Street food. Name a better way to indulge in London’s rich multicultural heritage?
You can’t.
From Bond Street’s Mercato Metropolitano, which offers more than 40 food and beverage outlets, to the legendary Camden market, which is home to the self-proclaimed “original halloumi fries” and the infamous Yorkshire Burrito (a roast dinner, burrito style).
American street-food vendors tend to operate from food trucks dotted around the city, however, in London, our street food can be found in outrageously foodie markets scattered around the London boroughs.
London is bursting with options, with each market offering distinctive traits which will turn you into a street-food connoisseur in no time (even on a budget!).
London street-food markets typically contain smaller, newer food businesses which means that they often outgrow the market walls and find permanent residence in neighboring areas. This is something which makes street food especially significant in shaping London’s foodie landscape.
Image Credit: Getty Images, VictorHuang. Image Location: Broadway Market, Hackney, London.
What are popular markets in London?
Borough Market
Closest station: London Bridge
If anywhere is going to get your mouth watering, it's London's most iconic food market which has over 1000 years of history. Situated right next to London Bridge station, and sprawling into the surrounding streets, Borough market is home to stalls, restaurants, and bars which provide top quality produce and a diverse range of world foods. Home to the punchy Sri-Lankan restaurant Rambutan, alongside the Mediterranean mini-chain, Brother Marcus, your stomach won’t rumble for long.
On weekends, you're likely to find this place packed with both tourists and locals, but don't let that intimidate you. Your patience will be rewarded with excellent food, consumed in one of London’s most electric atmospheres.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Howard Kingsnorth. Image Location: Borough Market, Southwark, London.
Seven Dials Market
Closest stations: Covent Garden, Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square
Seven Dials Market has some of the most eclectic eateries in London, with Yum Bun’s notorious and intricately spiced ‘pork bao buns’ and Strozzapreti’s handmade pasta you will be sure to find dish which satiates any appetite. Ran by KERB, an organization created to help London's best street-food traders develop their businesses, the market now has 19 establishments—including the now-famous Truffle Burger and the Instagrammable cheese conveyor (The Cheese Bar). With a glass ceiling which allows plenty of natural light into the sitting area, the market cultivates a leisurely atmosphere whatever the weather. On weekdays the locals fill the market, and often, a DJ can be found playing along to the sounds of happy stomachs.
Camden Market
Closest station: Camden Town
Camden is known as the birthplace of Britpop, and the neighborhood also played an integral role in the punk movement, making it one of London's most visited and vibrant areas. Camden is also popular for its buzzing food market, which is also an Instagram hit. Food options include the British roast in a burrito (from Yorkshire Burrito) which has become the preferred Sunday roast destination, and the Korean Corn Dog (or K-dogs), a twist on the American classic (from Uh K Dogs N Juicy).
Image Credit: Getty Images, GIUSEPPE GRECO. Image Location: Camden Market, London.
Mayfair Mercato
Closest stations: Bond Street, Marble Arch
Located under the arches of what used to be an Anglican church, this market’s two floors of 15 stalls features authentic food representing almost every corner of the world. Eating in the Grade 1-listed building is an experience in itself. Make sure you check out the crypt—it's now a wine cellar! And if you are craving pizza, Mercato offers the very best Neapolitan Pizza from a vendor called Fresco, and for a perfect accompaniment, the best Gelato in town can be found at the iconic Badiani.
Old Spitalfields Market
Closest stations: Liverpool Street, Aldgate East
Born from the original 17th-century Spitalfields Market, Old Spitalfields remains an East London icon. The street-food stalls can be found in the middle, surrounded by artisan shops, well-known brands, and restaurants, all gathered under one Victorian market roof. Spitalfields notoriously has a lunchtime offering of hand-pulled noodles at Dumpling Shack, served 11.30am-5.30pm, something not to miss.
Weekend-only street food markets
On Saturdays: Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill, Broadway Market in Hackney, and Southbank Centre Food Market in Lambeth (Sat-Sun until September)
On Sundays: Brick Lane Upmarket in Tower Hamlets
Image Credit: Getty Images, Victor Huang. Image Location: Brick Lane Market, Shoreditch, London.
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Header Image Credit: Getty Images, visualspace. Image Location: Camden Market, London.