Borough Market

Including Borough Market as a place of interest in a blog devoted to wheelchair accessibility is a tough call.  This market is not easily maneuverable for anyone other than young, lithe students.  But that doesn't stop the rest of us from flooding in every Thursday, Friday and Saturday to this foodie heaven.  Truly, this is the best market we've ever been to and the vibrant atmosphere is intoxicating.  There are stalls upon stalls of the freshest meats, cheeses, and vegetables, with countless other sweet and savory delights in every nook and cranny.  As soon as you turn a corner into the market you are rendered powerless to the vivid bursts of colors, the sumptuous smells and the cacophony of ever present voices.

That said, wheeling in this market requires preparation.  There are simply too many people around to make wheeling in a straight path possible, and people are too engrossed in finding a stall that sells just the perfect cut of lamb to notice that a wheelchair user trying to push through the heaving mass.  Indeed, I have seen many parents near tears as they try to push strollers with crying toddlers through the crowd while still trying to sample olives and figs.  It often ends in their slugging lots of mulled wine and having sneaky cigarettes.

With all that aside, you shouldn't miss this market.  If you can, try to go early on a Thursday, or on a Friday morning at the latest.  Saturday is a disaster, but that said we went today (to try to order our Thanksgiving turkey) and we survived.  In fact, we shared a truly magnificent duck sandwich in a quiet alley, and we found another wheelchair user doing the same.  So put on a game face and go for it!

P.S. With my expat hat on, I have a special note to the Americans.  If you're at all concerned with trying to fit in, please do not call this "Burr-O" Market.  It's pronounced more accurately like "Burr-Agh" Market.  And you may wish to reconsider telling everyone how we have better and bigger markets in the States.  We don't (and no, CostCo doesn't count).



Details:

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

Transportation: See the following link for complete transportation information:  http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/page/3020/Visit-us.  However, please bear in mind that the closest tube station, London Bridge, while designated as a wheelchair accessible station may not be accessible to all wheelchair users due to the gap between the platform and tube.