While Borough Market is predominantly a renowned food and drink destination, it is not exclusively limited to edible goods. The historic market features over 100 stalls, shops, and restaurants that include, to a lesser extent, traders selling artisanal kitchenware, flowers, plants, and health/beauty products.
Here, in this historic setting, you'll find an incredible range of food from all over Britain and the rest of the world – and every item has a story to tell.
Borough Market consists of three main areas: Three Crown Square (larger producers and merchants), Green Market (small, specialist produce traders) and Borough Market Kitchen (street food traders). Surrounding the Market, you'll find a complementary blend of restaurants, bars and shops.
This is also a good idea if you want to see the crown jewels, as you'll have to line up again for them once you're inside. Although it's impossible to say for sure, on average the quickest times are mid-week mornings, when you may only have to queue for a few minutes.
We Ate (Almost) Everything at London’s Borough Market with a Pro Chef
What is the poorest section of London?
The poorest parts of London are concentrated in boroughs like Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and Newham, especially regarding income deprivation for children and older people, with pockets of poverty also in Brent, Barking & Dagenham, and parts of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea. These areas face high rates of poverty, with some wards like Northumberland Park (Haringey) and Stonebridge (Brent) being among the most deprived.
Very often, there'll be samples already laid out for you to try but if there's not, you can always ask for a cheeky swig or sliver of something that you fancy.
The best day of the week to get the best selection is Wednesday, specifically during the afternoons. By then, Tuesday night's deliveries should be fully restocked on shelves, so you'll have dibs on the freshest goods before the hungry after-work crowd arrives.
There are public toilets available at Jubilee Place, Three Crown Square and Market Hall and the whole of Borough Market is a smoke-free zone. All parts of Borough Market are fully accessible for wheelchair users, too.
“BOROUGH MARKET SHOULD PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO BUY THE FRESH INGREDIENTS AND MINIMALLY PROCESSED PRODUCTS THAT UNDERPIN A HEALTHY DIET.” — Traders should be able to display good knowledge of where their food came from, how it was produced, who produced it, and how best to use it.
Borough Market is not just a place to shop for food—it's an experience that celebrates London's rich culinary heritage and diverse food culture. Whether you're looking for high-quality ingredients, delicious street food, or just want to soak up the lively atmosphere, the market has something for everyone.
The area with the roughest reputation in London is Westminster, recording the highest crime rate of 432 crimes per 1,000 people in the year ending December 2024—though this is likely skewed by massive daytime footfall from tourists, which inflates the crime-per-resident ratio.
The least happy borough in London, according to Rightmove's data, was Barking and Dagenham. Coming in dead-last place out of the capital's 33 boroughs, the east London area ranked 220th nationally.
While inner boroughs like Westminster have historically recorded the highest rates of rough sleeping, there has been a noticeable shift. Street homelessness is increasing in outer boroughs, particularly in West London, where Ealing has reported some of the highest rates of rough sleeping.
January and February are generally quieter times of year to visit and, apart from the February half-term week, you can often find cheaper deals on accommodation, attractions and restaurants.
