Borough Market

Still fantastic atmosphere, selection of food and ingredients direct from the producers. To avoid the crowds/tourists I recommend going on Thursdays (open 11am to 4pm), Fridays (open 11am to 5pm) or before 11am on Saturdays.

The best thing about this market is the abundance of fruit and vegetables. Much is spoke about the meat farmers and foreign importers and quite rightly so, but the fruit and veg stands offer an incredible selection of seasonal products. On the stand called 'Turnips' they even prepare fresh fruits and salads on the premises. Fantastic.

Expensive unless you are very careful. There is some fine produce here, but also some blatant rip-offs where produce that is widely available elsewhere is sold way over the going rate. It is a shame the Trustees don't exercise as much concern on pricing as quality. The tourists who now clog the place, mostly buying nothing at all, make it a frustrating experience for real shoppers (unless you go very early). Often they stand in front of stalls taking photos of each other and completely obstructing access to people who might buy something!

Now only for the tourists and people with large wallets buying overpriced hit-and-miss-quality food. There has been a resurgence in local farmers' markets around London and I would suggest trying out some of these first before heading to this overhyped variant.

Pricey, presumably owing to its location, but the stalls are all well presented and quality is high.

I mainly go to the market for the Swiss cheese because it's some of the best I have ever tasted. Some stalls seem overpriced but generally the produce is very good quality, so I guess you get what you pay for.

Good fun if you like food but overcrowded and will cost you a small fortune unless you know your onions, literally. It's easy to get dragged in, so make sure you've had a Full English before you go. Look out for Farmer Sharp's lamb and mutton, The Ginger Pig for pork and bacon, Mrs King's pork pies, Echire butter, Comte cheese, Neal's Yard Dairy. Go Friday if you can.

I still love Borough Market and shop there when I can. Most of the complaints below seem to focus on price and there are certainly cheaper places to shop for food. But the quality is superb and it's an enjoyable shopping experience in itself as the traders really know their stuff and care about food. Try to get there before 10.30am on Saturdays as it gets very busy around midday.

Expensive, tourist-focused rubbish. Anyone who pays £60 for a small roe deer from a game dealer is a damned fool.

Majorly over hyped market that seems to be focused more on the tourist than the real foodie. If you've got nothing else to do, pop in, but expect to fight your way past people who are just looking and wouldn't know what quality was if it fell on them.

Did you know that the starting price traders pay for a whole pitch is only £20 per day? Now think about the prices some of them charge...

This is the best place in London to buy food, in terms of both variety and quality. The quality is phenomenal, the place itself incredibly atmospheric and, because you are often buying directly from the producers, the prices are actually very reasonable.

Visited Borough Market for the first time and thought it was amazing! I spent a fortune on produce to bring home to Wales, it was that good. We need this in Swansea!!

Prices are often extremely painful, which is sadly typical of most farmers' markets and quite unnecessary. Look out for the Comte cheese (but also watch out for the arrogance of the people selling it).

Currently the thing to do if you are thirty-something and looking to show off to guests. Painfully busy after 11am, sometimes painfully expensive, and too many gawpers standing round eating very average burgers.

Sadly the opportunistic old-school market trader is creeping in and bringing down the quality. That said, there are four great stalls and two shops always worth a visit. They aren't cheap but they are the best... and no, I'm not telling you which ones they are!

Great French stall selling Echire butter by the slab. Also look out for the wheels of Comte cheese!

I work nearby and go on Friday afternoons when it's not as busy as it gets on Saturdays. It's the best place in London to buy meat, breads, vegetables, chocolates and virtually every other foodstuff you could ever need. People here really care about their food and the range, freshness and quality is just unbeatable. My only problem is carrying it all home on the tube!

Wonderful fresh produce, all kinds of gourmet foods and lots of delicious snacks for sale. I go once a month and it's really a joy to shop here: a great day out, rather than a dreary trip to the supermarket. I can't recommend it enough.

Excellent food to eat and buy, although it's all a little pricey.

Best place in London to buy food and so much more deserving of your money than Tesco, etc. It's no coincidence that so many of London's top chefs shop here - can't be beat for quality or choice.

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