London Travel Forum

Hi,

I am looking for a fruit and vegtable market in London (I have just moved to Angel; from Australia) - can you recommend one? I live right next to Chapel market - but the prices there are similar to Tescos and/or Sainsbury.

Something similar to flemington market or haymarket in Sydney, Australia. Where you basically have farmers selling fruits and vegetables in bulk to retail customers at really affordable prices.

Its just too expensive to eat healthy in London!

thanks

you need a farmers market - there are loads:

http://www.lfm.org.uk/

you could also go to brough market which is great but a little bit pricey.

http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

It is indeed expensive to eat healthily in the UK, which is why there is such publicity over the nation's health/girth (and especially about its children's weight).

But farmers' markets are not the cheaper option you expect them to be, sadly. Their prices tend to be higher than those in ordinary markets. That's the way the UK is: farmers' markets tend to cater to the niche market rather than the cheap and cheerful (too complex an economic explanation to detail here).

The price you are paying in your local market is likely to be the price you'll pay in any market within reasonable travelling distance (and then you have to add on travelling costs). London (and the south)tends to be more expensive for everything than the rest of the UK.

Have a look at the list of markets here, to see if there ar any feasible options for you to explore:

http://www.urbanpath.com/london/food-markets/

http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/features/1968/London-s_best_food_markets.html

http://www.talkingcities.co.uk/london_pages/shopping_markets.htm

go to spitalfields market [now in east london] new covent garde market or borough market,sometimes you can get nearly out of date fruit veg good for juicer or batch cooking and freezing try google fruit and veg wholesale in london farmers markets to me are a ripof they put less in but charge more

i feel the need to defend farmers markets here, my one (clapham) is ace and not at all expensive. also balham market is great, doesn't help you much mind...

go to spitalfields market [now in east london] new covent garde market or borough market,sometimes you can get nearly out of date fruit veg good for juicer or batch cooking and freezing try google fruit and veg wholesale in london farmers markets to me are a ripof they put less in but charge more,i just asked google and looked just enter fruit and veg wholesalers in london,i wish i lived near you i,d split it with you

boring old fart here again ,our market here in tring can be dearer than tesco like tesco pineapples £1 market this week £2.ifu you had have a car and someone to share new spitalfields market might be the easiest to go to ,start a window box

Try Dalston market, there are some great food stalls there, have been impressed by some of the stuff for sale. It is worth a look anyway. Just off Kingsland Road on a Saturday.

thanks guys for your pointers - definite starting point for more research. Its a real shame though - with such yummy fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat, fish to be had and experimented with - but its not affordable! Almost makes fast-food a more attractive option. The farmer's markets I have been to (Angel, Marylebone) I too have found them to be more of a niche market and way more expensive than the regular supermarkets. But I know bargains are to be had - as one day the local florist here in Baker Street was selling delicious fresh fruits for absolute throw away prices (just for one day though!)

I will keep checking responses so if anyone else has any more hints and tips please keep them coming as I am sure many londoners are interested in this topic and there is nothing like cheap healthy eating.

Dalston is not one of the yuppie farmers/speciality products market, the stuff is quite cheap and very fresh, it is a good place to get west indian and asian products as well.

The cost of healthy food is a real issue in the UK. Convenience food really is still (often much) cheaper, and this is very much reflected in the diets of those on low incomes, be they pensioners, students or those in receipt of benefits.

Not a good situation, and not a great deal better outside the capital, to be honest (especially considering how all food prices have recently risen).

I hope Dalston offers you some feasible choices.