Borough Market has been London’s most celebrated food market for the past twenty years. Seven Dials Market opened in a converted banana warehouse in Covent Garden in 2019 and has rapidly become one of the best food destinations in central London. Both are excellent. They’re also quite different experiences.
Here’s my honest comparison.
Borough Market: The Original
Borough Market has been a trading site since at least the 13th century. The current Victorian market building under the railway arches at London Bridge is one of London’s most atmospheric spaces. The quality of the produce and prepared food is extraordinary — Neal’s Yard Dairy cheese, Turnips seasonal vegetables, St John Bakery bread, Monmouth Coffee, specialist meat traders, international food producers.
What Borough Market does best:
Premium provisions: the best cheese, charcuterie, bread, and specialty grocery in London
Scale: it’s an enormous market with dozens of regular traders
Atmosphere: the Victorian setting, the railway arches, the proximity to the South Bank
International food offer: a genuinely global range of stalls
The honest caveats:
Borough Market on a Saturday morning is extremely crowded — tourist volumes plus local shoppers create a density that can make eating and moving uncomfortable. Prices are high: this is a premium market, and the prepared food stalls in particular can be expensive. The experience is better on a Thursday or Friday, when the crowds are manageable.
At the time of writing, Borough Market is open Monday–Saturday, with Thursday–Saturday being the primary market days.
Seven Dials Market: The Newcomer
Seven Dials Market opened in a converted Victorian banana warehouse (literally: the building was once used for ripening bananas imported from the Caribbean) in 2019. The space is covered, which matters in London’s weather, and the food offer is curated and strong.
The market focuses on prepared food rather than provisions — it’s primarily a place to eat, not to shop for ingredients. The traders rotate, but the selection typically includes excellent Spanish, West African, Japanese, South American, and British options.
What Seven Dials Market does best:
Covered, all-weather eating (important in London)
Central location (Covent Garden, minutes from the West End)
Curated food offer with consistently high quality
Less crowded than Borough Market
Better suited to a sit-down meal or a leisurely lunch
The honest caveats:
It’s smaller than Borough Market and doesn’t offer the same range of provisions for cooking at home. The setting is interesting but less atmospheric than the Victorian Borough arches. Some traders can be expensive.
At the time of writing, Seven Dials Market is open Wednesday–Sunday.
Which Should You Visit?
If you’re interested in buying produce and specialist ingredients to take home: Borough Market, without question. It’s one of the best provisions markets in the world.
If you want a meal and you’re based in central London: Seven Dials Market is more convenient, better weather-protected, and has an excellent food selection.
If it’s a Saturday and you want atmosphere: Borough Market wins, but go early (before 11am) or accept the crowds.
If you want a quieter, more enjoyable eating experience: Seven Dials Market, or Borough Market on a Thursday or Friday.
For first-time London visitors: In my experience, Borough Market is the more impressive and distinctive of the two — the setting and the scale are unlike anything else. But if you’ve already been, Seven Dials Market offers something genuinely different.
A Third Option Worth Considering
Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey — covered in the food markets guide — is, in my honest opinion, the best of all three for food quality, atmosphere, and genuine local character. Smaller, under the railway arches, weekend only, no tourist overlay. If you can only do one market and you’re willing to travel to Bermondsey, that’s my recommendation.
FAQs
1. Is Borough Market free to visit?
Yes — entry is free, though you’ll spend money on food and drink. Expect to pay premium prices for premium products.
2. Is Seven Dials Market free to enter?
Yes — entry is free. You pay for food and drink.
3. When is Borough Market least crowded?
Thursday or Friday mornings, in my experience. Saturday mornings before 10am are manageable; Saturday afternoons are the most crowded.
4. Are both markets open year-round?
At the time of writing, yes — both operate year-round. Check the websites for holiday closures.
5. Can I find vegan food at both markets?
Yes — both have good vegan options. Borough Market has dedicated vegan traders; Seven Dials Market typically has several plant-based options among the rotating traders.
6. Is Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden?
Yes — it’s in the Seven Dials area of Covent Garden, a short walk from the piazza. The entrance is on Earlham Street.
7. What’s the best thing to eat at Borough Market?
Personally: a neal’s yard cheese and a St John Bakery doughnut, eaten on the South Bank. It’s an unremarkable combination that is somehow extraordinarily good.
8. Does Seven Dials Market take card payments?
At the time of writing, yes — most traders are cashless. Borough Market is mixed — most traders take contactless but some are cash only.
9. Are there good coffee options at both?
Yes — Borough Market has Monmouth Coffee (one of the originals of London’s specialty coffee scene) and several other good options. Seven Dials Market has good coffee within the market.
10. Which market would you personally recommend for a first-time London visitor?
Borough Market on a Thursday or Friday morning — the setting, the history, and the quality are unmatched. The Saturday crowd is the only argument against.
— A note from the editor
Destined for London shares my personal experiences, opinions, and independent research. Everything I write reflects what I’ve found to be true at the time of publishing — but London changes constantly, and what works for me may not work for you. Always do your own research and seek qualified professional advice before making decisions about property, finance, schools, healthcare, or anything else that matters. Some links in my posts are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Sponsored content is always clearly labelled. Read the full Terms and Privacy Policy.