A few weeks ago I found myself with a free day in London and so decided to spend the afternoon exploring Borough Market. Before setting off, I did some research and made a list of the producers I wanted to visit. Hook & Son (a father and son-run dairy in East Sussex selling raw milk and raw milk products), Northfield Farm (a butcher selling high-quality rare breed meat including beef, lamb and pork) and Oak & Smoke (an independent smokehouse, passionate about sustainability and conservation, selling high-quality smoked fish) all caught my eye.
I had never visited Borough Market but had heard a lot about it so I was excited and curious to see if it lived up to its reputation. Located just by London Bridge tube station, I entered this buzzing food market through the main glass-fronted entrance. I was hit by the tasty smell of cooking food; people were wandering around with doughnuts, burgers and fish & chips in hand.
I had a quick explore and found Hook & Son’s stand. They were selling range of products including fresh raw milk, crème fraiche, double cream, butter, greek style yoghurt and natural yoghurt. I couldn’t decide what to buy for my first visit but decided on their greek style yoghurt.
I found a few greengrocer stalls with beautifully displayed fresh, loose fruit and vegetables. All three stalls had such a wonderful selection of produce – some everyday essentials and some more exotic fruits. With no vegetables at home, I made the most of the opportunity to buy some greens.
Borough Market is fully food focused. Inevitably, given its location, there are a large number of stalls from which you can buy something to eat immediately mixed in with the farm and grower stalls. If you’re looking for a day out in London and interested in sampling produce from independent producers in one place, then Borough Market has a great deal to offer.
