Best Food Markets in London: A Local’s Guide

Last updated: August 3, 2026

London’s food markets are where the city’s food scene truly comes alive. They’re where chefs source ingredients, where locals eat lunch, and where you’ll find the best, most affordable food in the city — everything from artisanal British cheese to Nigerian jollof rice to proper Neapolitan pizza, cooked in front of you for a fraction of restaurant prices.

As a born and raised Englishman, I’ve been eating my way through London’s markets since I was old enough to hold a fork. These are the 7 best food markets in London — each with its own personality, specialties, and best time to visit.

In This Guide

Quick Comparison

Market	Location	Best For	Open Days	Budget
Borough Market	Southwark	British produce, artisanal food	Mon-Sat (best Thu-Sat)	£8-15/meal
Maltby Street Market	Bermondsey	Local atmosphere, street food	Sat-Sun	£7-12/meal
Camden Market	Camden	Variety, international food	Daily	£6-12/meal
Brick Lane Market	Shoreditch	Curries, vintage, Sunday scenes	Sunday	£7-14/meal
Portobello Road Market	Notting Hill	Antiques, street food	Saturday	£6-12/meal
Brixton Village	Brixton	Caribbean, multicultural food	Daily	£6-14/meal
Mercato Metropolitano	Elephant & Castle	Italian food, relaxed vibe	Daily	£7-13/meal

Borough Market

The Granddaddy of London Food Markets

Borough Market is London’s oldest and most famous food market, dating back to at least 1014 — yes, over a thousand years. It sits under railway arches near London Bridge, and it’s a maze of stalls selling everything from artisanal British cheeses and charcuterie to fresh oysters, wild game, and spices from around the world.

What to eat:

Sausage rolls from The Ginger Pig (butcher) — £4-5
Oysters at Richard Haward’s stall — £1.50-2.50 each
Raclette from Kappacasein — melted cheese over potatoes, £8-10
Spanish paella from Brindisa — £10-12
Brownies from Liquid Centre — £3-4
Toasties from Turnips — £6-8

When to go: Thursday and Friday are best — all stalls are open, and it’s busy but not overwhelming. Saturday is packed shoulder-to-shoulder by 11 AM. Monday and Tuesday are wholesale-only days (limited retail stalls).

Tips:

Bring cash — most stalls take cards now, but some still prefer cash
Go hungry — the samples alone could fill you up
Arrive before 11 AM on Saturdays to avoid the worst crowds
The area around the market (Borough High Street) has excellent pubs for a post-market pint

Location: 8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL
Nearest Tube: London Bridge
Open: Monday-Tuesday (limited), Wednesday-Thursday 10 AM-5 PM, Friday 10 AM-6 PM, Saturday 8 AM-5 PM
Website: boroughmarket.org.uk

Maltby Street Market

The Local’s Alternative to Borough

If Borough Market is the tourist food market, Maltby Street is the local’s food market. Hidden down a residential street in Bermondsey (10 minutes’ walk from Borough), it’s a smaller, more intimate market with a “secret discovery” feel. The food is just as good, the crowds are smaller, and the atmosphere is more relaxed.

What to eat:

Steak sandwiches from Swedish FoodLab — £10-12
Dumplings from Dumpling Shack — £7-9
Doughnuts from Bread Ahead — £3-5
BBQ from Greedy Goats — £9-12
Sourdough pizza from Bermondsey Spa — £8-11

When to go: Saturday and Sunday only, 10 AM-4 PM. Arrive by 11:30 AM — the best stalls sell out by 2 PM.

Tips:

It’s tiny — you’ll walk the whole market in 5 minutes, but the food is exceptional
The railway arches house some of London’s best food producers (Monmouth Coffee, Kernel Brewery)
Less touristy than Borough — you’ll be eating alongside Londoners

Location: Ropewalk, Maltby Street, SE1 3PA
Nearest Tube: Bermondsey / London Tower
Open: Saturday-Sunday, 10 AM-4 PM

Camden Market

The Big One

Camden Market is less a food market and more a sprawling maze of markets (Camden Lock, Camden Stables, Camden Canal, Camden Buck Street) that together form one of London’s biggest tourist attractions. The food section, near the canal, has dozens of international street food stalls — everything from Ethiopian injera to Brazilian churrasco to proper British pies.

What to eat:

Mac and cheese from Mac to the Future — £7-9
Halloumi fries from various stalls — £5-6
Jerk chicken from Caribbean stalls — £8-10
Cre8tean wraps (Korean BBQ) — £8-10
Churros from various stalls — £4-6
Vegan burgers from Rudy’s — £8-10

When to go: Daily, but weekends are when it’s fully alive. Arrive by 11 AM — by 2 PM it’s extremely crowded. If you want a calmer experience, go on a weekday afternoon.

Tips:

It’s huge and easy to get lost — download the Camden Market app for a map
The food stalls are clustered near the canal — follow the food smells
Haggling is common for clothing and crafts, but not for food
Don’t miss the Cyberdog shop — it’s a London experience (you’ll understand when you go in)

Location: Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF
Nearest Tube: Camden Town
Open: Daily, 10 AM-6 PM (food stalls until 8 PM)
Website: camdenmarket.com

Brick Lane Market

Curry Capital and Vintage Heaven

Brick Lane on a Sunday is one of London’s most vibrant experiences. The street is famous for its curry houses (the original home of chicken tikka masala), and the Sunday market brings vintage stalls, street art, and food traders together in a chaotic, brilliant mess.

What to eat:

Curry from any of the Brick Lane curry houses — £9-14 for a main
Salt beef bagels from Beigel Bake (open 24/7) — £4-5
Bagels from Beigel Bake — £1.50-3
Vietnamese food from market stalls — £7-10
Caribbean food from market stalls — £7-11

When to go: Sunday only, 9 AM-5 PM. The market peaks between 11 AM and 3 PM.

Tips:

Beigel Bake is a must — it’s open 24 hours, cash only, and the salt beef bagels are legendary
The curry houses will have touts outside trying to lure you in — look at the menu and reviews, not the tout’s enthusiasm
Brick Lane’s street art is among the best in the world — take a walking tour or just wander
Bring cash for the market stalls

Location: Brick Lane, E1 6QR
Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street / Aldgate East / Shoreditch High Street
Open: Sunday, 9 AM-5 PM

Portobello Road Market

Antiques and Street Food in Notting Hill

Portobello Road is the world’s largest antiques market, but it’s also an excellent food market. Running through the heart of Notting Hill, the Saturday market has food stalls alongside antiques, vintage clothing, and bric-a-brac. The area itself — colorful houses, garden squares — is worth the visit even without the market.

What to eat:

Street food from the Golborne Road section — Brazilian, Moroccan, Portuguese stalls — £6-10
Pie and mash from local cafés — £8-11
Crepes from market stalls — £5-7
Pies from Pieminister (Notting Hill) — £10-13

When to go: Saturday only, 8 AM-7 PM (antiques close around 5 PM). Arrive early for antiques; arrive midday for food.

Tips:

The market is over a mile long — start at Notting Hill Gate and walk toward Ladbroke Grove
The best food stalls are at the Golborne Road end (north end of the market)
It gets very crowded by 1 PM — go early for a calmer experience
Don’t miss the colorful houses on surrounding streets — they’re the Instagram stars of Notting Hill

Location: Portobello Road, W11
Nearest Tube: Notting Hill Gate / Ladbroke Grove
Open: Saturday, 8 AM-7 PM

Brixton Village

Caribbean and Multicultural Food Paradise

Brixton Village (and the adjacent Market Row) is a covered market in the heart of Brixton — one of London’s most vibrant Caribbean and African communities. The market stalls have been transformed into small restaurants and food stalls serving food from all over the world, with a particular strength in Caribbean, West African, and Latin American food.

What to eat:

Jerk chicken from Fish Wings & Tings — £9-12
Sri Lankan food from Ele London — £8-11
French pastries from Bellanger (wait, that’s a restaurant, but the bakery section is great) — £3-6
Sourdough pizza from Franco Manca (the original location) — £7-10
Caribbean roti from various stalls — £6-8

When to go: Daily, but best on Thursday-Saturday when the atmosphere is buzzing and all stalls are open. Evening dining is excellent here — many stalls stay open until 10 PM.

Tips:

Brixton Village is covered, so it’s a good rainy-day option
The market has a nightlife scene — many stalls become bar-restaurants in the evening
Franco Manca’s original location is here — their sourdough pizza is legendary and cheap
Brixton has excellent live music venues (Brixton Academy, Phonox) for post-dinner plans

Location: Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PR
Nearest Tube: Brixton
Open: Monday-Wednesday 8 AM-11 PM, Thursday-Saturday 8 AM-midnight, Sunday 8 AM-10 PM
Website: brixtonvillagemarket.co.uk

Mercato Metropolitano

The Italian Food Village

A relatively new addition to London’s food market scene, Mercato Metropolitano is a large covered market in a former paper factory near Elephant & Castle. It focuses on Italian food — fresh pasta, pizza, gelato, arancini, and Aperol spritzes — but has expanded to include stalls from around the world. It’s more relaxed and less crowded than Borough or Camden.

What to eat:

Fresh pasta from various Italian stalls — £8-12
Pizza from Made of Dough — £8-11
Arancini from various stalls — £4-6
Gelato from various stalls — £3-5
Aperol Spritz at the bar — £7-9

When to go: Daily. Weekends are busy but not overwhelming. Weekday lunches are quiet and relaxed.

Tips:

It’s covered, so perfect for rainy days
The market has a community garden and cinema screen
Less touristy than Borough or Camden — you’ll be eating with locals and students
Elephant & Castle is an up-and-coming area — don’t judge the neighborhood by the shopping centre

Location: 42 Newington Causeway, SE1 6DR
Nearest Tube: Elephant & Castle
Open: Monday-Wednesday 11 AM-11 PM, Thursday-Saturday 11 AM-midnight, Sunday 11 AM-10 PM
Website: mercatometropolitano.co.uk

Tips for Visiting London’s Food Markets

Go hungry. The biggest mistake is eating beforehand. These markets are for grazing — buy small portions from multiple stalls and share.

Bring cash. Most stalls take cards now, but some still prefer cash (especially at Brick Lane and Portobello). Bring £20-40 in cash as backup.

Go early or go late. The best time to arrive is 30 minutes after opening (stalls are set up but crowds haven’t arrived) or 90 minutes before closing (stalls discount food to sell it before pack-down).

Share portions. Market portions are often generous. If you’re with someone, buy one portion of each dish and share — you’ll try twice as many things.

Watch the locals. If you see a queue of Londoners at one stall and no queue at the stall next to it, join the queue. Londoners know where the good food is.

Bring a bag. Many markets have produce stalls selling cheese, bread, spices, and other items you’ll want to take home. Bring a reusable bag.

FAQ

Which market is best for first-timers?
Borough Market. It’s the most famous, the most accessible, and the food quality is consistently excellent. Go on a Thursday or Friday to avoid the worst crowds.

Which market is cheapest?
Camden Market and Brick Lane have the most affordable options — you can eat well for £6-8. Brixton Village and Mercato Metropolitano are also budget-friendly.

Which market is best for families?
Camden Market — it’s big, there’s lots to see (not just food), and the canal-side setting is fun for kids. Mercato Metropolitano is also good for families with its covered space and relaxed vibe.

Are these markets open in winter?
Yes, all of them. The covered markets (Brixton Village, Mercato Metropolitano) are especially good in winter. Borough Market operates year-round. Saturday markets (Portobello, Brick Lane) are best in spring through autumn, but they still run in winter with fewer stalls.

Can I sit down at food markets?
Some markets have communal seating areas (Borough, Camden, Maltby Street). At others (Brick Lane, Portobello), you eat standing or walking. Check for nearby parks or squares where you can sit with your food.

Love London’s food scene? See our What to Eat in London guide and Best Pubs in London for more. Planning a trip? See our London itineraries.