Where to enjoy London's vibrant street-food scene

Telegraph

02-07-2025

London is home to a thriving street-food culture, with markets across the city offering dishes from dozens of cuisines, from Afghan to Venezuelan, Korean to Ethiopian. What's more, travelling into London with South Western Railway makes a spontaneous trip to the city both affordable and easy. Trains will take you into London Waterloo, and SWR offers a host of cheaper tickets on evenings and Sundays, as well as discounted travel when using a Railcard, for which all adults are eligible – bag one online for just £35 a year and you'll save a third on off-peak rail tickets when you travel. You'll also be able to enjoy a selection of discounts with SWR Rewards, including some great dining options within close distance of these foodie hotspots.
Borough Market
Distance from Waterloo: A 20-minute walk
Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm
Surely London's most famous food market, this extensive spread of stalls and shops fills the area beneath the clattering viaducts of London Bridge station – a scenic 25-minute walk from Waterloo station – with top-quality food offerings. It's best visited on weekdays, when crowds are thinner, but whenever you call in, you'll find a dizzying range of tempting lunch dishes. As a suggestion, try Horn OK Please for veggie Indian favourites such as moong dal dosa, savoury crêpes, and chana chaat, a spiced chickpea stew, or head to Khanom Krok for Thai street food, which includes everything from fragrant curries to coconut pancakes. Take advantage of SWR Rewards to get 20 per cent off food and a free glass of bubbly at Bala Baya.
Southbank Centre Food Market
Distance from Waterloo: A four-minute walk
Hours: Friday 12-9pm, Saturday 11am to 9pm, Sunday 12-6pm, plus bank holidays 12-6pm
Located close to Waterloo, just behind Festival Hall on the banks of the Thames, this small weekend food market serves up dishes from a variety of cuisines, from Mexican to Afghan, Polish to Venezuelan. Order a lamb wrap laden with spicy tomato sauce from Pakhlaan Afghan grill, a vegan stew served with injera flatbread from Ethiopique, or a Turkish flatbread filled with spinach and cheese from Fiesta Gözleme. Pair your choice with a seasonal cocktail from Honestfolk or a lesser-known beer from The Hop Locker – the staff at both can advise on the perfect match. To make your dining experience taste even sweeter, take advantage of SWR's Sunday Out tickets to get cheaper travel into the capital. Hungry for more deals? If you take the family to town with SWR, kids can eat for free at Mamuśka.
Maltby Street Market
Distance from Waterloo: Just over 20 minutes – a short Tube ride to Bermondsey followed by a 15-minute walk
Hours: Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm
A short Jubilee line ride from Waterloo station to Bermondsey, this compact market in the atmospheric Ropewalk alleyway is a charming hidden gem squeezed in between the Victorian railway arches of Bermondsey, and features around 30 food stalls along its cobbled lanes. Vendors are switched regularly, so there are always surprises in store. Expect the likes of Mooncheese Toasties, La Criolla Empanadas, artisan biryanis from Degchi and the unique eatery Duck Frites, which specialises in an array of gourmet street food dishes that all let the hero ingredient of duck really shine.
Lower Marsh Market
Distance from Waterloo: A five-minute walk
Hours: Monday to Friday 11am to 3pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm
This Waterloo market has been running since the 19th century and is the perfect place to grab a bite once you arrive at the station. It hosts a diverse mix of vendors, from street food purveyors through to jewellery designers, vinyl record sellers and even toymakers. Follow your nose from stall to stall, picking up grilled cajun chicken from Voodoo Chicken & Spice, perhaps, or maybe a pad thai from Newdlez & Co. There are also delicious Filipino-inspired bao buns at Harlem2Manila and handmade gelato at The Icicle Bicycle. You can get two pizzas for the price of one at Azzurro Bar and Kitchen with SWR Rewards, and if you travel after 2pm you can take advantage of SWR's Evening Out tickets – the perfect starter for your culinary adventure.
Berwick Street Market
Distance from Waterloo: 15 minutes – a short Tube ride to Piccadilly Circus followed by a 10-minute walk
Hours: Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm
Soho's much-loved market dates back to 1778 and was allegedly the first place in London to sell tomatoes and, later, grapefruit. With its convenient location – a brief jaunt from Waterloo on the Bakerloo Line to Piccadilly Circus – it's the perfect spot to stop off in between a busy afternoon of browsing the many charming shops in the area. Today it's home to a range of food stalls serving great-value lunches. Try Dope Birdz for delicious jerk chicken and curried goat or hit Dorothy's Deli for healthy fresh salads and tasty sweet potato fritters. You can also get 25 per cent off the à la carte dining menu at Kitty Hawk rooftop bar with SWR Rewards.
Leather Lane Market
Distance from Waterloo: Just over 20 minutes – take the Tube to Bank and from there the Central line to Chancery Lane, where the market is a short stroll away
Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm
Hop on the tube from Waterloo to Chancery Lane to sample this weekday food market, which is a favourite with local office workers, who come not only for their lunch but also to browse the stalls selling clothing, homeware and fresh flowers. The market also boasts the title of being the oldest street market in Camden, with origins stretching back hundreds of years. There are 100 or so vendors lining either side of the narrow street with almost every cuisine you could imagine; top picks include Parrilla Peruvian grill for wraps and salad boxes, and Rok Kitchen for Korean fried chicken.