If you’re after an unforgettable dining experience, London is the place to be.
Whether you’re briefly visiting London or you’ve recently moved, having a plan of where to go in London will make your dining experience one to remember.
From restaurants in skyscrapers to boats, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to the variety that London has to offer. In this blog, we’ll go through some of the top food and drink spots London based. We’ve sampled some of the experiences that are the best for families, cuisines, trends, dietary requirements and neighbourhoods.
Neighbourhoods
London is one of the largest cities in the world, so be assured that the neighbourhoods in the city offer some excellent, varied food experiences. In this part of the blog, we cover some of the best food and drink experiences in some of these neighbourhoods.
Soho (West London)
Soho has some outstanding food and drink experiences, as the neighbourhood offers food from all cuisines.
To start with, if you’re after a full immersion into different cuisines of food, we’ve got just the place for you. Kingly Court is a food hub that offers more than 20 restaurants from a variety of cuisines. This place has it all with restaurants, cafes and bars all of which are in a vibrant courtyard, covered in the winter and exposed in the summer.
Instead, you may be a wine connoisseur who wants to delve into an ever-changing wine list. If this sounds like you, 10 Greek Street is an excellent choice. This is one of the best drink experiences London based, as you can expect to find a carefully selected wine list and seasonal menu with some extra fresh ingredients, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
If you like the sound of 10 Greek Street but want more of a food experience - fear not. The Soho Food Feast , London’s dining epicentre, features this restaurant in its festival. The Soho Food Feast sees chefs come to St Anne’s Church, to set up a variety of food stalls, panels, workshops and cooking demos.
Paddington (Central)
Looking to dip your toes into a new dining experience? Visit London Shell Co . This is a family-run seafood restaurant that offers static meals on a boat or a river cruise so you can experience London whilst you eat. Some sites you’ll pass when on the river cruise include Little Venice, Regent’s Park and Camden’s Lock in Camden town.
London Shell Co.’s mission is to ‘make the journey from sea to plate as efficient as possible’, so, if you’re after some of the freshest seafood around, look no further than here.
The cruise lasts for two and a half hours, and you can choose either a lunch or dinner cruise, both of which offer a five-course tasting menu. We think cruises are one of the top 10 things to do for Mother's Day in London. So, be sure to check this out to make next Mother’s Day as special as possible.
Notting Hill (West London)
In the West of London, Notting Hill and more specifically, Notting Hill Carnival , is one of the Unmissable Summer Events in London. The carnival consists of traditional and contemporary Caribbean musicians, who all celebrate Carnival culture.
In terms of the food, some notable dishes to try include Jamaican jerk chicken. This scent from the food pits sets the scene for the festival - embodying a place full of heart and soul. Other notable foods to try at Notting Hill Carnival include Trinidadian roti and Guyanese pepper pot.
Cuisine
Here, we outline the best places to eat if you want to delve into a certain cuisine. Ranging across a range of various experiences and boroughs, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Japanese 🇯🇵
Do you like Japanese food, cocktails and jazz? Well, mu in Dalston is an excellent choice. Mu creates a moody, romantic setting with atmospheric lighting and front-row seats to the jazz sets from Conjunto Cubano.
If jazz isn’t your thing but you’re still after some delectable Japanese cuisine, Omakase menus are another food experience you won’t want to miss.
Juno , which can be found in Notting Hill, only has a mere six seats and two sittings a night - making it one of the most intimate dining experiences. At Juno, you can expect chefs to serve a 15-course menu which features dishes such as king crab with ponzu butter and uni (sea urchin).
Italian 🇮🇹
If you love a view when you eat, and equally love Italian cuisine then Tavolino is not one to miss. With a bustling outdoor terrace, you’ll be treated to views of the Tower Bridge, one of the Top 10 picture spots in London.
If you love Italian cuisine, but you’re after more of a festival setting, SicilyFEST is the one for you. This festival celebrates all things Sicily, offering traditional food and drinks which will transport you straight to Italy. Typically running in May, you’ll find the festival at the Business Design Centre in Islington. Try a variety of food, wine and drinks.
Progressive British 🇬🇧
If progressive British food is your thing, make sure to visit Aulis . This interactive menu is made for 12 diners at a time, and you can expect the dishes to be cooked for you and explained at every stage.
Another progressive dining experience to explore in London is The Grill at the Dorchester . At this Three Michelin-star restaurant, four diners will be able to watch their food, such as cod doughnuts, being made and finished in front of them.
Trends
Are you in search of some of the trendiest food and drink experiences? In this section, we outline some of the hottest food and drink spots currently.
F1® Arcade 🏎️
Are you a foodie who loves Formula 1? Well, look no further than the F1® Arcade , one of the best foodie experiences London based. This is the ultimate racing experience based in the City of London. Race your friends in full-motion racing simulators and then try out a reimagined classic cocktail.
If racing makes you feel a bit peckish, there’s also a load of food options to try out too. From tacos to flatbreads, burgers and more, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
A Taylor Swift-inspired Afternoon Tea Bus Tour ☕
Didn’t manage to snag one of the Eras tour tickets? Fear not - if you’re a Swiftie who loves afternoon tea, get ready to live out your Wildest Dreams.
Enter the Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea bus tour . Feel like a London Boy whilst you see the sites of the capital, listening to Taylor Swift’s bops.
The tour knows that dietary requirements can’t just be Shaken Off, so expect to find sweet treats and sandwiches suited to vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free diets.
BAO 🎤
If you love Taiwanese food and are ready to feel like the bao of the ball, visit BAO . Here, you’ll find an electric karaoke venue. With various microphones and songs, you’ll spend your night boa-ing down to an unforgettable night full of tunes.
Does singing make you hungry? Well, BAO are the champions of Taiwanese food, featuring delicious dishes such as fried chicken, tasty treats and, well, bao buns.
Dietary requirements
Having specific dietary requirements shouldn’t mean you’re excluded from food and drink experiences in London. In this section, we outline food and drink experiences perfect for those who may have to exclude certain foods from their diet.
Free From Festival
The Free From Festival is catered to gluten and dairy-free food. This is a great foodie experience where you won’t have to worry about whether you’ll be able to eat a certain food or not.
Some of the treats you’ll be able to find at the Free From Festival include chocolate, desserts, savoury snacks and street food. You’ll also be able to find a great selection of gluten-free beer, organic wine, and refined sugar-free beverages at this festival.
The Allergy & Free From Show
In London, The Allergy & Free From Show has some great food stalls and a sampling station which offers a variety of allergy-free products. Taste and discover new foods all tailored to your dietary needs.
This show also features an innovative live cooking show. See various chefs showcase a variety of allergen-free recipes.
Best for families
If you’ve got a family full of foodies, strap in because in this section we’ve listed some of the best food and drink experiences London based!
The Top Hat Restaurant
If you’re a family full of board game lovers, we’ve got just the experience for you. The Top Hat Restaurant is designed to be a life-sized Monopoly board game. Discover a life-size board, work up an appetite and delve into the delicious food and drinks that the Top Hat has to offer. The food and drink are even loosely based on the game!
Hampton Court Palace Food Festival
Known as one of the best food festivals in London, the Hampton Court Palace Food Festival is perfect for families who love different kinds of food.
You’ll find this festival in Henry VIII's beautiful gardens where you can find over 150 amazing brands and producers. So if the parents want to delve into a refreshing tipple whilst the kids dig into brownies, be assured that Hampton Court Palace Food Festival is one of the best food experiences London based.
Gourmaze
Are you a family who loves a good puzzle with a reward at the end? Well, Gourmaze is sure to tick all your boxes. Navigate London in a treasure hunt, uncovering riddles and finding food at each solved clue.
If your family has a competitive streak, even better, as this challenge is timed. When you’re eating the clock is paused so you can enjoy each dish! Be aware that any children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at Gourmaze.
Wrapping up our London food and drink guide
So, there you have it, a quick guide to London’s food and drink scene. From a foodie family day out, to a themed tour around London, the capital of the UK is truly where you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink experiences. When will you be visiting London next?
Cheap train tickets to London 🚂
If our guide has inspired you to go to London, you’re in the right place. We offer a great variety of cheap train tickets to London so you can save on the travel, and splash out on the food.
- Book in Advance – Get the cheapest tickets when you book up to 12 weeks in advance. You could save up to 77%!
- Travelling with the kids? Our Family Travelcard allows your kids to travel to and around London for just £1!
- Going as a group? With GroupSave you can save 1/3 off your train travel when travelling with 3-9 people.
- Going when it’s not busy? Our Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets give you some of the cheapest train tickets around.
So, what are you waiting for? Your adventure starts here.
