Looking at London’s Fun and Fresh Food Markets 

London is recognized for having one of the most vibrant and diverse food scenes in the world. People are able to eat foods from different cultures and regions at all kinds of restaurants, cafes, food halls, and more. London is also known for its various food markets, which have stalls and spaces for people to buy groceries, baked goods, snacks, and meals. It is the perfect weekend activity for Londoners of all ages, and I have been to two so far: Borough Market and Camden Market.

At Borough Market, one of London’s largest and oldest food markets, I was overwhelmed by all the stalls, stands, and restaurants. There was so much food to eat right at the market and food to take home, like spices, cheese, bread, and fruits and vegetables. It was so hard to decide what I wanted to eat. But after seeing multiple people walking around with Bomba Paella from Furness Food Hut, I knew I had to get in line. For £10, I got a huge plate full of rice with generous portions of chicken, chorizo, mussels, squid, and tiger prawns. I was full, but still had room for dessert! The Cinnamon Tree Bakery had just what I needed, a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie. 

At Camden Market, I was feeling cheesy. The Mac Factory was my first stop, where I ordered the Nostalgic: macaroni with their classic cheese blend of cheddar and mozzarella, topped off with parmesan and thyme crumble. Camden Market is known for its fashion, art, and music shops as well, so as I walked around after finishing my mac and cheese, I made sure to stop by a few. I ended my time at Camden Market by heading over to Khaao, a food stall with a modern approach on traditional dishes from Pakistan. I ordered one of their cheesy naan melts with malai chicken and some mango lassi to wash it down. All the food I got was delicious, and I went home satisfied with how I spent my afternoon.

Food markets are a great way to try foods from countries all over the world and expand your palate. They are also pretty inexpensive, perfect for college students like me. I have really enjoyed the street food in London and places like these on the weekends for a quick bite or meal. I would recommend both Camden Market and Borough Market to anyone coming to London, whether you want to grab a snack and go or spend the afternoon browsing the shops and stalls. My semester feels like it is flying by, but I hope to stop by one of these food markets again or keep exploring new places for food!