| There is nothing quite like the sights and smells of a | | | | trend towards organic and locally grown produce. You |
| bustling market. London's Borough Market, located in | | | | can browse and "try before you buy" fresh ingredients |
| Southwark, just a few minutes walk from Tower | | | | for the nights dinner, or taste some of the international |
| Bridge, literally smacks the visitor in the face with its | | | | dishes on offer, as well as some home favorites. |
| abundance of culinary choices. Be it hard to find Indian | | | | Sample cheeses ranging from mature and sharp to |
| spices, or the best bangers and mash in the country, all | | | | young and mellow, or line up for an organic falafel, but |
| manner of exotic pleasures can be found at Borough | | | | be prepared to queue for a while, such is their |
| Market. A long, long time ago... In 43ad Roman legions | | | | popularity. Open for business The market is open three |
| arrived at the south bank of the Thames on their way | | | | days a week, from 11am to 5pm Thursdays, 12-6pm |
| to the city of London and came across the early | | | | Fridays and 9am to 4pm Saturdays. Saturday is the |
| Borough Market. In order to reach the city, they | | | | busiest of all days and has an energy all of its own, |
| needed to build a bridge to cross the river. The bridge | | | | where locals and visitors mingle and jostle for position |
| they built was the first incarnation of London Bridge, | | | | in their claim for the last bottle of virgin olive oil, the |
| and it is probably no coincidence that it was built | | | | perfect oyster or impossible to find anywhere else |
| nearby. Bridge building is hungry work. There has been | | | | curry spice. Borough Markets history and swift |
| a market in the area ever since. Changing times | | | | progress is symbolic of London itself, and its frantic |
| Having enjoyed a kind of renaissance in recent times, | | | | energy is representative of life in such a frenzied city. |
| "London's Larder" has tended towards more up | | | | Borough Market is truly a little slice of London, where |
| market and exotic produce, and with prices to match. | | | | the ring of the nearby Southwark Cathedral bell blends |
| However it retains the feel of a village market, helped | | | | with the roar of trains overhead and the shouts of |
| along by the locals who come here to shop for | | | | vendors: "Organic sausages two pounds each. Get |
| weekly supplies. Today the market is considered one | | | | 'em while they're 'ot". |
| of the countries most important retail centers for fine | | | | Mark Eden is a freelance travel photographer and |
| foods. Drawing over 70 gourmet food importers, | | | | writer, and the founder and director of Expanse |
| organic farmers, world class bakers and butchers, it is | | | | Photography, a photographic services company |
| a glorious escape from the masses of supermarket | | | | offering fine art, limited edition prints as well as stock |
| chains offering pre packaged, pre, prepared and pre | | | | and assignment photography and publishing services. |
| processed food. It is also a key influence in the recent | | | | |