Despite its bad food reputation, London has an outstanding culinary scene with thousands of restaurants and markets located in neighborhoods throughout the city. The key is to know what to to eat when you travel to Britain’s vibrant megacity.
Discover ten must-eat London foods that you simply should not miss when you travel across the pond.
1. Fish & Chips
Expect to eat battered, deep-fried cod, hake or haddock and chips (think french fries but bigger and more rectangular) when you eat fish & chips in London. Some chippies, as Londoners call them, offer other fish varieties like mackerel and halibut.
2. Sunday Roast
Sunday roasts tend to be hearty meals best shared with friends. Traditionally eaten after church on a Sunday afternoon with family, traditional Sunday roast includes a variety of roasted meats plus sides like roasted potatoes and Yorkshire pudding.
3. Full English Breakfast
London is a great place to start the morning with a full English breakfast. Filled with tasty treats like bacon, fried eggs, fried mushrooms, baked beans and black pudding, the traditional morning meal isn’t appropriate for vegetarians or calorie counters.
4. Beigels
Beigels have been popular in London since Jewish immigrants from Poland started baking them in the 19th century. Boiled in water and baked at high temperatures, London beigels pair well with salt beef (think corned beef but sliced thicker) and smoked salmon.
Discover the best bagels in NYC.
5. Indian Food
Outside of India, London may be the best place in the world to eat Indian food. The city is filled with Indian eateries from humble curry houses to fancy restaurants with options ranging from traditional Indian cuisine to dishes more commonly eaten in India’s neighbors, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Explore more Indian food in Delhi.
6. Scotch Eggs
To make scotch eggs, cooks coat sausage-covered boiled eggs with breadcrumbs and then fry them to create a crispy exterior. London’s Fortnum & Mason claims to have invented the popular to-go item back in 1738.
7. Sticky Pudding
Despite its name, sticky pudding isn’t the same as chocolate pudding that Americans grew up eating in a cup or bowl. Instead, it’s a more complete dessert made with sponge cake, dates and a tasty toffee sauce. Vanilla custard or ice cream often completes the decadent dessert.
Discover more global desserts.
8. Cadbury Bars
Cadbury chocolate bars have been a fixture in British culture for more than a century. Over the years, the Cadbury confectionary business grew to mega status with a slate of sweet products which have become household names both in London and around the world. In other words, Cadbury bars are legendary.
Discover more British candy.
9. Hobknob Biscuits
Hobknob biscuits have been lining London supermarket shelves 1985. An immediate success when they debuted, the rolled-oat cookies reached cult status after McVitie’s added a chocolate-topped version two years later.
Discover more global cookies.
10. Tea
Afternoon tea is a highly civilized London tradition that dates back to the 19th century. The indulgent experience involves relaxing in style while enjoying silver pots of tea and tiered layers topped with dainty finger sandwiches and decadent desserts.
11. Beer
London is a beer drinker’s paradise. The city is filled with pubs serving traditional English beer classics like stouts, porters and brown ale. However, craft beer drinkers will find plenty of modern brews to wet their whistles.
12. Cocktails
As much as London is a beer city, it’s also a hub for drinkers who savor creative, sophisticated drinking experiences. London cocktail bars serve it all from pre-prohibition cocktails to cutting edge concoctions.
Read Next: The Best London Food Markets
London food markets are great for finding and tasting a lot of local food favorites. They’re located throughout the city so you should visit at least one food market when you’re in London.
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34 Best Food Cites in the World
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About the Authors
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers a unique taste of the world.