Explore the Top 10 secret food spots in Borough Market, as you walk and eat through this culinary experience with this immersive self-guided tour!
Join restaurant critic and Masterchef judge William Sitwell, along with local food enthusiast Pip, as they take you on a culinary exploration of London's oldest and best-known food market.
Discover what makes Borough Market so unique and explore a variety of cuisines, authentic street food. and local hidden gems. Get a peek into the history of the market and learn about the locals who keep this place ticking!
Delve into your inner food lover side with these must-eat dishes, and discover the unmissable cafes, bars and restaurants. Embark on this epic foodie adventure as you discover Borough Market's fascinating history of tensions and redevelopment, which has created a wonderful spirit of enterprise behind this thriving, diverse community in this stunning neighbourhood.
Begin your tour outside the Golden Hinde ship as we hear about Borough Market’s origins over 1000 years ago and why it had a unique relationship with the City of London. From wandering goats, to Victorian viaducts to dealing with COVID-19, the market has had to deal with a lot over its lifetime.
While standing outside Borough Market’s stunning facade, hear how this market had to reinvent and revive itself in the 1990s and how an old portico was moved from the Royal Opera House to Borough Market for only £1. Then grab a coffee at Monmouth! Founded in a basement on Monmouth Street near Covent Garden, this café was one of the first specialist retailers to arrive here in the late 1990s.
Learn about some of Borough Market’s international traders. Brindisa has become a destination for lovers of all things Iberian! It’s become one of the country’s best-known importers of high quality, carefully sourced Spanish food. Meanwhile, Kontidor is known for its signature, and very German, bread, cakes, pies and pastries.
Get a taste of some of Borough Market’s seafood. Learn how the Wright Brothers, Robin Hancock and Ben Wright, democratised the oyster in London and opened it up to a much wider audience, helping to shed the image of a delicacy affordable only by the wealthy. This is a perfect example of how Borough is still a breeding ground for successful food businesses.
Head into the Kitchen, this is the area of the market where raw ingredients are transformed into incredible dishes, with a whole host of cuisines prepared by traders from all over the world! Some favorites include ‘Shuk’, which serves incredible Tel Aviv-style stuffed pitas, ‘Khanom Krok’, who specialise in authentic Thai food with a great range of vegetarian and vegan options, and ‘Horn Ok Please’, where Indian veggie dishes take centre stage.
Head into Three Crown Square, a structure which dates back to the 18th century. If you look up, you’ll notice the iconic, recently restored Victorian glass and ironwork roof, which allows a massive amount of natural daylight in, lighting the entire structure so that electric lights are barely needed. Learn more about Borough market’s ancient and modern history.
Whether you’re a carnivore or follow a plant-based diet, Borough Market has something for you. Stalls like ‘Shellseekers’ pride themselves on their excellent seafood while ‘Turnips’ and ‘Fitz’ offer some of London’s best veggie options, whether this be organically grown fruit & veg, or a selection of products created from foragers around England.
Finish the tour with a drink in hand, be this beer, wine, or something stronger! Scour over 700 beers at ‘Utobeer’ for a pale, a pilsner or maybe a porter, then head over to the ‘Cartwright Brothers’ for their excellent selection of wines from around the world.
The Vidi Guides experience is enriched with on-screen photos and videos. We also point out where to take the perfect Instagram photos during the tour, and include recommendations for food, drinks, and local attractions. Don't worry, none of our recommendations are sponsored - they are simply favourites of the locals who helped craft the experience.
Audio: English