Full of tasty food to try and buy

Word to the wise: If the Borough crowds are too much, join the locals at nearby Maltby Street, home to a much smaller and more laid-back off-shoot market.

Noteworthy for: Cheeky people come just for the ample tasters available, so you can try before you buy.

Borough Market is the capital’s oldest food market, packed with stalls that sell produce and delicacies from all four corners of the world. This place is without doubt a food lover’s paradise; sniff out cheese from Switzerland, sample sausages and chorizo from Spain, feast on fancy French pralines or indulge in an Indian curry.

It's not all about the stalls, though: on the narrow streets surrounding the market are a good selection of eateries and food suppliers, including the famed Neal's Yard Dairy (see separate entry) and Monmouth, which brews some of the best coffee in London (hence the permanent queue). If you fancy a sit down meal, try Elliot's or the Wright Brother's.

The market gets terribly busy on Saturdays so try to arrive before 11am or, better still, go in the week instead. At the end of the day, they often slash the prices too.