Borough Market

This isn't so much of a travel tip because my office is actually next door to Borough Market so I get to visit it almost every day, but I wanted to say that if you are visiting London, it is well worth including on the itinerary for a Friday or Saturday (when it's open). The range of very high quality food, often sold by the producer is phenomenal. The buzz in the streets round the market just makes for a great atmosphere.

Also, DO NOT miss Neal's Yard Dairy in a side street next the market. This is open every day and is quite simply the best cheese shop in London. It has a fabulous range of British and Irish cheeses that can rival anything the French can come up with. The staff are all quite or very knowledgeable about their produce and will insist you try before buying. A very enjoyable experience.

I adore Borough Market.

This was my first London experience..coming straight from the airport, we just got off the tube at "London Bridge" station, tired and having jet lag. We had no idea where we were..we just started walking into the market..and VOILA ! Refreshed, awed, shocked, amazed.

It was Friday morning and there were sausages and pates and cheese everywhere! And people offered us sample after sample. The paradise for the gourmands, for food-lovers everywhere.

The market is a rainbow of smells, sights and colors. We saw rabbit, deer, sushi, sea food...everything! So colorful!

But the BEST part -the Market Porter Pub which is close to the market (or part of it?). Fri at noon, hundreds of people in business attire were standing in front of the pub (not inside) with pints of beer in hand. This was lunch hour at Borough Market. Who wouldn't fall in love with the place...

We came back 2 more times, first on Fri night, just after closing time..watching huge Bristish boys take down the displays and then ending up in the pubs, on the streets (again hundreds of drunk people)...second on Sun morning (but there was nothing -the market was closed).

If Zola described the French Les Halles in his books (as you know, they're not as in the books anymore)..I believe it;s Borough market that made me understand what he meant. This must have been the atmosphere.

Go there..

I love Borough Market on a Saturday. True, it can get busy and the food is quite pricey, but it's a great way to while away a morning. There are lots of samples on offer (try the Green Market for this) and you can't beat eating a freshly made lunch on the grass outside of Southwark Cathedral.

There are also a huge amount of other things to see in the area so you can easily spend the whole day wandering. For a more detailed review - check out [--].