What is the best food market in London?

Borough Market is the best overall for quality and variety. Camden Market is best for international street food. Brick Lane is best for curry and Sunday browsing. Columbia Road (Sundays) is best for atmosphere.

Is London expensive for food?

It can be, but there are affordable options at every level. Market food costs £8-15, pub meals £12-18, and casual restaurants £15-25 per person. Set lunch menus at upscale restaurants offer great value.

Where do locals eat in London?

Locals eat at neighbourhood restaurants, market stalls, and gastropubs rather than tourist-area chain restaurants. Areas like Dalston, Peckham, Brixton, and Hackney have excellent local dining scenes.

London Food Scene: Markets, Tours & Hidden Gems (2026)

A foodie's guide to London covering markets, food tours, street food, and local favourites.

Updated: 19 March 2026

Borough Market: London's Food Cathedral

Borough Market is London's oldest and most famous food market, trading since the 13th century. Open Wednesday to Saturday (with limited traders on Monday and Tuesday), it is a paradise for food lovers. Must-try stalls include Kappacasein (raclette and grilled cheese), Roast (steak sandwiches), Bread Ahead (doughnuts), and Neal's Yard Dairy (British artisan cheese). For the full experience, take a guided food tour with 6+ tastings from expert local guides who share the market's history and hidden gems.

Camden Market

Camden Market is a massive collection of market stalls, food vendors, and shops spread across several connected markets near Camden Lock. The food section is incredibly diverse, with stalls serving everything from Thai noodles to Argentinian empanadas, Ethiopian injera to Japanese gyoza. Portions are generous and prices are reasonable (£7-12 for a main). The atmosphere is vibrant and eclectic. Open daily but busiest and best on weekends.

Brick Lane and the East End

Brick Lane is the heart of London's Bangladeshi community and famous for its curry houses. Beyond the curries, the street has become a hub for street food, vintage markets (Sundays), and some of the best bagels in London (Beigel Bake, open 24 hours). The wider East End is where many of London's most exciting new restaurants open. Shoreditch and Dalston have innovative small plates, natural wine bars, and global street food.

Soho and Chinatown

Soho packs an extraordinary density of restaurants into a small area. Chinatown (around Gerrard Street) has authentic Chinese, Malaysian, and Vietnamese restaurants with dim sum a particular highlight. Beyond Chinatown, Soho has excellent Italian (Lina Stores), Indian (Dishoom), and Japanese (Koya) restaurants. Berwick Street Market has great street food at lunchtime. For late-night dining, Soho stays open later than most London neighbourhoods.

Classic London Eats

Fish and chips: Poppies in Spitalfields or The Golden Hind in Marylebone. Full English breakfast: The Wolseley on Piccadilly for the upmarket version, or any traditional "caff" for the working-class original. Afternoon tea: The Ritz, Claridge's, or Sketch for the classic experience. Sunday roast: The Anchor Bankside or any quality gastropub. Pie and mash: F. Cooke on Broadway Market, one of the last surviving eel and pie shops.

Budget Eating Tips

London dining does not have to be expensive. Market food (Borough, Camden, Brick Lane) offers quality meals for £8-15. Many high-end restaurants offer set lunch menus at a fraction of dinner prices. Supermarkets like M&S and Waitrose have excellent meal deals. Dim sum in Chinatown is great value. Dishoom has a legendary free bacon naan roll for those who queue before opening. Street food markets like KERB and Mercato Metropolitano offer gourmet food at market prices.