Best Shopping Malls, Outlet and Places in The Castle Area

"Though several of these markets are very well known, Borough Market is arguably the most famous of them all….and for good reason!. Borough Market originally opened in 1014 and thus celebrated its 1,000 year birthday in 2014. Originally called Southwark, Borough Market currently resides in its original location — just south of London Bridge."

"London’s oldest, busiest, buzziest food market is a food tourist’s dream, and recent restaurant openings have perked things up. Between Monmouth Coffee’s queue, Ginger Pig sausage rolls, Kappacasein toasties, and Brindisa chorizo sausage in a roll, Bao’s new restaurant, Flor, and mainstay Elliotts are all top shouts."

"This gourmet’s delight boasts a mouth-watering range of speciality fresh food stalls under its Dickensian wrought-iron roof. The accent here is on quality, not cheapness. Stallholders come to trade from all parts of the UK as well as traditional products from Europe being imported and sold."

"Old Spitalfields Market in the heart of London’s lively East End is home to some amazing street food stalls. From African cuisine to Turkish wraps, crepes, to traditional Italian pizza, Ethiopian food and fat burgers, Spitalfields caters for every foodie no matter the style - there’s even a large variety of vegan grub (the cauli shawarma is Spring’s greatest hit). The market itself is always buzzing - our first stop is always the nata stand!"

"Explore this covered market in east London that sells everything from clothes to food and artwork. Old Spitalfields Market is full of cutting-edge fashion and accessories; whether from designer brands or independent boutiques. You'll also find specialist shops, street food and restaurants nearby."

"This lively east London market has an eclectic mix of stalls that will satisfy any shopper. It’s open seven days a week, so naturally it’s one of London’s busiest shopping destinations. There are antiques, clothes, jewellery - you name it, they’ve got it."

"You’ll love Columbia Road Flower Market for the vibrancy of colour and wonderful smells that permeate the neighbourhood on Sundays. Open from 8am till 3pm be sure to get there early for the freshest flowers but also arriving late on can grab you some bargains as sellers want to move stock, especially cut flowers, but beware of all stock selling out if you plan to arrive later in the day. Located on a historic street in the East End of London, the area springs up like an oasis in the concrete desert with all manner of plants from cut flowers to small bedding plants, to small and large trees."

"A wonderful explosion of colour and life, this weekly market sells a beautiful array of flowers, pot plants, bulbs, seeds and everything you might need for the garden. It's a lot of fun and the best place to hear proper Cockney barrow-boy banter ('We got flowers cheap enough for ya muvver-in-law's grave' etc). It gets really packed, so go as early as you can, or later on when the vendors sell off cut flowers cheaply."

"Columbia Road Flower Market is a must-visitSunday market in London. Beloved by locals and visitors alike, it’s not hard to see why this is a real favourite. After all, shopping for armfuls of blooms and perhaps a house plant or two is a pretty lovely way to spend part of your weekend."

"A bustling market with some of the best food stalls in London, the Southbank Market is a definite must-visit for food lovers in London. It’s tucked around the back of the famous Southbank Centre, so is the perfect stop to refuel whilst exploring the area. As one of London’s best food markets, the competition to get a spot here is fierce – with the end result that the stalls are absolutely brilliant."

"The Southbank Centre Market could be classed as a slightly more upmarket street food spot in London, but that’s just what makes it one of the best. Greek souvlaki, a whole stall for beautiful bruschetta, Shrimpy’s shrimp burgers plus a variety of alcoholic beverages you could go around tasting all day. This open-topped market sets up every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Southbank Centre Square."

"Another market for food lovers is set up across an outdoor space at Southbank Centre, with both street food and fresh produce to tempt passers-by. A trip to the market can be combined with further exploration of the Southbank Centre, which continually hosts cultural exhibitions and events. Southbank Centre Market: Friday Midday-8pm, Saturday 11am-8pm, Sunday and Monday Midday-6pm."

"Tucked between railway arches and an architectural salvage lumberyard, Bermondsey’s Maltby Street Market is a hub for those who take their food seriously. Maltby sells everything from organic vegetables to the most decadent egg waffles, and also serves as the perfect pit stop during a day out in the area—the Textile Museum and White Cube Bermondsey are within a six-minute walk. View this post on Instagram"

"Each weekend a gastronomic feast is set up beneath the railway arches of Bermondsey, with a street market stretch called the Ropewalk. Food vendors range from seafood and cured meat producers to local artisans selling their baked goods and homemade pickles and preserves. Aside from being able to sample local produce, visitors can pick up a gourmet coffee."

"A small, vibrant market with a good range of quality street food stalls, food producers and cafes. Open: Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 11am–4pmAddress: 41 Maltby St, London SE1 3PATransport: London Bridge tube/train station or Bermondsey tube stationmaltby.st"

"Kings College London only recently opened this permanent site for the Science Gallery, a dedicated space for showing contemporary artwork that explores scientific questions. Its inaugural exhibition is all about addiction, called Hooked, and previous shows in its travelling days have investigated blood, food and orifices. Think of it as looking at science through the eyes of an artist."

"Science Gallery London is an art-science-and-health inspired gallery in London. The free museum has been open since 2018 in London Bridge after a series of pop-up exhibits across London. The gallery aims to bring together scientists, artists, and communities with three themed seasons every year."

"Restaurants Japanese Haggerston. This Japanese café in Haggerston gets top rating from young customers thanks to its toy-filled playroom and canalside location. There’s no pressure to spend and scarper: while away the afternoon with as many matcha lattes as you can handle."

"Sorry estate agents, but as much as you brand this area off Kingsland Road ‘The Haggerston Riviera’, absolutely no one is buying it. Not that it bothers the quiet and unassuming cafe Toconoco. Tucked away just off the Regent’s Canal, this cute Japanese spot is a total hidden gem and serves up simple, tasty and pocket-friendly meals."

"Harrods, Basil Street Entrance, Brompton Road, London SW1X 7XL Why should you care?. Juliette's comes from Unlocked Brands, the same people who are behind the recently opened Homestead on London City Island. This new addition to Harrods is all about dirnking rose and dining on pithiviers and pattisserie."

"What: Not to be mistaken with the trademarked ‘Cronut’ the Crodough is an entirely different creation *cough cough* which combines a croissant and a doughnut. Flaky and light, these delicious rounds of sweet fried pastry come in all manner of decadent flavours that infiltrate the layers; toffee apple crumble, oreo cheesecake, salted caramel and peanut butter jelly to name but a few. Find them at: 224 Jubilee street, E1 3BS or 79 Vallance Road, E1 5BS"

"Whatever your stance on the croissant-doughnut hybrid, you've got to admire the dedication to the crodough cause at this E1 institution. They usually have 10 or more flavours on offer — all of them flamboyant, some of them highly controversial (Crème Egg Crodough, we’re looking at you), others fried, layered crowd-pleasers like the Raspberry Crodough. Rinkoff Bakery, 224, Jubilee Street, E1 3BS"

"Established in 1911, Rinkoff bakery is a family run business in the heart of Whitechapel. With over a hundred years of honing its baking skills, Rinkoff bakery is sure to sell you the perfect doughnut. Crodoughs, a gorgeous croissant-doughnut hybrid is Rinkoff’s most renowned menu item."

"Occupying disused bare-brick railway arches in Waterloo underground station, The Vaults is a striking space for alternative arts and immersive theatre. As well as jazz sets, indie plays, and alien-themed musicals, you can discover a continual rotation of art in its tunnels. This unique contemporary art gallery is said to feature artists who ‘have a natural affinity for the unusual, the daring, and the unknown’, and that is easy to see."

"From fully-qualified doctors to avid viewers of Holby City, this museum will remind you of how surgery used to be a whole lot more gruesome back in the day. Europe’s oldest surviving operating theatre is in Southwark, dating back more than 300 years. Nowadays you can tour the theatre, which has been kept exactly as it was when it was used during a time of no anaesthetic (ow), no antiseptic (ew) and certainly no antibiotics (crikey)."

"The V&A's Theatre Collections hold the UK's national collection of material about live performance in the UK since Shakespeare's day, covering drama, dance, musical theatre, circus, music hall, rock and pop, and other forms of live entertainment. Theatre and Performance galleries dedicated to the performing arts, display works of art, costumes, ephemera, video recordings, puppets, posters and photographs."

"Alternatives (or additional spots) in the area to the above attractions: Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market (one of London’s most famous food markets), The Old Operating Theatre Museum (fee*), The Monument (fee*), and The View from the Shard (fee*)."