done. The end.
https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/back-to-brick-london-tr-w-fotos-1715655/

Hi Dennis, since you like the markets, here’s another one we really enjoyed! (We also went to the Borough Market the previous day.). This is an excerpt from my trip report:

Our last day, we participated in The London East End Food Tour with Eating Europe. We both highly recommend it! It was a feast, beginning in the Spitalfield Market - our new favorite open market! Our guide, David, was very knowledgeable with a dry sense of humor, and he shared so much history & ethnic culture along with sharing six tasty restaurants with us over 3 1/2 hours. My husband & I both felt it went fast, which is always a sign of a great food tour!

You really can’t go wrong and I recommend just taking your time exploring and seeing what appeals to you as that’s half the fun. Having said that, some favourites:
- Kappacasein for raclette over potatoes or cheese toasties
- the Black Pig for amazing sandwiches (e.g. honey truffle and Parmesan pork ciabatta)
- The London Cider House for interesting ciders
- Le Marché du Quartier for French products and a fab duck confit wrap; in the winter months they typically sell a divine hot mulled cider as well
- The Ginger Pig for the best sausage roll in London
- Blackwoods Cheese Company (ask to try the Graceburn cheese, unique and very delicious)
- For sit-down restaurants around the market I like Elliot’s (takes reservations which I do suggest making) and Padella (does not - can join virtual queue with QR code at the door and then wander the market while you wait for your table)

I will say that the market has gotten incredibly crowded in this Instagram age. If you have the flexibility to do so, I’d recommend a visit during a week day (except Mondays, when it is closed) rather than a weekend, when it really is hard to move about. Having said that, it’s still a magical place for foodies or fans of markets, and in December it’s extra special with the Christmas decorations up. Enjoy!

I would add that Borough market is somewhat different to the markets you have mentioned. They are very much more markets for locals to buy food to cook rather than food to eat. Borough is probably more the other way round. Although there are stalls selling raw foods there are a lot more of the food truck style. In truth therefore Borough has more interest for tourists, although like you I really enjoy the continental European markets.

If you have the flexibility to do so, I’d recommend a visit during a week day (except Mondays, when it is closed) rather than a weekend, when it really is hard to move about.

I'll echo Margaret. Saturday and Sunday can be insanely crowded and much less crowded on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

We were there in late September and found it too crowded to linger. But it was fun to quickly pass through and glimpse some delightful displays. We ate at the nearby Fish! restaurant and loved it.

I loved Borough Market. I had a wonderful time wandering around. Definitely visit Bread Ahead if you can. They have the most wonderful bread and pastries. The crème brûlée doughnut was one of the best things I have ever eaten. I also suggest you look for the booth selling edible insects. That was interesting.

I was in London last weekend. I was near Borough Market and thought I'd walk through. It was shoulder to shoulder crowded, which is definitely not my jam, so I turned around and went back up the stairs I had just come down. I backtracked and wound up near the back of Southwark Cathedral, where I had a coffee and cake at a nice cafe called Comptoir. I walked around a bit at the market but it was really crowded. I didn't even reallly venture into where most of the food vendors were. Every possible space where someone could sit, even the curbs, people were sitting and eating.

Lots of really excellent advice here, so I will only add one thing: GO EARLY. Whatever day you pick, GO EARLY. Did I mention that you should GO EARLY!? ;-)

I live in Chelsea/Fulham and it’s a haul for me to get to Borough Market, but I suck it up and get up early enough to rock up exactly at 10:00 on a weekday (it opens at 9:00am on Saturday) so as to avoid the worst of the crowds. There’s a lot to see and a lot to eat, and it’s much more enjoyable when you’re not jammed in like a sardine.

Tips: Southwark Cathedral is beautiful and is right there if you have time to pop in. And there’s a Shakespeare connection!

If you like oysters, Richard Haward’s is the place: prices are reasonable, and the oysters are lovely.

The George, a gorgeous 17th century coaching inn, is about 4 minutes’ walk away (75 Borough High Street). Unless you like Guinness (theirs is mediocre) this is a lovely spot for a relaxing pint after the bustle of the market. It’s crammed with charm.

Have fun!

Tips: Southwark Cathedral is beautiful and is right there if you have time to pop in. And there’s a Shakespeare connection!

Definitely visit Southwark Cathedral if you can! I tried, but sadly the cathedral was closed for services so I couldn't go inside. However, there is a lovely cafe outside, so I bought a coffee and ate my tasty creme brulee donut from Bread Ahead there. :-) It was much easier than trying to find a table at the market.

And Volva is correct in that there is a strong Shakespeare connection; in fact, Shakespeare's brother is buried there. There is also a connection to John Harvard (of Harvard University fame) who was born in the area and baptized there.

If you go to the Cathedral, you might see Hodge the Cathedral Cat.

https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/visiting/hodge-the-cathedral-cat/the-story-of-hodge/

I love Borough Market!

I can’t add too much except to say that I still dream about the grilled cheese (raclette) sandwich from Kappacasein and Bread Ahead doughnuts