Discover the Best Street Food in London: A Foodie’s Guide

Street food in London has been around for as long as streets have. But what began as a way for Londoners to enjoy some locally sourced oysters, jellied eels or London Particular soup has grown into a global street food scene that reflects the diversity of the capital and rivals Michelin star restaurants for taste, while being kinder on your bank balance.

From spectacular Scotch eggs to fabulous falafel, follow this guide to take your tastebuds on a round-the-world trip, without leaving the boundaries of the tube map.

London food markets with the best street food traders

If you want great street food in a hurry, hit the food markets. The capital's food halls and independent stalls are where it’s at for international street food eats. You’ll find options as varied as the 300+ languages spoken in the city, with atmosphere and entertainment to match.

Here are five of our favourites, plus some honourable mentions.  

Borough Market

When you’ve been around for a millennia, you learn a thing or two about what makes a good market. Over the years, Borough Market has grown from an old-school hub for fresh local produce into a Mecca for street food that attracts visitors from every corner of the globe. 

Wander around the halls and passageways, and you’ll find everything from traditional Iraqi kubba to reinvented Scotch Eggs drawing you in. With sweet-treats aplenty for dessert (special shout out to the chocolate-covered strawberries). 

Our advice? Go where the aromas take you. 

Borough Market is open six days a week and closed on Mondays (though not all traders are present on all days). Expect it to be busy whenever you go, but especially on weekends. Give yourself plenty of time to make the most of it.    
Getting there: Take the London Underground to London Bridge and follow the signs to Borough Market. It’s right next door.  

Camden Market

Camden Market has long been a melting pot for culture and alternative lifestyles in London. You see this reflected in its eclectic range of fashion shops, music venues and street food stalls. 

Just a quick one while we’re on the subject of melting pots: The Mac Factory’s truffled mushroom-topped cheesy macaroni pots are a must-try.

Okay, back to the eclecticness. There’s something for everyone here. In the mood for Mexican cuisine? Seek out Meathead Mexican’s juicy birria tacos. More plant lover than a meat head? Magic Falafel’s treats are… well, magic. Want to satisfy your sweet tooth? Get acquainted with the Chimney Cake Lady’s Hungarian rolled dough.

Camden Market is open from 10 am till late every day. Food halls close at 9 pm. There’s so much going on here that no two days are ever the same. So, plan ahead (it gets busy) and prepare to return. 

Getting there: Take the London Underground to Camden Town and head along Camden High Street towards Camden Lock (4-minute walk).

BOXPARK

BOXPARK was launched in 2011 as a pop-up shipping container village for dining and shopping in East London. It’s since grown to open hubs for food and culture across London. 

Each BOXPARK has a three-word philosophy: “Eat. Drink. Play.” If that’s not a rallying call for foodies, we don’t know what is. 

Step into any venue — Shoreditch, Croydon, Wembley, Camden or London City — on any day of the week and the first thing you’ll pick up on are the good vibes. Every BOXPARK has a creative feel and welcoming atmosphere. Next, you’ll be drawn to the wealth of street food options. 

Expect an assortment of global cuisines served up by small independent traders alongside London favourites like Chilango’s mind-blowing Mexican menu and Smoky Boys’ choice chicken wings and succulent skewers. All are complemented by bars and stalls offering everything from coffee to cocktails. Plus, a range of games and live music to keep you entertained. 

BOXPARK is the kind of place you’ll pop into for a quick bite to eat and leave five hours later wondering where the time went. 
Getting there: All BOXPARK venues are located close to London Underground stations and bus stops. If you’re a resident at UNCLE Wembley, BOXPARK Wembley is only a 20-minute walk away. Close enough to call it your ‘local’.

Mercato Metropolitano

If you’re reading the name Mercato Metropolitano and thinking it sounds fancy, you’re right. If you’re thinking it sounds Italian, you’re right again. Due punti for you. 

Mercato Metropolitano began life by transforming a disused Milan railway station into a sustainable and vibrant community market. Such was its success, Mecato brought the concept to London (for which we’re eternally grateful). First to an abandoned paper factory in Elephant and Castle, then a Grade-1 listed building in Mayfair and a river-view location in Canary Wharf. 

And it’s stayed true to its roots: vibrant spaces where people of all ages can come together to enjoy sustainable, nutritious street food, live events, classes and experiences. 

But let’s focus on the street food. Mercato Metropolitano is the place to come for authentic Italian pizza, pasta, gelato and coffee. You’re not limited to that particular part of the Mediterranean, though. You can enjoy everything from Syrian chicken liver to Turkish kebabs seven days a week. As well as food and drink from most other regions you can point to on a map.

Did UNCLE move into London’s tallest residential building in Elephant & Castle so we could be close to a Mercato Metropolitano? What gave it away? It was the pizza sauce on our shirt, wasn’t it?

Getting there: All Mercato Metropolitano locations are close to London transport links. If you live at UNCLE Elephant & Castle, you can walk to your nearest venue in around 15 minutes.

Seven Dials Market

Seven Dials Market has many things going for it. Firstly it’s in Covent Garden — the centre of the West End’s shopping, entertainment and food Venn diagram. 

Secondly, it’s more of a food hall than a market, which means you’re protected from the Great British weather all year round. 

Finally, it’s run by KERB. London’s premier street food incubator. What these guys don’t know about street food isn’t worth knowing. 

For prime comfort food, head to the glass-roofed Banana Warehouse. Here is where you’ll find traders offering — among other things — juicy burgers and steaks, colourful curries and spicy chicken. With communal tables for making noises about how great the food is with friends.

If there’s room for dessert (who are we kidding? Of course there is), pay a visit to Cucumber Alley for one of Little Pudding’s famous doughnuts or an Instagram-worthy sundae from Soft Serve Society.   

Seven Dials Market is open seven days a week till late. Expect to queue for food, especially at busy times. Thankfully, everything here is worth queuing for.   

Getting there: Take the London Underground to Covent Garden. Seven Dials Market is a three-minute walk away via Neal Street and Earlham Street. 

Honourable mentions

Still not full? We hear you. Here are some more of our favourite London street food markets to treat your taste buds: 

• Maltby Street Market: A weekend-only daytime street market serving global comfort-food fusions close to London Bridge tube station 

• Southbank Centre Market: A feast of sizzling street food, served up every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Southbank Centre Square, behind the Royal Festival Hall. 

• Broadway Market: A classic Victorian weekend market in Hackney. Choose from over 25 street food stalls serving cuisine from across the world.  

• Brixton Village & Market Row: You don’t have to walk far to find a great food spot in Brixton, but this is the place to go if you’re not sure what you fancy. 

• Old Spitalfields Market: Spades of international street food options and buckets of East London charm, served seven days a week, five minutes from Liverpool Street station.

Experience London street food like a local

It’s not a hot take to say London’s street food scene has something for everyone. Use our recommendations as a guide, but go wherever your taste buds take you. London is a place for exploring. Just one request: if you try something everyone should know about, tell us first. 

Need a place to explore from? UNCLE’s London apartments are within easy reach of popular street food spots. They’re ideally located for ordering in, too.