Borough Market

The smell hits you first - a proper assault of roasted garlic, fresh fish, and sizzling meat that makes your stomach growl before you've even stepped through the Victorian arches. Borough Market, tucked under the railway bridge south of the Thames, is London's oldest food market still operating, and it feels like the real thing, not some tourists-only theatre.

You're there to eat, primarily. Dozens of stalls sell everything from aged Manchego to wild boar, Thai curry to Welsh cakes. The crowd is three parts foodie one part tourist, which means queues are real but the produce is genuinely excellent. Most stalls let you taste before buying - always a good sign. Allow at least an hour to browse properly, maybe two if you plan to sit and eat.

Families work well here, especially children keen on food. But if your kids are the 'chicken nuggets only' type, they'll find it overwhelming. Walkers doing a London day trip should make this a lunch stop on the way to Tower Bridge or the South Bank. It's free to wander, though expect to spend ten to thirty quid per person on food depending on appetite.

The nearby Lovat Parks offers proper accommodation if you're doing the full Greater London holiday circuit. Market trading happens Tuesday to Sunday, though weekends draw real crowds. Friday afternoon is your sweet spot - busy enough to feel alive, not rammed.