Food Market on a Saturday?

We've visited London 6 times in the last 3 years. One of our favorite things to do is visit the Borough Market and, because of our schedule, it always had to be Saturdays. Yes, it's been crowded but never resulted in having a disappointing visit. However, I must add that we've never been there during the summer. Have fun in one of our favorite cities.

It’s a great place to visit. For lunch this place is hard to beat (if you love pasta) but you will wait in line https://www.padella.co/

As has been mentioned on this forum abbreviating or not fully describing a place in full can cause confusion when seeking intel.

Point in hand....Duke Of York? Pub? Since you are talking where to go for lunch I don’t imagine it’s Duke Of York Theatre you are referencing.

However, there are more than one Duke Of York Pub which adds more confusion.

All that aside I’d suggest tube to Brick Lane and hit the food hall. Will it be crowded? Yes. But all visitors should experience Brick Lane and Spitafields Market!

Sorry about the abbreviations. I’m asking about which food market is best on a Saturday: Duke of York Market at Sloane Square (I think Partridges produces it), vs Borough Market vs Maltby Street Market.)

Despite the madhouse at Borough Market on Saturdays that's when I'd want to go there for the full experience. Put everything that a pickpocket might want well away, take a deep breath then plunge in and enjoy.

Thanks Nigel! I think this is what I was looking for. :) It is what it is... and my family is excited to experience this atmospheric Victorian Market that dates back almost 1,000 years. My kids have seen so many Instagrammers and YouTubers who post about it.

Borough Market is more of an overall ‘experience’, personally i try to avoid it on Saturdays, but if you’re patient, its worth the visit. A short walk (less than 2min) to the Southwark Cathedral entrance that faces the Thames, is where you can find a break from the madness and some places to sit and eat by the Thames (large stones outside of the Cathedral gates). Don’t bother with BM on Monday or Tuesday.

Maltby St. Market is nice, but all about the food and less of an experience overall, but still highly recommended for foodies. Due to it being effectively in an alleyway, it almost feels more crowded than BM.

I’m always stunned by Claudia’s knowledge of our great city and have huge respect for her opinions, but Sunday is the main day for Brick Lane. Its probably half the size (food wise) on a Saturday, but still worth a visit.

Totally agree with her suggestion of Old Spitalfields Market though, its a personal fav and would be (and often is) my choice on a Saturday.

Again its more of a foodie destination with less of the overall food experience that BM gives, but with the added benefits of the craft and clothes part of the market, and its covered like BM, but MSM isn’t.

There is also Box Park and a Dishoom about 5mins walk away.

There is a quite good food market behind the National Theatre on the South Bank, maybe 10mins walk from Westminster if all else fails. Not in the class of the others, but well worth a visit.

The reference above to a market almost 1000 years old, reminded me of one visit we made to my husband’s sister and her husband in High Barnett, north of London. One early morning I went for a walk by myself to see what I could “discover”. When I got back my brother-in-law was waiting for me, to ask what
I had seen. I told him I had discovered a wonderful market, and he remarked dryly, “Well, it has been there for 900 years”. I had no response to that.

@MikeJ Thank you.

I simply love London so each and every visit I make a point of finding something new. For me it’s all about the neighborhoods.

In January it was Ealing cuz that’s where my friend has their flat.

One day I wanted to go to a movie. The movie theatre was an easy walk from Putney Bridge Station. Got off there and Instead of going to the movie my interest waned because in a 1 block radius I found the River Cafe, Dr Expresso Caffetteria, Hurlingham Books and the 8 Bells pub. Pub wasn’t yet open but spending nearly an hour chatting with Ray at Hurlingham Books was great fun. I then walked over to the Fulham War Memorial, peered inside the church and started a long but enjoyable walk along the river path to Hammersmith, spying the fabulous Hammersmith Bridge. Even got to see a few Fulham Team members as they were entering their building and one player was outside being interviewed.

Continued on from the venerable green bridge to the Dove Pub where I throughly enjoyed my sage and pumpkin soup.

Returned to Ealing via the tube from Hammersmith.

So all about flexibility and adventure.

Don't let Saturday put you off from going to Borough Market...it's fantastic despite the crowds and, quite frankly, I find it fun like that. We went this past December on Christmas Eve to do our shopping for Christmas dinner and you could hardly move for the wall-to-wall people! Still would go back in a heartbeat. Worth it. Such a great part of London life.

Thanks all! We also will be toward that part of town on Monday when we tour the Tower of London and St. Dunstan in the East. Old Spitalfields and a walk down Brick Lane sounds tempting, although my thinking is to head to Fleet Street to The Old Bank of England for a pub lunch afterward, see the Inns of Court and Temple Church.

I know there's a way to do it all! LOL! It's a giant puzzle. :) Will post my itinerary shortly for comments! Maybe someone can help me connect the dots!

However, I keep reading avoid it on a Saturday at lunch AT ALL COSTS.

Exactly where did you read this "advice"? It's busy there but that is perfectly normal. The food is GREAT. I'd advise you to go and enjoy yourself!

Agree that it’s totally fine to go in a Saturday, it’s busy but that’s part of the fun. However to answer another question you asked, it’s also still worth going on one of the limited market days. A large number of stands are still open and crowds are reduced. Don’t miss Kappacasein Dairy just outside the market - delicious raclette!

I have been to Borough many times, including Saturday's. While crowded on a Saturday, it is still fun. The main thing to consider if you are choosing to go is whether you want to visit the full market, which is open Wednesday through Saturday. Monday and Tuesday, not all the traders are present, especially some of the smaller farmers who travel in for the end of the week. Also, Borough is closed on public holidays. I would check out the link: http://boroughmarket.org.uk/. This is a great resource for information about the market, vendors, events (like cooking demonstrations or classes).

If you go on day when there is not a full market, it is still fun, but it is not the full experience.

Saturday is pretty busy, but not too busy to keep us away.
I love that experience there on a Saturday.
Save room for the Raclette if you are a cheese lover.

Thanks all! We will go ahead and tackle it on a Saturday! Everyone is looking forward to it! Now to decide Westminster Walking Tour then Borough Market OR the reverse... countdown 2 weeks to figure it out!! :)

I would go earlier rather than later. It gets the busiest around lunch time in our experience.

It’s not in full flow until nearer 12-12:30 as the street food stalls gear up for lunch. The ingredient places fully open earlier though.

The last time I went to Borough Market on a Saturday, it was hideous. I don’t like being jostled and poked in the back. Camden Market is busy, but the people there aren’t as rude. There is a great food selection. If you must go to Borough Market, be there at noon or 2pm.

On the whole, pubs are for drinking, not eating in.

Hmmm.... we're not interested in the Farmer's Market part of Borough Market. We're interested in the food vendors for Sausage rolls, Scotch eggs, Raclette at Kappacasein, Le Marché du Quartier for duck confit sandwiches, Neals Yard Dairy, Bread Ahead. If these places and types of places are open on Mondays, we're happy to go then and beat the crowds a bit.

http://boroughmarket.org.uk/travel-and-opening-times#market-description

Limited Market on Monday’s. You’ll need to research the website to see if the food vendors you are looking for will be there.

More intel
https://londonist.com/london/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-borough-market

Thanks Claudia! Looks like every street vendor except two are open on Mondays and Tuesdays as well as the rest of the week. I read somewhere that limited is referring to the farmers who come into the city.

The full experience is Saturday. Personally, I would not bother with Monday and Tuesday. While you may not be there for lettuce the entire experience, including the crowd, the colorful produce stands, the meat and fish, is what makes this place special. Buy a Borough Market bag. Still gets comments when I use it at our farmers market.