Anyone been to Billingsgate market?

[DeanR32]

As title, has anyone been? I can imagine it's pretty cheap, but worth doing the early bird for it?

Any hints and tips? And what do you go to purchase? It's somewhere I've passed a million times in my life and never ventured inside!

[chilistrucker]

I went there a handful of times a few years back delivering container loads of prawns. A very interesting place to go and have a nose around imho, couple of decent caffs there as well. Smithfield is also worth a visit.

[philthy]

Been to most of the markets during my driving career.
I would advise you go, if only to see how a city gets fed. It's an eye opener for most.
While you're there, avail yourself of the caffs, as chilli said, and pick up some reasonably fresh fish (as fresh as you will ever get in a city).

[Claret Badger]

I doubt there is anywhere you will get cheaper or fresher fish in London.

It opens to public about 4am I think but get there before about 5.30am as traders start to pack up then. Dont wear fancy shoes and beware of the trolleys being whizzed through the aisles!

eople seem to be a bit friendlier there these days which helps too, but some only take cash not cards.

Stop for a cuppa and a scallop and bacon sandwich too.

[truck71]

Yep, great experience. Make sure you buy from a primary vendor rather than get tempted by the cheaper secondary ones- fish is all about fresh!

[Turn7]

IIRC, there was a group of London Ph'ers that went, and detailed the visit - was quite interesting, as long as you dont mind being up at silly o clock.

[paul.deitch]

I ended up there once when I hitchhiked down to London for the Rolling Stones free concert in Hyde Park many many years ago. When I and my girlfriend got out of the fish carrying artic we stunk. Well I'm pretty sure it was the fish. That was an eventful weekend and we ended up in a squat with some drunk knife fighters... Beat a hasty retreat from that.

[7795]

Been there many times. Get there as early as possible and trying to haggle hard is a waste of time unless you're buying lots and lots of fish/seafood...

[glenrobbo]

Yes I've been.

But there's something fishy about the plaice....

[Willbee]

paul.deitch said:

I ended up there once when I hitchhiked down to London for the Rolling Stones free concert in Hyde Park many many years ago. When I and my girlfriend got out of the fish carrying artic we stunk. Well I'm pretty sure it was the fish. That was an eventful weekend and we ended up in a squat with some drunk knife fighters... Beat a hasty retreat from that.

Haha, that's one impressive weekend! It reminded me about a uni housemate coming home stinking of fish after waking up in Billingsgate Market. He had no idea how or why he had ended up in the fish market, wearing the tightest fitting size6 womans leather trousers.

I used to go to Billingsgate a couple of times each week to buy Salmon for my wife's catering business. I now go to Makro instead because its a bit cheaper!

[toastybase]

Been there? I used to work there for 20 years MATE.