The short version: London eats the whole world, but start with the British classics – fish and chips, a Sunday roast, pie and mash, British cheese and afternoon tea – then graze Borough Market, dim sum in Chinatown, a curry or salt-beef beigel on Brick Lane, and Caribbean food in Brixton. Drink cask ale in a historic pub, or London gin.
At a glance
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Fish and chips | Battered fish with thick-cut chips – the classic British takeaway |
| Sunday roast | Roast meat, Yorkshire pudding, potatoes and gravy, eaten in a pub |
| Pie and mash | East End classic – minced-beef pie, mash and parsley “liquor” |
| Salt-beef beigel | Brick Lane late-night icon – salt beef, mustard, pickle in a bagel |
| Afternoon tea | Scones, finger sandwiches and cakes with a pot of tea |
The British classics
Have fish and chips at least once – battered cod or haddock, thick chips, salt and vinegar. Give a Sunday to a Sunday roast in a good pub: roast meat, crisp potatoes, veg, gravy and a puffed Yorkshire pudding. Seek out British cheese (Neal’s Yard Dairy is the temple), a hand-raised pork pie, and the East End’s pie and mash with green “liquor”. And no trip is complete without afternoon tea – see our afternoon tea guide.
The world on a plate
London’s real genius is its diversity. Graze Borough Market for cheese, oysters and baked goods; eat dim sum in Chinatown; have a curry or a 3am salt-beef beigel on Brick Lane; and try Caribbean food in Brixton. A London food tour threads the best of it together, and a cooking class lets you take it home. Wash it all down in a historic pub.
Frequently asked questions
What food is London known for?
British classics like fish and chips, the Sunday roast, pie and mash, British cheese and afternoon tea – alongside world food: Borough Market, Chinatown dim sum, Brick Lane curry and beigels, and Brixton’s Caribbean cooking.
What should I eat on a first trip to London?
Fish and chips, a Sunday roast in a pub, a Borough Market lunch, an afternoon tea, and something from the city’s global scene – a curry or salt-beef beigel on Brick Lane is a good start.
What do you drink with London food?
Cask real ale in a traditional pub, or a London dry gin – the city is the home of a gin revival – and a pot of tea with your afternoon tea.
Taste London
Book a London food tour, an afternoon tea or a cooking class, and plan from the UK hub.
