Borough Market, London

Borough Market is a wholesale and retail food market in The Borough in Southwark, South London. It is one of the largest food markets in the world and is consider one of the best markets in the United Kingdom. Borough Market is located on Borough High Street, just south of Southwark Cathedral, on the southern end of London Bridge.

The Borough Market is documented to have existed as early as 1276. Its original location was at the southern end of London Bridge. Naturally it was a very different set up than it is today. Unlike the high standards that it is today, the early version of Borough Market was just another farmer's market. It claimed to have existed even earlier tyhan 1276, and that it was already around during Roman times. At one time, in 1754, it was abolished by an Act of Parliament because it caused traffic congestion in the areas surrounding it. However, two years later, Parliament allowed it to operate again, albeit at a different located, on a 4.5 acre site in Rochester Yard. By the 19th century, the Borough Market has become one of London's most important food markets.

The present Borough Market was designed in 1851, and additions in the 1860s. The Art Deco style entrance to Borough High Street was erected in 1932. It underwent refurbishment in 2001. The South Portico was added in 2004. It comes from the Floral Hall which was previously at Covent Garden, but was dismantled when the Royal Opera House was reconstructed.

Today Borough Market is the venue for England's best farm produce to be displayed. The wholesale section is open every weekday morning, from 2:00 am to 8:00 am. The retail market is only open on Thurdays (11:00 am to 5:00 pm), Fridays (noon to 6:00 pm) and Saturdays (9:00 am to 4:00 pm). It has become a fashionable place to buy food, and has found itself into British television cooking programmes. It was also used in several notable movies including Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).

Getting there

Nearest Tube Stations: Borough Tube Station and London Bridge Tube Station.

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