walk/tour
Bermondsey Underground Station, SE16 4RX
what3words: cabin.rots.legal
A lively food-history walk from Bermondsey to Borough, tracing how railway arches, markets, hop trading, coaching inns and migration have shaped how London eats. We will explore Spa Terminus, Maltby Street, The Hop Exchange, The George Inn and Borough’s market edge through stories of trade, travel, street food, preservation, neighbourhood change and hidden corners, past and present along the route.
Bermondsey
London Bridge
1, 188, 381, 47, C10, P12
Starts outside Bermondsey tube station, and finishes near Borough Market/London Bridge station.
Some paving is uneven/cobbled and markets may be busy. Seating is not guaranteed, but we’ll pause regularly where possible on the route.
Expect market crowds, food smells, noise, uneven paving and road crossings. Seating isn’t guaranteed; we’ll pause where possible.
Follow a delicious hidden route from Bermondsey to Borough, tracing how food has moved through this part of London by road, rail, market, warehouse and railway arch.
We’ll begin at Spa Terminus, where today’s food producers work from railway arches and industrial spaces, then continue through Maltby Street and Ropewalk before heading towards the Hop Exchange, The George Inn Yard and the edge of Borough Market.
Along the way, we’ll explore stories of cheese-making, smoking and curing, fermentation, street food, hop trading, coaching inns, Victorian railways, market life and neighbourhood change. The walk connects present-day food culture with the working histories underneath it: the people, places and routes that helped feed the city. Visitors can expect a relaxed walking tour with regular storytelling stops, optional food purchases and plenty of chances to notice the hidden food history built into the streets, arches and markets between Bermondsey and Borough.
The Golden Key Academy is a course training up insightful and engaging guides dedicated to explaining London and bringing its many stories to life. This tour is part of a wider collection of tours created by Golden Key Academy guides for the Open House Festival celebrating their conclusion of the eight month course.
Further information on the Golden Key Academy can be found here https://open-city.org.uk/golden-key-academy
If you would like to attend this tour, please ensure you have booked a ticket before turning up.
