Borough Market

Borough Market is a wholesale and retail food market in Southwark, South East London, England. It is one of the largest food markets in the world,and is regarded by some as one of the highest quality markets in the United Kingdom, selling a large variety

Borough Market is a wholesale and retail food market in Southwark, South East London, England. It is one of the largest food markets in the world,and is regarded by some as one of the highest quality markets in the United Kingdom, selling a large variety of foods from all around the world.

The wholesale market operates on all weekday mornings (2 a.m. to 8 a.m.), but the retail market only operates on Thursdays (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Fridays (12 p.m. - 6 p.m.) and Saturdays (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.). The market, which is focused historically on fruits and vegetables, has in recent years added stalls dealing with the fine food retail market.

Since the beginning of 2000, some of the market's most famous traders include: Furness Fish & Game Supplies, Peter Gott and Sillfield Farm, Andrew Sharp and Herdwick Lamb, and the Spanish company Brindisa.

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The present market, located on Borough High Street just south of Southwark Cathedral on the southern end of London Bridge, is a successor to one that originally adjoined the end of London Bridge (and made a considerable nuisance of itself in the process). It was first mentioned in 1276, although the market itself claims to have existed since Roman times and was subsequently moved south of St Margaret's church on the High Street. The City of London received a royal charter from Edward VI in 1550 to control all markets in Southwark, which was confirmed by Charles II in 1671. However, the market caused such traffic congestion that in 1754 it was abolished by an Act of Parliament.

The Act allowed for the local parishioners to set up another market on a new site, and in 1756 it began again on a 4.5 acre (18,000 m²) site in Rochester Yard. During the 19th century it became one of London's most important food markets due to its strategic position near the riverside wharves of the Pool of London.

The present buildings were designed in 1851, with additions in the 1860s and an entrance designed in the Art Deco style added on Borough High Street in 1932. A refurbishment began in 2001. Work to date includes the re-erection in 2004 of the South Portico from the Floral Hall, previously at Covent Garden which was dismantled when the Royal Opera House was reconstructed in the 1990s.

People come to trade at the market from different parts of the U.K. and traditional European products are also shipped over and sold.

The market is administered by 16 trustees who have to live in the area.

Borough Market has become a fashionable place to buy food. It has been promoted by British television chefs and has been used as a film set; notable films with scenes filmed in the streets around the market include Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).

Thameslink Programme

As part of the Thameslink Programme project (formerly known as Thameslink 2000), a large number of listed buildings in the Borough Market area are to be demolished potentially destroying the historic fabric of the area. This includes parts of the market itself, and much of the area appearing in the aforementioned films. This is immensely unpopular locally and has prompted a public inquiry, delaying the project.

The Thameslink Programme will happen in stages over many years. Green Dragon Court will see all the buildings that contain it on Borough High Street, up to and including Bedale St. demolished or lose the backs or upper floors in full. The leather shop on the corner of St Thomas Street will be demolished. In Tooley St, the entire side of the street up to and including Stainer St viaduct will be demolished. Most of St Thomas Street side of the station viaduct walls and tunnels will be destroyed. The vaults and all the old station will be removed or demolished.

Getting there

Borough Market is well served by local rail, tube and river transport:

London Underground: London Bridge (Jubilee line and Northern line), or Borough tube station (Northern line)

National Rail: London Bridge (Thameslink and Southern)

London River Services: London Bridge City Pier (commuter catamaran services from Embankment and Greenwich) several London Buses routes pass the market along Borough High Street