Bridget Jones’s Borough Market
If you’re a fan of romantic comedies, you’ve likely seen the iconic British classic, the Bridget Jones film series. The series includes four films: ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’, ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason’, ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’ and soon, ‘Mad about the Boy’. Based on the novels by Helen Fielding, the books and films follow Jones, a hapless singleton in her thirties, as she navigates life’s many adventures and mishaps.
The films are set across various locations in England, with one of the most notable being London’s Borough Market, the city’s oldest fruit and vegetable market. The market plays a starring role in each of the films.
Here’s a guide to the key spots you can explore, next time you are there:
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Jones’s Flat: 8 Bedale Street
We start at Bridget Jones’s iconic flat, located above The Globe Tavern, a pub dating
back to the 1800s. The exterior of the pub is featured in the films, and many
memorable scenes take place in and outside the flat itself, including when Cleaver
picks Jones up for the ‘Tarts and Vicars’ party in his convertible, and the cosy nights
in with Darcy, and when she famously makes the disastrous blue soup. In reality, the
flat is a 3-bedroom property (although depicted as 1-bedroom in the film) and was
listed for sale in 2018 for £700,000.
Greek Restaurant: 5 Bedale Street
Directly across from Jones’s flat is the Bedales of Borough wine bar, transformed
into a Greek restaurant for the films. This is where the infamous fight scene between
Cleaver and Darcy takes place, with the two characters engaging in a comedic brawl
that spills into the street and through the restaurant window. Remind yourself of the most British fight you’ve ever seen with the clip below.
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
Hobbs Sandwich Shop, Bedale Street
Next to The Globe Tavern is Hobbs, a sandwich shop that was portrayed as a cab
office named ‘Dial-A-Lift’ in this second instalment and as itself in the third, Bridget
Jones’s Baby and from our research the fourth! The shop is renowned for its delicious roast meat baguettes.
Top of Bedale Street
Bedale Street features in a romantic scene where after having spent the night
together Jones and Darcy leave her flat. As he walks away, she texts him,
confessing that she misses him, prompting Darcy to turn back, responding with ‘Miss
you too’. Bridget’s flat door also reappears in this film when Darcy shows up to
declare his love for her.
Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016)
Stoney Street
This is the location where Jones’s car is parked on Stoney Street and her friend and
kids are standing in front of it. Jones is on call to the friend relaying all the juicy
details of the music festival she’d just been to and meets them at her car.
8 Bedale Street
In a rainy scene, a pregnant Bridget gets locked out of her flat after leaving her keys
in the bank, adding to her characteristic string of mishaps. She sits in an alcove next
to her flat door until Darcy arrives to the rescue.
The heart of Borough Market features prominently in several scenes throughout the
film. It’s here where Bridget records diary entries, drags a Christmas tree along the
street and shops for ingredients for the notorious blue soup from the first film.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Scheduled for release in 2025)
As of now, there’s not much we can reveal since the film has only recently wrapped
up. However, we’ve caught a few glimpses and will provide a full report next year
once the film is released.
It’s safe to say the franchise continues to be a postcard to Borough Market. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, why not visit Borough Market and explore these iconic filming spots
yourself? Some of them feature on our ‘Official Borough Market Food Tour’—click
here to book your tour.
This has been Totally Tailored reporting to you from Borough Market, over and out!
