Beyond Borough Market: London’s Secret Markets
Everyone knows Borough Market. It’s featured in guidebooks, Instagram feeds, and food blogs worldwide. And yes, it’s excellent. But it’s also packed with tourists, prices reflect its popularity, and finding a moment’s peace is a challenge. London has hundreds of markets, each with its own character and community. This guide takes you beyond the obvious to markets where Londoners actually shop, eat, and socialise.
1. Brockley Market, South East London
Brockley Market is what food markets should be—small, community-focused, and genuinely passionate about quality. Every Saturday, this corner of SE4 transforms into a hub of artisan producers, many of whom live locally. Unlike Borough’s tourist throngs, here you’ll chat with the farmers who grew your vegetables and the bakers who made your bread.
The star attraction is the sourdough from Gails Bakery’s Brockley outpost, baked fresh onsite each Saturday. But equally impressive are the seasonal vegetables from Sutton Community Farm, often picked that morning. The mushroom stall grows unusual varieties—oyster, shiitake, lion’s mane—that you won’t find in supermarkets.
Local tip: Arrive early (9am) for the best selection. By 11am, the most popular stalls sell out. Bring cash—some stalls are card-free.
Location: Coulgate Street, SE4 2RB
When: Saturdays 9am-2pm
2. Greenwich Market, Maritime Greenwich
Greenwich Market has undergone a renaissance in recent years. Once a generic craft market, it’s now a carefully curated mix of independent designers, artisan food producers, and vintage collectors. The indoor setting makes it weather-proof, and the surrounding historic streets provide perfect browsing territory.
What sets Greenwich apart is the quality control. Traders are selected for originality and quality, meaning you won’t find mass-produced tat. The jewellery section is particularly strong—handmade pieces you won’t see elsewhere. Food-wise, the Arepa Lady’s Venezuelan corn cakes have a cult following for good reason.
Hidden gem: Visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday when it’s quieter. Many locals prefer midweek shopping, and traders have more time for conversation. Plus, you can combine with Greenwich’s excellent museums and riverside walks.
Location: College Approach, SE10 9RQ
When: Daily 10am-5:30pm (best selection Thu-Sun)
3. Chapel Market, Islington
Chapel Market is old-school London proper. No artisan branding, no carefully curated aesthetics, just practical shopping for local residents. This is where Islingtoners come for fresh fish at half supermarket prices, cheap fruit and veg, and household essentials. It’s authentic, unfussy, and refreshingly tourist-free.
The fishmongers are the real draw here. They’ve been trading for generations and know their business inside out. The selection changes daily based on what’s fresh—always ask “what’s good today?” rather than having fixed plans. Prices are remarkable: a whole sea bass for £8, a kilo of mussels for £4.
Bargain hunting: Visit towards closing time (3pm onwards) for discounts. Traders prefer to sell than pack up, and you can pick up serious bargains on perishables.
Location: Chapel Market Street, N1 9EZ
When: Monday-Saturday 8am-4pm
4. Maltby Street Market, Bermondsey
Just south of the river from Tower Bridge, Maltby Street Market offers Borough Market’s quality without its crowds. It started life as a Sunday morning pop-up under railway arches and has evolved into a permanent fixture while maintaining its independent spirit. The focus is on food producers who started here and built reputations through quality.
The St John Bakery stall is legendary—donuts that regularly sell out by midday, and sourdough that rivals London’s best. Monmouth Coffee operates from here too, their coffee roastery just across the archway. The cured meats from Cobble Lane Cured are exceptional, particularly the fennel salami.
Insider knowledge: The Ropewalk, the street running parallel to the market, is worth exploring. Independent shops, a microbrewery taproom, and the original Maltby Street traders who’ve moved to permanent premises.
Location: Maltby Street, SE1 3PA
When: Thursday-Friday 11am-3pm, Saturday 9am-3pm
5. Brixton Market, South London
Brixton Market is London at its most vibrant and diverse. This isn’t a carefully curated food market but a living, breathing community hub reflecting decades of immigration. You’ll find Caribbean produce, African spices, Brazilian snacks, and Vietnamese ingredients, often side by side. It’s chaotic, noisy, and utterly brilliant.
The food court (formerly Brixton Village) is world-famous for good reason. Franco Manca started here before expanding nationwide—their sourdough pizzas are still among London’s best. But it’s the smaller places that shine: Mama Lan’s dumplings, Honest Burgers before they went mainstream, and the Ethiopian injera you’ll see locals eating with their hands.
Cultural experience: Visit on a Saturday morning to see the market at its busiest. The energy is extraordinary—music, chatter, cooking aromas, and traders hawking wares in multiple languages. It’s not for everyone, but it’s unmissable London.
Location: Electric Avenue & Brixton Village, SW9 8PS
When: Daily (times vary by trader)
6. Columbia Road Flower Market, East London
Columbia Road is less a market and more a weekly cultural institution. Every Sunday, this narrow Victorian street transforms into a sea of flowers, plants, and cuttings. The atmosphere is electric—traders shouting prices, crowds squeezing past, and everywhere the scent of blooms. It’s been operating for 150 years and shows no sign of losing appeal.
What makes Columbia Road special is the traders themselves. Many are third- or fourth-generation, with deep knowledge and genuine passion. They’ll give honest advice about what to buy and how to care for it. The selection is extraordinary—everything from common bedding plants to rare orchids, from £3 bunches of tulips to £50 terrariums.
Timing is everything: Arrive by 8am for the best selection and calmest browsing. By 11am it’s packed. Go at 1pm for the best prices—traders discount rather than packing unsold stock back to the nursery.
Location: Columbia Road, E2 7RG
When: Sundays 8am-2pm
7. Camden Passage, Islington
Camden Passage is antiques heaven, spread across a series of yards and arcades off Upper Street. It’s not a single market but a collection of individual traders selling everything from vintage clothing to mid-century furniture. The quality is high—genuine antiques rather than reproduction pieces—and knowledgeable dealers are happy to share stories.
The market operates on different days in different locations. Wednesday and Saturday are best for general antiques, while Sunday focuses on collectables and bric-a-brac. The jewellery section is particularly strong—period pieces at prices that, while not cheap, are reasonable for London.
Shopping tip: Chat with dealers. Many have fascinating stories about their finds. If you see something you like but aren’t sure, ask them to hold it while you browse. Most will accommodate genuine interest.
Location: Upper Street vicinity, N1 8EA
When: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday (hours vary by yard)
8. Shepherd’s Bush Market, West London
Shepherd’s Bush Market is perhaps London’s most authentic multicultural market. A covered Victorian market, it’s been trading since 1914 and retains its original character. You’ll find West African fabric shops alongside Middle Eastern grocers, Polish butchers next to Caribbean bakeries. It’s a living snapshot of London’s diversity.
The food is the main draw. Try the freshly made Jamaican patties from the stall near the main entrance, or the Nigerian suya (spiced grilled meat) from the Ghanaian vendor. The Polish section sells excellent sausages and pierogi, while the Indian stalls have hard-to-find spices and vegetables.
Local secret: Visit on a weekday morning. It’s quiet, you’ll get better service, and traders have more time to explain unfamiliar ingredients. It’s also the best time to find parking if you’re driving.
Location: Uxbridge Road, W12 7JD
When: Monday-Saturday 8am-5:30pm
9. Bermondsey Square Antiques Market, South East London
If you’re serious about antiques, Bermondsey Square is the real deal. This Friday-only market attracts professional dealers, collectors, and serious enthusiasts from across the UK. The quality is exceptional—genuine antiques and collectables, carefully vetted by knowledgeable traders. It’s not for casual browsers, but if you know what you’re looking for, this is London’s best antique market.
The market starts absurdly early—4am in winter, slightly later in summer—but that’s when the serious business happens. Dealers come to buy stock for their shops, meaning the best pieces change hands before most Londoners have had breakfast. By 10am, the atmosphere shifts to retail browsing.
Expert advice: If you’re a genuine collector, bring cash and be prepared to make quick decisions. The early hours are competitive. Alternatively, visit at 10am for a more relaxed experience—you’ll miss the very best pieces but find plenty to interest you.
Location: Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN
When: Fridays 4am-2pm (serious business 4am-8am)
10. Alexandra Palace Farmer’s Market, North London
Alexandra Palace (known locally as Ally Pally) hosts one of London’s best farmer’s markets every Sunday. The setting—on a terrace overlooking London—is spectacular, but it’s the produce that keeps locals returning. Unlike some farmer’s markets that attract traders from miles away, this one genuinely focuses on producers from within the M25.
The meat is outstanding. Rare-breed pork from a farm in Essex, grass-fed beef from Kent, and game during the season. The cheese selection is equally impressive, including a stall that makes mozzarella fresh each week. For vegetarians, there’s excellent sourdough, organic vegetables, and artisan products like chutneys and preserves.
Perfect Sunday: Combine with a walk in Ally Pally’s park, brunch from one of the food stalls, and potentially an event in the palace itself. The market is right by the boating lake—picnic food sorted.
Location: Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY
When: Sundays 10am-3pm
Market Shopping Etiquette
Bargaining: In most London markets, bargaining is not the norm. Food markets operate on fixed prices. In antique markets, polite negotiation is acceptable but be respectful—these are small businesses, not car boot sales.
Sampling: At food markets, sampling is common but always ask first. Most traders are happy to let you try cheese, bread, or preserves. Never help yourself.
Payment: Many markets now accept cards, but cash is still useful. Some traders are cash-only, and queues move faster with cash payments. Carry both.
Environmental: Bring reusable bags. Plastic bags are available but increasingly unwelcome. Better still, bring a cool bag for perishables.
Seasonal Specialities
Spring: Markets explode with fresh produce—asparagus, new potatoes, spring greens. Flower markets have tulips, daffodils, and early bedding plants.
Summer: Berries are everywhere—strawberries, raspberries, tayberries. Outdoor markets have fresh salads, grilling meats, and herbs in abundance.
Autumn: The harvest brings game, wild mushrooms, and autumn vegetables. Pumpkin and squash varieties appear, perfect for seasonal cooking.
Winter: Christmas markets appear across London. Even regular markets have seasonal produce—Brussels sprouts, root vegetables, winter greens. Perfect warming food.
Planning Your Market Crawl
Geography: London is huge. Focus on one area per day to avoid hours of travel. Combine nearby markets—Borough and Maltby Street, or Greenwich and Deptford.
Timing: Most markets are best visited early for selection and calm. Sunday markets often get busy by 10am, while weekday markets are quieter throughout.
Transport: Check Transport for London’s website for weekend engineering works. Some markets are affected by closed tube lines—plan ahead.
Weather: London markets are mostly outdoors. Check the forecast and dress appropriately. Covered markets like Shepherd’s Bush or Greenwich are good rainy day options.
A Note on “Hidden” Markets
There’s no such thing as a truly hidden market in London anymore. Social media has spread the word about everywhere on this list. What these markets offer isn’t secrecy but authenticity. They’re not curated for tourists, designed for Instagram, or focused on souvenirs. They’re where Londoners shop, eat, and socialise. That’s the real value.
If you visit one market from this list, make it your nearest. Markets are fundamentally local experiences—supporting local traders, meeting local people, discovering local specialities. That’s what makes them special.
Market Food Safety
London’s markets have excellent hygiene standards. All food traders are regulated and regularly inspected. That said, use common sense:
- Hot food should be served hot
- Cold food should be kept cold
- Avoid stalls where food has been sitting out for hours
- If in doubt, ask the trader about freshness
Londoners have been eating from market stalls for centuries without issue. Follow local cues, use common sense, and enjoy some of the world’s best street food.
This guide covers London’s diverse market scene beyond the tourist traps. Each market offers something unique—from antiques to artisan food, from local gossip to global cuisine. Visit with an open mind, chat to traders, and discover why London’s markets are among the world’s best. Just don’t ask for ketchup on your pie.