Borough Market
Great for: a street food safari
Borough Market is one of London’s oldest food markets, and what started off as a mish-mash of wholesale grocers’ stalls has morphed into a site of pilgrimage for food lovers. Home to more than 100 stands, stalls, restaurants and bars, it’s just steps from London Bridge station – on Southern and Thameslink. You’ll wander past mosaic-like piles of fruit and vegetables sitting alongside stalls laden with artisan-made cheese wheels and a host of delicious street food stalls. Enjoy scoops of creamy lemon gelato at the Gelateria 3Bis stall, feast on bowlfuls of Kappacasein’s raclette – new potatoes topped with gooey cheese and mini gherkins – and warm amaretti biscuits from Bread Ahead. Hop on the first train of the day to beat the crowds and, for the inside track, join the market’s free Cookbook club, which gives members access to exclusive events and recipes.
Open: Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm; Sat 8am-5pm; Sun 10am-3pm
boroughmarket.org.uk/visit-us
Ely Craft, Food and Vintage Market
Great for: vintage rootling
For nostalgia seekers, this Cambridgeshire charmer serves up quirky antiques and vintage clothes stalls, alongside street food classics and coffee. A 15-minute walk from Ely station – which is on the Great Northern train line – this outdoor market is the place to thumb through inviting books at Ace Collectables, barter for retro vinyl from Sound-on-Wax Records, and wonder at antique carpentry tools from Fenland Tools. Whether it’s unusual ceramics, mid-century modern furniture or secondhand threads for a wardrobe revamp (check out Kefi Vintage for brightly-hued dresses), there’s something for everyone. Serious antiquers should also visit nearby Waterside Antiques – East Anglia’s largest antiques centre, housed inside a former maltings building.
Open: Sat, 8.30am-3.30pm
elymarkets.co.uk
Love Southsea Market
Great for: arty feels
Bringing a touch of infectious creativity to Southsea’s Palmerston Road precinct is Love Southsea Market, a bohemian-feel affair that celebrates the work of local artists and artisans. A 30-minute stroll from Portsmouth Harbour, you can find everything from divine-smelling candles, printed T-shirts, cool art and glimmering jewellery. As you wander, you can nibble on almost-too-pretty-to-eat macarons, browse beach-themed cards by Vitamin Sea Southsea, up your houseplant game at the Little Plant Co, and pick up kooky nautical bunting by Leather Heather. “There’s something really special about buying handmade items, and it supports the local community,” says owner and director Lulu Whitmore.
Open: First weekend and third Saturday of each month. Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 9am-4pm
lovesouthsea.co.uk/pages/markets
St Albans Charter Market
Great for: traditional charm
As well as being home to a cathedral and quaint cobbled streets, St Albans has serious form when it comes to market traditions, with its first established here in 860. The Charter Market – which dominates St Peter’s Street and is only a 12-minute walk from St Albans station – is a traditional street market consisting of a mix of stalls and gazebos selling everything from fruit and veg to olives and sourdough bread. Don’t miss Grove Fruits for luscious fruit – a market stalwart for more than 35 years – pick up the catch of the day at Poulters’ Fish stall, and sample pimento-stuffed olives at the Olive Stall. On the second Sunday of every month there’s a farmers’ market, for quality meat, game, dairy and more.
Open: Wed and Sat, 8.30am-4.30pm
enjoystalbans.com/listing/st-albans-traditional-street-market
Eastbourne Seafront Market
Great for: shopping with a sea view
As if holding the accolade of the sunniest town in the UK wasn’t enough of a draw to entice you to visit Eastbourne, the seafront market also sets up shop in the summer months. Running on the promenade between Eastbourne’s gold-domed pier and the bandstand, the market is an easy walk from the train station, which is on the Southern network. Stalls showcase the best of British produce, as well as crepes, paella and saucissons, alongside Marseille soaps and elegant pashminas. As well as the pop-up seafront market, Eastbourne’s Borough Market, every Wednesday and Sunday, brings a host of market traders together on Terminus Road selling local produce, including artisan breads, fresh fish, plants and books.
Open: 26 May-5 June; 22-24 July; 28 July-7 Aug; 24-29 August, 10am-6pm
visiteastbourne.com/whats-on/seafront-market-p1243591
Cambridge Farmers’ Market
Great for: any-day wandering
Another destination with serious market heritage is Cambridge; its central market square has been a hub for traders since the middle ages. Open every day of the year from 10am to 4pm – except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve – it’s home to a parade of stalls with jaunty rainbow-striped roofs. Including a real mix of stalls – some there every single day, with others rotating between vendors – expect tables piled high with farm-fresh local produce, potted plants, vinyl records and vintage clothes. A strong roster of street food vendors means you can eat your way round the globe; don’t miss Jianbing House’s Chinese crepes and banh mi, jollof rice at Africfood, and King of Wraps’ much-loved halloumi wraps. On Mondays, look out for indie secondhand book stall Bookish, while on Sundays, highlights include botanical wellness teas from Tea Apothecary, and beautiful ceramics by Naomi Elstow.
Open: Every day, 10am-4pm
cambridge.gov.uk/markets
Book direct at southernrailway.com, thameslinkrailway.com or greatnorthernrail.com and avoid any booking fees. Look for super off-peak and off-peak fares, which offer great value for money when you travel outside of peak times
