Occupying the heart of central London the Borough Market is no ordinary thoroughfare in the British capital. Located within the bustling confines of Southwark, the venue holds the distinct honour of being one of the city’s finest and most ancient thoroughfares and a beloved fixture in the country’s retail and wholesale food scene. Offering shoppers produce from around the world under one roof this engaging marketplace has secured numerous awards during the course of its history to attain its iconic status in the global metropolis of London.

Tucked away in Borough High Street and Southwark Street near the southern fringes of London Bridge the marketplace that all of London has come to embrace has reportedly been operational since 1014 or earlier although the earliest mention of the market in records dates the venue back to 1276. The present market’s structures however date back to 1851 while refurbishments have taken place periodically in keeping with the venue’s Art-Deco style appearance.

Open from 10am to 5pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays the retail market at the London Borough Market is also open on Fridays and Saturdays while the wholesale section is operational daily from 2am to 8 in the morning. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the main produce sold at the marketplace although other specialty goods courtesy of celebrated vendors in the likes of Brindisa, Bread Ahead, Sillfield Farm and the Fish & Game Supplies have also made their way to the premises in recent times.

Conventional UK products such as cheese and freshly baked goods are also sold at the premises along with crispy pastries and other local favourites. Managed by a charity trust the marketplace has also served as the backdrop for many cinematic offerings such as scenes in the films Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Bridget Jones’s Diary.

Dubbed the Best Market in London at the Slow Food London Awards 2013 the venue was also named the Best Specialty Market by the National Association of British Market Authorities (2008) and the Market of the Year at the London Lifestyle Awards (2010).

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Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Free Spirit. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.

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