Celebrating a special occasion? See our best afternoon teas review, including classic establishments like The Ritz, Fortnum & Mason, The Shard and more
Treat yourself and a loved one to special afternoon tea in the capital city with our top afternoon tea in London recommendations. Find everything from classic British menus to more unique options and servings for kids. There's no better way to celebrate a birthday, holiday or special occasion. Having been fortunate to sample a wide selection of London's afternoon teas over the past few years, I have rounded up some of the capital's best offerings. This list takes into consideration the price against the service, quality of food and drink and atmosphere. Discover even more teas with the best afternoon teas in the UK for cities around England and Wales, or the best kids afternoon teas in London. For more travel ideas, see the best luxury family hotels in the UK. and the best rooftop bars in London. To make your own dishes at home, see our afternoon tea recipes for all things scones and sandwiches. Top tips for going to an afternoon tea: Come relatively hungry - afternoon teas are most often a sizeable helping and so you'll need a good appetite to tackle the three tiers of sandwiches, scones and pâtisserie. Ask for a doggy bag - if you are defeated by the sheer quantity of food on offer, but simply can't face the thought of missing out on the rest, fear not as most establishments will very happily box up your remaining treats to enjoy later (or the next day!). Experiment with your tea choice - it may feel safe to opt for your normal English Breakfast brew, but there's often so many wonderful tea varieties on offer, why not try something a bit different? Often there will be a member of staff on hand to talk through the tea menu so I often ask them for recommendations. Start savoury, then finish sweet - traditionally, the order of afternoon tea will begin with savoury finger sandwiches, before moving on to the sweet scones and then pâtisserie. Of course, it is up to you, but I recommend going for the savoury options first to keep your palate balanced, rather than getting an early sugar rush. If you want to keep the tea more affordable, then avoid upgrading to the champagne option as this can often add an additional £10-£30 per glass to your price per head. Equally if you want to splash out for a special occasion, then go for it! Sponsored by LW Theatres Experience a showstopping afternoon tea at Theatre Royal Drury Lane Calling all West End buffs: did you know that you can enjoy the delights of a traditional afternoon tea inside one of London's most iconic theatres? Don't miss your chance to tuck into a unique themed menu at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where you can feast on savoury treats on an original stage floor and a sweet selection literally unveiled from behind a plush red curtain, plus a wide variety of teas, champagne and signature cocktails. Prices start from £68 per person and you can find out more at lwtheatres.co.uk. Best afternoon teas in London at a glance Best for timeless luxury: Ritz afternoon tea, from £95 per person Best for luxury surroundings: The Georgian, Harrods, from £82 per person Best for a modern afternoon tea: Lily Vanilli at the Four Seasons Hotel London Tower Bridge, from £65 per person Best casual tea with a view: Duck & Waffle afternoon tea, from £55pp Best for a sweet tooth: Fortnum and Mason afternoon tea, from £84 per person Best for exceptional service: The Dorchester afternoon tea, from £95 per person Best for a generous selection: The Goring afternoon tea, from £65 per person Best for an Asian-inspired tea: Mr Ma's tea at The Academy, from £39 per person Best for champagne lovers: Elizabethan afternoon tea, from £85 per person Best for a botanical setting: The Teahouse at Petersham Nurseries, from £65 per person Best for a unique theme: The Parlour at Great Scotland Yard Hotel, from £65 per person Best for Japanese flavours: Nobu Hotel afternoon tea, from £75 per person Best for trend-led pâtisseries: The Biltmore, from £80 per person Best for big flavours and colours: The Rosewood, from £80 per person Best hidden gem: The Stafford, from £78 per person Best for airy ambience: The Landmark London, from £79 per person Best contemporary atmosphere: Sushisamba, £65 per person Best for whimsy: Peter Pan afternoon tea at Aqua Shard, from £70 per person Best value afternoon tea with a view: oblix at The Shard, from £65 per person Best for central location: The Stage at The Londoner, from £59 per person Best for theatre fans: The Grand Saloon at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, from £59 per person Best for a royal day out: Conrad London, St James, from £63 per person Best for a family day out: Sweetshop afternoon tea at Chesterfield Hotel, from £65 per person Best for riverside views: The Bingham Riverside, from £42 per person Best for 1920's elegance: The Beaumont Hotel afternoon tea, from £70 per person Best for kids: One Aldwych Charlie & the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea, from £55 per child, £75 per adult Best for stunning views: Ting at the Shangri-La Hotel afternoon tea, from £78 per person Best for Halloween fans: Wizard afternoon tea at Georgian House Hotel, from £40 per person Best afternoon teas in London 2026 The Ritz afternoon tea At a glance… Price: £95 per person/£73 per child Best for: timeless luxury Contact details: The Ritz, 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR View the menu Afternoon tea at The Ritz is one of the most timeless experiences in London for a reason. Attention to detail and fantastic service make this afternoon tea well worth the splurge. Step into the glamorous Palm Court salon to admire their mirrored surfaces, gold detailing and leafy palms. The luxurious atmosphere is complete with a live pianist and harpist alongside a choir singing traditional carols. The food is traditional with classic British flavours and generous servings; savoury sandwiches include Scottish smoked salmon, breast of chicken with chestnut and sage, cheddar cheese with chutney, and more. Fresh plain and fruit scones come with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve, and the pastries and cakes, which are the real stars of the show, have delicate details and stunning finishes. On visiting during the festive season, I enjoyed a selection of gold-leaf topped choux buns, chocolate and chestnut pastries and cranberry and meringue topped cakes. There are 18 luxury teas to choose from, including everything from passion fruit and orange to chocolate mint rooibos and more. I chose the classic Ritz Royal English – a breakfast tea with a blend of Golden Kenyan, Assam and Orange Pekoe. Consider upgrading with a glass of champagne for £23 for a well balanced Barons de Rothschild, 'Réserve Ritz', Brut NV. Overall, the service is a fantastic option for a special occasion with friendly and attentive staff and a gorgeous ambiance. The Ritz is a proud member of the Leading Hotels of the World. The Georgian, Harrods At a glance… Price: £82 per person Best for: elevated sandwich fillings and a jam trolley Contact details: The Georgian, Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7XL View the menu The Georgian is one of the prettiest tea rooms in London. First opened in 1911 and famous for ‘thés dansants’ during the 20s, this plush and opulent space is a brilliant mix of comfort and sparkle. You can choose to sit in the middle of it all and enjoy watching the room, or tuck yourself away in a private-feeling booth and set yourself to the task in hand. The afternoon tea menu (a vegan version is also available) starts with the sandwiches. Familiar flavours with a luxury twist may include cucumber & minted soft cheese, poached and smoked salmon or duck a l’orange. Savouries on my visit included a cheese tart with a light, crisp shell and sweet caramelised onion addition, and a deeply savoury mini toastie made with celeriac. One of my highlights from this experience was the scone course being accompanied with a jam trolley – you can try all the flavours (pear & vanilla or blackberry & blackcurrant, for example), each served onto a saucer, as well as clotted cream. Pastries also run the gamut of flavours, including pistachio (in the form of a religieuse), chocolate (a perfect-looking slice of gateau coated in chocolate with a cherry on top) and seasonal fruit (blackberry tart with lime curd). The good news is that you can get a doggy bag to take what you can’t eat home (I strongly counsel against trying to eat two scones pre-pastries). The extensive tea menu allows you to try more than one variety, and you can of course opt for a glass of champagne (at an additional cost) if you prefer. Tea at the Georgian will leave you feeling looked after and quite full. Book at lunchtime and enjoy a leisurely afternoon. Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea At a glance... Price: from £84 per person Best for: traditionalists and lovers of classic, charming service Contact details: Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER View the menu The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason has to be one of the top locations for a classic afternoon tea. Service is seamless without being stuffy, and I found the waiting staff charming, relaxed and exceptionally well informed – with 92 teas on offer, they need to know their stuff. The sweet pâtisserie treats are an art form in their own right, and the lobster scone with cream cheese and caviar topping makes the savoury selection a must-try, especially if you’re sharing. Fortnum & Mason is a classic afternoon tea experience with an ever-evolving menu that’s subtly inventive. The care that goes into every aspect of the creation and presentation of the dishes, as well as the knowledge and charm of the staff make this a truly special experience. The Dorchester At a glance… Price: £95 per person Best for: Impeccable service and a long and luxurious experience Contact details: The Dorchester, 52 Park Lane, London, W1K 1QA View the menu Afternoon tea at The Dorchester is served in the grand but welcoming Promenade, the hotel’s central dining space. The room is large and bright, with art deco features, huge floral arrangements and live piano music at set times during the afternoon. Service is attentive and unhurried, with staff regularly offering additional sandwiches and pastries and refills of tea so my dining partner and I felt like we could take our time to soak up the atmosphere. The menu follows a traditional afternoon tea format, beginning with a selection of finger sandwiches. Fillings typically include smoked salmon with cream cheese, cucumber, egg mayonnaise with truffle, coronation chicken and roast beef with horseradish and they are beautifully presented. Warm plain and fruit scones are served with strawberry jam and clotted cream in silver dishes, followed by a selection of beautiful pastries and cakes which are almost too pretty to eat. I was treated to a winter menu selection of chocolate and orange marmalade yule log, almond mousse with sour cherry compote and almond sponge and tropical tart with coconut Chantilly, pineapple and almond sponge. Teas are available from a wide-ranging list, covering black, green, white and herbal options, as well as single-estate and blended teas. Coffee is also available on request. For those who prefer something stronger, afternoon tea can be taken with a glass of champagne or sparkling wine, with several options available by the glass or bottle. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus are offered and mirror the main menu closely, rather than feeling like a simplified alternative. Children are also welcome, with a dedicated children’s afternoon tea that includes smaller sandwiches, sweet treats designed for younger tastes and limitless hot chocolate. Festive afternoon tea by Lily Vanilli, Four Seasons Tower Bridge At a glance… Price: £65 per person Best for: a modern Christmas afternoon tea in a grand setting Contact details: Four Seasons Hotel London Tower Bridge, 10 Trinity Square, London, EC3N 4AJ View the menu Best for a modern afternoon tea A classic Christmas afternoon tea gets a luxury modern twist with the festive menu from Lily Vanilli at the Four Seasons Hotel London Tower Bridge. Settle into a cosy booth in the grand Rotunda Bar setting (complete with towering Christmas tree) for a special festive treat. There’s not a finger sandwich in sight – the savouries include light parmesan gougères, confit potatoes topped with smoked salmon and roe, and gildas with fiery pickled chilli. There are mince pies too – filled with melting cheese, cabbage and roast potatoes. Classic scones remain, served with the prettiest swirl of clotted cream I’ve ever seen and a blackberry compote so delicious that I scraped the bowl clean. The highlights of the sweet course for me was the sticky toffee madeleines: served in a glamorous silver coupe, with toffee sauce poured tableside for extra drama. Crisp chocolate crumble scattered over the top helps balance the buttery sweetness. After all of this, along with mini lemon tarts, you might not even have room for the piece de resistance that is a mini chocolate salted caramel cake, adorned with gold baubles and decorated in Lily Vanilli’s signature style with rich, buttery icing. If you can’t slice into it there and then, the team will box it up for you to take home and savour later. Duck & Waffle afternoon tea At a glance… Price: £55 per person Best for: a relaxed afternoon tea with an impressive view Contact details: Duck & Waffle, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY View the menu Best casual tea with a view Duck & Waffle is known for its 24-hour operations and views over London – and now you can have afternoon tea 40 floors above the city. You’ll want to nab a window table on the right hand side of the room for views of the Gherkin and Tower Bridge – go for a slightly later sitting to time your tea for golden hour and watch the sunset. Before the main tea arrives, a starter of ‘egg and soldiers’ is served – in reality, a warm watercress purée and the butteriest brioche soldiers for dipping. Next, the main event arrives; we loved the presentation arriving on a three-tiered stand which is revealed under a giant painted egg. The savouries are a mixture of styles: classic sandwiches (coronation chicken, smoked salmon), a cubano (a toasted sandwich filled with ham, melted cheeses and pickles) and my favourite, a take on the namesake duck and waffle, switched up for afternoon tea. A flat melba toast waffle is topped with well-seasoned duck rillette and a swirl of egg yolk purée for a rich savoury bite. The sweet course has something for everyone – a Jaffa cake macaron with an orange filling was a highlight for me, as was a sticky toffee waffle topped with caramel Chantilly cream. Warm fruit scones with generous amounts of strawberry jam and clotted cream complete the feast. The 24/7 nature of Duck & Waffle means you might be surrounded by people having lunch or dinner while you’re on your tea which might not be for everyone. Despite it’s impressive setting, both the atmosphere and service are low-key (we put our tea order through a few times, and don't expect refills of tea or extra sandwiches here), but this is reflected in the more affordable price than many other teas on this list. The Goring afternoon tea At a glance... Price: from £65 per person/£70 with a glass of Bollinger champagne Best for: sumptuous surroundings and attentive service Contact details: The Goring, 15 Beeston Place, London SW1W 0JW View the menu For anyone in search of a quintessentially traditional English afternoon tea, The Goring tops the list. Aside from the replenishable plates of fresh sandwiches, light scones and perfectly presented pâtisserie, the true standout feature is without a doubt the service. You won’t have to lift a finger in your opulent surroundings, not even to pour yourself a cup of The Goring’s very own blend. My friend and I certainly felt like ladies of leisure on our visit. The heavily draped lounge could easily feel oppressive, but there’s a relaxed atmosphere and a nice buzz without being intrusive. Between sips of Earl Grey and chunks of bite-sized scones with dollops of homemade raspberry jam, take a moment to spot the sheep secreted in the room (the iconic symbol of The Goring). The crowning glory of the tea is undoubtedly the pastry plate – delicate macarons, squidgy cakes and light choux bites are on offer for hungry patrons. Save some space, as you’ll be wanting to replenish this selection to your heart’s content. Elizabethan afternoon tea at InterContinental London Park Lane At a glance... Price: from £85 per person/£106 with unlimited Veuve Clicquot champagne Best for: champagne lovers who appreciate a royal setting Contact details: InterContinental London, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London, W1J 7QY View the menu The Crown and Saber Afternoon Tea is inspired by royal traditions, but the atmosphere is relaxed yet luxurious. Plush seating, huge windows overlooking Hyde Park and warm yet well-paced service all add to the ambience. A highlight has to be the free-flowing champagne, not only is it bottomless but they sabre open the first bottle at your table using a sword for extra flourish. I was impressed by how beautifully presented and well thought through everything was, from the impeccably presented golden crown perched on top of a rhubarb mousse to the caviar-topped smoked salmon sandwiches. The savoury dishes are delicate but generous, from the classic coronation chicken sandwich to a delicately sliced roast beef served in a miniature Yorkshire pudding. The scones arrived warm – both plain and fruit – and are seriously good: fluffy, light and served with clotted cream, jam and a very moreish Earl Grey cream which provided a welcome variation to the classic offering. Then there’s the pâtisserie, which feels like a mini dessert tasting menu. Each little cake or tart is like a tiny edible sculpture – with mousses, jellies, sponges and pralines all making an appearance. If you can’t make it through the pâtisseries then these will be lovingly boxed up for you to take away and have at home. Mr Ma's afternoon tea at The Academy Hotel At a glance... Price: from £38 per person/£49 with a glass of bubbles Best for: for an Asian influence on a traditional afternoon tea Contact details: The Academy, 21 Gower Street, Fitzrovia, WC1E 6HG View the menu Head to The Academy, a boutique hotel in Bloomsbury, for an afternoon tea that feels pleasingly tucked away from the capital’s clamour. Central enough to be convenient yet just far enough from the tourist hustle and bustle, it’s an ideal bolthole for a leisurely catch-up. Served in a softly lit room dressed in plush dark-green hues and relaxing lounge music, that instantly soothes and allows you to fully relax and unwind. Nab a window table and you’ll look out onto the leafy patio garden – an extension of the room’s lush palette – where, in warmer months, tea can be taken alfresco. Leaning into Bloomsbury’s literary heritage, The Academy nods to Lao She’s novel Mr Ma and Son, weaving subtle Asian inflections through a quintessentially English format. The savoury tier keeps to tradition with neatly cut finger sandwiches: we enjoyed chicken salad, egg mayonnaise with tomato and smoked salmon with cream cheese – classic combinations executed with care. Scones arrive as they should: light, warm and paired with strawberry jam and generous pots of clotted cream. But it’s the sweet course where the East-meets-West theme comes into its own. A bamboo basket reveals delicately flaky egg tarts and sesame-studded jian dui dough balls, while a separate platter offers an assortment of jewel-like petit fours and macarons. The tea list spans the dependable to the fragrant, from robust English breakfast to floral darjeeling, ensuring there’s a brew to suit every pace of afternoon. The Teahouse at Petersham Nurseries At a glance... Price: from £65 per person/£70 with a glass of prosecco Best for: a botanical setting with seasonal treats Contact details: Petersham Nurseries, Church Lane, Richmond, TW10 7AB View the menu Down a narrow lane on the outskirts of Richmond, nestled between the water meadows of the Thames and grand houses, you'll find Petersham Nurseries. Each step through the network of charming greenhouses feels like a magical discovery with bulbs, pots, garden ornaments and more on offer. The afternoon tea is housed in a quiet corner, away from the hustle and bustle of the main restaurant, where every detail seems considered without being fussy, down to a blanket to keep your knees warm. Food is served on a uniquely botanical cake stand which doubles as a vase for fresh flowers. The menu changes seasonally – on my visit, the first course included smoked herb trout with cream cheese on a slice of brioche and a still-warm savoury muffin which struck the perfect balance between sweet and savoury. Scones arrived piping hot in a delicate basket accompanied by cream and strawberry jam. For sweets, my stars of the show were a delicate Eton mess choux bun and a chocolate and mocha love heart which appeared to be a real crowd-pleaser. The Parlour afternoon tea at Great Scotland Yard Hotel At a glance... Price: from £65 per person/£75 with a glass of champagne Best for: seasonal offerings and event themed experiences Contact details: The Parlour, 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London, SW1A 2HN View the menu For those seeking an afternoon tea experience steeped in storytelling and that’s slightly off the beaten path, Great Scotland Yard Hotel has launched Chapter Three of their series of Afternoon Tea Chronicles: The 40 Elephants Gang. Guests can expect a touch of the theatrical with each course – delicious savoury bites like Montgomery cheddar Yorkshire pudding and Clarence Court egg truffle mayo on pain de mie are served on a glass tray emitting smoking dry ice revealing various paraphernalia related to the Forty Elephants gang including handcuffs and pearls. For tea, I opted for the Traditional Iron Buddha (Tieguanyin). An oolong tea, the rich notes of roasted nuts and baked fruit is the perfect accompaniment to freshly baked plain and raisin scones with Cornish clotted cream and homemade blueberry and raspberry jam. The final sweet course is by far the most ornate. Be it ‘The Rembrandt Hat’, an almond, blueberry and lavender praline choux designed to resemble a feathered hat, or a coffee mousse and whisky entremet created in the style of a pocket watch, each sweet treat combines whimsy with intricate details and innovative flavours. Nobu Hotel London Portman Square afternoon tea At a glance... Price: from £75 per person Best for: Japanese-inspired flavours Contact details: Nobu Hotel, 22 Portman Square, London W1H 7BG View the menu Settle into the upscale lounge at Nobu Hotel in Portman Square for afternoon tea. The relaxing ambiance is the perfect setting for a luxurious tea, right off the busy streets of Oxford Circus. The friendly service and calming atmosphere make this trendy hotel approachable and a great place to celebrate a special occasion. The menu combines contemporary Japanese flavours with traditional afternoon tea classics. The tea selection offers many unique options, like lychee & rose noir and Kabuse sencha. The selection of sushi cups showcase exquisite cuts of high quality salmon and yellowtail. Canapés and savoury options include crispy fried chicken, mushroom Matsuhisa tacos and beef tataki buns with wasabi sauce. The snow crab roll with jalapeño dressing is my personal favourite, showing off the freshest of ingredients. The fluffy scones are served with Cornish clotted cream, raspberry mint jam and a tart yuzu curd. The delectable sweets are visually stunning and full of creative flavours. Stand outs for me included a miso chocolate caramel tart, Fuji apple shiso mirin pillow and a beautiful Hojicha cheesecake. Overall, this service is outstanding and full of unique treats for a one-of-a-kind experience. The Biltmore At a glance… Price: from £80 per person/£95 with a glass of Nyetimber sparkling wine Best for: trend-led pâtisseries and elevated service Contact details: The Biltmore, 44 Grosvenor Sq, London W1K 2HP The Biltmore Mayfair marries opulence and relaxation with meticulous details across all areas, particularly the service. The staff are incredibly attentive without being overbearing: sharing knowledgeable insights into the food and tasting notes of the sparkling wine and the new varieties of JING teas. Nothing is rushed. The new menu “A Tale of Two Cities: London Meets Dubai” is a tribute to their sister hotel in Dubai, blending Middle Eastern flavours and trending tastes with the beloved British tradition of afternoon tea. You can choose from their traditional or vegetarian option, but they do cater to different dietary requirements. The experience starts with sandwiches including truffle egg mayo on a brioche bun, a focaccia stuffed with grilled summer vegetables, and our favourite, a blue lobster summer roll topped with salmon roe. You also receive three savoury tart bites – all delightfully crisp with distinct fillings. The scone course includes three golden varieties which all arrive warm – cranberry and orange, white chocolate and lemon, and the traditional plain scone. These are served with Dorset clotted cream, homemade strawberry jam and local British honeycomb – definitely try this on top of the white chocolate and lemon scone! The star of the show is the final pâtisserie course, with incredibly delicate presentation. For me, the standouts were the pistachio Dubai chocolate cake and “The Palm Purse” – an almond and lime frangipane with strawberry gel and vanilla ganache in the shape of a luxury handbag. If you are looking for a luxury yet trendy afternoon tea, then their new menu is for you. Rosewood At a glance... Price: from £80 per person (£97 with a cocktail, £106 with champagne) Best for: big flavours and colours – a richer alternative to traditional tea Contact details: Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, London View the menu With its dramatic ceiling, Rosewood’s light-filled Mirror Room is a glamorous spot in which to enjoy its 'Masterful Art' afternoon tea which is themed around the city's vibrant arts scene and seasonal exhibitions showcasing British artists. My mother and I attended the David Hockney-inspired tea, with famous works such as 'The Splash' and 'The Arrival of Spring' reimagined as a series of showstopping sponges and pâtisserie. The tea is served in three courses: sandwiches first, with some richer savouries including truffle egg mayo with confit tomatoes on onion brioche; two types of scone and two mini pastries resembling art by David Hockney (filled with blueberry) and Picasso (complete with lobster telephone); and a final course of colourful, glossy cakes inspired by art including a Banksy’s 'Girl with the Balloon', Andy Warhol’s 'Soup Can' and more from Vincent Van Gogh and Japanese sculptor Yayoi Kusama. Tea comes from the prestigious French tea importer Mariage Frères, and it's an expansive selection that features some rare varieties. The Stafford At a glance... Price: £78 per person/from £92 with a glass of champagne Best for: hidden gem in London, quiet luxury Contact details: The Stafford London, 16-18 St James's Place, SW1 1NJ Tucked down a quiet street just outside St James’s Park, The Stafford is a luxury hidden gem to discover. This five-star hotel relaunched their afternoon tea experience and it's a very welcome addition to the London afternoon tea scene. You'll be warmly welcomed into the cosy restaurant (bonus points for extremely comfortable chairs!) and service is faultlessly friendly throughout. My dining companion and I took the waiter’s recommendations on tea choices to begin and weren’t disappointed – the Stafford signature blends offer classic options, while the stunning white apricot fusion tea was deliciously fruity and jammy. Champagne is served from an ornate champagne trolley before the star of the show, the special cake trolley, is wheeled out for you to admire and choose from. Take your pick of ornate pâtisserie from the trolley and they'll be brought back to you on a classic afternoon tea stand. Sandwiches were fresh and varied with the decadent addition of a truffled egg brioche bun. Along with classic fruit and plain scones, I also particularly enjoyed a warm mini cheese scone, served with sour cream and chives. From the pâtisserie picks, the vanilla and raspberry ‘white mousse’ was memorable, and the fresh raspberry and elderflower macaron was a standout. The Landmark London At a glance... Price: £79 per person/from £89 with a glass of champagne Best for: airy ambience, classic pâtisserie with a twist Contact details: The Landmark London, 222 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 6JQ Located in the heart of Marylebone, The Landmark London offers a special afternoon tea with classic British dishes and flavours. The eight-storey glass atrium is adorned with leafy palm trees and full of airy sunlight for a unique setting to take tea. Service is friendly and attentive, with a live pianist for added ambience. There's a wide range of teas on offer, from classic English breakfast to our server's recommendation: a fruity mango black tea. The current afternoon tea menu has been curated by pastry chefs Mauro and Daniel, winners of Bake Off The Professionals 2023. To start, sandwiches are traditional, with smoked Scottish salmon, truffle egg mayonnaise, classic cucumber and coronation chicken on walnut bread – with trays of extras if you want seconds. Scones were a highlight of the tea: alongside classic plain are memorable candied apricot and marzipan scones, studded with sweet melting chunks of marzipan. Both are served warm with clotted cream, jam and the special addition of a rich hazelnut chocolate ganache. The luxurious desserts take classics such as pavlova and chocolate swiss roll and elevate them with expert flair – my favourite was the white chocolate and yuzu cheesecake filled with a spiced pear compote. This would be a great offering for those looking for a classic afternoon tea with top-notch service. Sushisamba At a glance... Price: £65 per person with a glass of champagne Best for: non-traditionalists who prefer Japanese savouries to sandwiches Contact details: Sushisamba, 35 The Mkt, London WC2E 8RF View the menu High above the famous Covent Garden piazza, this glass-ceilinged space has a lively, jungle-like vibe due to a living ceiling canopy and oversized plants. My friend and I tried both the signature tea – with luxurious ingredients including lobster and wagyu beef in sliders and mini tacos and caviar topped tuna – and the vegetarian alternative, all presented on elegant three tiered ‘trees’. Cakes fuse Asian flavours with British classics, such as the Japanese Pandan custard tart and Battenburg with yuzu – and a separate final serving of traditional scones. Choose from five Canton teas, which can be topped up, and three champagnes. Peter Pan afternoon tea at Aqua Shard At a glance… Price: £70 per person/£90 with a glass of champagne/£55 for under 12s Best for: whimsical bites and literary luxury Contact details: Aqua Shard, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY Get transported to Neverland with magical views, as if you're Peter Pan flying over the rooftops of London. Children and adults alike will love the nostalgic treats and artistic touches included in this afternoon tea. From the custom crafted ship that holds the food, to the story behind each component (the cod brandade is in the shape of a hook, as Peter calls him a ‘codfish’, for example), everything is meticulously designed and pure magic. There are two main tea choices – I opted for the 'darling tea', which had delicious floral notes, whilst my companion went for the 'adventure tea', made from black tea with citrus, mango and ginger. The perfectly cut sandwiches were light, soft and fluffy, with flavoursome fillings of chicken, bacon and mustard, along with the standout truffle egg mayo (more vegetarian options are available). The next course, after a fresh round of specially designed plates with Peter Pan characters on them, was freshly baked scones served with delicious apple jam and coconut clotted cream. The magic continued into the desserts. The ‘Peter’s secret never tree entrance’ is particularly noteworthy – a soft chocolate sponge with chocolate mousse, ganache and raspberry jam. Like the waitress spraying the Tinkerbell biscuit with edible gold glitter, the thought behind each element brought so much joy. From start to finish, this afternoon tea is a display of enchanting storybook delicacies in a stunning, picturesque setting. oblix at The Shard At a glance... Price: £59 per person/£65 with a glass of champagne Best for: good value tea with stunning view Contact details: oblix East, Level 32, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY View the menu If you want brilliant views of London, then the 32nd floor of the Shard is a good place to start. Instead of buying a ticket up the Shard to see the view (which can cost approx £30 by itself), head to Oblix in the Shard instead and treat yourself to a special afternoon tea complete with those panoramic views. I visited in December, where the menu had been given a light festive makeover but many of the classics are on the menu all year round. The tea kicks off with a plate of sandwiches including a standout buttery brioche roll filled with egg mayo and topped with a generous amount of truffle. I also had a classic coronation chicken, smoked salmon, an avocado tartlet and impressive mini lobster roll. Scones were served warm with a perfect raspberry jam and sticky fresh honeycomb – although controversially also with whipped cream instead of clotted cream. Pâtisserie consisted of delicate but familiar favourites – I particularly enjoyed this course, with five treats including a nutty macaron, highly caramelised apple tart tatin and rich chocolate hazelnut ball. If you go for the rosé package, unlimited wine and a cocktail are included along with your pick of tea from the short tea menu. The Stage at The Londoner At a glance... Price: from £59 per person/£75 with a glass of champagne/£80 with a glass of rosé champagne Best for: central location Contact details: The Londoner, 38 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7DX, United Kingdom View the menu If you’re doing some central London shopping, The Stage afternoon tea is handily located right on the corner of Leicester Square. The tea is held in what is essentially the hotel lobby – there’s a buzzy atmosphere (especially when the live pianist is playing), although it can get chilly in winter if you’re sat too near the front door. A surprise palate cleanser of elderflower sorbet drizzled with honey is delicate and refreshing. Sandwiches arrive playfully cut into tiny squares instead of fingers and served in three tiers – a chicken sandwich on basil bread was a standout highlight (plus you’re offered seconds if you’re still hungry). Warm scones are light, fluffy and the perfect size, served with a unique floral and citrusy bergamot curd as well as strawberry jam. In a twist from other afternoon teas I’ve tried, for the pâtisserie course you head up to a cabinet to pick two larger pâtisserie items to finish off your feast. I visited near Christmas, so a ‘Joyeux Noel’ of chocolate cake, cream and boozy cherries was a perfect festive treat. The Grand Saloon, Theatre Royal Drury Lane At a glance... Price: from £59 per person/£69 with a glass of champagne/£28 for children Best for: theatre fans, visiting around a show Contact details: The Lane, Catherine St, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5JF View the menu If you’re in London to see a show, an afternoon tea beforehand is an extra special treat. The Lane at Theatre Royal is ideally situated for this – set right in the theatre building in Covent Garden. The tea takes place in a beautiful grand room with a large central bar, stunning high ceilings and marble panels on the wall, all in a teal and pale pink colour scheme. Friendly and skilled staff expertly pour tea and champagne. The brand new immersive tea is inspired by the theatrical setting – divided into two sweet and savoury acts, plus a grand finale, with not a sandwich in sight but a range of creative sweet and savoury treats to enjoy, alongside the essential scones. As a regular theatregoer, I found this themed tea especially charming. Set within the magnificent Grand Saloon, you cannot help but be drawn into the rich history of this world-renowned establishment. Attention to detail is evident in touches such as tea-sets embellished with characters from the theatre's plays and the opening 'act' being served on an original piece of stage flooring. The food was exquisite, with my highlight being the generous slice of seasonal strawberry layer cake. InfiniTEA Royal afternoon tea at the Conrad London St. James At a glance... Price: from £62 per person/£97 with limitless Bollinger champagne Best for: champagne fans celebrating a special occasion Contact details: Conrad London St. James, 22–28 Broadway, London SW1H 0BH View the menu For those after a sophisticated, modern take on the classic afternoon tea, the Conrad London St. James delivers with a royal twist. The hotel is currently working in collaboration with cake maker Fiona Cairns, who crafted the Royal Wedding cake for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Afternoon tea is served in the bright and elegant Orchard Room, where impressive flower displays are in abundance and the atmosphere is serene despite the central location. We were treated to plates of dainty finger sandwiches first, filled with traditional combinations of smoked salmon with herb mayonnaise and capers, and coronation chicken. The scones, nestled in a warm linen cloth, were feather-light and served with rich clotted cream, tangy lemon curd and homemade strawberry jam. We were kindly offered another round, yet found ourselves wishing to save some room for the next course. Then comes the pastry selection: a perfectly presented carousel of miniature indulgences. My personal favourite was the sweet yet floral gilded honey & orange blossom cake, with other sweets including lemon fondant fancies and classic Victoria sponge. Service was warm and attentive, and the champagne and tea are regularly and generously topped up, making for a luxurious and relaxing experience. The champagne option comes with limitless Bollinger and is perfect for celebrating a special occasion. Sweetshop afternoon tea at Chesterfield Hotel At a glance… Price: from £65 per person/£75 with glass of Lanson Champagne/£39 per child Best for: a family day out Contact details: The Chesterfield Hotel, Mayfair, London W1J 5EB View the menu If you’re looking for a magical afternoon tea for a special occasion that will inspire the imagination and excite the palate of both adults and children, then the Chesterfield is for you. Set in a grand, Georgian hotel on a smart Mayfair street, the service is exceptional from the moment you step into their large marble hallway. Once you’re seated and have been talked through the extensive range of teas, your experience will start with a dramatic smoking pink lemonade topped with a flying saucer, you’ll then move onto a selection of beautifully presented finger sandwiches, my favourites were the Scottish smoked salmon with chive cream cheese and roast chicken with mustard mayonnaise and nibbed almonds. Accompanying the sandwiches are endless fluffy scones, Drumstick macaroons, strawberry liquorice allsorts cheesecake, blue raspberry & bubblegum Battenberg, giant 'jazzle' lollipops, coca cola slice and a decadent take on a Reece’s peanut butter cup. When it’s time to leave you’ll be escorted to a traditional sweet shop stand where you can select a bag of your favourite pick and mix sweets to take home, any treats you couldn’t quite finish will be beautifully boxed up for you to take away too. The Bingham Riverside afternoon tea At a glance… Price: £42 per person/from £58 with a glass of champagne Best for: Picturesque views Contact details: The Bingham, Richmond, London, Tw10 6UT View the menu Set along the banks of the Thames in the heart of Richmond, The Bingham offers an afternoon tea experience that is as refined as its picturesque surroundings. Stepping into the elegant Georgian townhouse, you’re welcomed into a space that blends classic Georgian charm with modern sophistication – think soft velvet seating, marbled tables, statement flower arrangements and sweeping river views through floor-to-ceiling windows. In the warmer months, I can imagine the terrace would be a perfect spot to linger over tea while watching rowers glide by on the Thames. The afternoon tea itself felt like a celebration of British tradition with a contemporary twist. I began with a selection of delicate finger sandwiches featuring classic flavours — smoked salmon with lemon and dill, and free-range egg mayonnaise elevated with truffle and chives among them. Warm, freshly baked scones followed, served with generous portions of clotted cream and homemade fruit preserves. For me, it was the pâtisserie selection that truly stood out: pistachio macaroons, miniature chocolate brownies, chestnut profiteroles and coffee & walnut cupcakes that were as beautiful as they were delicious. As a tea lover, I appreciated the carefully curated selection, which ranged from classic Earl Grey and Assam to more adventurous herbal infusions. For those looking to elevate the experience further, a glass of champagne is available for an additional £16 – a tempting addition to an already indulgent afternoon. The Beaumont hotel afternoon tea At a glance… Price: £70 per person/from £86 with a glass of champagne Best for: 1920’s decadence Contact details: The Beaumont, Brown Heart Gardens, Mayfair, London, W1K 6TF View the menu Afternoon tea at The Beaumont hotel is served in the aptly-named Gatsby room, which is home to a grand baby piano, a hidden door posing as a bookshelf and plenty of oil paintings to gaze at and soft furnishings to relax on. The menu has a transatlantic twist in true Gatsby fashion, you’ll find sandwiches filled with devilled egg mayonnaise, chicken caesar salad and beef pastrami (Reuben-style), which are replenished as much as you’d like. I could have happily finished off several rounds, but tried to leave some room for the following courses. A round of freshly baked scones and homemade strawberry jam is sure to satisfy all classic afternoon tea enthusiasts. As a lover of all things sweet, I was particularly won over by the exquisite pastry selection, comprising a fudgy chocolate brownie, caramelised apple, fig tart and pear choux, not to mention a selection of perfectly fluffy homemade marshmallows. The afternoon tea here is a very generous affair with faultless service, so it’s the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion. The Beaumont's drinks menu boasts an extensive range of rare and seasonal teas, or you can opt for one of the cleverly paired cocktails (non-alcoholic versions also available). One Aldwych Charlie & the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea At a glance... Price: from £55 per child under 12/£75 per adult/£90 for champagne afternoon tea Best for: a whimsical treat for both big and little kids Contact details: One Aldwych, 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ View the menu The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed afternoon tea at One Aldwych starts with a magical opener – a chocolate, whisky & cherry cocktail complete with dry ice smoke and poured from a glass teapot. There’s also a non-alcoholic version so everyone can enjoy the drama. My friend and I opted for the chocolate tea (it seemed only right) which had a delicious cocoa aroma. Three finger sandwiches, a savoury scone served with bacon jam, and a warm quiche went down nicely alongside our drinks. The attentive staff offered to refill the savoury plate, but we were saving space for the main event. Scones arrived in baskets; they were okay, but not as light and buttery as I had hoped. However, as a vehicle for lemon curd, blackberry jam and clotted cream, they did the job. Everyone around the room was busily snapping photos of their sweets displays, and when ours arrived, I could see why. It’s a sweet tooth’s dream: rainbow layers of bubblegum-flavoured panna cotta, mysteriously flavoured candy floss and honeycomb cake pops take centre stage, but our favourite was a chocolate egg filled with vanilla cheesecake and fruit purée. A bottle of chocolate milk washes it all down. This makes for a special afternoon that kids will remember forever, or an excuse not to act your age – whatever your reason for visiting, it’s a sweet treat not to be missed. Ting at the Shangri-La Hotel afternoon tea At a glance... Price: from £78 per person/from £88 with a glass of champagne Best for: wonderful views, tourists, treat for friends Contact details: Ting, Level 35, Shangri-La Hotel, 31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9QU View the menu I visited Ting in the run up to the Royal Jubilee. The team of thoughtful pastry chefs and mixologists created recipes using the royal celebrations as inspiration; the platinum fizz cocktail combines strawberries, pineapple and lemon juice and is the perfect way to start a luxurious afternoon. Savoury bites included miniature duck pancakes, chicken liver parfait and a selection of imaginative finger sandwiches. The themes here are taken very seriously, and there is excellent attention to detail, but never at the expense of flavour. The selection of cakes I tried were beautifully balanced in terms of sweetness, sharpness and richness (which made it even easier to try the whole range!). The chocolate & raspberry shard is served in a cloud of dry ice and is the final show-piece to your experience. This is a generous afternoon tea and the waiting staff were extremely knowledgeable about their extensive list of teas on offer. Some could even predict instinctively which ones I would enjoy – with great success! Go for the views, stay for the scones. Wizard afternoon tea at Georgian House Hotel At a glance… Price: £40 per person/£20 for children Best for: A family treat or fans of Halloween Contact details: Georgian House hotel, Pimlico, London SW1. View the menu This fun and imaginative afternoon tea is one that’ll delight kids and adults alike – I persuaded a friend to channel her innermost witch and join me on this bewitching teatime experience. Upon entering the smart Georgian house hotel, we were led down to the basement where our spooky dining destination awaited. From the outset, there were plenty of theatrical surprises — overflowing cauldrons, salmon sandwiches dramatically served from a smoking box, bubbling cocktails and mocktails, and golden chocolate wizard hats that immediately set the tone. The afternoon tea was served in a gothic looking bird cage and is a very generous affair. We worked our way through a variety of delicate savoury treats, from tiny tarts to a selection of both open and closed sandwiches. Freshly baked eye of newt scones were served with curdled cream and crushed strawberries after which a fresh bird cage was brought out with an abundance of sweet treats. My ultimate highlight had to be the web topped passion fruit jelly which almost looked too good to eat, but we just about managed it. The staff were attentive, relaxed and fun and there’s plenty of quirky decorations and spooky music for an authentically ghostly experience. There is also the option of a vegan version as well as bottomless prosecco for an extra £20. Afternoon tea recipes, tips and advice Best kids afternoon tea in London Best afternoon teas outside of London Easiest ever afternoon tea menu plan Afternoon tea recipes with a twist 10 scone recipes you’ll fall in love with Enjoy this? Check out more of our London recommendations: Best rooftop bars in London Best brunch in London Best vegan restaurants in London Cheap eats in London Best foodie walking tours in London London's top queer food and drink destinations Best London pubs What's your favourite afternoon tea in London? Leave a comment below...
15 best London pubs – from Soho favourites to secret riverside gems
From gastropubs to old-school boozers and craft beer hotspots, these are the best London pubs to know
From a frothy, golden ale sipped on a sun-dappled terrace on a summer’s evening to a pint of stout in a cosy corner with a pie and an eye on the match, there are so many occasions when only a pub will do. Despite the rate of closures affecting the capital more than other areas of the UK, there’s an impressive range of brilliant boozers on offer across the city, appealing to everyone from quiz enthusiasts and craft beer devotees to fine diners and even modern art lovers. “London pubs welcome everyone” says Oisin Rogers, landlord of The Devonshire in Soho. “They’re a melting pot of powerhouses and vagabonds, the youth and those who are past it, locals and wanderers, hedonists and puritans.” I think we can all drink to that. Best London pubs to visit The all-rounders The Audley, Mayfair As they sip their pints of London Pride – or glasses of Whispering Angel – visitors to this beautifully renovated corner boozer may be unaware that they’re standing beneath a ceiling designed by visual artist Phyllida Barlow. Or they may be there just to ogle it. From the founders of modern art gallery Hauser & Wirth, this Mayfair pub attracts everyone from tattooed builders to groups of lunching ladies. All are welcome, whether eking out a half while watching the tennis or ordering the famous hot beef sandwich to be dipped in gravy. Contact: theaudleypublichouse.com; @audleypublichouse Area: Mayfair Nearest Tube: Bond Street Price: ££ Reservations: Not required The Barley Mow, Marylebone This independently owned pub, said to be the oldest in Marylebone, is a real find. Legendary Tuesday quiz nights feature a roll call of famous question posers – Glenn Close is among the recent recruits – while at the relaxed Sunday sessions, punters enjoy pints of stout and Maldon oysters from the trolley to a soundtrack of live folk music. There’s even a thriving darts league. Many of the staff are jobbing actors who bring a heavy dose of creativity to popular open mic events and singalongs. Contact: thebarleymowmarylebone.com; @thebarleymow_marylebone Area: Marylebone Nearest Tube: Baker Street Price: ££ Reservations: Not needed The Kings Arms, Waterloo From the outside, this Irish-owned backstreet pub fits seamlessly with the time-capsule feel of the Georgian workers’ cottages that surround it. The history lesson continues as you step into the wood-panelled saloon bar – its walls adorned with sepia prints and illustrations – for a pint of well-kept ale from one of the eight cask lines. But the icing on the cake is the courtyard building out back where Kanchana’s Kitchen serves up authentic Thai dishes every day and where quiz teams duke it out on Sunday evenings. Contact: thekingsarmslondon.co.uk; @thekingsarmsldn Area: Waterloo Nearest Tube: Waterloo Price: ££ Reservations: Not needed Best gastropubs The Bull & Last, Highgate This popular coaching inn serves the kind of seasonal pub grub that is often emulated but rarely bettered: perhaps grilled, butterflied sardines with gremolata or rump of Suffolk hogget and aubergine. There’s a great-value, two-course set lunch for £20 (Monday to Friday) and well-kept beers include the Bull’s own pale ale, a collaboration with Hackney’s Five Points brewery. Work up an appetite by climbing nearby Parliament Hill with its peerless views across the city. The seven bedrooms above are a bonus if you're travelling from afar. Contact: thebullandlast.co.uk Area: Highgate Nearest Tube: Gospel Oak Price: ££ Reservations: Recommended The Devonshire, Soho Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you’ll be aware of the near-universal praise heaped on this buzzing Soho pub and dining room since it opened. While much of the social media hype has focused on London’s best Guinness™, it’s the combination of excellent sourcing, no-nonsense cooking and peerless front-of-house that keeps people coming back. A good-value set lunch (£29 for three courses) is another draw. Of course, such flattery has made it hard to get a table so book well ahead. Contact: devonshiresoho.co.uk; @devonshiresoho Area: Soho Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus Price: £££ Reservations: Required The Eagle, Clerkenwell London’s original gastropub has spawned many copycats and with good reason. The straightforward formula of taking market-fresh ingredients and using them to create a British-Mediterranean menu that changes twice daily is still attractive more than 30 years since it opened. Order at the bar for dishes of grilled mutton chops with celeriac remoulade or hake with lentils and salsa verde alongside a pint of the house IPA. Presentation is rustic at best though it’s all part of the appeal. Contact: theeaglefarringdon.co.uk; @eaglefarringdon Area: Clerkenwell Nearest Tube: Farringdon Price: ££ Reservations: Bookings only taken for groups of 5-10 The Pig’s Ear, Chelsea Now in the hands of the Gladwin brothers whose family own Nutbourne vineyard and farm in Sussex, this attractive corner pub is firmly back on the culinary map. Seasonal dishes major on meat from the estate, perhaps a Tamworth pork chop or Gregory’s lamb rump. The lunchtime farm-to-fork menu (£28 for three courses) or the Monday pie and pint deal (£20) keep prices reasonable for the area. While the focus is on dining, drinkers can enjoy Harvey’s Best on cask at the zinc bar – and of course there are wines from Nutbourne. Contact: pigsearpub.com; @thepigsear Area: Chelsea Nearest Tube: South Kensington Price: £££ Reservations: Recommended Old-school pubs The Lamb & Flag, Covent Garden Covent Garden isn’t short on drinking holes but this old-fashioned pub on a cobbled lane, just yards from the hubbub, stands out for its broad appeal. Die-hard CAMRA fans huddle over pints of Fuller’s beers or rotating guest ales, while friends gather in front of the open windows and tourists wait for a spot in the atmospheric back bar. There’s an upstairs dining room but the real joy of this place – once frequented by Charles Dickens – is to be found downstairs among the throng. Contact: lambandflagcoventgarden.co.uk; @the_Lamb_and_Flag Area: Covent Garden Nearest Tube: Leicester Square or Covent Garden Price: ££ Reservations: Not needed The Mayflower, Rotherhithe Cross the threshold of this riverside inn with its mullioned windows, well-worn settles and walls covered with sea-faring pictures and ephemera and it’s not hard to imagine how it might have looked when the Pilgrims set sail from here in 1620. This is a boozer for all seasons: cosy and candlelit in cooler months; in summer, take in the Thames views as you sip a local ale on the decked jetty – perhaps a pint of Bermondsey Best paired with a textbook Scotch egg. Contact: mayflowerpub.co.uk; @mayflowerpub Area: Rotherhithe Nearest Tube: Rotherhithe Price: ££ Reservations: Recommended for ground floor pub and upstairs restaurant. Outdoor jetty walk-ins only. The Grenadier, Belgravia The ceiling of this secluded pub on a cobbled mews close to Hyde Park is papered with bank notes, left by visitors to settle the debt of a former officer who met his death after being caught cheating at cards – and whose ghost is rumoured to haunt the building. Whether or not you buy into this story, there’s no doubt this is a lovely place to while away an hour or so with a pint of the house ale and a sausage roll. Contact: grenadierbelgravia.com Area: Belgravia Nearest Tube: Hyde Park Corner Price: ££ Reservations: Recommended for dining The Black Friar, Blackfriars Step into this wedge-shaped building on the site of a Dominican friary and you’ll be greeted by some of the finest Art Nouveau interiors in London. The lavish decorations combine copper bas-reliefs of toiling monks and a magnificent recessed fireplace complete with corner seats. Narrow archways lead to a marble-lined dining area with a barrel-vaulted mosaic ceiling through which you can hear the trains trundling overhead. It’s a handy spot between the Tate Modern and St Paul’s so stop by for a pint of Nicholsons Pale Ale from the St Austell Brewery. Contact: nicholsonspubs.co.uk Area: Blackfriars Nearest Tube: Blackfriars Price: ££ Reservations: Recommended for dining Best for craft beer The Jackalope, Marylebone Standing outside this sensitively restored pub on a quiet residential mews, it’s hard to imagine you’re 10 minutes from Oxford Circus. They take their beer seriously here – the same owners are behind the much-lauded Euston Tap – so you’ll find four cask lines and impressive 14 kegs at the wooden bar. Order a pint of pale ale from Sussex brewery, Three Acres then scooch into one of the horseshoe banquettes with a bowl of lip-numbing Chongqing noodles from the basement restaurant run by critics’ favourite, Liu Xiaomian. Closed on Sundays. Contact: jackalopelondon.com; @jackalopelondon Area: Marylebone Nearest Tube: Regent’s Park Price: ££ Reservations: Not needed The Rake, Borough This tiny boozer on the edge of Borough Market is generally considered to be London’s original craft beer pub. Opened in 2006 by the owners of Utobeer, who run a shop in the market, it frequently pays host to UK and international brewers, many showing their beers in the capital for the first time. Book a spot on the all-weather terrace and choose from four cask lines and 16 kegs, with mini third-pint pours making it easy to experiment. Retro crisps and pork scratchings provide sustenance. Contact: utobeer.co.uk/the-rake; @rake_bar/ Area: Borough Nearest Tube: London Bridge Price: ££ Reservations: Recommended The Wenlock, Hoxton The story of this historic ale house’s rescue from the developers’ wrecking ball would be enough in itself to encourage a visit but add in an ever-changing roster of 10 cask lines and 10 kegs, knowledgeable staff and regular live bands and you have the makings of a true gem. There’s plenty to keep non-beer drinkers sweet too, from real ciders to wine and cocktails. Soak up the booze with baked camembert or a jalapeño toastie. Contact: wenlockarms.com; @wenlockarms Area: Hoxton Nearest Tube: Old Street Price: ££ Reservations: Not required Ye Olde Mitre, Holborn These days, anyone with a smartphone can navigate their way to this tucked-away pub, accessed via a tiny alley in the city’s legal district. Savvy tourists rub shoulders with lawyers and office workers in the two cosy drinking rooms divided by a central bar. On the taps is a regularly changing selection of British ales and real ciders, underpinned by Fuller’s London Pride. In summer, drinkers spill out into the narrow yard with its barrel tables just steps from the cherry tree that Queen Elizabeth I once danced around with her favoured Lord Chancellor. Closed Sundays. Contact: yeoldemitreholborn.co.uk; @yeoldemitreholborn Area: Holborn Nearest Tube: Chancery Lane Price: ££ Reservations: Recommended for dining (kitchen closed on Saturdays) About our expert Amber has lived in London for more than 25 years, where she works as a journalist specialising in food, drink and travel. She reviews restaurants for magazines, newspapers and websites and is a former editor of The Good Food Guide. When she’s not checking out the latest dining spots, she can be found sipping a pint of amber ale (naturally), ideally in a cosy boozer or pub garden. For more like this, check out more London restaurant recommendations: Best afternoon teas in London Best themed afternoon teas in London Best afternoon tea for kids in London 10 best places in London to eat classic British dishes Best bakeries in London Best burgers in London Best pasta restaurants in London Best afternoon teas in the UK Best food markets in London Best pasta restaurants in London
From stopping at bakeries to learning about the history of London via cheese, food walking tours are a great way to discover hidden sides of London
There’s no better way to get to the heart of a place than through its collective stomach. Get to know the cuisine, and you understand the culture – and few cities in the world tell their story through food quite like London. From sizzling street food stalls and centuries-old pubs to cutting-edge bakeries and artisan cheesemongers, London’s neighbourhoods each serve up their own distinct flavours — and the best way to explore them is on foot, one bite at a time. There are a huge range of different food walking tours available around London, ranging in price, theme and location, all offering an expert deep-dive into a gourmet aspect of the city. Making the journey by foot – compared to sitting on a tour bus, for example – allows you to absorb the sights and smells going on around you, and to connect to the people as well as the place. Plus, having an expert guide on hand to point out things you might not notice or to provide historical context is the difference between mere meandering and discovering a place properly. Choose your tour well, and you’ll get access and insight, skip long queues and learn a lot more than you otherwise would. In a city like London, there’s a food tour for everyone, from cheese lovers to baking enthusiasts. Here’s a taste of 5 of the best. For more London inspiration, check out our picks of the best London pubs, the best pizza in London and the best pasta restaurants in London. 5 of the best food walking tours of London A Cheesemonger’s Tour of London Best for: history buffs and cheese lovers Can a single taste of cheese change your life? Ned Palmer is living proof that it can. His cheese walking tour of London begins with a taste of Gorwydd Caerphilly, the fromage that launched his career as a cheesemonger. The tour combines the history of London with an expertly guided cheese tasting to finish. It's as fascinating to Londoners who'll learn more about their home city as it is to tourists. A historian at heart, Palmer tells the story of London’s journey as you walk. You'll learn about the city's genesis as a Roman settlement, through to the medieval period, Tudor times, the age of empire, the Industrial Revolution and right up to the modern era – each punctuated by a local Southwark site and characterised by a particular cheese. From the London Bridge starting point, you won't be short of unique sights: walk past Sir Francis Drake’s The Golden Hinde (the first English sailing ship to round the globe), the moody ruins of the Bishop of Winchester’s Palace, The Clink (a former prison where unlucky cheesemongers were locked up for the crime of ‘forestalling’) and The George Inn, which, says Ned, “may have been Shakespeare’s local”. Finishing at The Blue Maid pub, we taste six iconic British and Irish cheeses. Highlights include Spenwood, a sheep’s cheese made in Berkshire which Palmer explains resembles something the Romans might have made, and Lincolnshire Poacher, a cheddar-Alpine hybrid, a “post-modern” cheese born of the Covid era, all matched with three excellent ales. As we taste, Ned demonstrates how professional tasters assess cheese through sight, touch and smell. A tour as pungently memorable as the best cheese. Cost: £65pp (2 hours; max 10 people) Book: A Cheesemonger's Tour of London, Airbnb A Taste of Borough Market Best for: Curious gastronomes When in London, a visit to Borough Market is a must – and even if you’ve visited before, you’ll be amazed at what delicious things you’ll encounter on each new visit. Celia Brooks is American by birth, a Londoner by choice, and her company is one of just two to run ‘official’ Market tours. She’s been running them for 23 years, knows the market like the back of her hand and is on a first-name basis with stallholders. The tour starts with hot drinks, nibbles and introductions before heading into the fray, with a brief orienteering session and a sweep through history (it’s long – there’s been a market here since Medieval times). “Borough Market is a place where you can talk to the producers and really feel their passion,” says Celia. There are about a dozen stops, personalised “as much as possible”. We get to skip the queue at Humble Crumble for their Insta-worthy desserts, warm ourselves with hot apple juice at craft cider purveyor Cider House, and sample three cheeses at the Trethowan Brothers stall – they make that Gorwydd Caerphilly (see above) and Pitchfork Cheddar. At Food & Forest we nibble English cobnuts and walnuts, at Alpine deli we try charcuterie from Italy’s South Tyrol region and at Shellseekers fishmongers we sample gravlax and oysters (a glass of English sparkling wine optional). The scallops on the beautiful display are hand-dived by the owner, Celia says. The tour finishes with cheese, charcuterie and a relaxing glass at Bedale’s wine bar. Cost: £110 pp for adults (3 hours; max 12 people; children welcome). Tours run alternate Fridays (10am-1pm) and must be booked in advance. Book: A Taste of Borough Market, celiabrooks.com Secret Indian Food Tour: East London Best for: Indian food explorers We know we’re onto a good thing for this tour when our guide Rakesh introduces himself as a Delhi-born former chef – and for the next three hours, his food passion becomes ours. On this guided food walking tour of East London you'll be immersed in the rich world of Indian cuisine (from ingredients to dishes), skipping tourist traps and discovering local, authentic spots. Our group of four meets at Aldgate East station and, turning into a rain-slicked Brick Lane, we gather under neon lights proclaiming ‘Welcome to Banglatown’ as Rikesh paints a picture of the area’s history. Before the Bangladeshi community settled here in the 1970s, this was home to French Huguenot, Irish and Jewish communities, and each has left their mark. Like the crowds that throng Brick Lane, we’re here for the food. At Zaman Brothers mini market, Rikesh shows us the spices, rice and pulses that form the backbone of so many dishes, before we stop at Café Grill to sate our hunger with pakora, kala chana (black chickpeas) and sweet mango lassi. Moving north, we pass striking street art before our next repast of lamb saag, channa dal, rice and naan while Rikesh quizzes us on Indian spices, passing around samples of turmeric, garam masala, cumin, fennel and cloves. The counter at Madhubon Sweet Centre is piled high with deep-fried, sugar-dripping jalebi and plump ladoo. We finish our tour with grilled lamb chops and pitch-perfect Peshwari naan at the raucous Lahore Kebab House, where we’re ushered into the kitchen to see naan breads being baked in the fire-roaring tandoor. Rakesh promised we wouldn’t go hungry. He wasn’t wrong. Cost: £89.99pp (3 hours; max 12 people). Book: Secret Indian Food Tour: East London, secretfoodtours.com The Great Notting Hill Bake Off Tour Best for: Families and film fans This is the perfect London food tour for a sweet tooth: a walk through the iconic Notting Hill, punctuated by stops at five incredible bakeries. The two-hour tour is a sweet and savoury foray into Britain’s baking culture, combining traditional treats with contemporary creations. Our group of four starts trad at Cheeky Scone, with a classic clotted cream and jam number, then we sink our teeth into a spot-on steak and Guinness pie wrapped in golden shortcrust at Notting Hill Bakery. It was formerly owned by pioneering chef Sally Clarke who opened it in 1984 and “set the trend for artisanal bakeries”, Pip tells us. Notting Hill offers plenty to see in between each bakery: Portobello Market, elegant pastel-coloured houses – and that famous bookshop where Hugh Grant meets Julia Roberts. It's like walking through a living film set – and our tour guide Pip also points out Alice’s Antiques (established 1887) on Portobello Road, which was Mr Gruber’s Antique Shop in the film ‘Paddington’. As we wander, Pip also shows us the oldest cinema in England, and blue plaques dedicated to George Orwell and Bob Marley. The vibe at Chai Guys Bakehouse is decidedly contemporary, serving spice-laced, milky chai alongside a ‘fusion-bake’ combining crisp croissant pastry with a samosa filling of spicy potatoes and peas. We finish at Moi et Toi. At night, it’s the well-regarded Indian restaurant Empire Empire but by day it’s a funky café serving Monmouth coffee and a range of loaf cakes, Bundts and tarts. Cost: £66 adults, £59 adolescents, £56 children (2 hours; max 12 people) Book: The Great Notting Hill Bake Off Tour, eatingeurope.com Misfits of Covent Garden Best for: Young adults, groups of friends Discover the hidden wild side of Covent Garden on this walking tour which aims to show the incredible stories of the lesser-known local community. It is not strictly a food tour, but you'll still learn plenty about food as you discover local history (plus, you won't be short of places to go for dinner afterwards). Our guide Charlotte meets us outside Covent Garden tube with a bright-yellow umbrella and a smile. Originally from New Zealand, Charlotte tells our group of four that she and her business partner set up Rebel Tours in 2021 to tell the stories about London that often go neglected. Over the next two hours, we hear tales of virtue and vice, famine and fortune – and food, even if it’s not strictly a food tour. The Piazza, we learn, was once the kitchen garden of Westminster Abbey, eventually evolving into an emporium of world trade centred around a grand Italianate square. We hear of Nell Gwynn, who rose from being an orange-seller to the most prominent actress of her time, and the consort of King Charles II. At Seven Dials, we are encouraged to imagine these sleek streets as they were in 1751, when the area was a cramped and squalid haven for the poor and outcast, as depicted in William Hogarth’s infamous ‘Gin Lane’ engraving. “During the Gin Craze, thousands of gin shops popped up all over London – and the Seven Dials was the heart of it,” Charlotte says. For a taste of what it was like, opt for one of the two gin upgrades and finish the tour with a sloe gin and a visit to a pub that was a gin palace back in the day (standard upgrade), or a mini-tasting of two additional gins at a local gin parlour (premium upgrade). Cost: £19pp (2 hours; max 15 people). Optional gin upgrades from £15pp Book: Misfits of Covent Garden, rebeltours.co.uk More London restaurant recommendations Best pasta restaurants in London Best afternoon teas in London Best themed afternoon teas in London Best afternoon tea for kids in London 10 best places in London to eat classic British dishes Best bakeries in London Best burgers in London Best pasta restaurants in London Best afternoon teas in the UK Best food markets in London
From crispy, thin crusts to gooey deep-dish delights, we’ve tracked down London’s best pizzas – just follow the trail of cheese pulls!
London’s pizza scene is as vibrant as the city itself, offering everything from authentic Neapolitan pies, to boundary-pushing creations. Whether you’re devoted to a paper-thin crust or love the more indulgent deep dish, there’s a slice to satisfy every craving. We’ve rounded-up some of the best spots in town for a pizza fix. Looking for more budget-friendly bites? Dive into our guide to London’s top cheap eats and discover hidden gems that deliver on flavour without breaking the bank. For further travel tips – from hidden spots in the UK to international food adventures – head to our travel hub. For more restaurant recommendations, check out our picks of the best bakeries in London, the best afternoon teas in London, best burgers in London or try one of our 10 best places in London to eat classic British dishes. 30 best pizza places in London Skip to: Best for a bargain - £ Great value picks - ££ Top-tier treats - £££ Best for a bargain 1. Vincenzo’s Vincenzo’s has brought an authentic taste of New York to the heart of Shoreditch, quickly establishing itself as a must-visit destination for pizza enthusiasts. Following the success of its original site in Bushey, the Shoreditch branch delivers the same unmistakable energy and flavour, serving up classic New York-style pizza by the slice or as a whole pie. It's a cool, bustling counter where giant, crispy-based pizzas are sliced and served in true NYC fashion. The menu ranges from the ever-popular pepperoni to on-trend options such as spicy vodka sauce and a playful spanakopita-inspired slice. For those seeking something a little different, the focaccia pizza – cut into generous squares and topped with indulgent ingredients like burrata and pepperoni finished with hot honey – is a real highlight. Vincenzo’s is designed for convenience, making it perfect for a quick lunch or a late-night bite. Most customers opt for takeaway but there are a handful of stools if you wish to linger and soak up the lively atmosphere. To accompany your pizza, choose from a range of house-made dips, including roquito ranch, truffle mayonnaise, garlic and herb and hot honey. A selection of soft drinks is also available. Margherita price: £5 (per slice) Address: 122 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 6DG Website: vincenzospizzas.com 2. Ria's Tucked away in Soho, Ria’s brings the bold spirit of Detroit-style deep-dish pizza to central London. This trendy pizzeria is thoughtfully designed, blending a warm, intimate ambience with contemporary touches. Ria’s signature offering is its Detroit-inspired deep-dish pizza, renowned for its substantial, golden-edged crust and generous toppings. The dough undergoes an impressive 72-hour fermentation, resulting in a rich flavour and a satisfyingly chewy texture. The menu showcases a variety of top-quality combinations, including the House Pie, which features a classic red sauce, creamy ricotta, fragrant basil and a bright drizzle of lemon. For those who enjoy a bit of heat, the Soho Chilli Crisp is a popular choice, topped with spicy ’nduja, crispy chilli oil, pickled shallots, spring onions and aged parmesan, delivering a punchy and tangy experience. To accompany the pizza, Ria’s offers an appealing selection of natural wines, carefully chosen to complement the robust flavours of the dishes. Guests can also enjoy a concise cocktail line-up, a choice of bottled beers and a range of soft drinks. The dessert menu features a playful twist: a deep-fried Mars bar served with velvety vanilla ice cream and a sprinkle of sea salt, rounding off the meal with a touch of indulgence. Margherita price: £5.50 (per slice) Address: 29 Foubert's Place, London W1F 7QF Website: rias.world/soho 3. Dough Hands Dough Hands is at the forefront of London’s evolving pizza scene, offering its own take on the city’s signature style. Here, the focus is on a crisp, delicately light base, achieved by baking the pizzas at a lower temperature for a longer period. This method results in a crust that is both satisfyingly crisp and feather-light. The kitchen, led by Hannah Drye, is based in the lively Old Nun’s Head pub in south London, with another residency at The Spurstowe Arms in Hackney. The menu is concise but well-considered, presenting a selection of 12-inch pizzas that showcase inventive toppings and funky flavour combinations. One of the standouts is The Jode, a punchy creation pairing spicy sausage with creamy stracciatella, finished with a generous drizzle of hot honey, fresh basil and parmesan. Vegetarians are well catered for with the Shroomy 2.0, which layers mushrooms roasted in soy sauce with taleggio, tarragon, garlic and grana padano, offering a depth of savoury flavour rarely found on a pizza. Accompaniments are kept straightforward: garlic bread slathered in herb butter and a small but tempting range of dips, including a signature hot honey, classic garlic and herb and a house-fermented hot sauce. Happy Endings ice cream sandwiches are available to round off your meal. Margherita price: £12 Address: 15 Nunhead Grn, London SE15 3QQ Website: doughhands.com 4. Voodoo Ray's If you’re hunting for the best slice of pizza in London, look no further than Voodoo Ray’s, where New York-style slices reign supreme. With four locations spread across east, north and south London, this pizzeria serves up impressive 22-inch pizzas loaded with an array of mouth-watering toppings. You’ll find everything from wild mushrooms, squash and red onion, to hearty salt beef, sauerkraut and emmental pizzas. There’s even a delicious vegan option, piled high with artichoke hearts and green olives, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy. For the ultimate weekend brunch – especially if you're nursing a hangover – Voodoo Ray's offers a delightful selection of 10-inch pizzas topped with classic eggs and crispy bacon, or a veggie-friendly spinach and ricotta version. Margherita price: £4.90 (per slice) Address: 95 Kingsland High St, London, E8 2PB Website: voodoorays.com 5. Ace Pizza at Pembury Tavern The Pembury Tavern, a beloved fixture in Hackney, is home to Ace Pizza, a playful brand famous for its slow-risen Neapolitan pizzas. Each pie is stone-baked to achieve a delightfully crispy crust that perfectly complements its toppings. Managed by The Five Points Brewing Company, this vibrant tavern seamlessly combines craft beer and delicious pizza. The chicken shawarma pizza is a must-try for those who enjoy generous toppings. This cheeky twist on the classic kebab features house-made shawarma piled high with red onions, spicy marinara, garlic and herb sauce, guindilla peppers, mozzarella and fresh parsley. The real star, however, is the pickled pink onion, which provides a zesty pop to cut through the rich, creamy sauce. The menu caters to all palates, offering a range of meat, vegetarian and vegan pizzas cleverly organised into red, white and green bases. Vegans will adore the ‘Ooh Mami’, a delicious creation featuring a creamy truffle béchamel topped with portobello mushrooms, cashew ricotta, caramelised onions, oregano oil, porcini salt and fresh parsley. And, don’t forget to indulge in the tempting crust dippers, including a velvety truffle aïoli and the whimsically named ‘crack sauce’ – a tantalising treat that will keep you coming back for more. Margherita price: £9.50 Address: 90 Amhurst Rd, London E8 1JH Website: pemburytavern.co.uk 6. Lamezia Maria Dell’Aquilla has stepped into her parents’ restaurant, infusing it with her vision of 'progressive Italian' cuisine. By blending traditional Calabrian recipes with innovative, nutrition-inspired elements, she’s crafted a familiar and refreshingly modern menu. Diners can look forward to unique offerings like hemp and turmeric bases alongside vegan, gluten-free dough and dairy-free cheese options. While hemp pizza might steal the spotlight, it’s not the only innovative dish to emerge from Lamezia. Maria’s father, Franco, first wowed patrons with his signature nduja pizza a decade ago, and it remains a firm favourite among customers to this day. This harmonious blend of tradition and creativity honours the family legacy and appeals to a new generation of diners eager to explore a vibrant, health-conscious take on Italian classics. Margherita price: £9.90 Address: 165 Holloway Road, London, N7 8LX Website: lamezia.co.uk 7. Yard Sale What began as a humble weekly supper club in owner Johnnie's backyard has blossomed into a thriving pizza empire, boasting 12 locations across London. This rapid success is a testament to its commitment to quality and flavour, proving it's definitely onto something special. Settle into a comfy leather booth near the open kitchen for the best seat in the house, and get ready to indulge in a 12- or 18-inch pizza featuring slow-cooked tomato sauce and fior di latte mozzarella. The blistered crust strikes the perfect balance between crisp and doughy, gradually becoming slightly sloppier towards the centre – keep those napkins handy! When it comes to toppings, this pizzeria doesn’t hold back. Try the ‘TSB’, a delightful combination of long-stemmed broccoli, manchego, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil. Or, opt for the ‘Cour Bimey’, featuring courgette ribbons, pancetta and a sprinkle of black pepper. Cheese enthusiasts will want to dig into ‘Cheesus Walks’, a decadent white base generously topped with basil pesto, mozzarella, gorgonzola, ricotta and parmesan. Margherita price: £9.90 Address: 54 Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2DW Website: yardsalepizza.com 8. Crate Brewery If you’re a fan of both beer and pizza, Crate Brewery in Hackney Wick is an absolute must-visit. This vibrant spot serves up stone-baked pizzas adorned with unique toppings that are sure to tantalise your tastebuds, including a delightful veggie Kashmiri dal and flavour-packed Middle Eastern lamb option. Grab your pizza and beer and make your way to one of the many outdoor tables overlooking the water. It’s the perfect setting for catching up with friends while soaking in the creative atmosphere and enjoying a stunning sunset. Margherita price: £9.95 Address: Unit 7, Queens Yard, Hackney Wick, London, E9 5EN Website: cratebrewery.com 9. D4100 D4100 (shorthand for ‘Dinner for 100’) has three London pizzerias in Bloomsbury, Telegraph Hill and Nunhead. We visited the Nunhead outpost for a Sunday afternoon pizza and found a bustling little spot with live music, a cosy atmosphere and mega pizzas piled high with toppings. The pizzas are a mix of classic Italian flavours, like capricciosa, caciofi and aubergine parmigiana, plus its own inventions, like the namesake D4100: a white pizza with datterini tomatoes, anchovies and garlic oil, all applied in generous portions. The pizzas are huge, with fluffy crusts that are perfect for dipping in nduja, truffle or lemon & rosemary aïoli. We made room for a signature tiramisu, but gelato is also on offer, along with a pistachio & nutella calzone for those who want to go in for another dose of dough. At lunchtime, they serve panuozzo – pizza sandwiches crammed with fillings like spicy tuna and prosciutto cotto. There's no shortage of good pizza restaurants in south-east London, but this one is a must-visit if you like big portions and even bigger flavours. Margherita price: £9.95 Address: The Hill Station, Kitto Rd, London SE14 5TW Website: dinnerforonehundred.com 10. Napoli on the Road If you’re after authentic Neapolitan pizza with a modern twist, Napoli on the Road is a must-visit. This gem of a pizzeria prides itself on crafting pizzas that blend tradition with creativity (and has won itself an enviable cabinet of trophies along the way), using dough that’s slow-fermented for up to 36 hours to achieve that signature light and airy crust. One of the standout choices here is the White Capricciosa, a decadent combination of a velvety white base, high-quality prosciutto cotto, Napoli salami, grilled artichokes, shiitake mushrooms and green olives — a flavour pairing that’s as bold as it is irresistible. The menu also features seasonal specials and gourmet options that highlight top-quality Italian ingredients. To complement your pizza, Napoli on the Road offers a thoughtful selection of refreshing cocktails, Italian wines and craft beers, each chosen to enhance the vibrant flavours of the dishes. Margherita price: £13 Address: 9A Devonshire Road, Chiswick, London, W4 2EU Website: napoliontheroad.co.uk 11. Berberè Pizza Step into Berberè, a thriving Italian pizza haven in Kentish Town, where the atmosphere is as inviting as the menu is diverse. This vibrant two-storey establishment brings a taste of Bologna to London, specialising in light, crunchy sourdough pizzas made fresh daily. Crafted with organic 'type 1' flour, each dough is patiently proofed for 24 hours, resulting in a subtly sour and nutty flavour profile that perfectly balances a crisp outer layer and soft, melty centre. The menu elegantly fuses classic pizzas, such as margheritas and marinaras, with creative toppings highlighting seasonal British ingredients. The Yorkshire pork sausage pizza is a notable standout, packing a flavourful punch. For those who prefer a veggie option, the Norma is a must-try: it showcases roasted aubergines, aromatic basil and walnut pesto, organic tomatoes, and creamy fiordilatte mozzarella from Napoli, all finished with a sprinkle of smoked, aged ricotta. Berberè promises an unforgettable pizza experience that marries Italian tradition with a modern twist. With a Clapham location already drawing in pizza lovers, and a new site opening on Tottenham Court Road, Berberè promises an unforgettable pizza experience that marries Italian tradition with a modern twist. Margherita price: £10.20 Address: 300 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2TG Website: berberepizzeria.co.uk 12. Theo's For a slice of the best sourdough pizza in London, look no further than Theo’s in Camberwell. Renowned for its wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, this gem stands out as one of south London’s top pizza destinations. A must-try is the scotch bonnet nduja, featuring a delectable spiced sausage crafted just across the road by the talented team at the Camberwell Arms pub. Make sure to leave some space for Theo’s sensational tiramisu, a dessert that promises to be the perfect end to your meal. Pair your pizza with a refreshing negroni bianco or rich espresso martini for a truly delightful dining experience. If you prefer to enjoy your pizza at home, Theo’s also offers delivery, making it one of London's finest options for takeaway pizza. Margherita price: £10.50 Address: 2 Grove Ln, London SE5 8SZ Website: theospizzeria.com 13. Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza Rudy’s Soho outpost is a welcome addition to London's vibrant pizza scene, joining its successful branches in Shoreditch, Tottenham Court Road, Spitalfields, and Queensway, as well as locations across the north of England, including Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Leeds. Renowned for its crowd-pleasing toppings, this pizzeria offers a diverse range of options to suit all tastes. Highlights include the parmigiana, topped with roasted aubergine, the spicy calabrese with nduja sausage, and the cinghiale, featuring wild boar salami. We particularly enjoyed the capricciosa, lavishly adorned with creamy fior di latte, prosciutto, mushrooms, kalamata olives and artichoke hearts, which hit all the right notes. However, it was the pizza base that truly stole the show – perfectly flavoured, delightfully pillowy and satisfying chewy. Each of Rudy’s pizzas is crafted daily using 24-hour fermented dough by trained and accredited pizzaiolos, ensuring an exceptional dining experience with every slice. Margherita price: £10.50 Address: 80 Wardour Street, London, W1F 0TF Website: rudyspizza.co.uk 14. Made of Dough Look no further than Made of Dough for a slice of the best pizza in Brixton and Peckham. Here, the moreish, chewy dough undergoes a meticulous 60-hour fermentation process before it’s baked to perfection in a wood-fired oven, ensuring a wonderfully airy base. The mozzarella is flown in fresh from Campania, adding an authentic touch to each bite. If you’re in the mood for something truly indulgent, don’t miss the truffle pizza, generously topped with fior di latte, luxurious white Alba truffle oil and an entire ball of burratina. It’s a decadent treat that cheese lovers will adore. Order a side of the scotch bonnet romesco sauce for an extra layer of flavour, which adds a delightful spicy kick to those crusts. And, to wash it all down, treat yourself to one of their expertly crafted negronis or a refreshing pompelmo G&T. Margherita price: £10.50 Address: 182 Bellenden Road, Peckham, London, SE15 4BW Website: madeofdough.co.uk Great value picks 15. Little Napoli Situated on the busy Uxbridge Road in Shepherd’s Bush, this unassuming Italian restaurant is a gem you don’t want to miss. Its Neopolitan-style pizzas are all made from a sourdough that’s prepared fresh in store each day and undergoes a 48-hour proofing process. The result is a deeply flavoured, tangy dough topped with generous helpings of the best ingredients sourced from Naples and the surrounding region. The extensive menu features a range of classics as well as in-house specialties, with vegan and gluten-free options also available. Come with a big appetite? We recommend the ‘Burratina’ – a veggie feast of roasted aubergine, rocket leaves and indulgent whole burrata on a base of San Marzano tomato sauce, finished with parmesan shavings. For something different, try the ‘Calzone Fritto’, a fried, folded pizza pie stuffed with buffalo ricotta, smoked provolone cheese and cotto ham. There are plenty of other options on the menu besides pizza – highlights from the starters include a melty bowl of aubergine parmigiana, classic beef arancini and bufala caprese (a fresh Neapolitan buffalo mozzarella with cherry tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil). Margherita price: £10.95 Address: 428 Uxbridge Rd, London W12 0NR Website: littlenapoli.co.uk 16. Sodo With six locations across London, Sodo Pizza is your go-to spot for a light, crispy base that’s bursting with tangy flavour. If you find yourself at the Walthamstow restaurant on the weekend, don’t miss the chance to indulge in its delicious brunch pizzas topped with eggs and sausage. On a sunny day, grab an outdoor table and sip on a refreshing bloody mary or two –what better way to start the weekend? While the pizzas are certainly a highlight, don’t overlook the delightful sourdough garlic bread. Topped with sweet, crisp rosemary and drizzled with rich, earthy olive oil, it’s the perfect companion to your meal. With its inviting atmosphere and mouth-watering offerings, Sodo Pizza is a must-visit for anyone craving a slice of pizza perfection. Margherita price: £11 Address: Hatherley Mews, Walthamstow, London, E17 4QP Website: sodopizza.co.uk 17. Zia Lucia For an impressive variety of pizza bases, make your way to Zia Lucia, where you can choose from a traditional, wholemeal, vegetable charcoal or gluten-free base at any of its nine London locations. Each pizza starts with 48-hour fermented dough, expertly cooked in a wood-fired oven to bring out unique flavours and textures. If you’re after something special, the gluten-free base is a must-try, boasting a crisp yet light texture that will surprise even the most dedicated gluten lovers. You can also unleash your creativity by building your pizza from a generous selection of toppings, including spianata, broccoli, butternut squash and creamy taleggio goat’s cheese. Margherita price: £11.30 Address: 61 Blythe Rd, London, W14 0HP Website: zialucia.com 18. Flat Earth Pizza Flat Earth Pizza has established its first permanent home in an intimate setting adorned with bottle green and rattan furnishings. This sustainable pizzeria challenges the notion of pizza as mere ‘junk food’ by prioritising vegetables and using a dough that is neither refined nor processed. All ingredients are thoughtfully sourced from local suppliers, ensuring freshness and quality. At the heart of Flat Earth is a commitment to experimental pizzas that push the boundaries of traditional toppings. One standout is the ‘Hackney Hot’, an oval-shaped creation featuring sweet pickled beetroot, a trio of Somerset cheeses, jalapeños, fermented hot salsa and tomato passata. This unique combination delivers a delightful balance of sweet warmth. Another highlight, the ‘Kimchi Fiorentina’, reimagines a veggie classic with its vibrant mix of kimchi, tomato passata, beetroot crumb and a perfectly cooked egg. A delicious plant-based mozzarella option is also available for those following a vegan diet, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Margherita price: £11.50 Address: 286-290 Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 9DA Website: flatearthpizzas.com 19. Vicoli di Napoli Pizzeria For a slice of the best Neapolitan pizza in London, go to Vicoli di Napoli Pizzeria in Stoke Newington, a gem that graced the pages of Eat, Pray, Love. This family-run pizzeria has been dishing out deliciousness since 1870, proving that good things stand the test of time – especially when it’s in its fifth generation. You can’t go wrong with the classic marinara or ever-popular margherita, and for those feeling extra-cheesy, there's the option to double up on mozzarella. Each ingredient is top-notch, from the delightfully thin and pillowy base to the sweet, juicy tomatoes and fresh, peppery basil. With such quality, it’s no wonder every bite feels like a little celebration of Italian tradition. So, grab a seat, dig in, and prepare to be transported straight to Naples without leaving London. Margherita price: £11.50 Address: 125 Stoke Newington Church St, Stoke Newington, London, N16 0UH Website: vicolidinapoli.co.uk 20. Fatto Pizza & Beer If you’re a pillowy pizza fan, visit Fatto A Mano’s latest Kings Cross outpost. This addition to the renowned Neapolitan-style pizzeria features contemporary furnishings and a lively atmosphere, making it the perfect spot for a quick and casual dinner with friends. The menu strikes a delightful balance between traditional Italian toppings and innovative twists. Diners can choose from a variety of options, including fennel sausage paired with Neapolitan broccoli and the indulgent combination of mortadella served alongside a whole burrata. Each pizza is crafted with care, using fresh dough that is prepared daily and allowed to prove for at least 24 hours. This method reduces the amount of yeast for a lighter crust and enhances the overall flavour. True to Neapolitan tradition, these pizzas are baked at an impressive 450 degrees for just 90 seconds, resulting in perfectly blistered crusts. Margherita price: £11.50 Address: Unit 1, 3 Pancras Sq, London N1C 4AG Website: fattoamanopizza.com 21. Manifesto Pizza Vittorio Maschio, the former director of Natoora, has rolled out his first London pizzeria, and it's all about celebrating the best seasonal toppings. Flour sourced from Molino Pasini, a family-run mill in Northern Italy, meets the creamy goodness of fior di latte imported from Puglia, creating a delightful base for some seriously tasty pizzas. The biga-style dough is a star in its own right, proving for 48 hours to achieve that perfect ciabatta-like texture. With a semolina-coated crust, these pizzas have a wonderfully light and crisp base that stands up beautifully to a generous spread of sweet tomatoes. Inside, you’ll find a relaxed atmosphere with minimalist décor – think wooden tables and easy-going counter service. For those in a hurry, a stack of boxes is ready for takeout. The menu keeps things refreshingly simple, offering six delicious pizzas, a couple of beers from Hackney Wick's Crate Brewery, four wines and two Sicilian soft drinks. If you’re in the mood for something more substantial, the pig and field option, loaded with peppery Pedrazzoli ham and earthy mushrooms, will hit the spot. Margherita (Daisy) price: £11.90 Address: 148 Northcote Road, London, SW11 6RD Website: manifestopizza.com 22. Cecconi’s Pizza Bar Brought to you by the folks behind Soho House, Cecconi’s Pizza Bar is your go-to spot for pizza and pasta. Plus, you can enjoy a refreshing Aperol spritz on tap. The charming décor, featuring vintage Italian posters, chic black-and-white mosaic tiles and classic mahogany tables, creates a warm and inviting retro vibe that will make you feel right at home. In the summer months, grab a seat on the street and unwind with a punchy negroni as you watch the world go by. The pizzas are a delight, boasting a wonderfully doughy crust with a hint of char and smoky flavour. The generous, saucy bases are piled high with toppings, ensuring every bite is packed with flavour. You can't go wrong with the buffalo mozzarella, tomato, and basil combination for a classic treat. Feeling a little indulgent? Opt for the lavish pizza topped with parma ham, peppery rocket, creamy mozzarella, parmesan, and oozy burrata, all finished with olive oil for that extra indulgent touch. If you’re after something lighter, the pizzette is perfect for delivering on taste without the hefty feel. Margherita price: £12 Address: 19-21 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 5JJ Website: cecconispizzabar.com 23. Unlock Enjoy authentic Neapolitan pizza by the canal at this stylish pizzeria and exhibition space in Hackney Wick. Adorned with captivating art from various collaborations, the vibrant atmosphere complements the bustling open kitchen where skilled pizzaiolos craft their creations in a traditional wood-fired oven. The menu is thoughtfully divided into ‘classic’ and ‘gourmet’ options, inviting adventurous diners to explore the more unconventional offerings. Here, toppings range from unexpected delights like kiwi purée, to panko tempura prawns and sweet and sour pork neck, ensuring an exciting culinary experience. Staying true to its Neapolitan roots, the pizza base features a soft, chewy dough with a beautifully blistered crust. We sampled the gourmet prawn and pistachio pizza, which brilliantly paired nutty pistachio pesto with creamy stracciatella, complemented by the crispy texture of the tempura prawns. Margherita price: £12 Address: 1 Monkwood Way, London E32EG Website: unlock2021.me Top-tier treats 24. Spring Street Pizza Spring Street Pizza is the latest venture from Michelin-star chef Tom Kemble, who brings over 15 years' experience leading some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants (such as The Pass at South Lodge) to this laid-back pizzeria. Located under the arches off Southwark Bridge Road, Spring Street loads up New York-style pizzas with top-tier ingredients, blending the brash energy of NY pizza joints with a chic London vibe. The 18-inch pizzas are available in whole or half-and-half sharing versions, and use artisanal ingredients for maximum flavour and impact. Pizzas include the marinara and margherita for the purists, as well as the on-trend New Yorker with San Marzano tomato, rebel charcuterie pepperoni, Parmigiano Reggiano, hot honey and basil. Our favourite though was the hot and creamy 'nduja & stracciatella, with San Marzano tomato, fior di latte mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, 'nduja, stracciatella and guindilla pepper salsa. The house-made dough, fermented for 48-72 hours, is deliciously light and crispy, with a crust that's great for dunking into the house-made dips (green goddess, confit garlic aioli, blue cheese). Make sure to order the fried breadcrumb mozzarella sticks, showered in 22-month parmesan, for a gourmet spin on a takeaway classic, as well as the silky vanilla soft-serve with sour cherry and pistachio to finish. There's a well-curated menu of distilled cocktails, wines and beers; we enjoyed the mezcal margarita, pepped with a chilli infusion, and the citrussy Italian orange wine. Margherita price: £28 Address: Arch 32, Southwark Quarter, Southwark St, London SE1 1TE Website: springstpizza.com 25. Farina Located on Notting Hill High Street, Farina Pizzeria is your go-to destination for authentic Neapolitan pizzas, proudly steering clear of pineapple and pepperoni. During the summer months, snag a table by the floor-to-ceiling folding glass doors and let the enticing smoky aroma envelop you, or in winter, keep warm by settling in close to the small open kitchen to catch all the action. The 48-hour fermented dough is a true standout– light and airy, with a beautifully charred crust perfect for tearing off to soak up any leftover tomato juices at the end of your meal. For those who enjoy a bit of spice, the Farina pizza topped with nduja, salami and provola delivers a satisfying kick. Alternatively, the Burratina, adorned with delicate courgettes and luscious burrata, offers a refreshing and creamy twist. While the pizzas take centre stage, don’t miss the chance to start your meal with the delectable garlicky polpette, which comes nestled in a rich, sweet tomato sauce that’s simply irresistible. With its inviting atmosphere and delicious offerings, Farina is the perfect spot to indulge in a slice of Naples right in the heart of Notting Hill. Margherita price: £12.50 Address: 115 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3LB Website: farinapizza.co.uk 26. Florencio Chef Diego Jacquet has unveiled an exciting new pizzeria alongside his acclaimed modern Argentinian grill, Zoilo. Each pizza has a meticulously crafted dough that undergoes 48 hours of fermentation, ensuring a beautifully textured base that perfectly complements its toppings. Drawing inspiration from Buenos Aires’s celebrated muzza style, these pizzas celebrate bold flavours and quality ingredients. Standout offerings include the El Cuartito, featuring a delightful combination of chorizo, grilled peppers and jalapeños, delivering a satisfying kick with every bite. Another highlight is the Martita, which boasts a luxurious gorgonzola béchamel, topped with tender courgettes and crunchy walnuts for a rich, nutty finish. Margherita (muzza) price: £12.90 Address: 14 Seymour Pl, London W1H 7NF Website: florenciopizza.com 27. Purezza As the UK’s first 100 per cent vegan pizzeria, Purezza is redefining plant-based dining by crafting pizzas that pay homage to Neapolitan traditions. The restaurant focuses on using alternative ingredients to replicate classic flavours, such as its exclusive plant-based mozzarella – a remarkable achievement that took over two years to develop. This organic, dairy-free cheese is made from brown rice milk, making it low in fat and allergen-free, and it’s a unique offering that sets Purezza apart. After its successful debut in Brighton in 2015, Purezza expanded to Camden three years later, with exciting plans for further locations on the horizon. The restaurant has even secured investment to launch its mozzarella production in a factory for retail, making it easier for customers to enjoy this innovative cheese at home. In 2018, Purezza made waves by winning National Pizza of the Year for its Parmigiana Party pizza, standing out as the only plant-based entry in the competition. With its commitment to quality and creativity, Purezza is a must-visit for anyone looking to indulge in delicious vegan pizza that doesn’t compromise on taste or tradition. Margherita price: £13 Address: 43 Parkway, London, Nw1 7PN Website: purezza.co.uk 28. Doughnation In the vibrant heart of Covent Garden, this lively pizzeria offers a delightful summer garden terrace with stunning views over the piazza. The menu features a curated selection of artisan-crafted pizzas with hand-stretched dough, showcasing classic toppings and inventive flavour combinations. One must-try is the comforting potato pizza, which artfully layers thinly sliced potatoes with rich fontina cheese and a sprinkle of thyme salt – an intriguing vegetarian option that’s both hearty and satisfying. The nduja sausage pizza stands out for meat lovers, featuring spicy pockets of nduja, shaved pecorino romano and fresh rocket for a delightful contrast. In addition to its delectable pizzas, the menu includes creative dishes that push the boundaries of traditional pizzeria fare. Don’t miss the baked sweetcorn ribs, drizzled with basil pesto and a hint of chilli, and topped with bocconcini cheese, offering a refreshing twist to your dining experience. Margherita price: £13.95 Address: 3 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8PS Website: 3henrietta.com/doughnation-pizza/ 29. Alley Cats Pizza Alley Cats celebrates the vibrant pizza culture of New York with its mouth-watering, thin and crispy 14-inch pizzas. Nestled just off Marylebone High Street, this lively new addition to London's dining scene boasts a charming interior adorned with gingham tablecloths, softly glowing lamps and a projector screening episodes of The Sopranos, effortlessly whisking diners away to the bustling streets of 90s NYC. Expect to queue for a taste of these delectable offerings, as Alley Cats operates on a walk-in basis. However, it is totally worth the wait, as each impressive 14-inch pizza is baked to perfection in the classic thin and crispy fashion, and served on elegant silver stands at your table. The menu may be succinct, featuring just nine pizzas, but it includes two delightful options with a white base, ensuring there’s something to satisfy every palate. Margherita price: £16 Address: 22 Paddington St, London W1U 5QY Website: alleycatspizza.co.uk 30. Homeslice Homeslice is a top contender for the best pizza in London, with locations in Shoreditch, Fitzrovia, the City and Covent Garden. Whether you’re in the mood to dine in or grab a slice to go, this pizzeria has you covered, with options ranging from a single slice to a whopping 20-inch pizza. Why not indulge and split your pizza 50/50 with two different flavours? It’s the perfect way to share (or keep all the best toppings to yourself!). And, while you’re at it, don’t miss the chance to try its iconic sauces, which are perfect for dunking those crusts. Spice aficionados will love the zesty jalapeño salsa, while those with a taste for luxury can savour the rich truffle soy glaze or creamy truffle crème fraîche. Margherita price: £26 Address: 13 Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9DP Website: homeslicepizza.co.uk Enjoy this? Check out more of our London recommendations: Best rooftop bars in London Best brunch in London Best vegan restaurants in London Cheap eats in London Best foodie walking tours in London London's top queer food and drink destinations
Time for tea? If you want to treat the kids, read on for our picks of the best afternoon tea for kids in London, with teas inspired by sweets, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and more
Time for tea? Taking kids to afternoon tea is the perfect way to spend an afternoon in the school holidays or for a special occasion or birthday. Many of the iconic London afternoon tea venues, such as The Ritz or The Savoy, will do separate afternoon tea menus suitable for children. But there are some special venues that go even further, with magical afternoon teas that will appeal to kids and adults alike, for a truly memorable experience. Whether inspired by favourite children's stories, recreating nostalgic sweetshop treats or offering cakes and pastries inspired by museums, there's an afternoon tea to appeal to all. The menus and whole experience are fun and delicious and sure to have the kids talking for a long time afterwards. Read on for our picks of the best afternoon tea for kids in London. For more afternoon tea inspiration, check out our full guide to the best afternoon teas in London for even more suggestions, including reviews of famous afternoon tea hotspots such as Fortnum & Mason and restaurants in The Shard. We've also reviewed the best themed afternoon teas in London, with menus centred around art, cheese, London landmarks and more... For more London restaurant inspiration, check out our guides to the best pancakes in London, best pasta restaurants in London, best food markets in London or the best burgers in London. Best kids' afternoon tea in London at a glance Best all-rounder kids' afternoon tea: The Hansom at St Pancras London, £59 for adults, £35 for children Best London-themed tea: The Dilly, £49 for adults, £39 for children Best for presentation: Peter Pan afternoon tea at Aqua Shard, from £70pp for adults, £55pp for under 12s Best for luxury surroundings: Palm Court at The Langham, from £85 for adults, £50 for children Best for a post-museum treat: Science afternoon tea at The Ampersand Hotel, from £59.50 for adults, £39.50 for children Best for storytelling: One Aldwych Charlie & the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea, from £95pp for adults, £65 for under 12s Best for sweet treats: Sweetshop afternoon tea at Chesterfield Hotel, from £75pp for adults, £45pp for children Best affordable afternoon tea for kids: Wizard afternoon tea at Georgian House Hotel, £40 for adults, £20 for children Best afternoon tea for kids in London The Hansom afternoon tea at St. Pancras London From £59 for adults, £35 for children, book at The Hansom Best all-rounder kids' afternoon tea St. Pancras London’s new kids' afternoon tea offers a wonderful mix of fun, creativity and delicious treats, all set within one of the city’s landmarks. The hotel is a stone’s throw from King’s Cross station, and it’s an ideal stop during a family day out as there’s plenty going on in the area – check out Granary Square, where there are often pop-up events and kids love playing in the fountains, plus Harry Potter fans will love platform 9¾ in the station. As soon as we arrived at The Hansom, a stylish cocktail bar inside the St. Pancras London hotel, the staff in the elegant, light-filled lounge were warm and welcoming. Menus arrived with activity sheets and crayons for children, which were an immediate hit and kept them busy while we settled in. We started with a selection of classic mini sandwiches, thoughtfully made with younger palates in mind – fillings included honey-cured ham and mild cheddar, and egg mayo. Staff were more than happy to offer extras too. Next came the sweet treats, beautifully presented and perfectly sized. Children are served a fluffy vanilla and raspberry cupcake, a chocolate brownie with popping candy, a strawberry tart, and the indulgent standout – a milkshake with sprinkles. Each treat had the right amount of sweetness without being too heavy. Finally, a selection of warm buttermilk plain and raisin scones arrived, accompanied with either plum or strawberry jam and loads (if you’re like me) of clotted cream. Throughout the afternoon tea, a violinist played classic music, which the kids found fascinating and made the whole experience feel really special. While the kids enjoyed their mini treats, adults can pair the experience with tea, coffee or something sparkling. We picked the orange blossom tea, which was delightfully fragrant and floral. Overall, it’s a charming, fun experience that children and adults will enjoy – a lovely way to pause and recharge on a busy day out in London. From £59 for adults, £35 for children, book at The Hansom The Dilly afternoon tea From £49 for adults, £39 for children, book at The Dilly Best London-themed afternoon tea for kids Right in the centre of London, a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus and Regent’s Street, you’ll find The Dilly, a huge, grand hotel in the perfect spot for exploring London (West End theatres, Buckingham Palace and Leicester Square are all within easy walking distance). Kids will love the red phone box and free lollipops in the foyer. Tea takes place in the second-floor terrace restaurant, a beautiful, light-filled room. The tea is themed around iconic London landmarks. For adults, it all arrives on a fun London bus stand, and kids get their own London-themed board. Kids' sandwiches included classic cheese and ham, egg and cress and beetroot carpaccio and feta on onion bread. The sweet treats are fun and incredibly detailed. There’s a stand-out hazelnut praline and milk chocolate Big Ben, a chocolate London Eye perched on a rich mud cake, and a mini version of the hotel made from walnut and honey cake with a strawberry ginger bus, which even includes an image of the hotel’s façade printed on chocolate, plus staple scones with jam and cream. Kids' drinks include a frothy hot chocolate or refreshing strawberry lemonade, while adults can enjoy a high-quality brew from Tea Makers of London or a glass of English sparkling or champagne. It made for a fun, memorable afternoon tea, and combines perfectly with a day of sightseeing – see the sights, then eat them in chocolate form! Portions are generous, and staff will happily provide a takeaway box. Before you go, if you need ideas for things to do in London with kids, the doorman is very knowledgeable and had lots of great recommendations. From £49 for adults, £39 for children, book at The Dilly Peter Pan afternoon tea at Aqua Shard From £70pp for adults, £55 for under £12, book at Aqua Shard Best for presentation Get transported to Neverland with magical views, as if you're Peter Pan flying over the rooftops of London. Children and adults alike will love the nostalgic treats and artistic touches included in this perfectly designed afternoon tea. From the custom crafted ship that holds the food, to the story behind each component (the cod brandade is in the shape of a hook, as Peter calls him a ‘codfish’, for example), everything is meticulously designed and pure magic. Choose from either 'darling tea', which has delicious floral notes, or 'adventure tea', made from black tea with citrus, mango and ginger. The perfectly cut sandwiches are light, soft and fluffy, with flavoursome fillings of chicken, bacon and mustard, along with the standout egg mayo (more vegetarian options are available). Your next course, after a fresh round of specially designed plates with Peter Pan characters on them, are freshly baked scones served with delicious apricot jam, raspberry jam and coconut clotted cream. The magic continues into the desserts. The ‘Peter’s secret never tree entrance’ is particularly noteworthy – a soft chocolate sponge with chocolate mousse, ganache and raspberry jam. Like the waitress spraying the Tinkerbell biscuit with edible gold glitter, the thought behind each element brought so much joy. From start to finish, this afternoon tea is a display of enchanting storybook delicacies in a stunning, picturesque setting. From £70pp for adults, £55 for under £12, book at Aqua Shard Palm Court at The Langham From £85 for adults and £50 for children, book at The Langham Best for luxury surroundings The Langham’s children’s afternoon tea offers a perfect blend of fun and delicious treats in a beautiful setting. Located in the heart of London’s West End, it’s an ideal spot for exploring the city, and within walking distance of Hyde Park and Covent Garden. As soon as we entered the stunning art deco-inspired Palm Court, the staff were warm and friendly, making a special effort with the children to make them feel welcome. As the menus arrived, so did Langham-themed colouring books for kids, which were much appreciated. First up were finger sandwiches (they were a big hit!), with fillings for kids including cucumber & soft cheese, crushed avocado & tomato, roast ham and gouda. Gone in seconds, they immediately bought out another round (a big tick in our book!). Next, a beautifully presented selection of bite-sized desserts arrived: for kids there was citrus cake, apple & vanilla choux buns and a strawberry & cream pebble (a biscuit topped with delicate mousse). They had just the right amount of sweetness without being too rich. By far the star attraction was the large milk chocolate ganache teddy bear with a white chocolate bow. We also enjoyed warm freshly baked scones with jam and clotted cream, and an outstanding moist, rich fruit cake. For adults, there was an array of teas on offer, including organic darjeeling, as well as coffee, hot chocolate and champagne. For children, there was a kids' blackcurrant & hibiscus tea, juices and hot chocolate. Staff were more than happy to pack leftovers in takeaway boxes, which made for excellent train snacks. Overall, it was a really fun experience for both adults and children – the perfect way to break up a busy day of sightseeing. From £85 for adults and £50 for children, book at The Langham Science afternoon tea at The Ampersand Hotel From £59.50 for adults, £39.50 for children, book at The Ampersand Hotel Best for a post-museum treat Just a stone’s throw from the Science and Natural History museums in South Kensington, it’s easy to see where The Ampersand got their inspiration from for this unique afternoon tea – the perfect treat for budding scientists. The tea aims to capture the magic of the Science Museum by experimenting with fun visuals (think rockets and dry ice), sounds and textures in each dish. Kids kick off with a 'spaceman' hot chocolate whilst adults can pair their experience with champagne and Jing tea. Fun savouries include hot dogs and dinosaur sandwiches for the kids, with classic sandwiches for adults. Sweet white chocolate scones come with strawberry preserve and Cornish clotted cream, before the quirky sweet treats of jelly, chocolate lollipops and colourful planets for children, and some extras for grown ups that still continue the science theme, such as a mandarin and redcurrant jelly petri dish. Portions are generous too, very welcome after a morning spent museum-hopping. From £59.50 for adults, £39.50 for children, book at The Ampersand Hotel One Aldwych Charlie & the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea £95pp for adults with a glass of champagne, £65 for under £12s, book at One Aldwych Best for storytelling The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed afternoon tea makes its theme clear from the beginning with the choice of drinks: try chocolate tea (with a delicious cocoa aroma), hot chocolate with whipped cream and sprinkles for kids or, for adults, The Chocolatier cocktail – whisky, cherry liqueur, grapefruit juice, cherry purée and chocolate bitters topped with champagne. Once on to food, the savouries are fun and quirky, with some classics mixed in too. Think a not-quite-as-it-seems beetroot macaron and spinach roly-poly alongside classic Coronation chicken and egg mayo sandwiches. Scones arrived in baskets with 'snozzberry jam and all the creams'. Everyone around the room was busily snapping photos of their sweets displays, and when ours arrived, we could see why. It’s a sweet tooth’s dream: mysteriously flavoured candy floss, lemonade posset and 'hair toffee mousse'. A bottle of chocolate milk washes it all down. This makes for a special afternoon that kids will remember forever, or an excuse not to act your age – whatever your reason for visiting, it’s a sweet treat not to be missed. £95pp for adults with a glass of champagne, £65 for under £12s, book at One Aldwych Sweetshop afternoon tea at The Chesterfield Mayfair From £75 for adults, £45 for children, book at The Chesterfield Mayfair Best for sweet treats If you’re looking for a magical afternoon tea for a special occasion that will inspire the imagination and excite the palate of both adults and children, then the Chesterfield is for you. Set in a grand, Georgian hotel on a smart Mayfair street, the service is exceptional from the moment you step into their large marble hallway. Once you’re seated and have been talked through the extensive range of teas, your experience will start with a dramatic smoking pink lemonade topped with a flying saucer. You’ll then move onto a selection of beautifully presented finger sandwiches – our favourites were the Scottish smoked salmon with chive cream cheese and roast chicken with mustard mayonnaise and nibbed almonds. Accompanying the sandwiches are fluffy chocolate chip scones, Drumstick macaroons, strawberry liquorice allsorts cheesecake, blue raspberry & bubblegum Battenberg, giant jazzie lollipops, coca cola slice and a decadent take on a Reece’s peanut butter cup. There's a dedicated kids menu which comes served with milkshakes. When it’s time to leave you’ll be escorted to a traditional sweet shop stand where you can select a bag of your favourite pick and mix sweets to take home, any treats you couldn’t quite finish will be beautifully boxed up for you to take away too. From £75 for adults, £45 for children, book at The Chesterfield Mayfair Wizard afternoon tea at Georgian House Hotel From £40 for adults, £20 for children, book at Georgian House Best affordable afternoon tea for kids This fun and imaginative afternoon tea is one that’ll delight kids and adults alike, upon entering the smart Georgian house hotel you’ll be led to the basement where your spooky afternoon tea awaits. Expect plenty of surprises with overflowing cauldrons, salmon sandwiches served from a smoking box, bubbling cocktails and mocktails and golden chocolate wizard hats. The afternoon tea is served in a gothic looking bird cage and is a very generous affair with a variety of delicate savoury treats from tiny tarts to a selection of open and closed sandwiches. Plain and sultana scones are served with jam and clotted cream, after which a fresh bird cage is brought out with an abundance of sweet treats, a favourite had to be the web topped passion fruit jelly which almost looked too good to eat. The staff were attentive, relaxed and fun and there’s plenty of quirky decorations and spooky music for an authentically ghostly experience. There is also the option of a vegetarian or vegan version as well as bottomless prosecco for an extra £20. From £40 for adults, £20 for children, book at Georgian House Afternoon tea recipes, tips and advice Best afternoon tea in London The best afternoon teas in the UK Easiest ever afternoon tea menu plan Afternoon tea recipes with a twist 10 scone recipes you’ll fall in love with Discover more of our London food guides and please add any recommendations in the comments Cheap eats in London Best afternoon tea in London Best burgers in London Best food markets in London Best pizza restaurants in London Best pasta restaurants in London Best foodie walking tours in London Best London pubs
Discover our pick of the best UK Christmas markets to visit in 2025. Enjoy a spot of shopping, festive food and drink, plus plenty of seasonal cheer
As the festive season sparkles back into life, town squares, cities and stately homes across the UK are once again transforming into winter wonderlands, complete with twinkling lights, alpine-style chalets and the unmistakable aroma of mulled wine. With bustling food stalls and unique artisan crafts on display, an afternoon spent moseying round some of the nation's best Christmas markets is sure to bring some festive cheer. So why not grab your bobble hat and set off on a wintry weekend getaway? As with all things Christmas, markets seem to start earlier in the season each year, so we've put together our favourite UK city breaks for making the most of this shopping opportunity. Foodies are well catered for, with stalls specialising in festive treats from around the world, plus plenty of local produce. Pick up some artisan cheese or mince pies along with your handcrafted gifts and tree decorations – and, of course, a warming mug of spiced mulled wine. You can almost smell roasted chestnuts in the air... City centre markets are popular and easily accessible, and the UK has many to choose from, including multiple events in London along with Birmingham, Cardiff and Manchester, or visit the historical centres of Chester, York and Winchester. If you want to make more of a day trip then try one of the UK's spectacular stately homes for the perfect winter wonderland backdrop, including Blenheim Palace Market and Chatsworth House. Of course, you could do your Christmas shopping from home, if you prefer, with our ultimate foodie gift list, featuring exciting edible presents, kitchen gadgets and stylish homeware. Or, recreate some of the tastiest festive treats from the comfort of your own kitchen with our collection of Christmas market recipes. For more festive inspiration, see the best Christmas crackers, including eco-friendly options, and countdown to the big day with the best advent calendars. When do the Christmas markets open this year? Opening dates vary, with some of the earliest already available to visit from 1 November such as Birmingham's Frankfurt market, while others will open a week or two later. Most markets will run up until Christmas Day and then close or open on reduced hours. A small number will then reopen until the first week of January, such as Edinburgh and Glasgow. The UK's best Christmas markets to visit in 2025 Winchester Cathedral Hampshire’s county town more than lives up to its title of ‘England’s Christmas capital’ with the Winchester Cathedral Christmas market a riot of festive food and gifts. Organisers ensure local businesses are given a fair crack at representation by rotating the traders year on year and keeping a strong emphasis on British artisan goods. With over 100 hand-picked quality exhibitors, selling clothing, crafts, homewares and mores, this is the perfect place to get a spot of Christmas shopping done. 21 November - 22 December, Winchester Cathedral Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London Looking for a fun-fuelled family evening out? Returning for its 18th year and occupying a large area of Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland puts on a dazzling display of lights, activities and entertainment, not to mention an extensive offering of food and drink stalls. Book ahead for a spot at Bar Ice, where everything from the glasses to the chairs are carved from ice, then head to The Fire Pit for a warming winter cocktail. Feeling continental? Check out the giant Bavarian beer hall. Alongside the usual offerings of sausages, waffles and doughnuts, you’ll find burgers, kebabs and every kind of caramelised nut imaginable, plus more adventurous dishes such as salmon fillets grilled on wooden planks. Thrill-seekers will enjoy a range of rollercoaster rides, or you can opt for a more gentle excursion aboard the Giant Wheel, offering panoramic views over the park. There's plenty of to keep the family entertained too, from skating across the large, open-air ice rink to circus shows and live music in a concert area. 14 November - 1 January, book tickets and entry time slots via the Winter Wonderland website, with standard times starting from £5. Cardiff This is a well established market into its 31st year and many of the stalls change throughout the season, making them more sustainable for the makers. Wooden huts replete with ciders, cakes, chocolates, pastries and mulled wine line the city centre streets around St John’s church, while Trinity Street is where ‘taster’ stalls available to newer or smaller makers reside. Make sure to try warm Welsh cakes and bara brith while you're there. There is also an excellent selection of stalls for shopping, featuring artisan products curated by Craft Folk. Meanwhile, Christmas lights and decorations up the ante at Cardiff’s beautiful castle and arcades so we recommend making the time to wander around the city while you are there. 13 November - 23 December, Cardiff Christmas Market Birmingham Birmingham plays host to the Frankfurt Market which claims to be the most authentic German market in the UK. If bratwurst, pretzels, waffles, gingerbread and glühwein are what you’re after, this is your venue. There’s also a host of musical entertainment from community choirs and local and German bands, an ice rink and ferris wheel and a singing moose – you’ll know it when you see it. Come by train and use the glass deposit scheme for drinks for a low carbon footprint. 1 November - 24 December, Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market South Bank, London This atmospheric riverside market offers a more relaxed alternative to the better-known Santa-thon in Hyde Park. The Southbank Centre's Winter Market puts on seasonal performances plus arty street theatre, quirky crafts and festive food and drink. Don’t miss the purely food-focused Southbank Centre Food Market, open Friday to Sunday every weekend. 3 November - 4 January, Southbank Winter Market Edinburgh Edinburgh has no shortage of innovative festive spirit, with craft stalls and food markets alongside funfair rides, wacky circus acts and street performers. The European-style Christmas Market in East Princes Street Gardens offers a wide range of continental fare alongside local crafts and produce. Looking for an adrenaline rush? Take a ride on the world's largest transportable Starflyer with views of the city centre skyline (if you can bear to open your eyes!). If you are a whisky fan, then head over to the Johnnie Walker 1820 rooftop bar for an extensive range of warming cocktails. 15 November - 4 January, Edinburgh Christmas Market York Top marks for prettiness go to York St Nicholas Fair, which also scores highly for accessibility with its ‘take a seat’ scheme, and for sustainability with stallholders committed to eco-friendly materials. Eighty per cent of the stalls are run by local craftspeople, so you should be able to find plenty of unique gifts. Work your way along the alpine-style stalls lining Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square, or discover more of the best local producers at Shambles Market and the Food Court. 14 November - 21 December, York Christmas Market Chester With its Roman walls, Tudor shopping arcade and the lovely red sandstone cathedral from which to view the River Dee, Chester is a pretty setting for a festive break. Set in Town Hall square, the Christmas market is looking to focus more on local crafts this year, so you can pick up Cheshire cheese, local gins and planet-friendly stocking fillers from stalls flagged with ‘green Chester’. There are around 70 traditional chalets offering festive nibbles and gifts, plus local produce from Taste Cheshire farmers’ market. 19 November - 22 December, Chester Christmas Market Manchester Now in their 27th year, Manchester’s legendary Christmas Markets have been going from strength to strength, sprawling outwards from Albert Square and stretching further into side streets and nearby squares with each passing year – there are now nine official sites in all. Visitors can browse more than 200 wooden chalets offering a tempting array of festive foods, including hog roasts, bratwurst and mince pies. You can find their exactly locations on the markets' website. Take a break from market browsing to ride on the festive wheel, glide across Skate Manchester's ice rink, or you can even watch a Christmas parade taking place through the city streets on Sunday, 7 December. 7 November - 22 December, Manchester Christmas Markets Glasgow This year's Glasgow's Winter Wonderland will be opening across two sites – the traditional market will be returning to St Enoch Square while a new market will also set up on Glasgow Green. Visitors can expect the usual range of exciting independent food vendors, unique crafts from local sellers and a charming children's carousel and, in terms of the food offering, traditional continental bites, beer and mulled wine are intermixed with stalls selling anything from noodles and arepas to local dishes such as haggis, neeps and tatties. Furthermore, the first fully licensed Festive Bar will be opening in Scotland, offering live music throughout the event. The new location will boast the world's first solar-powered observation wheel offering views across the city, alongside live theatre performances in the Festive Big Top Live, and an ice rink. Fancy exploring the city further afield? There's a festive light trail taking place this year which you can follow to discover installations from local artists. 6 November - 4 January, Glasgow's Winter Wonderland Blenheim Palace Market Nestled within the magnificent grounds of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, this enchanting Christmas market really pulls out all the stops. As well as over 60 stalls for shopping in the Great Court and eating and drinking in the East Court – free to enter – there’s a showstopping illuminated light trail (allow 90 minutes), an ice rink and a Wizard of Stately homes Oz-themed trail through the state rooms that are ticketed. 14 November - 3 January, book tickets via the Blenheim Palace website. Chatsworth Christmas Market Treat yourself to a festive getaway in the historic Peak District town of Chatsworth. Set against the grand backdrop of Chatsworth House, this Christmas market has over 100 stalls with food, drink and gifts and is part of the larger ‘Christmas at Chatsworth’ offering – a ticket to one of the events gets you entry to the market as well. 8 November - 14 December, book tickets via Chatsworth at Christmas. Many National Trust properties also have Christmas fairs and markets; check the National Trust Christmas events page for venue information. Take a trip around our travel hub for more holiday inspiration, or get more ideas for a cosy winter break. Which is your favourite Christmas market? Leave a comment below...
8 best museums and galleries in London with good food
From the historic dining room of the V&A to trendy new bakeries in East London galleries, these are the best ways to combine culture and food
There are two types of people who visit museums and galleries: those who are excited by the gift shops, and those who are excited by the cafe. And with more than 190 museums and an estimated 330 galleries in London; there’s always going to be some very hungry foodies looking for a bite to eat after checking out the latest exhibition. But luckily, the cafes and restaurants set within London’s many cultural venues are as exciting and intriguing as the art. In fact, some of them are worthy of a visit in their own right, even if you haven’t managed to get tickets for the exhibition of the moment. From colourful brunch hotspots to sustainable fine-dining; from artist-curated afternoon teas to Italian-inspired pastries; there’s a whole rainbow of delicious cafes, restaurants and bars to try out – even the world’s first ever museum cafe, a gorgeously ornate dining room that dates back to 1868. So whether it’s a solo culture trip; a new-couple date or a family day trip to London; eating on an art trail doesn’t need to mean a dry, overpriced sandwich or crowded cafe with dull food. Here’s our guide to eight of the very best of London’s museums and galleries who are serving up good food; where to find them, what the vibe is like, and most importantly, what you need to order. For more London restaurant inspiration, check out our guides to the best London pubs, best pasta restaurants in London, best food markets in London or the best burgers in London. Best gallery and museum cafes and restaurants in London 1. Friends of Ours at The Serpentine Galleries, Hyde Park On the first walk past The Magazine restaurant, the stunning, Zaha Hadid-designed building in Hyde Park, you might be forgiven for thinking that it’s an art work in itself, or an extension of the next-door Serpentine Gallery North. With its grand modernist curves on the outside, and bright white interior, it’s like dining inside a sculpture – whether you’re stopping for a cup of tea or a lunch feast, it’ll certainly be a memorable dining experience. But first: the art. The Serpentine galleries – there are a few across London – have been showcasing the best of contemporary art and architecture since the 1970s. The mind-expanding exhibitions in the galleries are free to enter; and are a must see for anyone interested in peering into the brains of some artistic visionaries over the years. The restaurant itself was built in 2013 and is a now almost unrecognisable extension of a former 1805 gunpowder store. As of November 2024, London foodies Friends of Ours have taken over the culinary mantle. There’s big, bold and flavourful dishes on the menu like the croque “madamonsieur”; their signature “hashy bs” (hash browns to you and me; they have cult status here) or for those with a sweet tooth, French toast with Tonka bean and macerated peaches. It’s a refreshingly unpretentious place to grab a colourful brunch or a snack to eat while on a walk around the park; and everyone from kids to first-daters will be happy with the offerings on the ever-changing menu. friendsofourscafe.com/hyde-park/ Address: Magazine Building, W Carriage Dr, London W2 2AR 2. South London Louie at the South London Gallery The south London districts of Camberwell and Peckham are some of the most creative areas in the city. The South London Gallery – sitting on the borders of both locations – has become an important part of the London art world. The gallery is split across several sites; the main gallery on one side of Peckham Road; the second across the way, housed in a former Fire Station, and a third, Art Block, for children and families. The gallery itself was founded in 1891 by philanthropist William Rossiter to ‘bring art to the people of south London’ and today its ethos is fully forward-thinking. There’s regularly exhibitions from diverse artists from all over the world presenting mixed multi-media shows. A weekday evening might find a niche electronica gig or intriguing lecture and every weekend there’s a free, special garden trail for kids and their adults. The onsite cafe, the light and welcoming South London Louie, is a wonderful mix of global cultures and flavours, and worth a trip to the gallery for lunch here alone. ​​Chef Daniela Natale often draws from her Lithuanian-Italian roots, bringing a taste of both the Baltic and Mediterranean down south. With drool worthy sandwiches, pastries and cakes, it’s a great spot for brunches and light lunches. Dishes recently have included a sweet potato, chickpea and cavolo nero salad, tossed in a bright lemon and tahini dressing or their twist on toast, topped with ricotta with zesty beans, artichoke and courgette; and most plates clock in under a tenner. By night the cafe turns into a space for pop-up supper clubs – recent dinners have seen a Mexican and Caribbean culture collab called Caribueña, where for £50, guests feasted on tequila lime prawn ceviche and jerk glazed chicken with mango salsa; and Mosa Mosa, a French-Bangladeshi feast. Bonus tip: if you’re in the neighbourhood early in the day, join the queue across the road at the hyped Toad Bakery, for some of the best and most innovative pastries in London. southlondonlouie.com Address: 67 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UH 3. The Wallace Restaurant at the Wallace Collection The Wallace Collection, while not the most well-known of London museums, transports visitors with its impressive collection of fine and decorative arts, including everything from 14th century oil paintings to 19th century armoury. The collection was built by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace in the 18th and 19th centuries. Befitting of its objet d’art housed within, the building itself – which is free to enter, and found in Marylebone – is an ornate treat to wander around, with grand and colourful halls filled with curious and beautiful artefacts. The on-site restaurant, The Wallace, will happily further fuel any Bridgerton-type fantasies of being the lord or lady of the house. The pink-walled restaurant is surprisingly filled with natural sunlight, despite being the middle of the historic townhouse. You must start with tea and cake here. There are an impressive array of sweet treats to choose from: from carrot cake and blackberry and coconut to gooey chocolate (all £8 a slice). The artist Grayson Perry also currently has a special afternoon tea themed around his Delusions of Grandeur exhibition (£50). There is also a set lunch on offer –it’s on the pricey side at £40 for three courses, and will likely include elevated forms of familiar dishes like chicken supreme or pie ‘n’ mash. The Wallace isn’t the place to go for cheap eats, but for a special occasion or push-the-boat-out afternoon tea, a meal here will feel positively regal. wallacecollection.org Address: Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN 4. The Gamble Room at the V&A The V&A is one of London’s best and most visited museums, but it also has one of the most historic and stunning dining rooms to be found across the globe. The arts institution was first established in South Kensington back in 1852 and since then it has become a mainstay in exhibiting exciting and thought-provoking works across the ages. While there are a couple of beautiful spaces to enjoy a cuppa and slice of cake in the venue (around the pond is the place to perch in the summer), you should make a beeline for the main cafe, The Gamble Room, which is officially the oldest museum cafe in the world. Prior to the V&A founding director Henry Cole’s idea about 150 years ago; no one had really come up with the concept that art visitors might also want some snacks after soaking up some culture. And ever since then, it’s now seen as a staple for every museum, gallery or exhibition space to offer some sort of refreshments as standard. Sweeping arches, decorative columns, incredible ceramic tiles furnish the expansive room, while the stained glass windows bathe the space in dazzling, warm light. Pull up a chair, then dig into the cafe’s menu: kids will love the lunchboxes (£7), though let’s be honest, it’s the cakes they’re really going to be after; while the deli selection offers a daily lunch plate of salads and sides from £17. Eating lunch here, or even if it’s just a coffee, feels like you’ve been let in on an incredible secret: this is a cafe that will go down as a marvel in history. vam.ac.uk Address: Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL 5. Spring at Somerset House The origins of culture centre Somerset House, nestled just off The Strand side of the Thames, can be traced back to the Tudor times. Today it offers an entirely contemporary snapshot of the art, culture and music worlds. Alongside housing classic greats in The Courtauld gallery wing, previous exhibitions at the venue have included retrospectives of fashion visionaries like Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen; as well as deep dives into nightlife subculture – even a show exploring the genre of “horror”. If that’s a little too dark, the flip side of the centre is all about light and festivities, with a visit to its annual ice-skating rink being on many people’s Christmas wish list – it even famously featured in Love Actually. With so much to dig into here, you’re bound to work up a hunger, which is good as Somerset House has an impressive and equally eclectic selection of places to eat – at the time of writing, there’s Setlist, a casual bar/diner with all-female chefs at the helm; Aram, a Syrian restaurant by chef Imad Alarnab showcasing colourful and flavourful food from the region to London; Poon’s, a sister restaurant to the iconic Chinese restaurant in Soho and coffee from Watch House. But the star of the show at Somerset House is Spring, Skye Gyngell’s unique take on modern British, seasonal cooking. The dining room is a thing of beauty; grand windows showcasing famous London skyline outside, cool, marbled finishes inside. While dinner can be a little pricey, we’d recommend heading here for a special lunch and trying out the set menu (£39 for three courses). An even better tip is to try out their Scratch menu for an early dinner. It's £40 for three courses and an amuse bouche and is a truly sustainable meal, using “ugly”, “waste” or underused ingredients and produce to create an innovative and delicious meal. On the menu recently was fried ricotta dumplings with preserved lemon, lamb meatballs and polenta and apple and damson pavlova. The only catch? This menu is only served to 30 people from Tuesday to Saturday, between 5.15 and 6.30pm. It’s worth the extra effort to bag a table for this concept though, as it’s a delicious way to highlight societal issues on the plate – the restaurant is a fitting setting for the equally forward-thinking Somerset House surrounding it. springrestaurant.co.uk Address: Lancaster Pl, London WC2R 1LA 6. Ochre at the National Gallery No trip to central London should be without a visit to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square (and its excellent next door neighbour; the National Portrait Gallery). Fresh after a recent refurb, the National Gallery has been dazzling Londoners and guests from around the world for 300 years with artworks like Van Gogh’s Sunflowers; Ruben’s Samson and Delilah, and Da Vinci’s The Virgin of the Rocks. Plus, it is free to enter. The onsite restaurant, Ochre, hasn’t been around for quite as long, but is still pulling in the crowds. The all-day brasserie reflects the gorgeous colours of some of the nearby Renaissance paintings: caramel, olives and burgundy, lit up by soft lighting and even softer, vintage furnishings. The menu is equally comforting: hearty, seasonal plates celebrating regional British produce. A recent trip boasted roast Cornish hake and clams, served with sea beet (£26); Norfolk chicken schnitzel (£28), and for the peckish before dinner, a Tamworth pork scotch egg (£12). Keep an eye out for the cheese trolley that can be wheeled past your table for some post-meal picky bits, too. Afternoon tea is of course served, but Ochre’s has also focused on offering something for the younger members of the family with their kids’ afternoon tea (£20); with four types of sandwiches, jam and scones and brownies to finish off. It’s also worth noting that being so central, the National Gallery and Ochre are firmly in the theatre district, so there’s also great prix fixe menus to be enjoyed here too, with a three-courser pre-theatre menu for £35. Another insider tip – pull up an early chair at the bar as there’s half price martinis here between 5-7pm. ochre.london Address: National Gallery, Trafalgar Sq, London WC2N 5DN 7. E5 Storehouse at the V&A East Storehouse There’s literally half a million reasons to visit the newly opened V&A Storehouse. The site – based in East London near the Olympic parks – houses more than 500,000 works of art. A small, carefully curated section of this working museum store, an off-shoot of the original museum in Kensington, is always on display (ephemera belonging to David Bowie has a specially dedicated centre at the Storehouse) but visitors can also trawl through the museum’s online catalogue and request to look at items a few weeks beforehand too, making a trip to this new capital city art treasure a unique, tailored experience every visit. While there’s quite a few cafes and bars in the vicinity – we recommend a walk along the pretty Hackney Wick canalside before or after a visit – the on-site cafe, E5 Storehouse, is the one to make a beeline to. The Storehouse cafe is an offspring of its proud parents, E5 Bakehouse, who have been baking up incredible bread (their Hackney seeded sourdough is still one of the greatest loaves in the city, in our opinion) since 2010. E5 Storehouse is a warm, modern cafe of blonde wooden tables, with the whole room often decorated liberally with fresh wildflowers. Breakfast or lunch is the best meal to enjoy here, with sandwiches, baps and rolls showcasing their great homemade bread obviously making up a large part of their menu. Recent favourites have been roast chicken and lemon aioli baguettes or a veggie caponata on focaccia. But from Thursday to Saturday, head for a light, snacky dinner, when they team up with Provisions to offer cheese, charcuterie, tinned fish and some cracking wines until 10pm. Whatever time you choose to visit, there’ll be some sort of baked goods and cake on offer; meaning you leave feeling physically and culturally sated. instagram.com/e5storehouse Address: Parkes Street, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick, London, E20 3AX 8. Forno at the Ragged School Museum One of London’s lesser-known museums is worth the trip out East to Mile End, not only for a fascinating glimpse into working-class Victorian society, but for the local favourite Italian restaurant. The Ragged School Museum is set on the same site as a school opened up by Thomas Barnardo in 1877, with the mission of offering free education to the destitute children of the area, which was rife with poverty and disease at the time. Thousands of children were taught at the school, until it closed in 1908, with the building later used for industrial purposes, until a trust rescued and restored the location in 1990. Now visitors can be transported back to a 19th Century East End classroom (the first Sunday of each month they hold a traditional lesson) and a Spitalfields family home from the era to see how young children and families coped in this destitute time. Forno is the sister restaurant of Hackney’s much-loved Italian restaurant, Ombra, and as of October 2025, the team have opened not one but two spaces in the museum. There’s a little takeout hatch offering hot drinks and some of Forno’s signature incredible pastries and baked goods (the maritozzi cream buns will be a hit with everyone), while the main sit-in cafe is another relaxed affair, and good for brunch. There’s a range of influences in the cooking here – not just solely Italian – so choose from a green shakshuka or fennel sausage bap. It’s a very long way from the porridge, bread and milk from the school dining hall of old. forno.london Address: 46-50 Copperfield Rd, canal side, London E3 4RR More London restaurant recommendations Best pasta restaurants in London Best afternoon teas in London Best themed afternoon teas in London Best afternoon tea for kids in London 10 best places in London to eat classic British dishes Best bakeries in London Best burgers in London Best pasta restaurants in London Best afternoon teas in the UK Best food markets in London Best walking tours in London
Discover the best meat-free eats in London, from fabulous falafel to fried 'chicken'. Don't miss our pick of the capital's top vegan restaurants.
All recommendations have been reviewed as of October 2025. The majority of meals in this guide were provided by the restaurants. Looking for vegan-friendly restaurants in London? Look no further than Good Food's guide to the very best vegan restaurants in London. Get your fill of mouthwatering pizzas, terrific tacos and wholesome cooking with our selection of vegan-friendly cafés, restaurants and foodie hotspots. Plus, don't miss our suggestions for vegan sweet treats and other moreish nibbles. We've rated each restaurant based on a £, ££ or £££ price point. £ means it's affordable, ££ is a bit more expensive and £££ is more of a push-the-boat-out spot for a special occasion. For more London restaurant inspiration, check out our guides to the best London pubs, best pasta restaurants in London, best food markets in London or the best burgers in London. Best vegan restaurants in East London Pockets Hackney A certified cult favourite, Pockets (now with a bricks and mortar hole-in-the-wall location on Mentmore Terrace) is very rarely seen without a queue. But, if you have the time to spare, it’s absolutely worth the wait. There’s only one item on the menu - their falafel pitta - but it’s killer. They stuff fresh and fluffy pittas with salad, tahini, zhoug and falafel before finishing the masterpiece off with a fried potato and a chilli. These powerful pitta purveyors are open for business from Wednesday to Sunday, so get there early (and not too hungry!), take your place in line and get ready to find out what the fuss is all about. Must try dish: their signature falafel pitta Price point: £ The Black Cat Hackney The Black Cat is a relaxed, cooperatively run café, with communal tables and local photography plastered on the walls. The ever-changing menu is packed with seriously satisfying options, from lighter salad bowls, comforting soups and falafel wraps to their full-blown 'Cat' breakfast with roasted rosemary mushrooms, charred garlic tomatoes, scrambled tofu, veggie sausages and hash browns. Weekend specials include Welsh rarebit and loaded waffles. Must-try dish: the 'cat' breakfast Price point: £ Temple of Seitan Hackney If you’re craving plant-based junk food, Temple of Seitan is just the place (there's also a branch in Camden). Deep-fried, crunchy, spicy seitan (dubbed chick’n – it’s uncannily similar) is the star of the show here, served in several genius ways: as hot fillets, wings, popcorn bites and in burgers, piled high with cheese, ‘bacon’, pickles and mayo. Sides hit the spot, too, with options such as crisp skinny fries, a creamy, indulgent mac 'n' cheese and a crunchy, tangy slaw, which helps to cut through all the richness. If you have room for dessert, there are several vegan cakes on offer, including chocolate fudge, salted caramel and raspberry, coconut and lemon. Seitan, we salute you! Must-try dish: Temple burger Price point: £ The Spread Eagle Homerton The Spread Eagle is proudly the first 100% vegan pub in the city. With all their food, drinks, fixtures and fittings being plant-based and sustainably sourced wherever possible, it’s the ideal family-friendly, dog-friendly establishment for all pub lovers. You can't miss the Sunday roast with a choice of beet wellington, walnut & cashew nut roast or slow roast celeriac and crackling, all served with roast potatoes, roasted carrots, seasonal greens and a vegan Yorkshire which, as any vegan will tell you, is no mean feat. Must-try dish: one of the vegan roasts Price point: ££ Best vegan restaurants in North London OmNom Islington The name and the tagline (‘enlightened eating’) will give an idea of what you’re in for at OmNom. The Islington-based vegan restaurant is all about wellness, from its menu of feel-good and nourishing dishes to the yoga, meditation and spiritual events held onsite. They’ve got an extensive menu of Indian favourites that includes small plates, curries, street food, dosa, burgers and rice. And since they’re a charitable organisation, for every meal they serve, the OmNom team donates a meal to someone in need. Must-try dish: the chick'n butter masala Price point: £ Bubala King's Cross (also in Soho and Shoreditch) A guide to vegan fare in London is not complete without a mention for the unwaveringly delicious, vegetarian Middle Eastern Bubala. Dishes are best served sharing-style to sample a variety of the pickle plates, silky-smooth dips, BBQ-charred bread and seriously meaty oyster mushroom skewers. The 'Bubala knows best' set menu is the best way to achieve this end, but you could also pick and choose for yourself if you're not quite hungry enough for a full-on feast. Equally delicious cocktails, wines and beers make this a meal to remember. Must-try dish: oyster mushroom skewer Price point: £££ Best vegan restaurants in Central & West London Club Mexicana Soho If you’re searching for vegan restaurants in Soho, take a trip to Kingly Court - just off Carnaby Street. Your destination: Club Mexicana, a delightful plant-based Mexican restaurant situated on the ground level. Here, you'll find an exceptional range of dishes that deliver on flavour - without the use of animal products. Expect the likes of crispy 'chick'n', 'to-fish' and mouthwatering BBQ short 'rib' tacos; delectable 'cheezburger' and 'chorizo' burritos; and loaded nachos with ground 'beef' and vegan queso. Don't forget to pair your plates with one of their signature 'lageritas' - a refreshing fusion of Modelo beer topped with a frozen margarita. Trust us on this one. Must-try dish: al pastor tacos Price point: ££ Mildreds Soho (also in Covent Garden, King's Cross, Victoria & Camden) Think back to the late 80s: Soho was still edgy, the likelihood that someone you knew was vegan was either low or zero and your chances of finding a vegan restaurant were even lower. That’s when Mildreds opened as a small cafe on Greek Street. Fast forward to the 2020s and Mildreds has now spread throughout the city - as has the plant-based diet. That original cafe is still there today and, although their menus were originally vegetarian, they’re now 100% vegan. There’s a lot to love on the menu at Mildreds but standouts include a Sri Lankan coconut curry served with sweet potato and green bean pilau and a choice of three condiments. The towering burgers in a vegan brioche bun will satisfy any comfort food cravings. Must-try dish: triple-cooked cherry harissa patatas bravas Price point: ££ Best vegan restaurants in South London naïfs Peckham Naïfs in Peckham is a family-run vegan restaurant, tucked away from the main thoroughfare that is Peckham Rye, specialising in seasonal set menus that draw inspiration from feasting meals such as Greek meze. Their relaxed, communal dining style and well-assembled menus of produce-led dishes have drawn in critical acclaim - notably, naïfs has been mentioned in the Michelin Guide. For £38 per person, you’ll get six courses (including bread from TOAD Bakery) which might feature dishes such as mushroom with braised lentils and pickled chilli butter, or courgette and fava fritters with San Marzano tomatoes, although the menu changes regularly. Pair your meal with one of naïfs’ biodynamic wines, ciders, low-ABV beers or botanical cocktails and finish it all off with one of their irresistible plant-based desserts. Bon appetit! Must-try dish: lentil pâté with plum jam Price point: ££ muan Brixton From the team behind Mali Vegan Thai (another spot to add to your list) comes this smaller and more casual street food spot tucked into Brixton's Granville Arcade. Décor is eclectic and kitsch with vibrant dishes to match. Vegan 'meat' is the order of the day with crisp, soy mince-filled dumplings, lemongrass vegan cod and even grilled 'flank steak' with spicy jaew sauce. Sides are simple with the likes of jasmine rice, sticky rice and roti. Wash it all down with a Thai-inspired cocktail or glass of natural wine. Must-try dish: papaya salad Price point: ££ Is there anywhere we've missed? Leave a comment below... More London restaurant recommendations Best pasta restaurants in London Best afternoon teas in London Best themed afternoon teas in London Best afternoon tea for kids in London 10 best places in London to eat classic British dishes Best bakeries in London Best burgers in London Best pasta restaurants in London Best afternoon teas in the UK Best food markets in London Best walking tours in London
Discover the best places to eat in the buzzing city of Bristol. Explore fine dining restaurants, bistros and even a lido with a fabulous Middle Eastern menu.
All recommendations have been reviewed and approved as of the publish date and will be checked periodically. If you think there is any incorrect or out of date information in this guide please e-mail us at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk Bristol's thriving food scene is full to burst with restaurants, markets, breweries and bars. If you're ready to delve in, there are copious treats. We've selected the best places to eat in Bristol, from restaurants in the city centre to the harbourside. Explore this beautiful city through your stomach. Taking a trip South? Read our other city guides – we have expert recommendations for the best restaurants to eat in Exeter, Bath, Cheltenham and Cambridge. Best restaurants in Bristol at a glance Lapin - Special occasion Kask - Casual dining Bokman - Cheap eats, casual dining Marmo - Casual dining Little French - Child-friendly, casual dining Wiper and True - Casual dining Bianchis - Special occasion Souk Kitchen - Cheap eats, casual dining, child-friendly Lido - Special occasion, casual dining Thali - Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly Flour & Ash - Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly Bulrush restaurant - Special occasion Wilson's - Casual dining, special occasion Box-E - Casual dining Flow - Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly Bravas - Cheap eats, casual dining Spiny Lobster - Special occasion, casual dining Lapin Special occasion Lapin (meaning rabbit) is the latest venture from founder Dan O’Regan and chef Jack Briggs-Horan, the youthful team behind Totterdown’s Bank, and it brings a French bistro feel to Wapping Wharf. In a compact space in Cargo 2, this intimate restaurant exudes warmth and conviviality, with a buzz even on weeknights. The menu of French classics reimagined features seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, some grown on the team’s allotment on the city outskirts. Standout dishes include a beautifully light cheese soufflé, rich confit duck and a decadent éclair, but keep an eye on the specials board, too. Predominantly French, the wine list offers old-school aperitifs like a kir royale and digestifs available by the glass. Dan’s passion for hospitality is palpable as seen in his excellent Notes on a Napkin Substack which gives an insightful and entertaining view at getting the best experience every time you eat out. Kask Casual dining Sit at the concrete, peachy coloured, curvy bar and marvel at this long-standing, now revamped public bar in Bedminster, South Bristol. Behind the bar, mounted on the wall, are taps that dispense wine – and not just any wine. Kask serves remarkable wines, and the ones on tap switch frequently to give you the opportunity to drink a diverse and splendid selection, all by the glass. They’re all available to take home by the bottle, too, and sensibly priced. Cheese, charcuterie, good bread – you know the drill. It’s a trailblazer for Bristol. Bokman Cheap eats, casual dining Tiny doesn’t cut it – Bokman is miniscule, but as you approach it, just off Stokes Croft, it’s plain to see that this Korean restaurant is very popular. Queues-out-the-door popular. Arrive early and grab a seat. It’s a short menu, and both the fried kimchi rice and beef brisket ramen arrive in blisteringly hot ceramic bowls and continue to cook at the table. Korean beer or plum sodas and soft-serve ice cream complete this extraordinary newcomer to the city’s restaurant scene. Lucky Bristol. Marmo Casual dining Filling the boots of much-loved Bar Buvette is a tall order. Opening in the same space, Marmo have succeeded in this gorgeous building (high ceilings, large windows) giving Bristol a wine list that is exemplary in execution and a wine nerd’s delight. The short, modestly priced and largely Italian influenced menu drives you to order many of the little dishes, switching things around, always with wines to match. Mains from £14 Little French Child-friendly, casual dining Tucked away from the city centre, Little French in residential Westbury Park is exactly the sort of family-run restaurant Bristol needed. Chef and owner Freddy Bird is a fine cook. Clams cooked with butter and black pepper, served with good bread to mop up the juices, were an example of great ingredients cooked with thoughtfulness and flair. The rabbit braised with brandy and served with a Dijon and tarragon sauce, complete with chips and green beans, made my heart soar. Unpretentious cooking packed full of flavour. The prune and armagnac tart with custard is an oldie and most certainly a goldie. Mains from £27. Wiper and True Casual dining Open throughout the weekend, I don’t think there is a quirkier, more inviting spot than this brewery’s unique tap room. Wrap up warm and brave the elements in the outdoor seating space or sit at the trestle tables among the brewing tanks. A welcoming and original destination that’s very Bristol. Bianchis Special occasion This place is cool. Again, it’s another Bristol restaurant opening in a space that comes with an enormous restaurant legacy – big boots and all that. Cousins Dominic Borel and Ben and Joe Harvey stick closely to their roots, and the menu here is all-out Italian. The head chef is ex-River Café, and it shows. The menu is classic trattoria with pasta made on the premises and fantastic aperitif and antipasti. The wine list swerves any sense of pretension and sparks plenty of interest. An elegant, romantic space located in the hip Montpelier area of Bristol. Primi courses start from £20 and secondi courses from £19. Souk Kitchen Cheap eats, casual dining, child-friendly Souk Kitchen serves a constantly changing seasonal menu inspired by the flavours of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Their mezze selection includes dishes such as broccoli and walnut muhammara, Moroccan onion and sultana confit, starting at £9.50. There’s also a tempting weekday lunch deal: za’atar flatbread with your choice of dip, plus any two mezze dishes, all for just £20. Lido Special occasions, casual dining A winner for its stunning location alone (overlooking a Victorian lido), but also for the amazing food with hints of the Moorish and the Mediterranean. Main courses start from £22. Thali Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly Bristol’s popular Thali café in Easton serves up fresh Indian ‘roadside’ dishes using local suppliers and sustainably sourced ingredients. Particularly good for veggies and vegans (there’s a pumpkin olan at £13.50), as well as kids (you can even order ‘baby’ thalis for under-twos). Bulrush restaurant Special occasions Michelin-starred Bulrush just seems to get better and better. Chef George Livesey’s classical training with the Roux brothers shows in his elegant eight-course tasting menu (there’s also a veggie version, both £90), but you can also eat more simply with the value three-course weekday lunch. Modern British at its best. Wilson's Casual dining, special occasions Newly opened but already in the Good Food Guide, Redland’s new little neighbourhood gem, Wilson's, is all you want from a local bistro: Jan Ostle’s short, clever menu bears witness to the time he spent at the Clove Club. The deceptively simple food is based around a weekly changing menu, using ingredients they have grown, gathered or hunted themselves. At lunch, they offer a menu da jour with a glass of natural wine for £39 as well as a full six-course menu for £78. Box-E Casual dining Part of the burgeoning Wapping Wharf restaurant scene, Box E is a cute pint-sized (18-seat) restaurant housed in a container with a brilliant short wine list. Who knows how they find room for the bottles. There are just four seats at the bar for a chef’s table experience (£59 for seven courses). You'll find good veggie options, too, such as roasted asparagus with hazelnut butter, burrata with Isle of Wight tomatoes or spelt risotto with purple sprouting broccoli. Bravas Cheap eats, casual dining This popular little tapas bar, run by Kieran and Imogen Waite, is just down the road from Pasta Loco. They do the classics such as tortilla (£5.60) and patatas bravas (£4.80) really well, but also have less common tapas such as presa à la plancha (£13.80). Good sherries, Spanish wines and liquors are available, too. Always packed. Spiny Lobster Special occasions, casual dining Until recently owned by celebrity chef Mitch Tonks, proprietor of the award-winning Seahorse in Dartmouth, Spiny Lobster was bought by his staff and still offers the same menu of simply prepared super-fresh fish, mostly caught off the Devon coast. Many are cooked over an open fire. Glam, grown-up and quieter than many local restaurants, Spiny Lobster is a good place for a romantic dinner. Main courses start at £22. 5 foodie hotspots in Bristol St Nicholas Market A warren of stalls in the city centre. Buy falafel from Eat a Pitta and cheese from The Bristol Cheesemonger. Hart’s Bakery Hart’s Bakery opened the doors to this disused railway arch in the city’s main train station in Temple Meads nearly seven years ago. Bristol hasn’t looked back since. Daily sourdough bread is one thing, but sausage rolls, pasties and a dailychanging lunch offering – such as miso & ginger beef with daikon radish, peanuts & spring onion all scooped into a sesame bun, baked on the premises – is another thing altogether. Train journeys to and from Bristol are unthinkable without a quick detour to this station bakery. Bristol Sweetmart Want to cook worldwide cuisines? You’ll find every spice you could possibly need in this Aladdin’s cave of a shop in Easton. Divino Deli Friendly family-run Italian deli at the top of Blackboy Hill in Clifton. Fantastic focaccia sandwiches. Swoon Gelato This well-named Italian gelateria, opposite College Green, churns out swoon-worthy ices and sorbetti. Try the guest flavours for spectacular seasonal flavours. Bristol's best bar HMSS Tucked away in an unlikely location beside Clifton Down shopping centre, HMSS is one of Bristol’s coolest bars which opens, tardis-like into a cosy drinking den. Cocktails range from the relatively conventional (espresso martinis and negronis, all around £9/£9.50) to the inventive (Lock Ness Mobster with Patron Silver tequila, peach wine, lemon juice, spritz absinthe and laughing gas) and positively zany (Greenhouse Project: sugar snap Hendricks, British dry white wine, asparagus and celery bitters). No food is served here. More UK city guides The best restaurants in Nottingham The best restaurants in Oxford The best restaurants in Belfast The best restaurants in Edinburgh The best restaurants in Glasgow Is there anywhere we've missed? Leave a comment below... Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the country they are travelling to.
Bath is developing a lively dining scene that includes vegetarian o erings
craft beer and small foodie outlets run by innovative young chefs
pizzaTraditionally a city of posh restaurants and genteel Georgian tearooms
Traditionally a city of genteel Georgian tearooms, Bath's lively new dining scene offers innovative vegetarian eats, craft beer and plenty of creative young chefs
All recommendations have been reviewed and approved as of the publish date and will be checked periodically. If you think there is any incorrect or out of date information in this guide please e-mail us at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk Take a weekend away in the West Country's most elegant city, for fine dining, hip cocktails and reimagined pub grub at these top gourmet spots.We have gathered expert recommendations for the best places to eat in Bath, from comforting fish and chips to authentic Chinese dumplings. We have guides for other UK cities, such as Leeds, Oxford, Sheffield and London. Treat your tastebuds by following this expert guide of the top restaurants, and then check out our other helpful guides in our travel hub. Best restaurants in Bath at a glance The Scallop Shell - Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly Corkage - Casual dining, cheap eats Menu Gordon Jones - Special occasions Woods - Child-friendly Emberwood - Special occasions Henry’s - Special occasions Dough - Casual dining, child-friendly The Pulteney Arms - Casual dining, child-friendly, cheap eats Noya’s Vietnamese Supper Club - Casual dining The Dark Horse - Casual dining Chez Dominique - Casual dining, cheap eats Same Same But Different - Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly Chaiwalla - Cheap eats The Circus - Casual dining Society - Cheap eats King William - Casual dining Bar 15, No 15 Great Pulteney - Special occasions Hudson’s Steakhouse - Casual dining, child-friendly The Scallop Shell Best for: Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly A favourite of local chefs and civvies alike, this was nominated independent fish & chip restaurant of the year in the 2016 National Fish & Chip Awards. Come here for brilliantly fresh fish, including some of the best haddock & chips I've eaten. Look out for deliciously plump Cornish mussels too. Haddock & chips, £24.50; mussels, £11.50. Corkage Best for: Casual dining, cheap eats This cosy wine bar, run by local Richard Knighting and endearingly eccentric former acrobat Marty Grant, is a great place to try interesting wines – many of which they import themselves. With 50ml tasting samples on offer, you can try several, fortified by a regularly changing menu of substantial small plates, such as crab on toast. Booking essential. Vegetarian courses from £7.50 and meat courses from £12, small glasses of wine, £6.50-17.50. Menu Gordon Jones Best for: Special occasions Menu Gordon Jones, whose chef used to cook at Bath's landmark Royal Crescent Hotel, is a strong contender if you're after innovative food. The no-choice menu won't be for everyone, but it's a real gastronomic experience. Surprise 9-course menu for lunch or dinner is £100, or enjoy alongside a hand-picked wine flight for £185. Woods Best for: Child-friendly A Bath institution, Woods has been going since 1979 and has a loyal following among locals who love its retro food and decor. Ideal for a light lunch or for cosy get-togethers with family. Mains from £19.50; two-course lunch/early dinner, £30. Emberwood Best for: Special occasions Emberwood is the standout newcomer to Bath’s dining scene, tucked inside the Francis Hotel and built around a theatrical open kitchen where chefs work over a charcoal grill. Counter seating lets diners watch the action, particularly compelling as aged ex-dairy steaks from Westcombe or monkfish from the Cornish coast hit the coals. Chef David Hazell's menu is rooted in the best of the South West, like courgette with wild garlic cacio e pepe, or beef shin and stout pie with cavolo nero. Old-school charm comes via the martini and dessert trolleys. Don't miss the miso custard tart, which shows serious skill from the pastry section. Starters from £10, mains from £18. Dough Best for: Casual dining, child-friendly Friendly, Italian-run Dough would be nice enough as a standard pizzeria but delivers far more, including alternative crusts, which range from hemp to nutty Italian grano arso (scorched grain). Not cheap, but four people could easily share three pizzas. Sit near the front to watch the pizzaioli expertly spin the dough. Pizzas from £11.50. The Pulteney Arms Best for: Child-friendly, cheap eats, casual dining There are more beautiful pubs in Bath, but the slightly scruffy Pulteney is a favourite with locals. Sunday roasts are a particular bargain, with hearty portions of roast beef & Yorkshire pudding. Skip the starters and leave room for old-fashioned puds such as apple crumble & cream. Mains from £12. Noya’s Vietnamese Supper Club Best for: Casual dining You’ll need to book well ahead for this hugely popular Vietnamese supper club run by the diminutive, bubbly Noya Pawlyn. For £65 you get five generous, beautifully cooked courses of vibrant, spicy food. The chicken salad with fish sauce chicken wing is to die for. It’s also BYOB – order your wine ahead from nearby Great Western Wine and they’ll deliver. The Dark Horse Best for: Casual dining A dark atmospheric cocktail bar of the kind you’d be more likely to find in Shoreditch than Bath. Everything about the place, from the decor to drinks, is sourced from West Country producers, materials and workmen. Cocktails change seasonally, expect cocktails like the First Draft (strawberry infused wood bros vodka, somerset cider brandy 3yr, strawberry & black pepper shrub, lime, peychaud's bitters and soda) and Starter's Pistol (basil-infused barsol pisco, kiwi syrup, cacao blanco, cucumber juice, lime) from £13.50. Add to this a super-cool soundtrack and it’s clear why Dark Horse was listed among the best new UK bars of 2016. Conveniently central too. Chez Dominique Best for: Casual dining, cheap eats Not quite as French as the name would suggest, but there’s some good bistro cooking at this cosy little family-run bistro on Argyle Street. While some dishes acknowledge the French influence, others have more of an Italian vibe. Great value set lunch/early evening supper at just £24 for two courses. Same Same But Different Best for: Casual dining, cheap eats, child-friendly One of Bath’s many institutions, this endearingly retro café is a cheap and friendly place to grab a bite from a hearty English breakfast to a tapas menu later in the day. Their breakfasts are cooked to order using the freshest seasonal produce - you can taste the care going into each dish. It's also worth every penny with breakfasts starting at £3. Chaiwalla Best for: Cheap eats Ex-street food trader Niraj Gadher offers delicious vegetarian takeaway food from what is basically a hole in the wall in Monmouth Street. Try her 20 samosa box for just £20. Understandably there are always queues. The Circus Best for: Casual dining Seated over two floors (upstairs is jollier), this popular local restaurant occupies a Georgian house between two great Bath landmarks, the Circus and the Royal Crescent, and offers home-style English dinner party cooking at reasonable prices. Good value house wine at £7.90 a glass, and they source direct from small producers as much as possible. Mains from £21.30. Society Best for: Cheap eats Bath is spoilt for good coffee places (rivals speak of the trailblazer Colonna & Small’s with reverence), but this cool little coffee shop on Kingsmead Square offering a carefully sourced range of coffees and indulgent hot chocolate is worth a shout-out as a good central meeting place. There are outdoor tables during fine weather. Bar 15, No 15 Great Pulteney Best for: Special occasions Even if you’re not staying at this stylish new boutique hotel, find time to drop in for a drink. It’s quite an experience. The cocktail menu, which ranges from the classic to the quirky, is printed on playing cards. If you don’t feel quite strong enough, there’s a good wine list, too. Hudson’s Steakhouse Best for: Casual dining, child-friendly This popular London Street steakhouse is the place to go in Bath if you’re craving a large hunk of meat. Steaks, which range from Tuscan butterfly fillet (£29) to fillet (£35), are aged for a minimum of 35 days. There’s also a towering burger & chips (£18), which should please hungry teens. 6 foodie places to try Bath Farmer's Market One of the best in the South-West, this Saturday morning market has a great range of produce (don't miss smoked fish from Felce Foods). Landrace Bakery Working with Landrace Milling in southern Somerset, where specialty grains are grown and milled, this bakery consistently delivers interesting buns and breads. Try the cinnamon bun or a vanilla cornetto. @landracebakery The Fine Cheese Co. Bath has two top-notch cheese shops (the other is Paxton & Whitfield), but Fine Cheese has a more wide-ranging selection, along with fabulous condiments and prepared plates. Bertinet Bakery Lately downsized from a café to a tiny bakery, Bertinet still remains the place to buy sourdough. Taylor's Bagels Breakfast bagels stuffed with sausage, bacon, hash browns, eggs, cheese, you name it. Available in four locations and served with excellent coffee. @taylors.bagels Comins Tea House A cool, contemporary tea shop offering an astonishing range of authentic Chinese, Japanese and Taiwanese teas. Enjoy dumplings at lunchtime and cakes in the afternoon. Enjoyed this? Read more foodie city guides... The best restaurants to eat in Exeter The best restaurants to eat in Cambridge The best restaurants to eat in York The best restaurants to eat in Manchester The best restaurants to eat in Chester Is there anywhere we've missed? Let us know in the comments below... Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the country they are travelling to.