London's premier fish market is called Billingsgate Market. It is the United Kingdom's largest inland fish market, featuring 98 stands and 30 shops selling an average of 25,000 tonnes of fish and seafood annually.
Is it worth going to the Billingsgate Fish Market?
Heavily crowded when went, however found spaces in shorter queues in local cafes and bars - food was decent / tried oysters first time, overall nice! Use it or Loose it. Still the very best place to buy fish from people who know . Can also source rare pieces when given time.
In November 2024, the council announced it did not intend to proceed with these plans as they were no longer economically viable; instead, Billingsgate Fish Market and Smithfield Market would close in or after 2028 with no replacements.
The UK market most famous for selling fish is Billingsgate Market in London, renowned as the UK's largest inland fish market, known for its vast selection, tradition, and early morning wholesale for restaurants, though it also serves the public, while Brixham Fish Market in Devon is famous for being England's biggest by value and landing high-value catches.
Tsukiji was officially opened on February 11, 1935. On the same day, Tōkyō-Shijō station (東京市場駅) was opened with tracks designed around the market area. In this year, the big three markets (Tsukiji, Kanda and Koto) began operations as Tokyo Metropolitan Government's system of Central Wholesale Markets.
Uk's Largest Fish Market - Billingsgate Fish Market London | Watch this before visit #billingsgate
Is fish cheaper at Billingsgate?
Yes, fish is generally cheaper at London's Billingsgate Market, especially if you're buying in bulk (by the kilo or box) and are willing to get up early to shop, offering wholesale prices that beat many high street retailers, though some find prices similar to supermarkets for smaller quantities, with the main benefit being freshness and variety.
The Old Billingsgate is easily accessible by tube, bus, train, and taxi. The nearest tube station is Monument (200 metres). The Old Billingsgate is a 2 minute drive from London Bridge and 15 minutes away from the West End – (Use the Google map above to get directions).
Billingsgate Market is closing because its current site is outdated, inefficient for modern logistics, and contributes to congestion, with the City of London Corporation cancelling a planned £1bn relocation to Dagenham due to rising costs, but plans are now in place to move both Billingsgate and Smithfield to a new site in the Royal Docks by 2028, allowing for modernization while redeveloping the old sites for housing and culture.
Last month we saw the first fully licenced bluefin tuna caught on a commercial vessel in Newlyn. The landed fish weighed in at 245 kg and made a sale price of over £14 per kilo a whopping total of over £3400! However, tuna catching is highly regulated, and rightly so.
What is the best day to go to the Billingsgate market?
When can the public go to Billingsgate? It's open the professionals the public at all times and there is no charge to get in. However, Saturdays have become the most popular 'public day', where tourists and locals are the main customers. The market often stays open later on Saturdays to around 9am.
Yes, anyone can shop at Billingsgate Market, as it's legally a "free and open" market for both wholesale (trade) and the general public to buy fresh fish, but you need to go very early (around 4-5 AM) for the best selection and be mindful of the busy, industrial environment, including wearing sturdy shoes and being aware of forklift traffic, with kids under 12 not permitted.
The title for the UK's most expensive takeaway is contested, but prominent contenders include a £950 lobster mac-n-cheese with black truffle and gold from a 2017 London pop-up, and viral £65 giant fish and chips meals from places like Archie's Fish and Chips in Thanet, often shared. Luxury options like fine dining takeaways from places like Ynyshir also exist, while some viral "expensive" items focus on sheer size, like a £300 burger mentioned in 2025.
Billingsgate Market is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 5am to 8.30am. On Sundays, only the shellfish market is open from 6am to 8am. The market is closed on Mondays and bank holidays, except Good Friday.
Kuromon Market is a special place loved not only by locals but also by domestic and international tourists as the center of Osaka's food culture. The shopping street, stretching about 600 meters, is lined with over 100 shops.
