We’ve brought you some of the markets in London to explore – street food markets, all other types of food markets and the more general kind. But did you know how many farmers’ markets there are in the capital? Perhaps more than you would think. Our friends at London Farmers Markets have kindly put together a blog post for us detailing the wheres, whens and whats of some of the farmers markets London has to offer…
Mince pies and homemade Christmas puddings, seasonal fruit and vegetables, bunches of mistletoe, whole cheeses, seasonal preserves, local honey, beeswax candles and lots more. Some markets have their own specialities. Here’s our pick of the bunch: the full list of markets is on our website.
Blackheath
This takes place every Sunday in the car park of Blackheath rail station and they have a wealth of farmers’ produce on offer. Beatbush Farm has free range organic turkeys to order. Free range Legarth geese from East Anglian poultry-farmer Simon Hitches of Green Poultry are available here plus chickens, ducks, and bronze turkeys. Court Farm have beautiful ribs of beef, Stockings Farm have venison and pork joints, and you can order joints of pork from Wicks Manor Farm. Other recommendations for December include home-made fish cakes from The Real Deal Fish Co at the market on the December 8 and 22 and The London Honey Company will bring their single variety honey, candles and lip balms to the market on the December 1 and 15. Seek out The Mushroom Table on December 8 and 22; The Rooney brothers grow an extraordinary range of Japanese mushrooms and forage locally for more, and their mushroom sandwiches are legendary.
Brixton
Going since 2009, this market takes place every Sunday on Brixton Station Road. Order organic game, turkeys, beef and pork from Picks Organics or beef, chicken and lamb from Boarstall Meats. Akiki Organics (at the market weekly) always bring beautiful big bunches of mistletoe from his Worcestershire farm, perfect for this time of year, alongside his range of vegetables, eggs and juice. Rosie Home Preserves will have a huge selection of seasonal jams, chutney and cordials, just right for Christmas cold cuts.
Islington
Another Sunday market, setting up at Chapel Market and Beatbush Farm make an appearance here as well for Christmas, taking orders for free range organic turkeys. Galileo Farm are also taking orders for free range organic turkeys and geese or you can pick one from Layer Marney Farm which offer the same. Downland have gammon, ham and sausages if you’re more of a pork than a bird lover. We, however, love the seasonal game from South Downs Game especially their venison joints and sausages – perfect for something a little different at this time of year.
Marylebone
These markets are all over London as we’ve seen and central Marylebone is no exception, playing host to a farmers market at Cramer Street Car Park every Sunday. Richard Waller is taking orders for free range turkeys, Aylesbury ducks and geese. You can also place orders with Simon Long and Seafayre for lobsters, oysters and other shellfish. On December 21; Windrush Dairy bring their popular goats’ cheese cakes to market, plus their very popular selection of hand made goats cheeses; Moreton Mushrooms are at the market with their range of mushrooms, mushroom pate and Cotswold Legbar blue eggs which go in a flash.
Notting Hill
Hidden behind the Waterstone’s by Notting Hill Gate tube station is this weekly farmers market on Saturdays. We highly recommend the award winning pies from Paul’s poultry and game who as his name suggests, also specialises in game and free range chickens. Tori and Ben’s farm are taking Christmas orders for joints of beef and lamb while Les Lawrence from Christchurch line caught fish has built up quite a fan base for his super fresh fish and shellfish. You can order lobsters or more from his website.
Parliament Hill
Stars of Parliament Hill include Old Hall Farm for free range turkeys, beef joints, and more, and the superb Fosse Meadow Farm for free range chickens, turkeys, cockerels and geese. Hand Picked Shellfish and David Jennings will supply all your shellfish needs and do try to check out The Forest Pig when they’re at market on December 21; we love their hand made salami, all made from Jeremy’s own herds of forest roaming pigs. Grange Nursery will be bringing a seasonal selection of plants and flowers all grown at their Bedfordshire nursery and Pasta E Basta delight us with a purely seasonal range of pasta, sauces and pestos, from purple carrot and cob nut ravioli to wild duck ragu. Delicious!
Queens Park
Every Sunday from 10 to 2 in the Salusbury Primary School, come along and discover Grasmere Farm for gammon and pork joints, sausages and sausage meat, Layer Marney Farm for fur and feathered game, or free range turkeys, joints of rare breed beef, lamb and pork provided by March House Farm. Richard Waller’s free range turkeys, geese and ducks are available here too. On December 22 look out for beautiful seasonal flowers and potted plants from John Cullen Gardens, hand-made terrines from Seasonal Suffolk, plus artisan cheese, butter and milk from Lincolnshire Poachers, and South Coast fish and shellfish from SeaFayre.
Walthamstow
Place orders with Pastures Farm for free range turkeys, with SJ Taylor for joints of veal, Giggly Pig for free range sausages, 
gammon and pork and organic game, turkeys, beef and pork from Picks Organics and then pick them up from the town square on Sundays. Make sure you don’t miss Plot 44; Simon Cork grows his fruit and veg on a local allotment, and turns it into an addictive assortment of sweet and savoury preserves.
West Hampstead
If you’re in the area on a Saturday head to the Thameslink forecourt for this area’s farmers market. Orders can be placed now with Tori and Ben’s Farm for joints of beef & lamb. Fosse Meadows are also taking orders for free range turkeys, geese, cockerels & chickens and Gary Haggis will have fresh fish and shellfish in season including lobster and crab. On December 14 and 21 Railway Cottage Ice cream will be setting up shop with their extraordinary range of superb hand made ice creams. They always come up with something unusual and we’re awaiting their Christmas range with excitement. You’ll also find local preserve makers and bee keepers The Well Preserved here December 21.
Farmers’ Markets take place every weekend with last markets of the year December 21 and 22. Keep an eye on the website and Facebook pages; some farmers may be at local pick up points and deliveries in your neighbourhood.
- Markets are closed between December 24 and January 3. Back January 4 and 5 2014.
- No markets at Bloomsbury 19, 26 Dec and 2 January
- No South Kensington on Tuesday or London Bridge December 24 and 31
- Last Swiss Cottage December 18, back January 8 2014.