Borough Market: A Difficult Decision
Myles Byrne
As I move into the second half of my time here in London I have fallen into a rhythm that allows me to feel as if London is a second home. I navigate the city with ease and have been discovering all the qualities that give London its charm. When friends or family visit I am able to give them an in-depth tour of all the tourist attractions as well as the more subtle features that London has to offer. One spot in London that I was introduced to very early on was Borough Market. My first introduction to the Borough Market was short-lived so I did not have much opportunity to explore all the amazing things it had to offer. Then about a month after my first encounter with Borough Market, I had decided to pay another visit where I was able to browse all the amazing food. The market is broken up into halves; one half is dedicated to raw ingredients. In this half, you will find stands that offer fresh ingredients such as clams, beef, and giant wheels of cheese. Also in this section were stands selling homemade sauces, jams, and jellies. The sheer amount of choice you have when perusing Borough Market is almost overwhelming.
The second half and my personal favorite is the section that serves hot food. If you walk into this section when you are hungry I promise you will need at least twenty minutes to decide what to get. There are dozens of stands offering cuisine from all around the world prepared by small businesses that genuinely care about the product they are selling. The amount of care and expertise that goes into providing the best meal possible is one of the things that makes Borough Market great. My personal favorite meal is a salt beef on rye sandwich with swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. When preparing the sandwich, the cook will use a torch to melt the cheese so that it is the perfect consistency that complements the other ingredients on the sandwich. Borough Market is so exciting because there is such a wide variety to choose from which keeps you coming back. It is not only the food that makes Borough Market so great but also the atmosphere. The market is underneath a train rail which makes Borough Market feel like a tucked-away gem. String lights are hung all throughout producing warm ambient lighting. There is also a plastic roof above the market making it safe from rain. All these features make Borough Market feel like a cozy safe space where all you need to worry about is what food you want. I often find myself going to Borough Market during a rainy day as it provides me with a sense of comfort. Borough Market has quickly become my favorite location in London and is my favorite stop on the tour I give to friends and family.
