A Gourmet Visit to London

Visiting London

I have just come back from a most enjoyable weekend in London and what an exciting ‘foodie’ place London has become.

Borough Market is a must for anyone interested in food. The market is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, all year round, probably missing out Christmas Day. It is open at different times on each of these days so, do check the times before you go. There are stalls offering a wide and often exotic range fruit and vegetables, a wonderful selection of cheeses, meat, fish, bakery, patisserie and confectionary produce and of course, delicious and irresistible cooked foods. As well as traditional British food there is also a magnificent array of foods from around the world.

The market can be quite busy, it is now on the tourist trail and many people go just to experience the atmosphere or sample some of the tempting dishes available. It is a little pricey but, is worth it for the quality and freshness of the produce.

The best time to go is probably around lunchtime. Try out one of the many restaurants, cafes and bars in the area as well.

The market is in Borough High Street, Camberwell, London SE1 and the closest tube (underground) station is London Bridge. Google the market or check it out on www.boroughmarket.org.uk

The market is close to the River Thames – an area well worth wandering around for its vibrant atmosphere. Southwark Cathedral is worth a look. It’s difficult to beat getting a big, fresh sandwich in the market and sitting in the grounds watching the world go by. A replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship, the Golden Hinde, is docked there. Not the original ship and not a working ship, but it has been set up as a museum and as the original would have been. I didn’t go on board but, I’ve been told it’s a jolly experience.

The highlight of the weekend was definitely Colombia Road Flower Market. Situated in Shoreditch, in the borough of Tower Hamlets London E2, it is a street market happening every Sunday (Christmas day excepted). It starts at 8am and finishes around 3pm. Like all events like this, it is worth getting there early, especially if you are driving. It is possible to park but, do park legally, fines for illegal parking are quite steep. The nearest tube/underground station is Old Street. You will have to walk from there.  There is also a good bus service and lots of taxis cruising around the area.

The market sells cut flowers – masses of them, container grown flowers, bushes, shrubs, trees and stunning orchids – definitely the flower of the moment. Several of the stalls provide an astonishing range of herbs and olive trees of all shapes and sizes – these just have to be the most popular trees. If you are looking for fruit to grow, there was an excellent selection of potted strawberry plants and raspberry canes. It is hard to walk away from the stalls empty handed. Most of the prices are well below those you would pay in a garden centre. The main disadvantage of buying the produce is that it has to be carried home and the staggering number of people crushed into such a small space does take some of the enjoyment from the experience.

After spending a couple of hours struggling our passage through the crowds and visiting as many stalls as we could find a tiny space to edge into, we were hot, dishevelled, thirsty and really quite peckish. We joined a short queue for a very busy little restaurant – Laxeira, Restaurante Espanol. (check it out at www.laxeior.co.uk )We had a scrumptious selection of tapas served in a clean friendly environment and it was really not expensive.

If you do visit London try a trip on a Thames Clipper. A very speedy method of travelling in London, the boats navigate between North Greenwich pier (at the O2 Arena) and the London Eye. It isn’t the cheapest way of travelling around London but it really must be the most interesting and exhilarating. If you visit London regularly, it is probably worth purchasing an Oyster Card. They can now be used on all types of public transport in and around London and is so much cheaper.