Borough Market and Columbia Road: London Markets Locals Love

This guide is for people who have moved to London from abroad and want to shop where Londoners shop, whether you live alone, as a couple or with children. You will learn what to expect at Borough Market and the Sunday flower market on Columbia Road, when to go, and where to check the details that change from week to week.

• Borough Market: a working market with a long memory
• When to go to Borough Market
• Columbia Road on a Sunday morning
• The shops, and getting it all home
• What suits adults, and what about children
• FAQ

Borough Market: a working market with a long memory

Borough Market is at 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL, near the south end of London Bridge. The Borough Market website says its story began 1,000 years ago, when a market took shape at the foot of the bridge, and that it has been on its current site since 1756. A charitable trust runs it on behalf of the community. You notice this when you visit. It is a real market with traders and stalls, not a shopping centre with a food theme.

The market says it sells food from all over Britain and the rest of the world, and that every item has a story behind it. You can treat that in two ways. Turn up hungry and eat your way round, or bring a shopping list and talk to the people who produced what you are buying. If you are new to the country, try the second. Asking a trader how to cook an unfamiliar vegetable or which cheese to try first is one of the quickest ways to learn British produce, and they are used to those questions.

For anyone missing the flavours of home, the range is the main draw. A market that buys from around the world is a good place to look for an ingredient your local supermarket does not stock, and the traders can often tell you where it came from and how it is usually eaten.

When to go to Borough Market

The market publishes its opening times for the current week on its homepage instead of giving a fixed timetable, so check there before you set off. This matters most around bank holidays or if you have one particular day in mind. I am not going to guess the hours here, because the official page is the reliable source and it is updated week by week.

The time of year matters as much as the time of day. The website runs seasonal features, and at the moment it has an autumn collection of recipes and articles along with a seasonal shopping guide. Ten minutes with it before you go tells you what is at its best right now, so you buy what is good this month and not just what you used to buy at home.

The site also lets you search the traders and has a “traders of the month” feature and trader stories, which help if you are hunting for something specific. If you would rather not keep checking the site, sign up to the fortnightly newsletter of seasonal recipes, news and inspiration. There is a “See what’s on” page for events, and a talk series called Food for Thought in which industry experts take on big questions about food. Each trader sets their own prices and the homepage does not list them, so expect them to vary from stall to stall.

Columbia Road on a Sunday morning

According to the Columbia Road website, the flower market and shops open on Sundays from 8am until 3, and the site adds “ish” in brackets. That tells you a lot about the place. It is a street market, and closing time is approximate. If you want the full choice of plants and cut flowers, go in the morning instead of hoping for bargains as the stalls pack up. The site calls a walk along the street a lovely way to start a Sunday, and that is the right mood for a first visit.

The street is in the East End, at the edge of the City, with Shoreditch to the west and Brick Lane and Spitalfields close by. That makes it easy to plan a whole Sunday around it: flowers first, then a walk into the neighbouring areas for lunch or more browsing. The website does not list stall prices, so ask at each stall before you buy.

Columbia Road is also a good way to get to know the seasons in your new home. What is on the stalls changes through the year, and buying something for your windowsill or balcony is a simple way to make a rented flat feel like yours.

The shops, and getting it all home

The stalls are only part of it. The official site lists shops along the street, including Straw Handmade Products, John Birchall Beauty, The Nelsons Head, In Bloom (garden, gifts and homeware), Lee’s Seafood (food and drink) and Pot Luck (garden and homeware). Plenty of people come for one bunch of flowers and go home with a pot, a plant and something for the kitchen as well.

That is a real problem if you came on the bus or the Tube. The Columbia Road site points to Pedal Me, a bicycle delivery service you can find near the Bird Cage. They will carry plants and other goods, including furniture and tiles, and they will also take you and your dog home. The official page links to their details, so check there for how booking works and what it costs.

Later this year the street hosts London’s Day of the Dead, which the site describes as a free festival with music, dance, flowers, costume and a procession. Marigolds are central to the tradition, so a flower market is a natural home for it. The Columbia Road website has the programme details and bookings, and that is where to confirm the date and timings.

What suits adults, and what about children

Both markets are mainly for adults who enjoy food, cooking and making a home. Borough Market suits people who like to taste, ask questions and plan meals around what is in season. Columbia Road suits anyone furnishing a new flat, or anyone who wants fresh flowers on the table on a Sunday and a slow morning in the East End.

Neither official page gives age limits or describes activities for children, so families should treat both as ordinary public markets. Bring snacks, keep a firm hand on small children, and think about how you will carry your shopping as well as a buggy or a tired child. The Day of the Dead festival is free, and the music, costume and procession may appeal to older children, but the site does not say whether it is designed for families, so read the programme first.

For more practical guides to life in the city, visit Mylistingo.

FAQ

When is Columbia Road flower market open?

The official Columbia Road website says the flower market and shops are open on Sundays from 8am until 3, with “ish” added, so treat the closing time as approximate. Go in the morning for the widest choice.

Where is Borough Market and what are its opening hours?

Borough Market is at 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL. Its homepage shows the opening times for the current week, so check there before you visit instead of relying on a fixed timetable.

How can I get large plants home from Columbia Road?

The Columbia Road site recommends Pedal Me, a bicycle delivery service near the Bird Cage. It carries plants and other goods such as furniture and tiles, and can take you and your dog home too. Booking details are linked from the official page.

Are these markets suitable for children?

Neither official page sets age limits or lists children’s activities, so think of both as public markets mainly for adults. Families are free to visit. Plan ahead for crowds and for carrying shopping, and check the Columbia Road programme to see whether the free Day of the Dead festival suits your children.

Official sources: boroughmarket.org.uk · columbiaroad.info

Last checked: 23 October 2026 against the pages linked above. Prices, opening hours and programmes change; the venue’s own site always has the current details.