My favourite London Farmer's Markets

plus recommendations in each area to make a day of it.

Nothing is more enjoyable than a weekend morning at a farmer's market. Slowly strolling from stall to stall, admiring punnets stuffed with whatever is in season. Come rain or shine, people are armoured with their reusable bags, smiling faces, chit-chatting over paper-cloth tables with tubs of free samples that say, 'Try me!' 

Nearly everyone tries a bite and says, 'Oooh, that is delicious. I'll have a couple of those' or 'I'm just looking, but I'll be back after I do the rounds.' Nothing feels rushed at the farmer's market; everyone respects that it takes time to pick the juiciest tomato or the best tub of ruby-red strawberries.

What I love about the markets in London is that they are often located in the mix of everything. After you've loaded up on your goods and semi-filled yourself with sample cheeses, you have the surrounding areas to enjoy and make the day of. 

Which brings me to this week's newsletter - a round-up of my favourite London Farmer's markets. I am also adding a few helpful recommendations for other fun things to do, see, or eat in each area.

Walthamstow

This market is my local, so it's only fair that I made it the first on my list. The Sunday market is small but mighty, and all the sellers are friendly and generous with their time. One of our favourite things at this market is the olive stall. You can fill a decent-sized tub with juicy olives like a sweet pick-n-mix, and it's cheaper than in the supermarket. They always let you try a taste before buying too!

As with all the markets I'll be sharing, the produce available is plentiful. Teds Veg always has a good selection, and all produce comes from their family farm in Lincolnshire, where all crops are grown chemical-free using traditional farming methods. If you're after organic-only produce, the stall closest to the library is certified organic and always has an incredible selection to choose from. Also, don’t skip the Isle of Wight tomato stall. This brand has become very popular lately, and you can find it sold in stores, but there’s nothing better than choosing your own selection of perfectly sweet toms. They also sell some incredible jars of small-batch, handcrafted goods, my favourite being their Oak Smoked blush tomatoes and Punjabi-inspired Makhani sauce, which makes for an easy weeknight dinner.

Walthamstow - Town Square by Selbourne Walk Shopping Centre, off the High Street, Walthamstow E17 7JN.

Open on Sundays 10-2 pm, but they also hold Europe’s second-longest market on Saturdays in the same area.

Other highlights to see in Walthamstow:

• Today, Bread is an independent baker selling baked items, great homeware, and ceramics.

• Brunch at Dudley's - order their famous chilli eggs.

• Walthamstow Village for a drink at the Queens Arms pub.

• God’s Own Junk Yard - an art display of Neon lights with a small cafe called Rolling Scones!

Parliament Hill

If you like wild swimming, then you will want to add this one to your list. Located very close to both the Parliament Hill Lido and the men's and women’s bathing ponds, this is the perfect post-swim farmers market. The variety of offerings here is excellent. The Levain bakery stall is famous for its sourdough, and the Brambletye stall sells biodynamic eggs and fruit. My tip is to hit up one of the hot food stalls like Mumbai Mix or Pizza Massimo after shopping, then walk and enjoy your food on the green, or have a mooch in Superette Deli (info below)

Open Saturday’s 10-2 pm.
Entrance on the heath near tennis courts. William Ellis School, off Highgate Road. NW5 1RN

Other highlights to see in the area

• Superette is a gourmet deli that sells everything from chilli oils to jams to artisan chocolates. We never leave there empty-handed, plus they also serve Dusty Knuckle focaccia, which is extremely good and one you’ll want to take home.

• London Shell Co. Swain's Lane is a fishmonger and wine bar that sells excellent seafood produce. You can sit outside and try something from the daily changing menu or take some fresh fish home to cook.

Bloomsbury

This is one of the few farmer’s Markets on a weekday, and it just happens to be one of my absolute favourites! It’s located right smack-bang in the middle of some of London’s most famous universities so expect lots of students on their lunch break. The food stalls here are excellent; you can get everything from Sri Lankan street food to Joli, an award-winning smoked garlic food producer. You can get a plate of perfectly chewy dumplings with their famous chilli oil here; please don’t leave without buying a jar!

Open 9-2 pm every Thursday at Torrington Square / Byng Place, behind SOAS WC1E 7HY.

• Fortitude Bakehouse consistently makes the best London bakery lists (CNT recently included them in a roundup). You will spot the queue here before you see the shop, but according to pretty much everyone, it’s worth the wait, especially for their cream-filled beignets.

• Great Coffee shops close by (Store St Espresso, Dillon’s Coffee)

• LGBT independent bookstore a few streets away (Gay’s the word)

Growing Communities

One of our favourite things to do is cycle here in the autumn on a cool but sunny day. All the produce sold is either organic or biodynamic, and it highlights foods made by local Hackney producers. You’ll find the loveliest homemade jams, chocolate, and honey. I highly recommend ordering a freshly made Gozleme or some hot cooked nuts, which are so good!

Open Saturday 10-2.30 pm at St Pauls Church, Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7UY

• If you aren’t loaded up on Gozleme, head to Señora Taqueria nearby for some of London’s best tacos! Be prepared to queue - I promise it’s worth the wait, and if it’s sunny, order their iced Horchata.

• There is also a Saturday and Sunday Car boot sale close by at Princess May School, which is £1 entry but has some really good finds. We take Granch here a lot, and he loves it!

  (London N16 8DF)

Victoria Park

This is a pretty famous London farmer’s market, and rightly so. There are sellers here on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday highlights street food traders, has seats and live music, and Sunday focuses more on produce, butchers, fresh fish, bread, and more. I think this is one of the most scenic markets in London, as it’s right in the park, and there are always such good vibes there. We always head here to stock up on our favourite Wild Garlic Kimchi from Kimchi and Radish, which reminds me I need to get some more!

Every Saturday, 11-5 pm, and Every Sunday, 10-4 pm
Between Bonner Gate and Gore Rd, London E2 9JW

• A short journey to Broadway Market / Columbia flower market, also open on Sundays.

• A 20-minute walk will take you to Pophams, another of London’s famous bakeries.

• The Deli Downstairs is 8 minutes away, so if you haven’t loaded up on enough fresh deli goods at the market, then this is worth a mooch.

• Across the road from the Deli Downstairs is The Ginger Pig, a renowned butcher who sells very yummy sausage rolls.

• If you didn’t eat lunch at the market, My Neighbours The Dumplings is a delicious dumpling restaurant selling dim sum in new, interesting flavour combinations. You can also buy a bag to take home and cook for yourself!

Queens Park

Last but most certainly not least, Queens Park Farmers Market. We only visited here for the first time last week, having wanted to go for such a long time. This market has such a homely and authentic feel and includes all the very best of the producers you will see pop up across multiple markets. It’s held inside a local school, and each stall has such variation. Here, you can get everything from hand-cut flower bouquets for very reasonable prices, smoked trout, an entire stall dedicated to cherries, jams, honey, fresh fish, fresh pasta, bone broth and much more. The area has a charming neighbourhood vibe, which is lovely to wander around after you’ve finished at the market.

Every Sunday 10-2 pm Salusbury Primary School, Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6RG

• You can grab a freshly cooked pizza from a wood-fired oven just outside of the market, or if you want to sit in, there are two pizza restaurants on the same street (Pizza Pilgrims and Three Crowns Pizzeria).

• Cocotte is a highly recommended chicken restauraunt serving healthy rotisserie with delicious sides.

• Carmel is an all-day Mediterranean restaurant but is well-known for its delicious brunch menu. As it is pretty popular, reservations are required, so book in advance.

• Salusbury Winestore & Bar is a lovely wine shop and deli where you can sit alfresco and enjoy a glass of wine in the sunshine.

So there we have it - my non exhausitive list of my favourite farmer’s markets in London. I hope you found this helpful, if you have any questions, you can find me in the Chat, where I will respond directly and do let me know if you visit any or have one to recommend.

Callie x