A few weeks ago, I went to Smithfield Market in London. Smithfield Market is the wholesale meat market that sells to restaurants and the catering industry, and visitors can get meats in bulk for a the market rates, instead of the rates marked up by supermarkets. Visitors must arrive early as the market starts to shut at about 7:30 in the morning. I arrived at about 6:45 as that is the earliest that my train can arrive into Waterloo for me to get to this area of London.
Smithfield Market is near Farringdon Station and Chancery Lane. It's located in an area of London, on the fringe of the City, that is rich with history.
Upon arriving, the market was busy with men and women in white uniform loading meat into vans or carrying it around on carts. Others, possibly buyers, were having coffee near the market. Inside the market is a central aisle with meat counters on both sides. Each vendor sells their own unique range of meats. Behind some of these displays are meats (pigs, sheep, cow) hanging.
I saw some pigs ready to be roasted, various organs (hearts, livers, tails), and even sheep heads.
By 8:00 in the morning, the individual markets inside of Smithfield close up. The market gets quieter, and the vehicles start to leave to take their purchases elsewhere.
Smithfield Market from Charterhouse Square
The streets around the market feel 'alive' while the rest of London is very quiet and still asleep. The coffee shops and cafes are open for breakfast.
The pubs near Charterhouse Square also had their lights on.
I walked out of Smithfield Market with 2 kilo of fillet steak, a large honey-roasted gammon, and chicken breasts. This will keep the freezer full for a while.
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