London is one of the few places in the world where having too many cooks really doesn’t spoil the broth. In fact, it makes for a diverse, endlessly fascinating, and delicious culinary landscape with influences from all over the world.
Amongst the capital’s famous farmer’s markets and street-food hangouts, you’ll find everything from ramen burgers to high-end oysters to goat curry and beyond. If you’re a pioneering foodie with an appetite for innovative cuisine, you’ll always find something in the city to light up your taste buds.
This week, we’ll be taking a whistle-stop tour through the capital’s best food markets. Each location has its own unique flavor and delivers not just a great eating experience, but an education in culinary creativity. If food is your thing, you can’t leave the city without exploring at least one of these fantastic venues.
Borough Market
This is the essential stop for foodies no matter your personal tastes. As the largest food-only market in the city, Borough Market attracts only the best and most interesting street food vendors. Check out Richard Haward’s Oysters and the beautiful Free-range Venison Burgers from Westcountry Venison. I like to wash it down with a pint of handmade cider from The Cider House.
Chelsea Market
Located just outside the Saatchi Gallery, this Saturday morning food fiesta is one of the more up-market venues in town. With champagne by the glass, fresh seafood, and a huge range of dishes from around the world, it’s definitely worth the little extra expense. The rainbow-like jungle salad wraps are a personal favorite of mine.
Camden Stables
The winding walkways of the Camden Stables are just so much fun to explore, especially with the great range of cheap and cheerful fast-food eats on offer. Grab some beautifully bad-for-you breaded mozzarella sticks from the famous Cheese Bar or a fresh perspective on pizza at Voodoo Ray’s.
Bishop’s Park Farmer’s Market
If you’re looking for a beautiful London experience along with your culinary expedition, Bishop’s Park on a Sunday afternoon is the place to be. The offering here is small and fairly limited, but you’ll have the luxury of tucking into your treats in the lap of the beautiful Bishop’s Palace Gardens – one of the most gorgeous spots in the city. Grab one of the wonderful handmade quiches before quietly stroll along the river.
Pop Brixton
This temporary box park has become a staple fixture of Brixton’s daytime scene, and it’s easy to see why. The park has an uber-hipster, a trendy vibe, and some experimental grub on offer. Look for the yummy savoury buns from Vietbox and Homegrown London’s vegan falafel wraps.
Southbank Center Food Market
The Southbank Center Food Market has everything you need for a classic London market experience: Curry, paella, burgers, crepes, and cocktails. The vendors here are hand-picked to offer a great range of flavours showcasing the best London has to offer. Pay special attention to the wood-fired pizza at Dough Bro’s – it’s perfect.
