I'd been wanting to visit Borough Market for a while now, so when the opportunity presented itself recently I couldn't wait to pack up my camera gear and set off for London.
Borough is one of London's most highly regarded markets and from spending the afternoon there it's easy to see why. The hustle & bustle of the crowd, the smells, colour and noise - the perfect combination of old traditions and new cuisines. Pretty much everything you could want from a market and then some!
Borough is one of London's most highly regarded markets and from spending the afternoon there it's easy to see why. The hustle & bustle of the crowd, the smells, colour and noise - the perfect combination of old traditions and new cuisines. Pretty much everything you could want from a market and then some!
I was bowled over by the sheer volume of products available and the mix of people. From tourists to suited and booted local businessmen - pretty much every other person had a camera too. And the produce was so fresh and inviting - I can see why so many of London's top chefs are frequently spotted shopping there.
I was particularly delighted to discover a stall selling apples from the Brogdale Farm collection. One variety in particular that took my fancy was called Frambroise, which was a beautiful pinky colour, had a firm, crisp texture and a hint of raspberry in its flavour. Seeing the apples at the market is all the more exciting to me as I'm planning a trip to the Brogdale Apple Festival later this month.
Despite being laden down with camera kit, I managed to find some space in my bag to bring back some of the Brogdale apples and also a rather handsome date and walnut loaf (my current Autumn breakfast obsession) - well I couldn't go all that way and leave empty-handed, now could I!
And it would have been rude not to stop for a bite to eat while I was surrounded by such an amazing selection of food, so I managed to squeeze in a sublime pork and stilton burger - all in the name of research, of course. All in all, a fab day and a very happy tummy!
And it would have been rude not to stop for a bite to eat while I was surrounded by such an amazing selection of food, so I managed to squeeze in a sublime pork and stilton burger - all in the name of research, of course. All in all, a fab day and a very happy tummy!
Highlights of my visit
- A visit to the Monmouth coffee shop
- Having the opportunity to chat to some really knowledgeable & friendly stall-holders.
- Seeing the Shard rising up against the backdrop of the market, almost like something from another planet.
If you are planning a visit yourself, do check the opening times on their website before you set off. I went on a Friday and it was still very busy, but on weekends you can expect much bigger crowds.