Londoners’ love affair with farmers’ markets

Londoners‘ love affair with farmers‘ markets

Reducing your carbon footprint, adopting a healthier diet and purchasing locally sourced produce are just three reasons to be thankful for the introduction of farmers markets into the modern city lifestyle.

Living in London doesn’t mean that you can’t improve your green credentials too. Tenants renting a property in zones 1 & 2 can become weekend eco-warriors while stocking up on produce so fresh that it almost jumps into their shopping bags. Urban living with rural benefits is what Londoners aspire to, so let’s take a look at what’s on offer around the Capital and recommended by staff from our branches across London

Alexandra Palace Farmers’ Market Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7BA. Every Sunday

The view from Alexandra Palace is bound to inspire, but visitors attend its hilltop foodie heaven for the abundance of locally sourced fruit and vegetables. One of the most enjoyable ways of experiencing the quality on offer is to sample some snacks from an on-site stall. Sizzling organic sausages by Giggly Pig and Mozambican-style chicken from the Zambeziana are just two examples of the high-quality produce on offer here. Around 40 stall holders occupy pitches in Ally Pally, making it one of the larger farmers’ markets in North London.

Marylebone Farmers’ Market Cramer Street Car Park, Marylebone, W1U 4EW. Every Sunday

The ongoing regeneration of Marylebone High Street would be incomplete without a chi chi farmers’ market to go with its assortment of trendy cafes. Situated in an off-street car park comprising 30 to 40 stalls, the market welcomes discerning food shoppers and well behaveddogs and is a prime example of how these events can kickstart a community village vibe, through a common love for healthy eating. Check out the curious- looking yet delicious salad leaves grown by Adrian Izzard or the Mushroom Table where exotic fungi attain almost flower show levels of beauty – great in sandwiches too.

Pimlico Farmers’ Market Orange Square, Corner of Pimlico Rd and Ebury Street, Pimlico, SW1W 8UT. Every Sunday

The picturesque beauty of Orange Square provides a fitting venue for Pimlico farmers’ market. Edible flowers are the big thing here; perfect for adding that final flourish to a memorable Sunday lunch. Kingcup Farm supply a fantastic range including leek flowers, radish pods and other botanical curiosities. Sticking to seasonal produce is a key part of the farmers’ market ethos and the Popina stall lead the way by baking fruit tarts that use only what they harvest. This means that you can enjoy gooseberry, elderflower and blackcurrant offerings only when they are at their absolute peak.

West Hampstead Farmers’ Market West Hampstead Thameslink Station Forecourt, Iverson Road, NW6 1PF. Every Saturday

These guys are relatively new kids on the market block and the Thameslink station forecourt now gets taken over each Saturday by fun, flavour and finger food. Forest Pig Charcuterie is a must-visit part of this compact site. Operating out of Bow Farm in Shropshire’s Wyre forest, they rear free-range animals and produce ham, salami and pepperoni products that blow all supermarket equivalents clean out of the water. Dallaway Cherries produce over fifteen varieties of delicious cherries from their Sussex farm and run an inventive scheme whereby you rent a cherry tree for an allotted period. This allows you to visit the farm and pick fruit from your very own tree.

Wapping Farmers’ Market Wapping Wall E1W 3SG. Every Sunday

An even more recent addition than West Hampstead, Wapping market has the East London hipster contingent eating out of its hand – literally. Aside from a host of locally sourced fruit, veg and dairy items, this is the place to come and sample some of the most inspired snack inventions in town. Fish dogs have to be this year’s ‘next big thing’ – flaky pollock served in a long bun with mint pea puree. This treat is made extra special by way of Wapping market’s riverside location on a renovated Thames quay. An artisanal wine stall run by Andrew Nielsen is another big draw. Here wine is served by refillable bottles by a man who also happens to be a supplier of Claridges. Fine credentials indeed.

South Kensington Farmers’ Market Bute Street SW7 3EX. Every Saturday

Every Saturday morning, Bute Street becomes a pedestrianised foodie destination. Thirty stalls sell everything from seasonal soft fruit to traditional sausages. Look out for the Windrush Valley Goat Diary which is run by a charming family from the Cotswolds. Their herd of pedigree goats is the source of some uncommonly good cheeses and yoghurts.

Notting Hill Farmers’ Market Car park behind Waterstones, Kensington Church Street, W11 3LQ. Every Saturday

Hidden away in a car park behind the main shopping facade, this little gem of a market contains all manner of goodies that you won’t find in your local supermarket. Greens of Glastonbury make the kind of cheddar and double Gloucester cheese that will have you throwing that yellow slab of plastic, you bought from Tesco, straight into the nearest bin.

Islington Farmers‘ Market Between Penton Street and Baron Street. Western End. N1 9PZ. Every Sunday 10am – 2pm

Now forming part of the larger Chapel Market, this eclectic collection of stalls makes up what is widely regarded as London’s first ever farmers’ market. Produce has been traded on this site since medieval farmers drove their livestock through Upper Street en-route to Smithfield. This is a great place to pick up seasonal flowers from Grange Nurseries and some freshly caught seafood from Channel Fish who, as their name suggests, obtain their catch using their very own Brighton-based boat.

Swiss Cottage Farmers’ Market Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, London NW3 3EU. Every Wednesday 10am-3pm

If you don’t want to wait for the weekend before exploring the organic delights of North London, pop into this midweek market situated right next to the Swiss Cottage Library and Sports Centre. The Celtic Bakery is a North West London team of artisan bakers who produce incredibly tasty sourdough loaves. Eggs from the Harvest Moon stall should be an indispensable part of any grocery list, as an ultra-fresh organic poached egg is the difference between a triumphant eggs benedict and a stodgy disaster.

So the next time you place your standard supermarket roast in the oven or tear open your vacuum-sealed bag of Peruvian asparagus, give some thought about going on a food discovery trip. The exotic might be closer than you think.