Just outside the City boundary is a high quality freshly cooked food market. Find information on many of the food stalls by clicking the links below.
Said to be Britain’s oldest operating street market, and dating back 150 years to the time of Queen Victoria, this collection of international vendors sell food from all around the world.
All the stall holders here know of this history and are proud of their association with such prestigious notoriety. With tempting smells plus joyful sounds of traders and visitors chatting and laughing, it opens Monday to Friday, 11.45 to 2.15, all year round. If food is part of culture, this market defines multi-culturalism.
The market runs from Banner Street in the north to Dufferin Street in the south, and is just a stone’s throw from Old Street Station. Not that we advocate throwing stones at Old Street Station. Italian cuisine, Brazilian cooking, Indian Street market catering, plus much more, all in one area create a melting pot of traditional dishes, each stall with different offerings.
What you will not find are seats, as this is a place where you buy your freshly cooked meal and take it away to eat. The majority of the customers are from local offices on their lunch break, but there are plenty of locals who take advantage of this special offering too.
The street was immaculately swept and clean and traders display pride in their street and stall. So let us look to see what some of those cooking, selling, and buying think of this aromatic gem, managed by the Borough of Islington. Come for a journey around the market with us and meet the hard working stall holders and their happy customers by clicking on the links below.
If you come in from the Banner Street, the first person you will find is Bogma with her Korean food, and whilst we got there there was already a queue, with one customer telling us that Bogma will have his order prepared every day before he even gets there because she knows he is addicted to her meals, in a nice way of course.
Alongside her, you will meet Ning from Thailand . And do not miss Tamir from Iskele and their Turkish cuisine.
Then there are Japanese delicacies to be tried with Hasib and Raj from Katsu, and on to authentic Indian Street food. Nasim from Kamura is in charge here.
You will love Brazil flavour, so say hello to Anderson, and last but not least is the chef and entertainer Gustavo from Beijummy. I won’t say not to be missed, because he is impossible to miss.
Have a great time in Whitecross Street Market. Long may it continue to fee those who live and work around Old Street.
Produced by Victoria Breeden and Ray Smith