best street food markets in london (2026) - honest reviews from borough to maltby

tldr: out of 4 london food markets, maltby street market is the one i’d fly back for (that breakfast burger is insane), borough market has the single best sandwich i’ve eaten (pulled pork from black pit), greenwich market is the best value (ethiopian combo plate, 10/10), and seven dials market is the most convenient. full reviews with prices and what to actually order below.

i spent three days eating my way through london’s food markets and came away with a few strong opinions. the strongest one: london’s food market scene is genuinely world-class, and most travel guides do a terrible job covering it.

here’s the thing nobody tells you. every guide says “go to borough market” and stops there. borough is good, but it’s also expensive, crowded, and has a seating situation that borders on hostile. the real finds are at the smaller markets where the food-to-tourist ratio actually works in your favour.

i hit four markets across three days. ate everything from a sausage roll that made me question every sausage roll i’ve had before, to an ethiopian combo plate that might be the single best value meal in london. no one paid me for any of this. i spent roughly 120 pounds across all four markets.

if you’re specifically looking for budget food in london, i’ve got a separate guide for that.

the awards (my personal picks)

• best overall market: maltby street market. 100% food, no filler, incredible quality.
• best single item: pulled pork sandwich at black pit, borough market. one of the best sandwiches on earth.
• best value: ethiopian combo plate at greenwich market. close to a pound of food for 9 pounds. 10/10.
• most overrated: the paella at borough market. giant prawns are great, everything else is too salty.
• best breakfast: the stack burger at maltby street. sausage patty, burger patty, grilled mashed potatoes, runny egg. criminal.
• best drink: french hot chocolate at maltby street. dark, rich, toasted marshmallow on top.
• best for rainy days: greenwich market. covered, cozy, and the meat pie shop next door has been open since 1890.

the full list

the top tier

1. maltby street market

bermondsey / 15-25 pounds per person / 9.5/10

this is the market the locals actually go to. it’s one block. it’s a single alley. it’s 100% food stalls. no jewellery shops, no tourist tat, no people selling scarves. just food. the way a food market should be.

the breakfast burger here is something i need to talk about. sausage patty, burger patty, bacon, cheese, grilled mashed potatoes (which are half mashed potato, half hash brown), and a runny egg in the middle. the box it comes in opens like a pop-up storybook. it’s so messy and glorious that once you put it down, you genuinely don’t know how to pick it back up. mustard layered underneath cuts through the richness. this is everything you want in breakfast, assembled into one structure that defies engineering.

the duck fat triple-fried chips with raclette cheese and duck skin on top are the best fries in london. not hyperbole. you can taste the duck fat in every bite, the cheese is melted and wonderful, and the duck skin on top is a soft, melty crunch that they should honestly bag and sell. these chips are ridiculously crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.

the ethiopian food here is also great. chicken and beef combo with spinach, mushrooms, chili sauce over curry-soaked rice. hearty, spicy, perfect for a rainy morning. the french hot chocolate with toasted marshmallow, whipped cream, biscoff crumbs is intensely dark and rich.

only downside: almost no seating. you eat standing in the alley. go in the morning when it’s less crowded.

what to order: breakfast burger, duck fat chips with raclette, ethiopian combo

verdict: the best food market in london for people who actually care about food more than instagram.

2. borough market

southwark / 25-40 pounds per person / 8.5/10

the oldest market in england and it earns that reputation. this place is massive. butcher shops with aged steaks on display, fresh seafood, bakeries, cheese mongers, and dozens of food stalls. it’s a lot.

the three things that made borough market worth every penny:

the sausage roll from the butcher shop near the entrance. golden, flaky, stuffed full of sausage. the outer layer is so flaky it’s almost a shock biting into it. the sausage inside is peppery, smoky, tender, juicy. the toasty outside edge has a beautiful crisp. the pastry inside soaks up all the juice from the meat. this might be the best sausage roll in london. would be even better with mustard, but it’s already close to perfection. around 5-6 pounds.

the pulled pork sandwich from black pit. they called upon a cheese blizzard to hit this thing. pulled pork so tender you almost don’t have to chew, cabbage on fresh bread, freshly shaved cheese covering everything. the pork tastes like it was cooked in pure magic. every single bite you get fatty crunch from the pork crackling (they’re generous with it), the slaw complements the rich pork, and that nutty umami from the shaved cheese ties it all together. genuinely one of the best sandwiches i’ve ever had. about 10-12 pounds.

the focaccia from the italian bakery. rosemary and sea salt. you could smell this from half a block away. crispy outside, soft and chewy inside, olive oil, rosemary, sea salt crunch. tastes like you’re in italy. about 4-5 pounds. they also do a garlic and chive knot that’s 10/10 bakery perfection.

the paella with prawns looks impressive but is too salty. the prawns themselves are beautiful and sweet, but the rice is over-seasoned. the triple-cooked chips from the mushroom stall are worth trying. finding a place to actually sit and eat is the biggest challenge here.

what to order: sausage roll, pulled pork sandwich, focaccia, garlic chive knot

verdict: the food is genuinely excellent at the best stalls. the crowds and lack of seating are genuinely bad. go early on a weekday.

the solid middle

3. greenwich market

greenwich / 12-20 pounds per person / 8.5/10

greenwich is less touristy and has a much better food-to-noise ratio than borough. it’s an indoor-outdoor market with an alley entrance and food stalls on all sides. feels authentic and local.

the grilled cheese here is remarkable because they cook the cheese directly on the grill. every bite gives you crunch from the toasty cheese skirt, not just the bread. with bacon, chipotle sauce, and crispy garlic toppings, this is the best grilled cheese i’ve had. around 8-9 pounds.

the turkish flatbread with lamb from a mom-and-pop stall is incredible. handmade from scratch, no shortcuts. chewy bread, juicy lamb loaded with onions, chilies, herbs and spices. the juice from the lamb soaks into the thin bread. around 7-8 pounds.

the ethiopian combo plate is the standout value. close to a pound of food for 9 pounds. peas, green beans, carrots, lentils, chickpeas, goat, chicken, all over curry-soaked rice. the goat is tender, the curry is fragrant, and it’s genuinely 10/10. one of the best things i’ve eaten at any food market, anywhere.

the traditional meat pie and mash shop adjacent to the market has been open since 1890. the pie itself is more of a meat sauce than chunky meat (i’d have preferred the chunkier option), but eating inside a piece of 130-year-old history is its own reward. about 7 pounds.

what to order: grilled cheese with bacon, turkish lamb flatbread, ethiopian combo plate

verdict: best value food market in london. the ethiopian plate alone is worth the trip.

4. seven dials market

covent garden / 15-25 pounds per person / 7.5/10

the most central and convenient market. it’s right in covent garden with a food court downstairs. the vibe is more modern and polished than the other three.

the sushi here is surprisingly good. the crunchy salmon roll with toasted rice is unique. there’s an asparagus component inside that works well. if you’re craving something lighter after days of heavy british food, this is the spot. around 8-10 pounds.

the kaza dumplings are heavy, meaty, and full of juice. the dumpling skin is so thin they collapse under their own weight. beef juice soaks into the skin, there’s cumin, and a chinese-style hot oil that’s spicy and fragrant. sour cream on dumplings works better than you’d expect. get more than three. around 8-9 pounds.

the syrian food stall serves 18-hour slow-cooked lamb shawarma. tender, fatty, rich. the eggplant dipping sauce called o’jeans tastes like a smoky mix of baba ganoush and tahini. phenomenal flavour. about 10-12 pounds. my first taste of syrian food and it set a very high bar.

what to order: crunchy salmon roll, kaza dumplings, lamb shawarma with o’jeans dip

verdict: solid and convenient, but lacks the character of the other three markets.

london food market tips

• bring cash as a backup. most places take cards, but a few smaller stalls are cash-only.
• seating is the universal problem. borough has some spots at the market edges, greenwich has about 3 tables, maltby has almost nothing. accept you’ll be eating standing up.
• go in the morning. maltby opens weekends only, and going at opening means no queues and more space.
• borough market on a weekday morning is a completely different (better) experience than saturday afternoon.
• the weather is your friend. a slight drizzle means fewer crowds and somehow makes the food taste better.
• greenwich is about 20 minutes from central london by DLR. it’s worth the trip for the lower prices and better vibes.
• budget about 25-40 pounds per market if you want to try 3-4 things. london food markets are not cheap, but they deliver on quality.

if you found this useful, check out these other london guides:

• best cheap eats in london
• places to visit in new york city