Borough Market is one of those London experiences that lives up to the hype. It’s free to enter, it’s been around in some form for over a thousand years and it has some of the best food you’ll find anywhere in the city. We went on a Wednesday morning in June and came home with full stomachs, a slight sugar high and an immediate plan to come back.
We have already been back. It’s only been two months.
Here’s exactly what we ate and how to make the most of a visit.
Getting There
Borough Market is right next to London Bridge station on the Jubilee and Northern lines. Come out of the station, cross the road and you’re there. Genuinely one of the easiest things to get to in London — no planning required.
If you’re based in central London, it’s a short tube ride. If you’re coming from further out, London Bridge is well connected. Either way it’s not a day trip — it’s an afternoon, or a morning if you go early.
When to Go
Go on a weekday and go before lunch. That’s the advice.
We went on a Wednesday morning when stalls were still opening up and the market was quiet enough to actually wander without elbowing anyone. The food was fresh, the queues were short and we could take our time.
Borough Market is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm. It’s closed on Mondays. Not all traders are there every day — the full lineup comes out on Fridays and Saturdays. But the weekday version has everything worth going for and a fraction of the crowds. BackpackLondon
Friday afternoons attract a noticeable after-work crowd from the nearby financial offices. Saturday afternoons are the busiest of all. If you don’t like crowds avoid both. chorley
Arrive hungry. This is not negotiable.
What We Ate
The Black Pig — The Pork Ciabatta
First stop and honestly one of the best things I’ve eaten in London.
The Black Pig is a sandwich stall that makes one thing extremely well: ciabatta sandwiches stuffed with slow-roasted free-range pork shoulder, finished over coals. The doorstop-sized ciabatta sandwiches are generously stuffed with juicy, tender, slow-roasted pork and will drip sauce and spill slaw no matter what.
We had The Best One — their signature sandwich with slow-roasted pork, honey truffle parm mayo, fennel apple slaw, pepperoncini and 30-month aged parmesan. The bread comes from Bread Ahead next door. Everything is made fresh on-site daily.
Get a big pile of napkins before you bite into it. You will need them.
Turnips — The Chocolate Strawberries
Turnips is a greengrocer stall that has somehow become one of the most talked-about food experiences in London. Their strawberries have reached viral status, becoming a must-try of Borough Market — the best juicy strawberries in season covered in beautifully silky Belgian chocolate.
There’s also a brilliant backstory. Borough Market once tried to ban the chocolate strawberries, claiming they weren’t “fruit, veg or related produce.” Turnips fought back. As one staff member put it: “We freed the strawberry.” The ban was overturned and the controversy only made them more popular.
Each cup contains 12 to 15 fresh strawberries. The chocolate hardens fast so eat it immediately. Don’t wander off with it planning to eat it later — you’ll regret it.
They also do fresh juices at the stall which we used mid-way through the food stops to deal with the heat. June in London sounds mild until you’re standing in a covered market with no airflow after eating your third course.
Ginger Pig — The Sausage Roll
The Ginger Pig is one of London’s best butchers and their Borough Market stall is famous for one thing above everything else. Their hot sausage rolls are freshly baked every morning — flaky, buttery pastry wrapped around incredibly flavourful sausage filling.
This is not a service station sausage roll. This is the kind of thing that makes you reassess your whole relationship with pastry. Served hot, generously sized and worth every penny.
The queue moves fast. Don’t let it put you off.
Bread Ahead — The Donuts
Bread Ahead is one of the most famous traders at Borough Market, known for their artisan dough, classic fillings and creative specials. Founded in 2013 right here in Borough Market, they now have locations across London but this is the original.
We got the creme brûlée donut — their signature — and a raspberry cheesecake filled donut. The creme brûlée is torched right before you eat it. The custard is thick, the pastry is pillowy and it is as good as everyone says it is. They sell around 5,000 of the creme brûlée daily in London. There’s a reason for that.
The raspberry cheesecake was excellent too. Get one of each and share them.
The Strategy: Pace Yourself
Here’s the thing about Borough Market. There is always more food than you think there will be. We ran out of stomach space before we ran out of things to try and that’s with some planning.
Our order worked well: savoury sandwich first, chocolate strawberries while walking, sausage roll to keep going, fresh juice in the middle to reset, donuts last as dessert. By the time we got to the donuts we were full but not uncomfortably so.
We ended the day in one of the nearby pubs with a beer and a wine, sitting in the aircon, not moving for a while. The perfect ending to a food market morning in a June heatwave.
If I were doing it again I’d skip one of the savoury stops and use that stomach space for more of the market. There were cheeses, Ethiopian food, French pastries and about fifteen other stalls we walked past knowing we couldn’t fit anything else in.
What It Cost
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| The Black Pig pork ciabatta | ~£12 |
| Turnips chocolate strawberries | ~£8 |
| Ginger Pig sausage roll | ~£8 |
| Bread Ahead donuts (two) | ~£10 |
| Fresh juice | ~£5 |
| Pub drinks (beer and wine) | ~£15 |
| Total for two | ~£58 |
Entry to Borough Market is free. You pay only for what you eat.
Is Borough Market Worth It?
Yes. It’s one of the best things you can do in London and it costs nothing to walk in.
The food is genuinely excellent across the board — not tourist trap quality, actually good. The market has been feeding London for over a thousand years and the traders here take what they do seriously. You can taste it.
We’ve been twice in two months and we’ll keep going back. Every visit we find something new we missed the time before.
If you’re an Australian living in London and you haven’t been yet — go this week. Take a Wednesday morning off and go hungry.
Borough Market pairs well with a walk along the Thames afterwards — London Bridge, the Shard and Tate Modern are all within a short walk. Or just find a pub and sit down. Both are valid.
For more days out and things to do from London, read our Brighton day trip guide — another easy one to do on a weekday.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Borough Market?
Borough Market is one of London’s oldest and most famous food markets, located next to London Bridge station in Southwark. It’s been operating in some form for over a thousand years and is known for high-quality produce, artisan food traders and street food stalls. Entry is free.
When is Borough Market open?
Borough Market is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm. It’s closed on Mondays. Not all traders are present every day — the full lineup comes out on Fridays and Saturdays. Weekday mornings are quieter and recommended for a relaxed visit.
What should I eat at Borough Market?
The must-dos are The Black Pig pork ciabatta sandwich, the Ginger Pig sausage roll, Bread Ahead donuts and the Turnips chocolate-covered strawberries. Come hungry and pace yourself — there’s always more than you can fit in.
How do I get to Borough Market?
Take the tube to London Bridge on the Jubilee or Northern line. Come out of the station, cross the road and you’re there. It’s one of the easiest markets to get to in London.
Is Borough Market free?
Yes. Entry to Borough Market is completely free. You only pay for what you buy from the traders.
When is the best time to visit Borough Market?
A weekday morning — Wednesday or Thursday — is the best time for a relaxed visit. Weekends, especially Saturday afternoons, are very busy. Going before lunch means shorter queues and fresher food.
What are the Turnips chocolate strawberries at Borough Market?
Turnips is a greengrocer stall at Borough Market famous for its viral chocolate-covered strawberries — fresh strawberries covered in Belgian chocolate. They became even more famous after Borough Market briefly attempted to ban them in 2023, a dispute Turnips won. Each cup costs around £8 and contains 12 to 15 strawberries. Eat them immediately — the chocolate hardens fast.
What is the Ginger Pig sausage roll?
The Ginger Pig is one of London’s best butchers with a stall at Borough Market. Their hot sausage rolls are baked fresh every morning — flaky pastry, flavourful sausage meat and served piping hot. One of the most recommended things to eat at Borough Market.
This article reflects our personal experience visiting Borough Market in June 2026. Prices are approximate and may vary. Always check current opening hours at boroughmarket.org.uk before visiting as hours vary on bank holidays and during the festive season. This article is for general informational purposes only. Borough Market traders handle a wide range of ingredients including common allergens. If you have a food allergy or intolerance always check directly with each stall before ordering. Allergen information may not be displayed and ingredients can change.