The best food markets in London
There is no shortage of food markets in London. Every corner of the city has a market, selling everything from fresh produce to London's best street food. But in a city with endless options, one must wonder, which are the best? We know it can be hard to pick which London food market to go to, so we've gone and done the heavy lifting so that you don't have to.
We've gathered 19 of our favourite food markets in London, from Greenwich to Dalston. But, if you're more interested in perusing flowers and antique furniture, then look no further than our recommendations for the best London markets.
Alamy1. Berwick Street Market
There are not many markets left in central London but Berwick Street is holding on strong after over 200 years. Although mostly street food stalls these days (try Savage Salads for an amazing selection of inspiring salads or Jerusalem Falafel for a superior wrap) this is the best place in the West End for juicy fruit and vegetables. The old-school traders give great banter and you’ll walk away with paper bags packed full of veggies for half the price of the supermarket. There’s also Soho Dairy for biodynamic eggs and organic milk, butter and cheeses.
Address: Berwick Street Market, Berwick Street, London W1F 0PH
Opening times: Monday to Saturday
Website: thisissoho.co.uk/berwick-street-market
Alamy2. Borough Market
When you think of a food market in London, chances are Borough will spring to mind. There’s been a food market on this prominent site since the 12th century and it remains one of the biggest and best places to pick up artisan produce and fill a hungry tum with its 100-plus stalls, restaurants and bars. Whatever you want, you’ll find it under this beautifully restored market roof: vegan cheese, mushroom paté, hand-dived scallops, ethically-sourced dates, goat milk ice cream and sweet Italian almonds. As well as British fruit and vegetables, cheeses and meats, a walk around the market is like taking a trip around the globe. There’s food from regions across Europe, sauces from Jamaica, Argentinian treats, Mexican pantry stables and much more.
Address: Borough Market, 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL
Opening times: Open every day 10am-5pm
Website: boroughmarket.org.uk
Alamy3. Brixton Market
This vibrant market is the heart of Brixton. Although it’s undergone many changes over the last decade, it remains one of the best places in the area to do an extensive food shop. Stroll along the bustling outside market on Electric Avenue and the shops inside Brixton Village and you’ll find everything from £1 bowls of lemons to small batch brewed Brixton Gin. There are traditional fishmongers and butchers plenty, shops specialising in Latin and Caribbean produce, First Choice Caribbean bakery (pop in for a Jamaican patty), Guzzl deli for nice cheese, wine, charcuterie and condiments, Brixton Cornercopia for community produce like local honey and jams and Nour Cash and Carry for everything else you need (and more).
Address: Brixton Market, Electric Avenue, London SW9 8JX
Opening times: Every day
Website: brixtonvillage.com
Alamy4. Broadway Market
Since being rebooted in 2004, this Saturday market has become a weekly destination for hungry Londoners. As well as a pleasing selection of shops, street food, flowers, vintage clothes, books, candles and jewellery stalls, there’s an excellent selection of produce stalls dotted along the market. From the Chegworth Valley stall with fresh seasonal varieties of apples and juices at the London Fields end down to La Tua’s sumptuous filled pasta (nduja with mascarpone and black truffle are our favourites) by the canal, you can stock up your larder. There are olive oil makers, British cheeses, a plethora of bread and cake stalls, meat, fish and everything else you’ll need. Pick up a Finest Fayre scotch egg and a Climpson’s coffee along the way to keep you going.
Address: Broadway Market, London E8 4PH
Opening times: Every Saturday 9am-5pm
Website: broadwaymarket.co.uk
Sophie Knight5. Chapel Market
Tucked away on a backstreet in Angel, this lovely traditional London market sells kitchenware and all your basic household goods (stock up on cleaning products and toothpaste), clothes, flowers, plants, fish and plenty of well-stocked fruit and veg stalls to browse. Once you’re shopped out, head to Indian Veg, a quirky and much-loved vegetarian Indian buffet for an affordable takeaway and spend some downtime in the tranquil Culpeper Community Garden across the road. Every Sunday, there’s also a farmer’s market here selling well-sourced meats, organic veg and freshly-made pasta.
Address: Chapel Market, London, N1 9EN
Opening times: Every day
Alamy6. Ridley Road
This Dalston market is a treasure trove of edible goodies. Bring some hefty tote bags as you’re going to want to stock up on £1 bowls of overflowing ripe figs, blueberries, aubergines and mangos. As well as a bounty of fruit and veg, there’s a lovely stall selling different types of eggs, all colours and sizes and the most amazing naans you’ll ever try from Ararat Bread, a small bakery turning out bags of fluffy bready wonders. There are well-stocked Caribbean and African fruit and veg stores, stalls selling South East Asian spices and on some days, you can even find giant African snails, a West African delicacy.
Address: Ridley Road, London, E8 2NH
Opening times: Monday to Saturday
Alamy7. Portobello Road
West Londoners know there’s more to Portobello Road market than vintage clothes, antiques and tourist stalls. A working market all week long, the best days to get food produce are Fridays and Saturdays when there’s an even better selection of stalls, although there are more shoppers to contend with. Stroll along for the bustling street picking up bread, cakes, fresh fish and seafood, artisan cheeses, and every variety of olive and fresh fruit and veg. Don’t leave without a visit to Spanish supermarket Garcia's Food and Wine for manchego, chorizo, tinned fish and lots of other tasty delights and a final stroll up to Golborne Road for custard tarts from Lisboa Patisserie.
Address: Portobello Road Market, Portobello Road, London W10 5TY
Opening times: Monday to Saturday
Website: portobelloroad.co.uk/the-market
Alamy8. Victoria Park Sunday Market
On Sundays, Victoria Park has become a foodie hub where East Londoners seek out sustenance for the week to come. Each week, the footpath between Bonner Gate and Gore Gate is packed with stalls from independent businesses selling local and seasonal produce and homemade treats specialising in kimchi, raw honey, pies, bone broth, olives, cakes, vegan cheese, raw milk and, of course, plenty of sourdough. If all that makes you hungry, head to the nearby parade of street food stalls for crepes, mac and cheese and strong coffee.
Address: Victoria Park, London, E2 9JW
Opening times: Sunday 10am-4pm
Website: victoriaparkmarket.com
9. Billingsgate Fish Market
Trade customers and dedicated foodies brave an eye-wateringly early start to visit Billingsgate, the largest fish market in the UK, and once the largest in the world. Open from 4am-8am from Tuesday to Saturday and crammed to the gills with all manner of fresh seafood, it’s as much an experience as an opportunity to shop. Lap up the banter from the traders or spy exotic fish varieties from around the globe (150+ species are sold here). For an insider’s introduction to the market, the on-site Billingsgate Seafood School offers tours.
Address: Billingsgate Fish Market, Trafalgar Way, London E14 5ST Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 4am – 8am
Website: billingsgatefishmarket.org
10. Maltby Street Market
For an opportunity to indulge with joyful abandon, you can’t beat Maltby Street. Lined up opposite a row of handsome railway arches, you’ll find street food stalls serving up shamelessly calorific delicacies, and crowds of cheery punters, beakers of G&T or vermouth in hand, waiting to get their fill. On our last visit, fare included oozing cheese toasties, fluffy naan breads piled with fresh toppings, intensely chocolatey brownies and some of the best steaks in London. The permanent venues under the arches are always bustling, too, like the diminutive Bar Tozino, a fantastic spot for an aperitif.
Address: Maltby Street Market, 41 Maltby Street, Ropewalk, London SE1 3PA
Opening times: Saturdays 10am – 5pm, Sundays 11am – 4pm Website: maltby.st
11. Mercato Metropolitano
Formerly a paper factory, this sustainability-focused market dishes up superlative Italian food from a collection of permanent stalls. While other food is available, fresh pasta, crisp cannoli and Florentine gelato are the star attractions, and the market’s convivial atmosphere makes it a great place to while away an evening. Find bright young things and local residents socialising and digging in to plates of spaghetti on the communal tables. It's also home to impressive delicatessen Una Drogheria and Enoteca, that boasts biodynamic wines and a tasting room tucked behind the counter.
Address: Mercato Metropolitano, 42 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6DR
Opening times: Monday to Thursday 8am – 11pm; Friday 8am – 12am; Saturday 11am – 12am; Sunday 11am – 10pm
Website: mercatometropolitano.co.uk
12. Herne Hill Market
This weekly farmers’ market in a leafy residential zone of South London prides itself on the fact that its fresh fruit, veg, baked goods and gourmet delicacies are all sourced from within a 100-mile radius. With 60-odd stalls set up outside the main entrance of Herne Hill station, the market serves up local flavour in more ways than one thanks to its welcoming, neighbourhood atmosphere. On warm days, take your eats to nearby Brockwell Park for a perfect picnic.
Address: Herne Hill Market, Railton Road, London SE24 0JN
Opening times: Sundays 10am – 4pm
Website: weareccfm.com/locations/herne-hill
13. Brockley Market
Head to hip Brockley Market as soon as you can post-10am if you want to dodge the hordes of hungry (and potentially hungover) locals that descend on it each Saturday. They do so for its award-winning food, served by an array of small, artisan producers from south-east London and the surrounding area. Get your teeth into generously stacked burgers from Mother Flipper and mouth-watering, Filipino-inspired plates from BBQ Dreamz, while stocking up on fresh cheeses, organic vegetables and chutneys. Just remember to bring cash.
Address: Brockley Market, Lewisham College Carpark, Lewisham Way, London SE4
Opening times: Open from 10am–2pm on Saturdays
Website: brockleymarket.com
14. Chatsworth Road Market
This long-standing market dates back to the 1920s, although a gradual decline led to its closure in the late ’90s, before opening again in 2010 when local traders and residents’ associations felt there would be sufficient community interest. It proved a wise decision, and these days the stretch of Chatsworth Road running between Dunlace Road and Lockhurst Street is buzzing with hungry Hackney punters every Sunday. Equip yourself fully for the epic six-minute end-to-end walk by visiting Sen Noods, where you’ll find steaming bowls of ramen (including a substantial vegan option with aubergine and sweetcorn), dan dan noodles and other noodle-based marvels. Those with a sweet tooth should make a beeline for Zoe’s Artisan Bakery – Look out for flavours like salted caramel and pistachio, and Biscoff and brown sugar, the latter of which is adorned with an impossibly intricate and pretty multicoloured mini-forest.
Address: Chatsworth Market, Chatsworth Road, Lower Clapton, London E5 0LH
Opening times: 10am-4pm, Sunday
Website: instagram.com/chatsworthroadmarket
15. Seven Dials Market
Chances are if you’re a street food fan, you will have visited one of the Kerb markets across the capital. Best known for pioneering London's diverse street food scene and nurturing street food start ups, after seven years serving alfresco meals, they finally opened their first indoor food offering in the centre of Seven Dials in Covent Garden. The former Thomas Neal Centre has been turned into the most exciting eating destination in Covent Garden with over 13 independent food businesses all under one roof, along with a bar and cute little branch of Stamford’s bookshop. Entrance is through Cucumber Alley, a row of stalls selling London-based produce and powered by The Pop-up Club. Once inside, upstairs there’s a curated selection of dinky restaurants with cute pink terrazzo bars: the world’s first cheese conveyer belt Pick & Cheese, vegan Mexican delights from Club Mexicana, and Bong Bong's Manila Kanteen. Meanwhile downstairs, it’s more of a classic street food atmosphere with large communal tables and takeaway trays loaded with ramen from Nanban, bao from Yum Bun, Truffle’s ‘7 Dials Burger’ made of seven cuts of meat (including pigs head, tongue and bacon) and plenty more. Take our advice and arrive hungry.
Address: Seven Dials Market, Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LX
Opening times: 12pm-10pm, Mon-Tues; 12pm-11pm, Wed-Sat; 12pm-6pm, Sun
Website: sevendialsmarket.com
16. Peckham Levels
This is the place to come if you like wide-screen views of London’s skyline with your Neapolitan pizza (from 081 Pizzeria, naturally). On the fifth and sixth floors of a seven-storey multiplex are food stalls that reflect Peckham’s trendy zeitgeist, serving up Delhi-inspired street food at Boxwallah, West African family favourites at Plaintain Kitchen, vegan Ethiopian recipes at Beza, plus Banh Mi breakfast rolls at Vando Belly. There’s also a fairy light-strung cocktail bar, Near & Far, for cucumber-infused gin cocktails, freshly squeezed margaritas, fruity takes on the Old Fashioned and tropical punch. This is the next-generation version of a traditional apples-and-pears street market.
Address: Peckham Levels, Levels -1 to 6, Peckham Town Centre Carpark, 95A Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST
Opening times: 8am-11pm, Mon-Thu; 8am-1am, Fri; 9am-1am Sat; 9am-11pm, Sun
Website: peckhamlevels.org
17. Greenwich Market
Greenwich Market was restored in 2016, alongside a new pavilion and food court. The cobbled outdoor area sizzles with giant pans and deep fryers, fresh homemade noodles and sugar-rush-inducing churros. From handmade noodles and dim sum at La Mian and sushi hand-rolled in front of you at Koyul to Bad Brownies' irresistible squares of fudgy goodness and Ideal Espresso's takeaway coffees, there are big meals and small treats for every appetite. Pimp My Ramen is the showstopper – they replace the traditional burger bun with ramen – and it's as tasty as it is novel (the Filipino-pulled-pork option is by far the most popular), and vegetarians are well-catered for too, with Ethiopian Vegetarian Food and Plant Powered Pizza defying everything you thought you knew about vegan pizza: forget anaemic, floppy-looking slices, these have generous toppings, flavourful combinations and doughy crusts.
Address: Greenwich Market, 5B Greenwich Market, London SE10 9HZ
Opening times: 10am-5.30pm, Daily
Website: greenwichmarket.london
18. Pop Brixton
The older brother of Peckham Levels is as cool as you’d expect an older brother to be. So alongside all the lip-smacking food there’s also a barbershop, radio station, restoration workshop and music development platform. Pop focuses on promoting young, independent, local businesses but the flavours are as international as can be. Try Viet Box's vegan bao buns, packed with flavour and texture, plant-based patties at Halo Burgers and hot, fresh churros dipped in Belgian chocolate at Love Churros. When you’ve had your fill, retire to cosy cocktail bar and rum den ABV, or pick up a bottle of something memorable at New World-focused Specialist Cellars.
Address: Pop Brixton, 49 Brixton Station Road, Brixton, London SW9 8PQ
Opening times: 9am-11pm, Sun-Wed; 9am-12am, Thu-Sat
Website: popbrixton.org
19. Kerb National Theatre
Kerb currently runs two markets (with plans to open more post-Covid), including Seven Dials (above), feeding office workers looking to mix it up at lunchtime and theatre-goers who skipped a sit-down supper. At Kerb National Theatre, Baba Dhaba dishes up Pakistani kebabs and spicy Chaat boxes, while Lucky's Hot Chicken sandos soak up the pre-show pints of Gipsy Hill brews from The Understudy bar. There's also a schedule of regular themed events and workshops, including a class on how to start a street-food business – for those office workers who fancy ditching the nine-to-five to try their hand on the other side of the awning.
Address: Kerb National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX Opening times: Friday 12th May to Saturday 23rd September
Website: kerbfood.com