There are numerous food markets dotted around London, not only selling fresh ingredients but also tasty street food. These are my top picks.

London’s Borough Market / Garry Knight

Borough Market is probably the most famous food market in London with a huge range of delicious produce.  The food market’s location can be traced back to the 13^th century and whilst times have changed and the variety of food available has grown considerably, the ethos has remained the same, with quality produce and knowledgeable vendors. Borough Market is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Open from 5am-8.30am (Tuesday to Saturday), a visit to Billingsgate Fish Market certainly rules out a lie-in but, if you enjoy new experiences, it will be worth it. The early morning banter and passionate salesmen, not to mention the powerful fishy fragrance, will be sure to wake you up. Not only is this the place to get the freshest of fish, it also offers a seafood training school (varying in price depending on the level). The market is steeped in tradition and was once the largest fish market in the world. ‘Billingsgate’ has even been coined as a catchphrase to describe the coarse language used by the vendors. Don’t let this put you off though as it creates an unforgettable experience and the fish bought home will be the star of any meal.

If you are looking for unique and authentic food from around the world, make your way to edgy Brick Lane Sunday UpMarket (open every Sunday from 10am to 5pm). The market also has stalls selling fashion and art, probably equating to a very long day of browsing! Luckily, fuel is on offer in the form of huge pans of Spanish paella, punchy Indian street food or perhaps a refreshing mango lassi.

Broadway Market, London / Jeff Easter

Broadway Market in Hackney is open from 9 until 5 every Saturday.  It offers an excellent variety of food, such as organic meat, fruit, vegetables and bread, which is often cheaper than that in the supermarkets. Visit F.Cooke’s pie and mash shop (established in 1900 and now run by Fred’s grandson) to try some traditional jellied eels, an acquired taste but one which must be experienced!

Finally, London Farmers’ Markets are dotted all over the city and provide high-quality, locally sourced produce. Their website, www.lfm.org.uk, provides directions and opening times for all the market locations and specifies what they sell (it also has some recipes for inspiration).

After a day of looking at, smelling and tasting food your stomach will be expecting only the best. Whether it be organic fillet steak with seasonal veg or perhaps a fragrant chicken curry with fresh herbs and exotic chutneys, nowhere can compete with the eclectic and superior produce of the London food markets.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by daniel.herding

Maritime theme park
The first exhibition called Maritime theme park is located in buildings of the former fish market. This exhibition is interactive and can be divided into several parts: Bruges and the sea, military-Zeebrugge harbor, fishermen earlier and now, the International port Zeebrugge or Pirate Paradise. Here you can take a closer look at the Zeebrugge port – its history and present, or at a hard life of fishermen and through the film into the depths of the sea.

Lightship West-Hinder II
The second exposure of Seafront Zeebrugge is Lightship West-Hinder II. It is the ship, which until recently served as navigation and was moored at a position at sea to mark the coast near the town of Nieuwpoort. You can walk through it, touch and learn more about the role of beacon ships.

The Russian submarine Foxtrot
The third exhibition is The Russian submarine Foxtrot. Submarines of this type were used until 1994. During your visit you will learn, how is the life in such submarine when it is filled up with 75 crew members.

Seafront Zeebrugge theme park is open every day from 10am to 6pm and in July and August to 7pm. Keep in mind that the tour of all three parts of the Seafront Zeebrugge takes about two hours. You can buy tickets up to one hour before closing time. Children up to one meter in height, accompanied by parents, have free entry. Children to 12 years pay €8.50, and adults €10.50. Special rates apply for the groups and Seafront Zeebrugge offers many other additional programs for schools and companies. The nearest tram stop is Zeebrugge Kerk. Parking is free right at Seafront Zeebrugge.

For further information, visit the official site of Seafront Zeebrugge.

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The biggest attraction of Hornbæk is its local beach. It is also one of the best beaches in Scandinavia, awarded by the Blue Flag. Hornbæk Beach has fine white sand and you can enjoy here really clean air. It is a popular place of windsurfing and kitesurfing. Unfortunately there is no rent available, so you must bring your equipment yourself. In summer, the swimmers are secured by the Coast Guard. Hornbæk beach stretches on both sides of the harbor.

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Those who like walking and hiking are invited to the public forest Hornbæk Plantage, which stretches several kilometers along the coast. In the forest there are several marked routes. You can stop at one of many small parks and pick up the map of the trails at the local tourist Information Centre.

Hornbæk is also a popular place for fishing enthusiasts. Here you can rent a boat here either at the local Information Centre or in the office of Captain of the port, located on the south side of the harbor. Prices are around 600 DKK (80 EUR) per boat per day and up to 3 people.

You can stay in the local camp, which is well equipped and offers also cabins, a playground and an air trampoline for children. Or in one of the hotels. In the port you can visit the fish market.

Hornbæk is best accessible by train and car. The nearest international airport is located in Copenhagen, which is 50km away.

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Mechelen is situated in the “Flemish diamond” area, a densely populated part of Belgium, among the Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent and Louvain (Leuven). Found Artifacts from the period of La Tene, prove settlement already in the Iron Age (400 BC). Later there were Gallic-Romans in Mechelen and after those there were Germans.

In the 8th century, under the influence of Irish missionaries and preachers St. Rumbold, the residents went to Christianity. St. Rumbold’s Cathedral – Gothic cathedral is one of the landmarks of the city, built between 13th to 16th century, and has 97m high tower with two bells. The Cathedral is registered on UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From the 16th century it comes another important landmark of the city, Small and Large Béguinages (Begijnhof), a unique complex of buildings belonging to Beguines, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mechelen is a picturesque town with its typical atmosphere of winding streets, shops and cafes with a strong Belgian coffee or hot chocolate. In the center you will find a market where you can buy sweets. The best place for shopping is the square Ijzerenleen, which was famous in the Middle Ages for its fish market.

Another interesting tourist place in the city of Mechelen is the square Grote Markt, where you can find a statue of Margaret of York, and three current City Hall buildings: the late Gothic Paleis van de Groote Raad from 16th century, Gothic Belfort from 14th century and Lakenhal from 14th century. The square is surrounded by Renaissance buildings from the 16th century, rococo houses from the 18th century, and is dominated by the already mentioned St. Rumbold’s Cathedral.

In Mechelen you can find many other religious buildings, such as the Baroque basilica Basiliek van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Hanswijk and other churches.

Other important buildings in Mechelen are the late-Gothic palace of Margaret of York, which now serves as a theater and the Palace of Margaret of Austria, originally the seat of the High Court, today the Palace of Justice. The beautiful Renaissance palace gardens are now accessible to the public.

In 1835, the first railway on the European continent was built between Brussels and Mechelen.

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