Food halls and indoor street food markets are among the best places to eat in London, whether you want a quick bite, a full meal or just a drink. And in my experience, some of the London’s best food markets are south of the river. From the historic to the brand new, here are South London’s five must-visit food courts and street food spots. (And for good measure, I’ve added a few honourable mentions onto the end.) For a map of all the markets on this list, scroll to the bottom or click here.
In this article:
- Mercato Metropolitano – Elephant and Castle
- Brixton Village and Market Row
- Peckham Levels
- Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market
- Borough Market
- Honourable mentions
- A map of South London’s best food markets
1. Mercato Metropolitano – Elephant and Castle
A gargantuan, sustainable food hall with a ridiculous amount of choice, in a beautiful former industrial setting.
Since it opened in 2016, Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle has become one of the most popular food courts in London. It might not be as historic as some of the other markets on this list, but in my opinion, it’s the best marketplace of the many that have sprung up in London in recent years. Here’s why.
1. It’s massive. There is a lot to choose from.
You’ll struggle to find anywhere in London (or anywhere else, to be honest) with a wider range of food options than the Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle. At more than 45,000 square feet, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first. Give yourself some time to walk around, take it all in, and assess your options. There’s a lot of choice – and most of it looks delicious.
2. Its beautiful, industrial setting.
On a generally nondescript section of Borough High Street, Mercato Metropolitano’s home is the site of a former paper making factory (Atlas Paper Works, which shut in the 1980s). A lot of the old industrial aesthetic has been kept (expect lots of exposed brickwork!). It’s an exceptional example of urban renewal.
3. It’s sustainable.
On top of this, it markets itself as a sustainable community market – and as a business it has good ethical credentials, being a Living Wage employer, signed up to the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard and the UN’s Global Compact. All of this means that you can tuck into your dinner knowing you’re supporting an enterprise that’s not just in it for profit, but for the good of people and the planet too.
The market has plenty of seating, both indoors and outside. And as well as excellent food and drink, it hosts a number of events, such as live music and quizzes. You’ll also find arcade games, a boxing gym, an Italian supermarket and a microbrewery!
The Elephant and Castle site was Mercato Metropolitano’s first, but there are now a number of others, including a beautiful market in a Grade 1 listed church in Mayfair.
Key info
Nearest tube stop: Elephant and Castle (Bakerloo and Northern lines)
When to visit: Open seven days a week. Hours vary – but always open until quite late at night.
Visit website
2. Brixton Village and Market Row
One of London’s most diverse markets – with stalls representing more than 50 nationalities.
“Brixton Village London” by Europe A La Carte is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
There are actually four major markets in Brixton. But for food, look no further than Brixton Village. There are more than 100 stalls here, representing more than 50 nationalities. There’s plenty of Jamaican and Caribbean food on offer, of course, but there’s also much else besides: a Japanese Okonomiyaki restaurant jostles for space with French bakeries, cocktail bars and the excellent Thai Kaosarn.
The Village has a reputation for being the starting point of many successful food businesses: Franco Manca and Honest Burger (both of which you can now find in every corner of the city) started out here. As well as the wide range of food, stalls sell everything from vintage clothing to fresh food and vegetables and handmade jewellery.
Brixton Village’s important history
Brixton Village is in a beautiful 1930s indoor market – though it got its soul in the following decades, with the arrival of the Windrush generation. Immigrants from the Caribbean settled in Brixton, which became seen as a ‘home away from home’. Caribbean culture (and food!) has defined the area ever since.
For decades, Brixton Village (then called Brixton Market) thrived at the heart of this community – though it entered a period of decline in the late 1960s. In 2009, the market was rebranded as Brixton Village. Its turnaround into one of London’s trendiest spots has been nothing short of astonishing. Nearby is the famous Electric Avenue – the first market street to be lit by electric lights.
Key info:
Nearest tube stop: Brixton (Victoria Line)
When to visit: Open seven days a week – shorter hours on Monday. Stores and restaurants sometimes have different hours.
Visit website
Brixton is also one of the best areas to stay in London for an authentic experience.
3. Peckham Levels
A food hall set in a former-car park turned creative hub, with sweeping views across to London’s skyline.
Another example of urban renewal, Peckham Levels is one of the best places to eat in trendy Peckham. A former multi story car park, it’s now a huge creative hub. Most of the floors provide space for local start-ups and artists, ensuring it remains rooted in the local community. But on the sixth floor, you’ll find an excellent food hall, with a good range of food options and a bar with a great selection of beer.
My recommendation would be Little Baobab – a delicious Senegalese food stall. It was founded by Khadim Mane, who felt there weren’t enough Senegalese restaurants in London and wanted to share his country’s culture and cuisine.
The food hall is a really cool place, with excellent views across to London’s skyline (there’s also a roof terrace, with even better views) and the lines of old car parking spots still visible on the floor. It also has live events, some arcade machines and a pool table. Throughout the food court are TV screens, showing live sport and football.
Peckham Levels is also attached to Peckhamplex – one of London’s best affordable cinemas.
Key info:
Nearest tube stop: Peckham Rye (London Overground)
When to visit: Open Wednesday-Sunday. Food hall is usually open from noon until late at night.
Visit website
4. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market
Two buzzing indoor markets next door to each other, with excellent food and drink.
A little bit further down the tube map than most of the markets in this list, Tooting’s two indoor markets are must visits. And because of their Zone 3 location they can be cheaper than some of the other options – though prices have been going up in recent years. Although they’re technically two separate markets, they’re pretty much next door neighbours and I rarely visit one without the other.
Both markets are full of food stalls and shops representing the multiculturalism of the area – Broadway Market alone has more than 100 units. Expect trendy brunch and craft beer places, jostling for space with curio shops that have been there for decades, fruit and veg stalls, and just about every type of cuisine you could hope for.
One of my favourite spots is the cosy Secret Bar in Tooting Market. It’s a lovely little Portuguese bar, and one of the best places to get a drink – at incredibly affordable prices (for London). On Friday and Saturday nights the markets will often host live music.
Two of London’s most historic, authentic indoor markets
As well as being cool, vibrant places to visit, these two markets are among the most authentic and historic left in London. Tooting Market is the older of the two, opening in 1930, while its twin Tooting Broadway Market opened six years later. Compared to a lot of London’s other indoor markets and covered arcades, they’ve kept their character – though they’re changing at pace, along with the wider area.
Tooting is a buzzing, diverse neighbourhood. And for nearly a century, these markets have been the heart of that. In fact, a blue plaque outside one of the markets now recognises the contributions of migrants to the neighbourhood. Together these two markets are the beating heart of Tooting, which is one of my favourite parts of London.
Key info:
Nearest tube stop: Tooting Broadway (Northern Line)
When to visit: Both markets are open 7 days a week – but many stalls are closed or have shorter hours on Mondays and Sundays. On Fridays and Saturdays the markets are open until midnight.
Tooting Broadway Market website
Tooting Market website
5. Borough Market
One of London’s most iconic food markets.
“Entrance to Borough Market” by Garry Knight is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Borough market hardly needs an introduction – but I couldn’t write a blog on South London’s best food markets without including it!
There’s been a market on this location for 1,000 years – and Borough Market has been on its current site since 1756. It has a fascinating history (which you can read about on the Market’s website) and is in one of the most evocative, historic parts of the city. It’s a proper maze, with stalls crammed in, only adding to the sense of history.
Nowadays, it’s well and truly on the tourist trail. It specialises in international food, and there are countless gourmet food stalls and shops. If you’re a real foodie, it’s a must-visit: some of London’s best rated places to eat are here. But be warned: many of them are expensive.
It also gets extremely busy. For these reasons, I tend not to visit Borough Market as much as the other markets on this list. That being said, if you’ve never been before, it is one of those places in London you have to visit at least once. Try to visit early hours – especially midweek – for a more relaxed visit.
Key info:
Nearest tube stop: London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern Lines)
When to visit: Open 9-5 every day except Monday (closed) and Sunday (10-4). Visit early if you can.
Visit website
Honourable mentions
Across South London countless other food markets and places to get street food have popped up. Here are a few other honourable mentions, that are all excellent places to get some food or a drink in South London.
Maltby Street Market
Maltby Street Market is a weekend-only daytime street market. It’s on a charming little alley in between railway arches, with colourful flags adding to the atmosphere. The market has only been going since 2010, but it’s on a historic cobbled street and has a feel of ‘Old London’. This market, too, can get very crowded.
Sat – 10am-5pm. Sun – 11am-4pm.
Closest tube station: London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern lines)
Visit website.
Vinegar Yard
Another street food spot close to London Bridge, Vinegar Yard opened in 2019. It hasn’t got the widest range of food options, especially compared to the others on this list. But what it has got is a large outdoor garden with a stunning, unobstructed view of the Shard, making it a lovely spot on a nice day. It has a flea market on weekends.
Tues-Sun. Evenings only, except Saturday and Sunday.
Closest tube station: London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern lines)
Visit website.
Between the Bridges
Between the Bridges is a great place to stop for a drink on a sunny day. It’s just off the River Thames, in a prime location on London’s Southbank. Again, the food options aren’t the best or most eclectic – location is the winning factor here, as well as its events. It has a big screen for major sporting events, and a great programme of live entertainment.
Tues-Sun, around midday until 11pm (midnight on Fridays and Saturdays).
Closest tube station: Waterloo (Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo and Waterloo & City lines)
Visit website
Market Place Vauxhall
This is a lovely little food hall, and less-well known than some of the others on this list. It’s in an old tunnel right next to Vauxhall tube station with 12 different food vendors. Its been open since 2022, and its railway arch location gives it an industrial vibe. It’s run by Market Place, who have a number of other food halls in the city.
Seven days a week.
Closest tube station: Vauxhall (Victoria line)
Visit website.
Kingston Ancient Marketplace
Okay, so this one is a bit further out. But it’s in London – just. The oldest records of Kingston Market come from the 13th century, and it’s an example of a medieval market continuing to thrive. It’s in a beautiful little square (the square alone has 15 listed buildings and landmarks!) in the centre of Kingston upon Thames’ historic town centre. My tip is to get some food at the market, and then head to the river just a couple moments away. The riverside in Kingston upon Thames is one of London’s loveliest, and a real hidden gem.
Seven days a week, 10am-5pm
Closet tube station: Not on the tube network. You can get a train to Kingston from Vauxhall or Waterloo.
Visit website.
A map of South London’s best food markets
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