One factor that possible springs to thoughts when visiting London is to attempt among the native British foods and drinks on supply. However apart from fish and chips and a pint of beer, you could be questioning what else you need to be attempting, and the place you need to go to get the very best of what’s on supply.
Properly, one of many choices that we advocate is to take a meals tour in London.
Laurence really lived in London for a few years, and ate a complete number of meals at totally different places throughout town. However even he enjoys taking meals excursions in England’s capital as there’s all the time one thing new to find.
Meals excursions fluctuate enormously in size, the quantity of meals included, and worth. We’ve executed quite a few meals excursions in London, and wished to share what we expect are the very best choices obtainable in your go to. Earlier than we do although, let’s reply a few questions on meals excursions in London.
Why Take a Meals Tour in London?
A meals tour is a wonderful approach to attempt a curated vary of scrumptious dishes. Excursions will allow you to attempt the very best of what’s on supply, masking lots of the highlights of British delicacies, at among the greatest spots within the metropolis for every dish.
Meals tour firms usually have a particular association with the meals vendor, chef, or restaurant that they go to on the tour.
As a part of an organized tour, you’ll usually have the benefit of visiting locations exterior of regular hours (or no less than throughout quieter hours). You’ll keep away from ready in strains to order, and be given smaller parts than you’d be capable to order by yourself. This permits for a more practical tour the place you possibly can attempt extra issues than you’d be capable to do by yourself.
You’ll additionally usually get an skilled information that can assist you alongside the way in which, so you possibly can perceive among the historical past of the meals you are attempting. A superb tour information will assist offer you some background concerning the meals you’re tasting, the world of London you’re visiting, and in addition be a superb useful resource for answering questions and offering suggestions.
In case you are visiting London for just a few days, then a meals tour will also be a great way to study what’s good to eat and the place. Ask your information about what different locations which can be good for X, Y, or Z, their favourite pub, or their favourite takeout spot.
Relying on what you want, they need to be capable to level you to some good spots for each conventional dishes and historic venues in addition to modern dishes and classy new hotspots.
Now most meals excursions will deal with extra conventional British meals which might be what most guests are going to get pleasure from most.
In case you are on the lookout for a tour that focuses on conventional British classics then we’d advocate a strolling tour reminiscent of this one or this one.
Or in case you favor yet one more centered on pub foods and drinks then we’d advocate a tour like this one.
However when you’ve got already tried loads of the British classics, you may want a meals tour that focuses extra on one thing like Indian curries, beer, cocktails, afternoon tea, Caribbean meals, or native cheeses.
Or possibly you wish to learn to prepare dinner a British dish or bake one thing like scones. We’ll be offering suggestions for every kind of choices later on this submit.
Regardless of Laurence having grown up within the UK and Jess dwelling there for 7 years, we’ve actually loved the varied meals excursions, afternoon teas, and meals workshops we’ve executed in London. We’re all the time discovering new variations of traditional British meals (and new locations to attempt them) and studying extra concerning the historical past of British delicacies.
Taking a meals tour is certainly one of our really helpful methods to start out your meals journey in London, however we undoubtedly encourage you to make use of it as a beginning place and a springboard to proceed exploring the meals scene within the metropolis by yourself.
Kinds of Meals to attempt in London?
Earlier than you select a meals tour of London, you need to in all probability have an thought of what sorts of meals the capital is thought for and what sorts of meals you want to attempt.
London is a cultural hub, which suggests there’s an enormous vary of flavors to attempt, from conventional pub meals by to worldwide cuisines reminiscent of curries. You will discover conventional British meals all over the place from avenue market stalls to nice eating eating places.
Most meals will not be distinctive to London however are eaten all through the UK with numerous regional variations. Many conventional British dishes could be onerous to seek out exterior the British Isles.
As a common thought although, we expect most individuals would get pleasure from attempting no less than among the following in style British meals and drinks (all of which we’ve tried):
- Meat dishes like meat pies (e.g., steak & kidney pie, pork pie), Sunday roasts, British lamb, gammon, Beef Wellington, hearty stews, and bangers and mash
- Seafood like oysters, salmon, mussels, cockles, kippers, white fish (cod, haddock, whiting, and hake are widespread ones), mackerel, potted shrimp, and naturally fish and chips (the fish is commonly haddock or cod)
- Breakfast favorites like bacon sarnies, kippers, black pudding, Marmite on toast, sausage rolls, and naturally the Full English breakfast
- Lunchtime meals like jacket potatoes, cheese and pickle sandwiches, Cornish pasties, and Coronation hen sandwiches
- Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Indian curries – hen tikka masala is a British favourite and was invented within the UK
- Desserts like sticky toffee pudding, Eton mess, bread and butter pudding, treacle tart, fruitcake, Scottish shortbread, Welsh desserts, and noticed dick
- Pub snacks like Scotch eggs, fried fish bites, and packets of British crisps
- Different typical British meals embody Yorkshire pudding (usually part of the Sunday roast meal), chips (fries), mincemeat pies, black pudding, British cheeses (there are over 700 sorts, together with cheddar, Cheshire, and Stilton), scones, Welsh desserts, and chocolate digestives (all usually eaten with tea), spag bol (nickname for British model of spaghetti bolognese usually made at house), and beans on toast
- Among the widespread domestically grown fruit and veggies within the UK embody cabbage, onions, potatoes, carrots, leeks, turnips, peas, beetroot, broccoli, tomatoes, runner beans, swedes, Brussel sprouts, radishes, apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries, loganberries, and plums.
- Tea – in all probability no drink is extra related to the British than black tea – you possibly can get pleasure from an English breakfast tea at breakfast, have a cream tea (tea, scones, clotted cream, and jam), or splurge for a full fancy afternoon tea in London
- Alcoholic drinks like beer (significantly ales), Scotch whisky, London dry gin, English cider, and British cocktails such because the Pimm’s Cup, Vesper martini, and Tom Collins
The above is only a quick checklist of typical meals eaten within the UK and focuses extra on conventional British meals. It might in fact be not possible to attempt all this stuff in a single journey however it ought to offer you a good suggestion of what most individuals consider as British meals (and doubtless some you’ve by no means heard of).
If the above is extra overwhelming than useful, then here’s a shortlist of among the hottest meals that vacationers inform us they wish to have in London:
- Fish and chips
- A full English breakfast
- Sausage roll and/or bacon sandwich
- Rooster tikka masala
- Sticky toffee pudding
In style drinks guests wish to attempt embody actual ale, English cider, and a cream tea.
The Finest Meals Excursions in London
There are literally quite a few several types of meals excursions and experiences in London, so we’ve divided this information into among the most important choices we expect you need to contemplate.
These fluctuate from extra conventional meals strolling excursions by to excursions that focus extra on beer, excursions and experiences that cowl afternoon tea, excursions that happen on a automobile of some form, and cooking lessons that have you ever studying the right way to make iconic dishes.
We predict that between all the varied choices you’re positive to seek out one thing you’ll get pleasure from!
Meals Strolling Excursions
A meals strolling tour is unquestionably one of the vital in style sorts of meals tour you are able to do in London. This sort of tour usually has you exploring part of town and attempting quite a few totally different meals at numerous places.
The tour must also embody a educated information who can let you know about each the meals you are attempting and one thing concerning the historical past of the world you’re visiting.
There are just a few totally different meals strolling excursions in London. One in every of our favourites is this Borough Market and Southwark Tour with Take Walks / Devour Excursions.
As a fast word, we’ve taken many strolling excursions with Take Walks and their sister meals strolling tour Devour Excursions. They run excursions everywhere in the world, with a deal with small teams and nice guides. We’ve all the time had a superb time and are pleased to advocate their excursions.
The Borough Market and Southwark tour they provide focuses on the Southwark space of London, which is the a part of town to the south of London Bridge the place you can see sights reminiscent of The Shard and Southwark Cathedral.
Southwark can also be house to the world-famous Borough Market, the place you can see an enormous vary of eateries and meals stalls. So, it is sensible for a meals tour to deal with this space!
After we took this tour it included seven meals tastings and a drink cease, together with in style classics reminiscent of fish and chips from arguably the very best fish and chip store in London, in addition to oysters, a bacon and egg sandwich, sausage rolls, and sticky toffee pudding. And people are just some of the dishes we tried.
All of the meals was scrumptious, and as this tour largely revolved round Borough Market there wasn’t an enormous quantity of strolling concerned. There have been additionally some stops that included sitting.
General, we actually loved this tour and might advocate it if you wish to attempt loads of totally different meals in a small group setting. Should you just like the sound of this tour, you possibly can e book it right here.
In fact, there are a selection of different excursions that included Borough Market and this space, together with this in style possibility which could be booked on GetYourGuide right here, and as a non-public tour on Viator right here. There’s additionally this tour which focuses on the meals of Borough Market.
There are additionally quite a few different strolling meals excursions in London you would possibly contemplate. Beneath we checklist all those we advocate you contemplate, which we’ve divided into extra conventional meals excursions and people which deal with different in style sorts of meals.
Conventional English Meals Strolling Excursions
Particular Meals Strolling Excursions
As you possibly can see, there are many choices to select from!
Pub and Drink Excursions
One factor we actually love about London are the outstanding historic pubs, lots of which have been serving conventional drinks and meals for actually a whole lot of years. You can also eat and drink in locations the place London’s historic figures partook of their victuals, generally by a comfortable actual fireplace in addition.
As there are such a lot of good pubs to expertise, we wished to share a choice of excursions the place pubs and drinks are as a lot of a spotlight because the meals. So, while these excursions often embody meals, additionally they embody a wide selection of drinks as nicely.
One in every of our favourite excursions of this sort that we’ve taken in London is the Tastes, Tales & Conventional Ales: Meals Tour of London’s Historic Pubs with Devour Excursions.
This tour had us visiting 4 of London’s oldest and most conventional pubs, discovered across the Fleet Avenue space which was well-known for being the house of journalism in London. At every cease we tried a scrumptious conventional drink (primarily beers).
We additionally tried a spread of conventional pub meals together with fish & chips, a home made Scotch egg, whitebait, and extra. Jess doesn’t usually like Scotch eggs, however she really actually loved the freshly made model on this tour.
One of the vital enjoyable elements of the tour was on the finish after we performed a standard and historic pub sport, made in style by Henry VIII!
General, we actually loved this pub tour, which is an effective possibility if you wish to go to some actually iconic London pubs and luxuriate in an excellent combination of conventional meals and drinks. You’ll be able to examine availability and pricing and e book this tour right here.
There are additionally another meals excursions in London which mix foods and drinks which you would possibly wish to contemplate. We’ve included all our really helpful excursions under:
Afternoon Tea in London
Popularized within the UK within the mid-Nineteenth century, afternoon tea is a scrumptious custom that’s nicely price experiencing within the metropolis it turned in style in.
A day tea is historically served within the afternoon (though you possibly can usually e book one for a late morning). Usually, it features a course of savory objects together with sandwiches, adopted by scones after which candy treats.
In fact, that is all accompanied by scorching tea, though some institutions gives you the choice to have espresso or one other drink.
We now have had afternoon throughout London, together with on the Berkley and the Ritz. It’s all the time been an gratifying expertise. Our one tip could be to come back hungry, as a result of a day tea includes loads of meals!
There are a selection of choices for having a day tea in London, together with strolling excursions which have a day tea element.
You can too in fact e book a day tea straight along with your most popular location in case you’d moderately simply deal with the afternoon tea and skip the stroll half.
Beneath, we’ll share some choices to contemplate that embody afternoon tea.
Boat & Bus Meals Excursions
Should you like the concept of sightseeing round London, consuming, and doing these issues while sitting down, then you need to contemplate taking a ship or bus meals tour.
There are a selection of choices to select from. For the boat excursions, these clearly are restricted to the River Thames. Nevertheless, as this goes proper by the guts of London and passes by quite a few main landmarks like Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, London Eye and Homes of Parliament, you’ll nonetheless get spectacular views.
For the bus excursions, the routes fluctuate relying on the tour you select, however will usually cowl London’s main landmarks such because the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Homes of Parliament and so forth.
If there are particular landmarks you wish to see it’s a good suggestion to examine with the operator earlier than reserving to see what is roofed, though bear in mind that routes can in fact change relying on issues like highway works.
When it comes to choices, there are a selection to select from. These supply totally different menus and routes. Some strategies to contemplate are as follows.
- This tour has you boarding a luxurious coach for a connoisseur six course meal as you move a few of London’s iconic sights
- Should you like the concept of afternoon tea however would additionally prefer to take a bus tour, then this tour has you lined. You’ll see London’s main sights while having fun with a full afternoon tea
- There are a selection of kids’s themed afternoon tea bus rides as nicely, together with this Peppa Pig afternoon tea bus journey and this Paddington Bear afternoon tea bus journey
- To the river now, and this river cruise which features a 2-course lunch and tea or espresso as you cruise down the River Thames
- That is one other river cruise, which takes place within the night and features a 4 course meal, stay music and the chance to bounce. A stunning approach to spend a night in London
Meals Workshops in London
Should you’d like to learn to really make a traditional London dish, then you definately we’d counsel you look into taking a meals workshop or class throughout your go to to London.
Now, in contrast to someplace like Rome for instance, London doesn’t have a fantastic many meals lessons to select from. Nevertheless, there are undoubtedly some choices on the market. We’ve chosen some choices which spotlight the extra conventional meals and drinks you would possibly wish to learn to make in London.
- This tour has you visiting Borough Market to take a look at domestically obtainable produce and substances, earlier than making ready a multi-course connoisseur meal with drinks
- You’ll be able to’t have afternoon tea with out scones! This cooking class will train you the right way to make this traditional merchandise, plus you’ll be capable to take house your scones if you find yourself executed
- A pork pie is a scrumptious British deal with, and this workshop will stroll you thru the method of constructing your individual pork pie from begin to end.
- You probably have a candy tooth you would possibly like to move out to Notting Hill and learn to make your individual scrumptious chocolate on this tour
Ideas for Selecting a Meals Tour in London
Earlier than you e book your meals expertise in London, we wished to share some suggestions to assist guarantee you could have a fantastic expertise, and e book the correct tour for you.
Verify What’s Included / Excluded
If you end up evaluating totally different excursions, you need to examine to see what’s included and excluded. Excursions ought to checklist intimately what you really get in your cash.
Usually, you need to be advised if meals or drink is included, and in that case, how a lot. Most foods and drinks strolling excursions do embody foods and drinks, however not all of them, so it’s all the time good to examine!
Excursions can even checklist every other inclusions or exclusions. For instance, some excursions would possibly go to sights and have the attraction charge included. Others might embody tender drinks.
Ideas are usually not included on most excursions, though they’re in fact all the time appreciated.
When evaluating excursions by worth, you’ll all the time wish to examine what’s included. A tour might price much less, but when you need to pay for lots of foods and drinks, then the ultimate price would possibly find yourself fairly totally different.
Affirm Dietary Necessities and Meals Allergen Info in Advance
This one could appear apparent, particularly when you’ve got dietary necessities, however you will need to word.
You probably have any dietary necessities or meals allergic reactions, you undoubtedly wish to talk these with the tour organizer prematurely to make sure your wants could be met on the tour you wish to do.
Verify Restroom Availability
Nearly all of strolling excursions happen over just a few hours, and there’s all the time an opportunity that you simply would possibly want a restroom break as a part of your tour.
Just about all of the meals excursions we’ve ever taken have had ample restroom stops. Nevertheless, among the excursions we’ve listed happen on classic buses for instance, the place a restroom isn’t obtainable at some stage in the tour.
That is undoubtedly one thing to bear in mind must you really feel it could be a problem for you.
Affirm Strolling Distance
In our expertise, nearly all of meals strolling excursions happen in a reasonably small space, and don’t require an excessive amount of strolling. Nevertheless, this isn’t all the time the case.
Relying in your mobility and the way comfy you’re strolling, you would possibly wish to examine with the tour organiser earlier than you e book to see how far you’ll really be required to stroll as a part of your tour, to make sure it will likely be a snug expertise for you. Studying current tour evaluations can even assist with understanding if there’s loads of strolling concerned.
Affirm Any Accessibility Necessities
You probably have any accessibility wants, you’ll want to talk along with your tour organizer prematurely of reserving your tour to make sure they can meet these necessities.
Some excursions will checklist as as to whether or not they’re accessible for wheelchair customers for instance, however the listings don’t usually cowl each accessible want.
As such, we extremely advocate reaching out to make sure you will have an excellent expertise previous to reserving and keep away from any difficult conditions on the tour itself.
Carry Applicable Apparel
It’s necessary to carry and put on apparel that’s acceptable to the expertise you e book. For London, the climate is rarely assured, and rain or solar are potential yr spherical.
As such, we all the time advocate packing one thing like an umbrella or rain coat simply in case. You will get extra packing suggestions in our information to what to pack for London right here.
When it comes to a gown code, while most meals excursions received’t have a gown code, in case you are visiting a high-end resort for afternoon tea then you need to undoubtedly examine to see if they’ve any gown code necessities. You’ll be able to see an instance gown code for the Ritz Lodge’s afternoon tea right here.
Additional Studying in your Go to to London
That’s it for our information to meals strolling excursions and experiences in London. Earlier than you head off, we wished to share some extra content material and assets we’ve put collectively that can assist you plan your time in London. We hope you discover it helpful!
- We now have detailed itineraries for 1 day in London, 2 days in London, 3 days in London and 6 days in London
- We now have a whole information to the place to remain in London, which covers all of the neighborhoods and a complete vary of worth factors
- Should you plan on doing a lot sightseeing within the metropolis, you’ll possible lower your expenses with a London Move. See our full London Move evaluate right here to see if this would possibly prevent cash on sightseeing.
- We now have a information to getting round London, and a information to utilizing the Oyster card in London.
- Should you’re flying into certainly one of London’s six airports, see our information to attending to London from the airport.
- We now have an in depth information to what to pack for London, that can assist you put together in your journey to London.
- We put collectively some recommendations on discovering the greatest Images Places in London
- For the Harry Potter followers amongst you, check out our information to discovering Harry Potter in London
- We now have strategies for Issues to Do in Kensington, in case you wished to focus extra on a particular area of town
- Should you get pleasure from army museums, check out our information to London’s greatest army museums and memorial. Additionally see our Winston Churchill in London information.
- We now have detailed guides to visiting the Tower of London and the London Eye which incorporates info on planning your go to and the way to save cash on these in style sights
- Ideas on visiting Stonehenge from London as a day journey
- Different good day journeys from London embody Oxford and Cambridge. See our information to Oxford in a day in addition to issues to do in Cambridge for concepts.
- Rick Steve’s London information, the #1 bestseller on Amazon for UK journey guides, and all the time a superb supply of related info
- Excited about heading to Paris from London? We now have an in depth information to the greatest approach to get from London to Paris that can assist you plan
And that’s it! We hope you discovered our information to meals excursions in London helpful, and as all the time, when you’ve got any questions, simply pop them within the feedback and we’ll reply them as quickly as we are able to!
