I've realised it's suitable distance for some lunchtime shopping but it seems pretty big and easy to miss parts of it due to its odd layout.

Any particular recommendations as to which of the areas is best, I'm after good old British veg, some game and seafood.

Thanks

Don't use Elsey and Bent - I've had some crap fruit from there recently...a couple of days and it's mouldy. Most of the stalls are fairly good quality TBH, so just have a wander and see what takes your fancy. Oh and stop off at Monmouth for their Peruvian coffee - it's amazing.

This the place that appears on UKTV Food's Market Kitchen by any chance?

Don't have that channel but google tells me it is.

http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

I love Borough Market!!!

I go about 3 times a year - and definitely at Christmas when I sip mulled wine whilst stocking up on goodies to eat!!! Bit of a pain having to carry them back to Sussex though!

I went when i was in london - once. Its a bit pretentious and overpriced in my opinion.

Borough market is a fantastic place. Really interesting.

I had a proper look round on Friday when everything was open.

Good prices for eggs (cheaper than Lidl's free range for instance) and there's loads of meat like venison and ostrich with a wide range of cuts of more popular stuff like pork and beef. The prices are about what I'd expect for good meat. Vast amounts of cheese on offer as well, how many stalls do you need selling parmesan!?

Good for less common fruit and veg but if you want standard stuff you're overpaying. Some of the labels on kiwis and bananas were what I've seen for sale in my local street market.

Dairy stuff is quite horribly priced, £2.50 for a pack of butter or a pot of cream. Anything that's been pre-prepared will cost a pretty penny too.

I work near Borough Market, so know it pretty well. The Ginger Pig is an excellent butcher, as prices not much different from what Sainburys charge for far worse quality meat.

With regards to fruit and veg, the greengrocers next to the chorizo roll store (there are very nice btw!) has good prices and an excellent selection.

Another poster mentioned that dairy stuff is expensive, and a couple of stores do charge a fair bit for not great cheese (the Comte store is a good example, have had far better comte for less cash in France) - but there is some fantastic cheeses to be had some some of the cheese stalls, and at the main cheese shop.

I often stock up on Olives as well at Borough Olives, which are ten times better than the ones at supermarket deli counters, and there is a cake shop which sells amazing cakes (try the Baileys cheesecake!).

Indeed it is.

Love borough market and if you sample all that is going you can end up with a free lunch

I do buy stuff too though - am not such a cheap skate!!!

I don't find it pretentious at all.

And re price - well if you want quality........

Flowerpower City have the best chocolate brownies around (I have Canadian friends who adore them), their banana cake is great too, and their almond croissant (cracking breakfast with a cup of Monmouth coffee).

The shop Konditor & Cook, opposite the chorizo sandwich place, does great cakes as well.

For lunch have a chicken wrap from the place just inside from the middle road. £4 but will feed you well.

So many good things (glorious Cheshire cheese friom Bourne's amongst them).

A cracking place.

Why weekly farmers markets like this aren't in every small town I don't know.

I agree. Borough Market is a great place.

I work near it. It is very over-priced and designed to catch the tourists really.

hmmm, there was one table there that had really nicely presented tomatoes left on thier vines. Only about £3 for 6 like... theres quality and then theres taking the piss

It's the same philosophy as Harrod's Food Hall or Fortnum And Mason. It's prohibitive to do much shopping in these places - they are designed to catch tourists (and naive "locals") who come in just to buy one item for posterity.

A lot of Londoners buy food at Borough Market, not just tourists. Admittedly some of the stalls are overpriced, including the tomato stall (their tomatoes are not even that great). As I put in my earlier post, there is good value to be had though.

i've got 6 for £3 you could have if you like. home grown in my garden. In fact i've got 36 for £15 if you like, its a BARGAIN!

There is a wonderful Spanish food shop there where you can get things that are not easily available anywhere else. I suppose you could label me a 'naive' local but I love the atmosphere there.

I thank you Madridista!