Borough Market

One more market for now....

I went to Borough Market early last Saturday morning. Like Camden Market, I found that going early is the best way to experience the market without the crowds. Borough Market, which is located by London Bridge, is one of London's oldest markets (dating back to the 11th century) that is home to all kinds of produce, fresh food, and flower stalls.


I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Thankfully this market is only one bus ride away (easier commute than Camden Market). There are plenty of coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants surrounding the market, so there is no chance that you will leave hungry. 

Plus, the sun was shining! I feel like that is a win-win in my book. 

Camden Market

One thing that I really wished I had done when I first lived in London was to go to more markets. There are so many markets throughout the Greater London, and no two are alike. Since I still have some time before the start of term, I've decided to stop by a few of the markets this week.

On Friday, I visited Camden Town in the morning to go the markets before it got too crowded, and I'm glad I did! There was so much to see, and by the time that I left, it was almost too hard to navigate through all of the stalls. The market, which is comprised of smaller markets, is placed in an eccentric district north of the city center. Plenty of vintage clothing, second-hand books, homemade goods, and yummy food.

By late morning, the food stalls had opened up and the air was filled with wonderful aromas from all the different types of food. Truly, you could fill up by eating all of the free samples. Something to note if you are cheap. As easy as it is to get food that I'm accustomed to, I've decided to try something new: Indian food - another thing that I've always been hesitant to try, even when I first lived in London. In case you were wondering, I LOVED it. But don't ask me to name what I ate. Baby steps. 

I'm so upset that this is the first time visiting Camden Market, especially since it wasn't too far  away from where I lived before. The markets here go on and on forever, and it is full of tourists (wait, am I still considered a tourist?) and locals alike. It was definitely worth the three trains that it took for me to get there. 

Crypt Cafe

There is this one cafe that my flatmates and I go crazy over. It is located underneath the church St. Martin in the Fields, which is in Trafalgar Square. Right across from the National Gallery and a close walk to Buckingham Palace and Westminster, Trafalgar Square is usually swamped with tourists. But this little cafe (depending on the time of the day) is a perfect place to get away from the crazy and large crowds outside.

So like I said, the cafe is underneath the church. To be more precise, it is located in the church's crypt, which is where it gets its name. While enjoying some good British food, you realize that you are in the company of the dead. You can't help but notice all of the headstones and grave markers located on the walls. The floors are covered with names of the dead that are lying underneath. It is slightly dark and morbid, but oddly enough it actually enhances the dining experience.

This concept of having a restaurant in a church's crypt isn't at all unique. A lot of churches here in London have at least one restaurant or cafe because it helps generate revenue and bring people to their services. Regardless, my flatmates and I think it is the coolest thing ever.

 ^^The sanctuary upstairs was gorgeous and extremely bright. A complete opposite from downstairs.^^