Borough Market

Later this month the Borough Market celebrates 250 years of trading at its current location. The market, located just south of London Bridge, is a short walk from the Jubilee line and the banks of the Thames River. A market has either traded on London Bridge, or close to the southern end of it, since Roman times. The bridge and the riverside docks creating a natural terminus for produce arriving from all corners of the Empire.

In fact London Bridge even owes its location in part to the market. In 43AD Aulus Plautus and his Roman legions found a market already operating at Southwark. The story goes that they stopped to replenish supplies while on their way to sack nearby Londinium. In those days, invasion involved crossing the river by boat. Soon after a call went out for a bridge to provide easier access to the market.

The current market covers several blocks of small Victorian laneways and is housed largely under a series of ornate, Victorian wrought iron stands. The market wholesales a range of fish, meats, produce and gourmet foodstuff. Cider, wine and beers are also sold straight from the barrel. The surrounding streets include cafes, bars and restaurants serving dishes made with produce fresh from the markets. The north side of the market backs on to picturesque Southwark Cathedral. A church has been on this site for at least a thousand years.

Today, Garry and I decided to continue 2000 years of tradition and join the market crowd. We also thought it an ideal day to visit as England was scheduled to play Paraguay at 2:00pm - it's first match of the World Cup (England won 1-0). We enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours sampling every conceivable foodstuff from all corners of Europe.

Highlights includes goose fat (I wasn't game to try this. To be honest, I'm not sure what I'd do with a tin of it anyway. I must do some research!), snails in cream, ducks eggs, fresh venison burgers, diver-hand-collected scallops, Italian cheese wheels, muffins, tarts and strawberries fresh from the field.

By the time we left we'd loaded ourselves with ostrich sausages, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, chorizo (spanish salami), fresh roasted coffee beans, Kent strawberries and large, juicy nectarines. We'll definitely be back, if only to try out the cozy wine and oyster bar we spotted down a shaded brick lane.