The present buildings were built in the 1850s, and today the market mainly sells speciality foods to the general public.

A market that originally adjoined the end of London Bridge was first mentioned in 1276 and was subsequently moved south of St Margaret's church on the High Street.

[4] The City of London received a royal charter from Edward VI in 1550 to control all markets in Southwark (see Guildable Manor), which was confirmed by Charles II in 1671.

The work includes the re-erection in 2004 of the South Portico from the Floral Hall, previously at Covent Garden, which was dismantled when the Royal Opera House was reconstructed in the 1990s.

Amongst the notable businesses trading in the Borough Market were Vitacress, the Lee Brothers, Manny Sugarman, AW Bourne and Eddy Robbins.

Amongst the produce on sale are fresh fruit and vegetables, artisanal food, cheese, meat, game, baked bread, and pastry.

The market is a charitable trusts in English law administered by a board of volunteer trustees, who have to live in the area.

[14] Borough Market and the surrounding streets have been used as a film location for such features as Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).

Each time there is a railway expansion requiring widening of the viaduct, the trustees receive a full compensation payment.

[18] Most recently, as part of the Thameslink Programme, a large number of listed buildings in the Borough Market area have been altered or demolished.