Bloomsbury Farmers’ Market: Lunch with the Community

Need a quick lunch spot in London but can’t decide on what kind of food to eat? Are you on a tight budget and find restaurant food too expensive but you also crave authentic cuisine? Bloomsbury Farmers’ Market has a mosaic of foods from all over the world, all under ten quid. Every Thursday from 9 am to 2 pm (open rain or shine) in Torrington square right next to University London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) - which is a 20 minute walk from Byron and Guilford dorms and a 7 minute walk from NYU London - Bloomsbury Farmers’ Market is similar to the famed Camden Market but in a smaller and more manageable scale. Lunch items on the menu include French beef brisket with cheesy buttery potatoes and bacon, Greek gyros, Turkish toasted bread with chicken, Spanish paella, and Sri Lankan curry; the diversity in the food palette is brimming with colors and flavors. Thirsty? Grab some cider made from freshly squeezed apples for three quid. What about dessert? Check out the German sourdough bakery bread stall or Cakehole’s handmake cheesecakes, cupcakes, doughnuts, and of course, all kinds of cakes (carrot, caramel walnut, almond, red velvet, sponge, coffee, chocolate, and tiramisu). Tents for the stalls were up and the crisp air was filled with smoke wafting from grills. The bustling market was crowded with University College London (UCL) students who were discussing their classes and catching up with friends while on a very eventful lunch break. London farmers’ markets span all across the city including Balham, Blackheath, Bloomsbury, Ealing, High Street Kensington, Imperial College (Tuesdays), Islington, Leytonstone, Marylebone, Notting Hill, Parliament Hill, Pimlico Road, Queens Park, South Kensington (Saturdays), Swiss Cottage, Twickenham, Walthamstow, West Hampstead, Willesden, and Wimbledon. These markets value vendors who grow or use local ingredients, supporting local businesses and restaurants in the process. 

Oyin Sangoyomi, a senior at Princeton University who is studying abroad at University College London (UCL) this semester, commented on how she had gözleme, which was her first time trying Turkish food. “I got that because I wanted to try a cuisine I’d never had before. There were a lot of diverse options. The gözleme was like a quesadilla with potatoes in it, which was really good. I definitely want to go back to try more things at the market.”

Brian Ribeiro, a junior in NYU CAS studying Economics, noted how the Bloomsbury farmers market is a “small and fairly hidden surprise in the heart of the UCL campus.” When asked how he came across this market and his thoughts on the food options available, he responded with: “I had heard about the market from a friend and decided to go check it out for myself. On the way over I was expecting something along the likes of the Union square farmers' markets in New York City, so I was in awe when I turned the corner and saw a thriving market full of authentic food from around the world. New unfamiliar smells from a variety of dishes filled the air as I slowly strolled through the market, taking in the plethora of cultures on display. After a long and difficult period of contemplation, I decided on the Greek cart that caught my eye walking in. I ordered a lamb platter which came with chips, pita, lettuce, tomato. This platter was topped with a fantastic homemade Tzatziki sauce. As someone who often enjoys Greek food in the US, I hadn’t been able to have any in the UK, which made the moment so much sweeter when I bit into that first lamb kebab. The platter was incredible and surpassed all of my expectations. I am looking forward to going back and trying all the other savory options available.”