London Borough Market: Self-Guided Food Tour with Audio

Summary

Explore borough market’s flavors with a self-guided audio walk

You’ll wander through London’s Borough Market with an audio guide in your ear, tasting everything from fresh bread to street food while learning quirky bits of history. Pause when you want for photos or snacks — there’s no rush. With GPS guidance and local voices leading the way, you’ll find hidden corners and flavors you might’ve missed otherwise… plus a few laughs you’ll remember long after the last bite.

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed stepping into Borough Market was the mix of voices — not just English, but Spanish, French, something that sounded like Polish? It’s loud in a friendly way. I started near the Golden Hinde (that old ship looks almost out of place next to Café Nero), headphones on, listening to William Sitwell talk about the market’s history. Didn’t expect to care about 12th-century food fights, but here we are. The air smelled like toasted bread and something sweet — maybe those doughnuts everyone was queuing for.

I wandered past vegetable stalls so green they looked fake, then got distracted by a woman selling cheese who let me try a crumbly wedge I still can’t pronounce (Pip, the other voice on the audio tour, joked about it too). There’s this moment where you’re standing under the glass roof and someone’s frying onions nearby — it hits you all at once. I paused the audio just to listen to people haggling over olives. The self-guided part means nobody rushes you; I probably spent too long staring at pastries.

Later, I found myself next to a group of students arguing about which curry stall is best. The GPS map kept me from getting lost — honestly, I’m hopeless with directions. At one point my phone buzzed with an “Instagram hotspot” tip; took a photo but my hand was greasy from some fried thing (worth it). By the time I left, my bag was heavier and my shoes sticky from spilled cider. Borough Market isn’t just food — it’s noise and stories and little moments you don’t plan for. Still thinking about that cheese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Borough Market Food Tour

• Start at Golden Hinde ship
• Discover market's history
• Explore fresh vegetable suppliers
• Taste varieties and stop for drinks

Top questions

Is this Borough Market food tour guided or self-guided?

This is a self-guided audio walking tour of Borough Market.

Does the tour include entrance tickets?

No entrance tickets are needed or included for this experience.

Who provides the audio commentary on this tour?

The audio guide features restaurant critic William Sitwell and local food enthusiast Pip.

Can I use the tour offline without WiFi?

Yes, you can download the tour in advance for offline use.

Is this Borough Market food tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels.

Are children or strollers allowed on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller during the tour.

Does this day trip include lunch or tastings?

No tastings or lunch are included; you purchase your own food as you go.

How do I navigate between stops on this self-guided tour?

The GPS map in the app helps guide you between locations within Borough Market.

What’s included

Your day includes access to a location-aware self-guided audio tour led by locals and historians, downloadable maps for offline use so you won’t need WiFi, tips for photo spots along the way, and guidance through Borough Market’s best corners at your own pace—no tickets or scheduled entry required.