Tips For Visiting Borough Market- One Of London's Most Delicious Destinations
If you are exploring London and looking for the quintessential food experience, look no further than Borough Market. It was the absolute highlight of my trip to London, and I’m here to share tips and tricks for navigating one of London’s most iconic food destinations. There’s something for everyone, even your pickiest eater, so spend a few hours wandering around the food stalls to see what London offers.
What is Borough Market?
Borough Market is considered London’s oldest gourmet food market, with a history of over 1,000 years. Popular with locals and tourists alike, it’s easy to understand why this is one of the most popular food destinations in the city. With over 100 food stalls, patrons can choose from myriad food offerings, from the finest white truffle honey to the best toastie in London. (Yes, I said it!) Whether you are looking to gather fresh ingredients for your evening meal or simply want to explore London’s food scene, Borough Market is a must.
Where is Borough Market located?
Borough Market is located beside the London Bridge rail terminal and London Underground station (Jubilee line and Northern Line).
When is Borough Market open?
Borough Market is open seven days a week at 10:00 am. However, for all my early birds, they open at 8:00 am on Saturday if you want to beat the crowd.
Pro-Tip: Check the schedule online before you go to make sure that the particular purveyor you want to visit is open. I’d hate for you to be disappointed!
Things To Know Before You Go
There are very few things that I am good at but I’m a hell of a professional eater. Take it from me, here are a few things you will want to prepare for during your inaugural visit.
Take a lap | If you do nothing else, wander around the market and get a lay of the land. There were several eye-catching dishes that had me flustered but I’m glad I didn’t waste my appetite on those after seeing what else was available.
Sharing is caring | Cardinal food principle 101. In order to experience more dishes, bring a friend! Plan to share as much as possible so you can try ALL THE THINGS!
Reusable Totes are a must | While my sole purpose was to have one of the most extraordinary lunches possible, people also visit the market to do daily shopping. Bring a reusable tote where you can easily carry your purchases throughout the market and not worry about flimsy paper bags!
Lines are inevitable | If you see something that is absolutely drool-worthy, don’t take a lap thinking that the line will “settle down” in a bit. Grab a bite or a beverage from another stall while you wait and make the most of the moment. I’d like to call it multi-tasking at its finest. In fact, I did this exact thing at Kappacasein. My friend and I split up. I got in the Raclette line and she got in the toastie line. By the time we finished sipping our prosecco, we met and had the most out of body cheesiest experience. 10/10 recommend.
Below are some of my favorite food stalls and purveyors that I visited. If you find yourself wandering throughout the market, swing by a few of these places and let me know what you think!
The Black Pig
I think I was at Borough Market for less than five minutes before wandering through the food stalls in search of The Black Pig. Granted, I was taking notes along the way, but my goal was to get my hands on one of those incredibly indulgent ciabatta sandwiches. The Black Pig is known for slow roasting free-range pork shoulder and combining it with outstanding ingredients like honey truffle mayonnaise and 30-month parmesan to make the most delicious and decadent sandwich you’ve ever eaten.
Don’t let the modest menu offerings fool you; these sandwiches are filled with bold flavors that do not disappoint. Named one of the best sandwiches in London by Conde Nast Traveller, The Black Pig is one place you don’t want to miss.
The Black Pig | The Best One // Slow Roast Pork Shoulder + Honey Truffle Mayonnaise + Fennel Apple Slaw + 30 months Aged Parmesean + Salsa Verde + Pepperonici's Ott Olive OIl
The Bath Dairy Food Stall
What can I say? I let my southern show when I spotted The Bath Dairy. The enormous pan filled with gourmet macaroni and cheese made my heart skip. The Bath Dairy serves a variety of products, including milkshakes and ice cream, but the most popular is the Tartiflette. Some may say Tartiflette is a French dish similar to a potato cheese casserole. This dish blends several kinds of cheese, shallots, lardons, potatoes, and garlic to create a heartwarming, stomach-filling dish.
Although it was enticing, I remained true to my Southern roots and enjoyed a serving of macaroni and cheese. One serving was enough to feed a small family, so make sure you bring your friends to enjoy this dish.
The Bath Dairy | Macaroni And Cheese Topped With Chives
Kappacasein Dairy Food Stall
In preparation for my London trip, I must have watched all the documentaries or shows on Netlfix about London food/restaurants. Unsurprisingly, I was easily influenced to visit Kappacasein Dairy by Somebody Feed Phil. In season three, Phil makes a trip across the pond to experience the flavors of London, and one place he absolutely raved about was Kappacasein Dairy. In fact, he went as far as to say that the toastie was one of the best in the world. That’s a strong statement, so I wanted to find out for myself.
As you approach Kappacasein, you will notice a pretty significant line of patrons. While there are always “lines” at the various food stalls, this one was unlike the rest. After all, it’s hard to resist potatoes smothered and covered with Raclette cheese and world-class cheese toasties.
To maintain the chaos. Kappacasein has two lines: one for Raclette and one for toasties. We decided to split up so we could try one of each. Fortunately, we had just stopped at one of the stalls inside and grabbed a glass of bubbles, making the wait much more enjoyable. Based on my experience, the Raclette line took quite a bit longer than the toastie line, so plan accordingly. After all, you can’t rush perfection!
You might be asking yourself: “ Which was better? The Raclette or the Toastie?”
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed every bite of the Raclette served over the baby new potatoes, that toastie was by far one of the best bites I had in London. Owner and cheesemaker Bill Oglethorpe has created and perfected the ultimate grilled cheese. Oglethorpe has managed to sandwich four different kinds of cheese (Montgomery’s Cheddar, Comte, Ogleshield, and London Raclette) along with leeks and onion between two slices of Poilâne sourdough bread, creating a magical, life-changing sandwich. One bite of this, and you will be a fan for life.
Pro-Tip- grab a glass of prosecco or a beer to enjoy while you wait in line. If the line is overwhelming, it’s an opportunity to snag a bite from another food stall while you wait, but only if your appetite allows.
Kappacasein Dairy | Owner And Cheesemaker Bill Oglethorpe Preparing Raclette
Kappacasein Dairy | Owner And Cheesemaker Bill Oglethorpe Preparing Raclette
Kappacasein Dairy | Raclette Melted Over Baby New Potatoes Served With Pickles On The Side
Kappacasein Dairy | Toasted Cheese Sandwich | A Mixture Of Cheeses : Montgomery’s Cheddar, Comte, Ogleshield And London Raclette + Leeks + Onions + Poilane Sourdough Bread
Bread Ahead Doughnuts
No trip to Borough Market is complete without a little sweet treat. Admittedly, I got distracted by a potential fraudulent credit card charge while I was there and didn’t have the chance to hit up all the sweet spots as I planned, but I did have the opportunity to check out Bread Ahead Doughnuts. For my Nashville friends, these make Five Daughters Bakery look like Krispy Kreme doughnuts…. they are THAT good. These glorious doughy concoctions are filled with the most incredible filling and rolled in sugar. I ordered one basic and one bougie doughnut: Velvet Chocolate and Sea Salted Caramel and Honeycomb. While the Velvet Chocolate is one of their best sellers, the Sea Salted Caramel and Honeycomb was the winner… that honeycomb on top is simply out of this world!
Bread Ahead Doughnuts | Sea Salted Caramel and Honeycomb + Velvet Chocolate
Now that you’ve wandered around the Borough Market enjoying all the things it offers, you might be uncomfortably full, and that’s ok. You can walk it off on your way to your hotel or the tube station. But you can’t leave without visiting by far my favorite food stall within Borough Market, Tartufaia. Hear me say IF YOU LOVE TRUFFLES AS MUCH AS I DO, YOU MUST VISIT THIS STALL. It’s an unassuming food stall in the midst of pure chaos, but once the truffle smell hits your nose, you’re finished. While there, I grabbed as many things as possible to bring home ( they don’t ship to the USA). The quality of the White Truffle Honey and the White Truffle Oil is undeniably some of the best I’ve ever had my hands on. This will be an obligatory stop during future trips to London.
If it’s your first time at Borough Market, I only hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did. If you are a frequent shopper ( I’m pretty jealous), what are some of your favorites? Drop them in the comments below!
Until Next Time!