london food and drink tour

17 Best London Food Tours in 2024 (worth the money!)

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When you think of Mexico’s culinary output, you think of Mexican food.

Then there’s French food which speaks for itself – as does Spanish tapas.

When you think about England, it may be harder to identify its classic foods.

What are the quintessential English foods, and more specifically what food defines the city of London?

You’ll find out on these London food tours and food experiences in London!

Think fish and chips, bacon baps, and scotch eggs – all washed down with a nice cup of tea.

London is a multicultural city – meaning there are lots of culinary delights including tasty curries.

⏳ Don’t have time to read the whole list?

The best London food tour is this secret London Bridge walking and tasting tour.

Click here to check prices and availability.

The city has some of the best artisan bakeries around, plus one of the best ranges of plant-based foods anywhere in the world. 

Whatever your taste, we guarantee that London caters to it.

In this article, we’ll explore our favorite London food tours – each offering a chance to see the landmarks while dining on delicious English grub.

What are you waiting for, let’s get eating on these food walking tours in London.

Hey! Want more honest UK tips and planning advice? Click here to join my London and UK Travel Tips Facebook group , where I can answer more of your questions!

Easy Guide: Best Food Tours in London

1. london bridge walking tasting tour with secret food tours : best food tours in london.

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 830+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours 30 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR

• Small-group tour
• Food including bacon and egg bap and fish and chips
• Local professional guide
• Drinks including fresh tea and honey mead

The London Bridge Walking Tasting Tour is perfect for those looking to explore the city’s market food culture.

You’ll visit Borough Market, famous for its diverse range of delicious food.

Journey between pubs, artisan bakeries, and market stalls and spot iconic landmarks including Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast.

You’ll try award-winning Lincolnshire sausages, cheese and chutney, fish and chips, and sticky toffee pudding.

What could be more British?

There will also be a secret dish that’ll be revealed on the day. 

Your guide on this tour is a foodie who is passionate about finding spectacular food that’ll excite you and locations that’ll entertain you.

If you’ve never tried a pint of London ale before, this is your chance.

And of course, there will be tea to sample too.

2. London Thames River Dinner Cruise

⭐️  RATING:  4 out of 5 Stars, 520+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  2 hours 45 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Boat trip along the River Thames
• Live entertainment
• Views of London
• Food (it’s a London eating tour!)

You’ve never experienced London’s scenic cityscapes and food landscape until you’ve taken a trip along the river.

The London Thames River Dinner Cruise is a unique dining opportunity not to be missed. 

You’ll be taken to your table by professional waiters who are passionate about delivering high-quality service and food.

Begin your meal with a goat’s cheese and baby spinach tartlet, followed by a roast chicken main, and closed with a scrumptious raspberry and strawberry Eton mess. If you’ve not had an Eton mess before, you’re in for a treat.

Sip on delicious wine as you take in the sights.

From your window, you’ll see Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and the London Eye.

If glistening water, remarkable landmarks, delicious food, and fine wine weren’t enough – you’ll also be treated to live entertainment onboard.

This is the perfect food tour for fans of the finer things.

3. Vegan Food Tour Experience in London

⭐️  RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars, 10+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Delicious food
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options
• Visit several restaurants on this best London food tour

Climate-conscious consumers rejoice!

The Vegan Food Tour Experience in London offers a special walking tour for both devout vegans and those testing the plant-based waters.

Unlike big tour groups, this one is for a small party only.

Because of this, there are lots of opportunities to ask questions about the city’s vegan food scene and get chatting with others in the group.

You’ll meet people passionate about great vegan food and those trying plant-based food for the first time.

The tour takes place in Shoreditch – a lesser-known spot from a tourist’s perspective but a popular area for London natives with lots of exciting things to see, do, and – most importantly – taste.

It’s one of the city’s hippest areas, with lots of restaurants where you’ll try delicious samples. 

If you’re not a plant-based eater, you’ll be amazed by how delicious and nutritious the vegan food on offer here is.

It’s a chance to try something different and discover the wonders of plant-based dishes.

4. Traditional English Food Tasting Walking Tour in London

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 40+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours 30 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• A professional guide from the local area
• 10 food-tasting experiences
• Learn about the history of London

Looking for a great-value-for-money food tour in England’s capital city?

Look no further than the Traditional English Food Tasting Walking Tour in London .

Attendees will visit at least a dozen different eateries and taste ten varieties of food including scotch eggs and cheese.

This is a seriously amazing London food tour.

The English disagree about how to pronounce the word scone.

How you just read that word then establishes whether you say it like the Scots – scone like gone – or Londoners – scone like cone.

Fortunately, you won’t be worrying about how to say it because you’ll be enjoying eating them too much on this tour.

If you want a more intimate tour experience, this is a great option for you.

There’s a maximum of ten people allowed on the tour, giving you plenty of chances to ask questions to the experienced guide.

5. The Cheese Crawl – With Glass of Fizz

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 230+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  2 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Alcoholic beverages
• Cheese-related quiz
• Walking tour experience

What’s better than cheese?

Cheese with a glass of bubbly.

On The Cheese Crawl – With Glass of Fizz , you’ll sample some of the finest cheeses London has to offer. 

You’ll step into the iconic Fortnum & Mason, where they shift tons of cheese every year to their loyal customers.

The cheese here is second to none, and if you don’t believe us just ask King Charles because this is where the royal household gets its cheese. 

Expect to snack on great-tasting cheese, all while passing through interesting London areas including Mayfair, Piccadilly Circus, Soho, and Covent Garden.

If you don’t drink alcohol, or just don’t fancy a glass – reviewers note that they’ll swap this out for a juice on request which is a neat little touch.

Cheese knowledge to the ready.

This interactive tour includes a cheese-related quiz. Do you know your Camembert from your Cheshire? 

6. London Downtown and Borough Market Doughnut Tour

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 20+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  2 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Bottled water
• Views of Tower Bridge
• Tasty sweet treats
• Walking tour

The London Downtown and Borough Market Doughnut Tour is a food experience with a twist.

While most focus on savory treats like sausage rolls, this one is focused entirely on sweet treats.

As you stroll along the River Thames, your tour guide will take you to some of the most mouthwatering doughnut shops in the city.

You’ll taste incredible artisan doughnuts filled with flavor from high-quality London bakers including St. John Bakery, Doughnut Time, Bread Ahead Bakery, and Crosstown London Bridge.

What’s better than seeing Tower Bridge?

That’s easy – looking at Tower Bridge with a doughnut in your hand.

On this tour, you’re guaranteed unique experiences and photo opportunities.

There’s also the opportunity to purchase cookies and coffee.

7. Food & Drink Walking Tour in South East London: Bermondsey to Borough Market

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 30+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• A chance to see lesser-known London highlights
• Six different venues

The Food & Drink Walking Tour in South East London: Bermondsey to Borough Market is a great experience for food-lovers.

If you don’t like delicious food, interesting venues, or knowledgeable tour guides, this isn’t the tour for you.

Fortunately, who couldn’t love those things?

You’ve likely never heard of Bermondsey before, but this enticing place makes up the first part of your journey – and we know you’ll love it. 

This tour offers so much more than just food.

It’s also a chance to see some interesting landmarks – some you’ll know and some you won’t.

Regarding those you’ll know, you can expect to visit Tower Bridge – walking right underneath it to truly appreciate its majesty.

At Shad Thames, you’ll see the buildings that inspired Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist.

You’ll also visit Borough Market as part of this walking tour, which is London’s oldest fruit and vegetable market – and now boasts a great range of street food vendors. 

8. London East End Food Tour : foodie tour London

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 650+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours 30 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Up to eight food or drink options
• Six different locations
• Local tour guide
• Learn about the East End’s multicultural cuisine

If you’ve ever seen the British soap opera Eastenders you may have a little knowledge about how Londoners live, but how much do you know about the East End’s food and drink scene?

The London East End Food Tour is on hand to show you the best that this neighborhood has to offer.

You’ll sample a bacon sandwich at St John Bread and Wine and a salt beef bagel at Beigel Bake.

Also expect scrumptious cheese, flavorful curries, and fish and chips.

If you have lots of questions to get off your chest, this is a great tour for you.

Your guide is very knowledgeable about the East End food scene and knows a lot about the history of the area. 

9. London Indian Food Tasting Tour with Secret Food Tours : London food walking tour

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 240+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Food tasting including a selection of curries
• A delicious secret dish to be revealed on the day

The London Indian Food Tasting Tour showcases the very heart of this modern city – a multicultural place where different people and their cultures and customs are celebrated. 

It’s the perfect experience for those wanting a taste of 21st-century London.

Expect to dine on curries, savories, and sweets from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. 

Limited to just a dozen foodies, this tour is intimate – allowing you to make friends and ask your host any questions that you may have about the foods you’re trying.

You’ll spend the tour on Brick Lane, which includes what locals affectionately call the ‘Curry Mile’ – a set of restaurants stretching as far as the eye can see. 

There’s no danger of leaving this tour feeling hungry because you’ll try ten different dishes including sizzling lamb, creamy ras ghulla, and fluffy naan bread.

You’ll also get two drinks.

10. Eat 8 English Foods & See 30+ London Sights Walking Tour

⭐️  RATING:  4.5 out of 5 Stars, 10+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  6 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• 30+ London landmarks
• British foods including scotch egg and fish and chips.
• Learn about the history of British food and culture

The Eat 8 English Foods & See 30+ London Sights Walking Tour is ideal for those wanting to combine an eating experience with sightseeing.

It’s perfect if you’re only in the city for a short time – as you can experience lots of amazing things all in the space of a single afternoon.

As you hop from place to place sampling delicious foods, you’ll spot well-known London landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, the Tate Modern, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. 

Remember as you pass, if there’s only a Union Flag flying above Buckingham Palace then the King isn’t there. If more flags are flying, he’s in residence.

One of the plates you’ll try on this tour is pie and mash.

It’s so good, it’ll have you visiting London much more often.

11. Private Food Tour: The 10 Tastings of London with Locals (B-Corp Certified

⭐️  RATING:  4.5 out of 5 Stars, 18+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Vegetarian options
• C02 neutral tour
• Private tour
• Customizable to your food wishes

Looking for a private food tasting experience in London?

Look no further than Private Food Tour: The 10 Tastings of London with Locals . 

The tour is organized by a B-Corp-certified company, meaning you can expect high-level social and environmental performance.

They offset all of their carbon emissions, making them a unique choice among a crowded field of food tours in the city.

You’ll start the day just like the Brits, with a nice hot cuppa (cup of tea).

Your guide is very clued up about food history and will educate you about the history of tea and why it’s so popular in the UK.

Food-wise, expect to sample bhajis, fudge, and artisanal cheese. 

Great news for vegetarians, there are non-meat options available on the tour – meaning you don’t have to miss out on the excitement.

In total, there are seven dishes and three drinks to enjoy. It’s great value for money and worth your consideration.

12. Twilight Soho Food Tour

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 140+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours 30 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Nine food samples

Soho in London’s West End is a major entertainment district, and has gained international prominence because of it being mentioned in the novels Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, A Tale of Two Cities, and Nicholas Nickleby.

It’s also referenced in the song Pinball Wizard by The Who and is the setting for the 2021 movie Last Night in Soho.

The Twilight Soho Food Tour welcomes food lovers into this fashionable neighborhood, where you’ll see locations from the movie and sample tasty foods from Chinese dumplings to Spanish jamón. 

This is a fantastic option for one of the best food tours in London.

Your guide is a Soho expert, meaning you’ll learn all about the best places to eat and drink here.

While the tour is only three hours and 30 minutes, we recommend spending time after your tour exploring additional places on your own.

13. Walking Food Tour in Borough Market

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 40+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Visit a hidden wine bar
• Pass by Southwark Cathedral, Golden Hinde and Clink Prison Museum
• Fish & chips
• Learn more about the food vendors at Borough Market

Picture the scene.

You’re exploring Borough Market, but don’t have any knowledge about what to prioritize.

You only have three hours, and make the mistake of starting at the very beginning and moving through one stall at a time.

With hundreds of stalls here, you inevitably miss the best stalls and later reflect on the day with disappointment.

This doesn’t have to be your story on this eating London food tour.

By booking onto the Walking Food Tour in Borough Market, you’ll be escorted through this bustling market by a passionate guide who knows the very stalls to visit. 

The food on this tour is included in the price, but don’t make the mistake of leaving your wallet at home.

With so many interesting stalls here selling vintage clothing, old-fashioned ornaments, and locally-made crafts – we’re confident you’ll find something you want to buy.

14. Food and Drink Walking Tours in West London’s Notting Hill Area

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 20+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Visit Portobello Road Market
• See the bookshop from the Notting Hill movie
• Discover the Banksy Tunnel
• Food and alcoholic beverages

If you haven’t seen the movie Notting Hill before, put your life on pause and watch it right now.

Then return to this article…

Welcome back.

Now you know how beautiful Notting Hill is, we’re excited to let you know about the best food tour in this area of London.

The Food and Drink Walking Tours in West London’s Notting Hill Area is a fun day out with lots of scrummy food and interesting locations.

You’ll visit the Notting Hill bookshop from the movie and see where Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts filmed the movie’s most famous scene.

If you’re not a fan of the movie, don’t worry as there’s plenty more to this tour.

The Banksy Tunnel presents some of the graffiti artist’s pieces, while Portobello Road Market offers delicious global foods.

15. The Authentic British Food and History Tour (Try Many British Foods)

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 10+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Breakfast and lunch
• Award-winning food
• Tea tasting

The Authentic British Food and History Tour is true to its name – it’s as authentic as they come.

You’ll sample quintessential British food and gain an insight into the history and culture that defines the cosmopolitan city of London. 

This is one of the only food tours in London to include Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on the route.

You’ll marvel at this classic venue where the Bard put on his plays and entertained Londoners hundreds of years ago.

This tour is ideal for those wanting to take some pictures of London landmarks because you’ll pass Millennium Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Golden Hinde.

You’re advised to attend this event hungry, because all the samples amount to a full meal.

You’ll leave the tour with food in your belly, new knowledge in your brain, and beautiful pictures in your Camera Roll.

16. Chelsea Sweet Treats Adventure

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 8+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours 30 minutes | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Sample delicious sweet treats
• Water included
• A knowledgeable tour guide
• The opportunity to learn more about one of London’s most expensive areas

The Chelsea Sweet Treats Adventure puts you at the very heart of one of London’s most stylish and poshest areas.

Belgravia and Chelsea are two of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city, so it’s no surprise they excel at offering high-quality sweet treats.

Indulge in the finer things on this tasty tour.

Fans of rich chocolate and sweet doughs – this is the perfect tour for you.

Expect to sample hot chocolate, gelato, cookies, doughnuts, and much more.

Personalized attention from your tour guide is guaranteed, with this tour having a cap of eight guests. 

You’ll walk during this tour, making it a great opportunity to enjoy the city’s culture and people-watch.

There’s no better way to spend an afternoon than eating scrumptious baked goods as you wander around this elegant district.

17. Bike & Food Tour from Southbank to Camden – NO DIET CLUB

⭐️  RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars, 2+ reviews | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  4 hours | ✔️  BOOK NOW

• Food including halloumi fries, ice cream, and more
• Bike tour of London
• An opportunity to meet other foodies
• Food markets

The Bike & Food Tour from Southbank to Camden is a unique opportunity to see the city of London.

Unlike all the other tours on this list, you’ll travel around on a pushbike costing you just £4 to rent for the whole activity.

As part of a group, you’ll meet other passionate cyclists and foodies.

Plus, being a four-hour cycling activity means you’ll definitely work up an appetite. 

If you’re worried about rain, fear not – this experience simply changes to a walking tour and you’ll board a bus for longer journeys between locations. 

This is a memorable experience like no other, and you can expect to dine on halloumi fries, burgers, truffle mac and cheese, and ice cream.

Hey! Want to use our trusty guides to the best tours in other places across the UK? Check these out!

• 11 Best Tours of the Cotswolds from London in 2023
• 11 Best Tours of the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh in 2023
• 5 Best London Open Top Bus Tours
• 9 Best Scottish Outlander Tours
• 9 Best Ghost Tours in Oxford
• 5 Best Bath Ghost Tours
• 9 Best Bus Tours in Edinburgh
• 19 Most Unique London Tours
• 9 Best Day Trips to Oxford from London
• 7 Best Stonehenge Day Trips from London
• 7 Best Changing of the Guard Tours in London
• 11 Best Oxford Walking Tours
• 11 Best London Rock ‘n’ Roll Tours
• 11 Best London Museum Tours
• 3 Best Morse Tours in Oxford
• 11 Best London Beatles Tours
• 11 Best Walking Tours in Bath
• 13 Best Harry Potter Tours in Oxford
• 11 Best Jack the Ripper Tours in London
• 9 Best London Literary Tours
• 9 Best Street Art Tours in London
• 13 Best Evening & Night Tours of Edinburgh
• 15 Best London Pub Crawl Tours
• 11 Best London Bus Tours for Families
• 17 Best Harry Potter Tours in London
• 11 Best London Biking Tours
• 13 Best Ghost & Haunted Tours in Edinburgh
• 11 Best Edinburgh Walking Tours
• 11 Best Private Tours in London
• 11 Fun Tours of Royal London
• 13 Isle of Skye Tours for a Magical Time
• 13 Mysterious Tours of Loch Ness
• 7 Best James Bond Tours in London
• 7 Best Paris Tours from London
• 7 Best Stratford-upon Avon Tours from London
• 7 Best Tours of Bath from London
• 7 Best Black Cab Tours from London
• 11 Best Downton Abbey Tours in the UK
• 11 Best Ghost Tours in London
• 5 Best Graffiti Tours in London
• 9 Best London East End Tours

UK Travel Planning Guide: the FAQs

🏥 Should I buy UK travel insurance?

Absolutely yes. Basic coverage is not expensive, and as a visitor you are NOT covered under the NHS. Compare policies and prices with Travel Insurance Master here , a big name in the travel insurance business, and cross that off your list.

🔌 Do I need travel adapters for the UK?

Yes, you do, otherwise you won’t be able to plug in your electronics/phone/lifelines. I recommend this one , which is all-in-one so you can use it in other countries.

🚗 What do I need to drive in the UK?

The first thing you need to check out if you’re planning on renting a car in the UK is this guide to driving in the UK for visitors – the roads, signs, and driving experience will likely not be what you’re used to and it’s essential to prepare yourself to stay safe and aware.

🛌 What’s the best way to book hotels in the UK?

For UK hotels, Booking is the best site as it offers free cancellation on many properties. If you want an apartment, I always recommend VRBO over AirBnb.

📳 Will my phone work in the UK?

Yes – if you set it up right. Check out my guide on making your foreign phone work in the UK to ensure that you get the type of service you need.

🚿 Can I drink the water in the UK?

Yes, UK water is great and perfectly safe. But drink out of taps in any kitchen or use water fountains. Double check before drinking out of the taps in hotel bathrooms, though, as they may be on a different system. London water is safe to drink .

Heading to London? Want the best tips?

Check out my Ultimate Guide to London for Visitors. Using text, images and video, this guide is packed full of tips, tricks, safety advice, knowledge on how to get around and what to do, and more!

Moving to the UK or already an Expat?

Grab my book which covers moving to the UK, struggles I faced and that you might face too, and uplifting advice to help you along the way! Available in hard copy and on Kindle.

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London Food Tours For All Tastes

Food & drink walking tours in london, for all tastes.

Step off the tourist trail, leave the beaten track behind, do something different in London and see the secret spots that locals love. 

We take our walking tours down the back streets, underneath the railway arches and through the alleyways, to share great food with our groups.

Go with our guides to try modern and traditional dishes, British treats and food from far-flung places. All served with lashings of history about London. 

We've got private tours for ready-made groups and our regular tours for people who are ready to mingle.

Interested in the history of London? Why not join us on our latest London jogging tour called

'London Before Dawn'  click here to learn more.

Soon to pass   50 0  e xcellent reviews.

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Private food tours

We do team-building and corporate tours. Tours for schools, colleges and university groups. Hen, stag and hag tours. And tours for groups of friends and family. However many people you have in your group, we can design a tour to suit you.

If English isn't your first language - not to worry - for an extra fee we can get in an interpreter as-well.

Regular food tours

We have a tour that takes you between The City of London and East End and a second tour that goes from Tower Bridge to Borough. Our third tour starts near Portobello Road (West London) and finishes at the top of Notting Hill. All three tours run on the weekends with the exception of the Portobello Tales tour which also runs on Friday mornings too ( Sign up to the mailing list to hear more about them).

Ten excellent years and counting

We've been getting tip top reviews too on ...

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We are the only:

straight-up food tour on Condé Nast's 15 best walking tours in London

food tour in The Telegraph's 5 best London guided walks

UK tour in Lonely Planet's Top 10 tours for globetrotting foodies

And we've been:

seen by 4.2m viewers on NBC's Today Show

Grazia's 'No.1 thing to do'. 

But that's enough blowing our own trumpet.

Our recent goings on

Expect lots of food and scenic photos of London on any of our social media platforms.

10 of the best London food tours and tastings

Posted on Last updated: August 4, 2023

Eat your way around the world on the streets of London with these 10 delicious London food tours and tastings, from neighbourhood walks and market tours to cheese tastings and sweet treats.

* This site contains affiliate links , where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

Food tours and tastings are one of my favourite things to do when I’m travelling – from Thai street food tours to Caribbean chocolate tastings, they’re a great insight into a new destination. But some of the most interesting food tours I’ve done have been in London .

The UK has historically had a bad reputation for its food, but things have changed and London is now home to a huge array of top-quality food producers who’re challenging those preconceptions with tours and tastings which show off what they have to offer.

From tours of Brick Lane and Borough market to afternoon tea and chocolates, there’s the perfect London food tour for you. So here are my picks of London’s best food tours and tastings, featuring my favourites and those from six other food-loving bloggers.

10 great London food tours and tastings

1. A Taste of Borough Market

Borough Market is one of London’s best-known food markets, with delicious produce from across the UK and beyond to try and buy. But if you don’t want to just wander around and pick up a few samples, you can join a tour and feast your way around the market.

Food writer Celia Brooks is the only guide licensed by Borough to run tours, which start early on a Friday morning when the market is at its quietest. We stopped off at different producers who pulled out plate after plate of rare-breed meat, freshly seared scallops, British cheeses, Spanish charcuterie and creamy Sicilian cannoli.

There’s time to talk to producers and learn about how their goods are grown or made. You can buy as you go or ask the stallholders to hold it for you, and we ended the tour in Bedales wine bar for a wine tasting, feeling stuffed and laden with bags. Celia really knows Borough and its producers and by the end you get a real insight into the place.

The details: Celia Brooks’ A Taste of Borough Market tours run on Fridays from 10am to 1pm, and cost £110 per person. She also runs other group and private London food tours, including in Covent Garden, Portobello and Marylebone.

2. Twilight Soho food tour

Coming to London, our perception of British food was fish and chips. So we thought we’d sign up for a London food tour to see what else the city has to offer. The Twilight Soho Food Tour wanders through the one of London’s most famous neighborhoods, mixing stories of the Beatles and ladies of the night with some incredible cuisine and drinks.

As a neighborhood, Soho is really a microcosm of the world, and the food tour reflects that fact, visiting little-known local spots you’d never find on your own. There are shrimp tacos and margaritas from Mexico, British gin and meat pies, Spanish delights like Iberico ham and tapas, Chinese dim sum dumplings, and continental chocolates.

Strolling through Soho is like seeing the world without leaving the city. The tour features really generous portions along the way – so make sure to pace yourself.

The details: The Twilight Soho Food and Cocktail Tour * runs daily at 3.30pm, 4.45pm and 5.15pm. It costs £126 per person and lasts around 3.5 hours.

Recommended by Lance and Laura Longwell from Travel Addicts.

3. Secret Food Tour of London Bridge

I love taking food tours wherever I travel, but I admit I was skeptical about taking a British food tour in London, given that I’m British! However, I was intrigued by what the food would be, and what would be deemed the best British food by our guide. I wasn’t disappointed, and I certainly wasn’t hungry after eating all of the delicious food.

Our Secret Food Tour started with a bacon and egg bap from a stall in Borough Market. We wandered around the market, sampling other foods from the stalls, from creamy cheeses to chewy fudge, waiting for our guide to bring our freshly cooked fish and chips.

After that we tried a traditional sausage roll and selection of British cheeses paired with English beer and cider. A shot of honey mead and a cream-filled doughnut by Tower Bridge almost ended the tour, but the day wouldn’t be complete without a British classic – sticky toffee pudding and a cup of tea, all introduced by our knowledgeable guide.

The details: The Secret Food British Tour * runs daily except Mondays, with departures around 11am and 3pm. It costs £84 per person, or for £99 you can upgrade to add a drinks package which includes a house special cocktail and 10-year-old aged port.

Recommended by Claire Sturzaker from Tales of a Backpacker.

4. Seafood School at Billingsgate market

Billingsgate fish market in east London is the UK’s biggest fish market, and has been running on various different sites since back in the 16th century. As well as the fish market, Billingsgate also have their own seafood school, which is a charity run to promote healthy eating and help people learn how to prepare and cook fish.

They do a whole range of courses, including the Morning Catch. You arrive at the market when it opens at 6am for a market tour and a lesson in identifying and choosing fish, then pick a couple for your breakfast which their chefs show you how to cook.

Or if you don’t fancy the early start, they also run an evening seafood school. Starting after work on a Friday, the focus is on easy-to-cook dishes you can whip up using just one pot, like seafood laska or French bouillabaisse . If like me you don’t cook fish much it’s a great opportunity to get more confident in choosing, preparing and cooking it.

The details: Billingsgate’s Seafood School courses take place 2-3 times a month. The Morning Catch tour runs from 6am to 9.30am and costs £60 per person. The Friday Evening Seafood class runs from 6.15pm–9.15pm and costs £89 per person.

5. East End Food Tour

The East End of London is a fantastic area for foodies to explore and covers the gamut of London’s amazing ethnic and international foods, markets and street food – as well as plenty of local pubs which serve typical English specialties. I did a fantastic food tour of London’s East End with Eating Europe, and love how diverse the food tour was.

We visited a variety of specialty food markets, pop-up eateries, traditional pubs and the winner of the UK’s best fish and chips award. Among the delicacies along the route were bread and butter pudding, cheese, bagels in Spitalfields and Brick Lane curries.

Along the way you also get an insight into the history of this part of London and how it’s become one of London’s trendiest areas. The East End food tour is perfect those wanting to get a better understanding and taste of the wonderful venues in this part of London.

The details: The East End Food Tour * runs daily at 10.30am, 11am and 11.30am. It costs £99 per person and lasts around 3.5 hours.

Recommended by Noel Morata from Travel Photo Discovery

6. Sunday Market Kitchen

A patch of Italy in Marylebone, Cucina Caldesi is the only Italian cookery school in central London. We headed there to try out their Sunday Market Kitchen, which is a mix between a market tour and a cookery class. First you shop for ingredients from Marylebone farmer’s market before cooking a pranzo della domenica , aka an Italian Sunday lunch.

Our chef took us on a whirlwind tour around the market where we picked up local seasonal produce. What you cook varies depending on the time of year – on our menu was pea and broad bean bruschetta, salmon and prawn skewers, and fruit meringues. Everyone gets involved in preparing different parts of the menu under the chef’s watchful eye.

You’re talked through how to do everything, and a few hours later, the group gathers to taste the end results with a few glasses of wine. Simple ingredients come together to make something delicious, and you’re given copies of the recipes to recreate it at home.

The details: La Cucina Caldesi’s Sunday Market Kitchen classes run monthly, starting at 10am and finishing around 3pm, and cost £120 per person.

7. English Tea and Desserts

A taste of the city’s sweet treats is on offer during this tour of London’s luxury stores and establishments. If you have a taste for the sweeter things in life, then you’ll love indulging in this delicious London food tour . Feast on chocolates, cakes, desserts and macarons in London’s sweet spots, some by royal appointment no less.

As you treat your taste buds you’ll be guided on a moveable feast which is garnished with snippets of London gossip and insights into the lives of the rich and famous, and topped off with a taste of London trivia. Expect to sample a choice of chocolates from sea-salted caramels to tempting champagne truffles and fruity ganaches.

Indulge your French fancy with a patisserie of pleasure and home-grown baked desserts. The tour ends on a quintessentially British note with afternoon tea and scones in a secret London location including a choice of rare blend tea or barista-made coffee.

The details: The  English Tea and Desserts tour * runs from 11am to 1.30pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays, and costs £89 for adults and £79 for children (minimum age six).

Recommended by Suzanne Jones from The Travel Bunny

8. The Afternoon Tea Bus

What do you get when you add a double-decker bus and afternoon tea – two quintessentially ‘London’ things – together? You get the Afternoon Tea Bus! Offered in conjunction with B Bakery, the Afternoon Tea Bus tour has you riding a converted double-decker bus around central London as you sip your tea and eat your scones.

It’s definitely one of the city’s more unique afternoon tea experiences. As you enjoy all the normal afternoon tea trappings (savoury sandwiches, scones, homemade cakes and tarts, and tea served in a souvenir travel mug), the bus navigates in a big loop around Hyde Park, passing London icons like the Houses of Parliament, Harrods and Oxford Street.

A recorded narration accompanies the 1.5-hour ride, making this a great introduction to London if it’s your first visit. Prices for the tea bus tour vary depending on where you want to sit – it’s definitely worth it to splurge for a table on the upper deck for the views.

The details: The Afternoon Tea Bus tour runs several times daily from 8 Northumberland Avenue (off Trafalgar Square) and Victoria Coach Station. Lower tables start around £45 per person, while the front tables on the top deck can run up to £72.

Recommended by Amanda Williams from A Dangerous Business.

9. Chocolate Ecstasy

One of the most delicious food tours in London is the Chocolate Ecstasy tour. Jennifer Earle, who is very knowledgeable about all things chocolate, takes you on a fabulous jaunt around some of London’s best chocolatiers and patisseries.

Her tours are in small groups of not more than eight, so there’s lots of time to chat and taste along the way. Each tour takes about three hours and stops in multiple artisan chocolate shops, with lots of chocolate and confectioneries to taste. I did the tour around Mayfair and Belgravia which took us to some exquisite, high-end chocolatiers.

Our tour ended at Rococo Chocolate where we got an education about how chocolate is made and how to taste chocolates, all as you enjoy a delicious tray of truffles. Chocolate Ecstasy Tours is not just about chocolate, you get to explore different areas of London too. It’s definitely a London food tour not to be missed.

The details: The Mayfair Chocolate Tour is currently only available as a 3-hour private group tour, which starts from £175. Or you can take a similar Chocolate Tasting 3-hour group tour * of Mayfair for £49, which is led by a former cocoa and coffee trader.

Recommended by May from Eat Cook Explore .

10. The London Cheese Crawl

Spent an afternoon feasting on delicious cheeses on a walking tour of London’s top cheese spots. The tour starts at the famous Fortnum & Mason department store, which has been serving cheese to the public – and the Royal Family – for over 300 years.

After stopping off at a traditional cheesemonger to taste the classic British blue cheese Stilton, we headed to an Italian deli in Soho’s Little Italy to try some ‘drunken cheeses’. Next we walked over to Covent Garden to visit Neal’s Yard Dairy, who stock over 70 British and Irish cheeses, before finishing the tour with an amazing baked Camembert.

It’s a great chance to try new cheeses, learn about their history and how they’re made. There are plenty of ‘cheesy’ puns along the way as well as a cheese-themed quiz, and enough tasting samples to guarantee a few strange dreams that night.

The details: The London Cheese Crawl * takes place on Saturdays at 12pm and 3pm. It costs £35 per person and lasts around 2.5 hours.

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Jane Farmer

Thursday 23rd of November 2023

My son just moved to London and I would love to give him a food tour for a Christmas gift. Is it possible to get a gift certificate for these tours?

Lucy Dodsworth

Yes Celia Brooks, Cucina Caldesi and Eating Europe (who run the East End and Soho tours) all do gift vouchers – it's a great idea for a present!

Melvin Appleford

Sunday 6th of September 2020

Bagel Bake is one of our favourite!!!

Next time we're in London we'll defo try some of your suggestions ❤

Monday 28th of September 2020

Thanks – hope you enjoy them!

Monday 27th of May 2019

Omg these places all look so amazing!! I didn't know about the Twilight Soho London Walking Food Tour, only always knew the lunch market on Berwick St. Thanks for sharing!

xx The C Edit

Thursday 30th of May 2019

So many great tours aren't there! London is such a great place for food now.

Ammy Watson

Thanks, LUCY For this blog, I will definitely try these foods on my upcoming journey to London. I can't wait to have this delicious British Food my mouth is watering.

Hope you enjoy it!

Brit on the Move

Friday 29th of March 2019

I grew up in the UK and this is a fantastic list. Very modern, hip and funky. I just wish that more people would showcase some of the old school grub like traditional fish and chips from a fish shop, a Sunday Dinner (roast) in a pub or pie and peas. I know it's totally cliche and some of these foods give the UK a bad name lol but done right and eaten in the right place it's food people should try. Also, for cream buns, you must add the vanilla slice :) Yes, I am 100% biased having grown up there but can't help that it :)

Saturday 30th of March 2019

Funny how things go through phases and are fashionable for a while then it moves on – the classics will always be there though, and the roast dinner is one of my absolute favourites however much I've travelled the world!

Authentic London Food Tours

Eating london like a local.

Experience London’s secret culinary destinations locals love. Get off the beaten path with your fun expert guide, and visit pubs, markets, bakeries, and eateries beloved by Londoners. Exploring the diverse neighborhoods, we’ll introduce you to the best food at local’s favourite stops, telling the stories that lie behind these dishes and the people who made them. You’ll learn unique history of this city along the way, such as the famous figures of Soho or the Jewish influence in the East End – you’ll leave us feeling like a true insider.

Traverse 2000 years worth of fascinating history while tasting British classics at some of London's most famous and long-standing venues.

City of London

Experience a night out in Soho like a true VIP, gaining access to some of the coolest venues in the neighbourhood.

Seven Dials, Chinatown, Soho

Eat your way through the London’s colorful and super hip East End, from Spitalifields Market to Brick Lane and onto happening Shoreditch.

Brick Lane, Shoreditch, Spitalfields

Taste the best British flavors at London's Borough Market and beyond. Learn what makes Bankside so legendary. Go deeper into the story of this famous foodie destination.

Eating Europe’s Gift Cards give you access to the most meaningful culinary experiences and food tours across all Europe!

Looking for a special activity for your company, family or friends? A private, custom-made food tour led by one of our local tour guides is the perfect way to get an insider’s look into this...

Meet Your Local London Tour Guides

One of our London food tour guides will show you the very best the city has to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the tours accommodate vegetarian or gluten-free diets.

All of our food tours are vegetarian friendly. However, it’s important to note that it may not always be possible to serve vegan, gluten-free, or kosher foods at every stop on the tour. Please notify us of any dietary restrictions when booking so we can try to accommodate your needs.

What food is London known for?

London has made its mark on the culinary world with all sorts of fantastic food, but perhaps the most famous meals are our two national dishes – fish & chips… and curry.

What’s included in the price of the food tour?

All food and drinks are included in the price of the tour. 

Do you tip in London restaurants?

It is customary to tip in London restaurants where servers are bringing food and drinks to your table. Your tour guide will provide you with all the information you need.

I’m traveling alone. Do you offer single tickets or just group sales?

We love welcoming solo travelers! All of our tours are open to individual guests.

What is Eating Europe’s cancellation policy?

Private tours can be cancelled and fully refunded up to 7 days before tour departure. 

Small group tours can be cancelled and refunded up to 24 hours before tour departure. See our complete cancellation policy here.

Customer Reviews

This is a fantastic food tour and the guide Josh made it a wonderful experience. Great to pick up a bit of history about Soho while eating tasty foods at places you wouldn’t otherwise find on your own. He is incredibly culturally appropriate (tea in the bath) and if asked can mimic all the different accents in the group!

We had a fantastic time with Dave on a tour of London's East End at the end of June. I really thought it was a great tour of the history of the area; it wasn't just a food tour, which I really appreciated. We walked around while he told us about the various buildings and neighborhoods and then we ate in places that tied into that particular place. The restaurants he chose were very good. By the time we got to the 4th place I was already stuffed! There was so much good food to try. I even got him to try jellied eel and he won't ever talk about it to another group, I bet. LOL. Will definitely do another tour when we're back!

A Soho history and food immersion was nothing short of delightful with Tom. Intriguing stories and wonderful tales of woe and excitement left us with a great understanding of this area. We had some delicious dishes from well researched Soho restaurants. Many thanks.

We went on two of Eating Europe’s Food Tour and absolutely loved both! Great Value for the fun, food, history and stories that you get. It was great discovering special places we would have not discovered on our own. Highly recommend! For the East End Food Tour, our guide Max was amazing and he was so knowledgable on the area. Apart from impressing us with his knowledge, he made the tour super fun. For the Soho Food Tour, our guide Elle was an amazing storyteller who really made sure everyone in the group was well taken cared of.

Borough Market on its own is a wonderful place for foodies to spend a morning taking a stroll. Add an amazing tour guide, as we were lucky to get with Lane, and you can have a magical experience. This tour included history, fun food facts, and 6 amazing tastings from savory to sweet to tipples across a range of classic high quality local proprietors. Lane could not have led the tour any more effectively, from her engaging stories from British Medieval history, to her detailed culinary knowledge, to logistical prowess leading us through the crowded market and handling the smallest considerations like making sure we stopped in logical comfortable spots for explanations and taking time to eat to my gluten allergy. In all, we could not have asked for a better walking tour experience!

Rosheen was our tour guide, and she was lovely! The small group we toured with were delightful and fun. Food was amazing and so good! No exceptions - everything was great. The Borough Market is a huge fascinating place and we (my wife and I) learned and saw so much. This was a highlight of this trip to London!

The food stops were all amazing, but the best part for our group was the history that Kief provided along the way. The background of the refugees that have inhabited this area was fascinating as well as all the ethnic foods we tasted. He kept it interesting, entertaining and totally fun! One of the best food tours I've ever been on - loved the Spidelfields Market area and it was lively on a Sunday morning. Thanks to our awesome guide, we also became fans of Mushy Peas! Thanks Kief!

My wife and I were guests on your July 5, 2023 Twilight Soho Food Tour. Our tour guide was Katie. She was terrific! Katie took us to several restaurants that showcased a delicious variety of foods in the Soho area of London. During the course of our tour, Katie described the vibrant Soho area with in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm. We give her a five star rating and will certainly recommend Eating Europe to all of our friends.

My husband and I went on the London East End Food Tour with Max and we highly recommend requesting him for your tour. He made the tour super entertaining but also packed with a lot of information on the history of the neighborhood. He also taught us the ultimate guide to Cockney rhyming slang, which my husband and I were doing long after the tour was over. But most importantly THE FOOD was AMAZING! I was so full at the end of it — it was a perfect mix of traditional English meals mixed with the dishes that were brought by immigrants to London. Also the East End neighborhood is just plain cool.

Great tour. Includes great food and history. Very close to London bridge and the Tower of London. There were six food stops and had both sweet and savory items. Paddy was our guide and did great. He made sure we were enjoying our tour and answered lots of questions.

We took this tour Monday July 10. Dave was our guide and he knocked it out of the park. He was awesome and very knowledgeable and extremely friendly with the entire group. The food and drink were delicious. I would recommend 10/10.

This tour was the highlight of our trip! We learned about history through stories and tastes from the different cultures. Isaac was full of personality and history and was a lot of fun to be around! In fact we are planning to schedule another tour with Eating Europe! Definitively a lovely memory of our time in London!

I was in London in June of 2023 with a Rick Steve’s tour. The food tour was one of the highlights of this trip. Our tour guide, Maddie was super. She was so knowledgeable and as sweet as can be. I highly recommend this tour. We had a great variety of local food samplings, from crumble, fish & chips, Indian food, biegles and cheeses. Maddie explained everything, especially the biegles vs bagels, which as an American is what I’m familiar with. She deserves more than 5 stars. Good luck Maddie in your future. Thank you for such a memorable experience.

Isaac is a wonderful tour guide, sharing lots of information in an easy style. Our family really enjoyed the variety of foods. We’d definitely recommend this tour as a way to explore the East End.

Experience a Memorable Food Tour in London

London’s culinary scene is fast becoming one of Europe’s most exciting! Step off the crowded tourist trail, leave the beaten track behind, and do something different in London by experiencing the secret spots that locals love.

Whether you are a food lover or simply interested in tasting different local London foods, our London food tours give you a unique gastronomic adventure with a wide variety of delicious foods – sharing the history, cultures, and stories that come with those foods. From England’s best fish ‘n’ chips to British cheeses and delicious desserts; your entertaining local guide will show you the most mouth-watering delights in the area. You will soak up the atmosphere, savor the local foods, and learn about its history, or hop from historic London pub to pub for a beer tour!

Take a walking London food tour and visit local pubs, market stalls, and bakeries so you can sample some of the finest British local dishes such as cheese and chutney, fish ‘n’ chips, plus curry from an award-winning London curry house. All washed down with a London ale or cider!

Our food tours are made up of unique locally loved eateries providing you with a lasting impression of your visit to London. Not only will you satisfy your appetite, but your local food guide will satiate your hunger for the cultural tidbits and insider tips of the area, so that you can really feel like a local Londoner.

We’re confident that not only will you leave our London food tours stuffed, but also ready to explore London with the confidence of a local. Book your adventure now and join us for the tastiest food tours in London, England.

London Food Tours

18 Best Food Tours in London – Chocolate, Cheese, Curry, Cocktails, Markets & More

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: August 10, 2023

If you’re going to be spending time in London, then you need to taste and smell London as well as seeing the sights, hearing the sounds and touching the historic buildings . 

The UK has, in the past, had a reputation for poor food, but things have moved on so far since the many choices were simple dishes based on the meat and two veg principle. London is a multicultural melting pot, and the range of cuisine you can now sample in the city reflects this perfectly. 

Whether you prefer cheese to sweets, drinks to desserts, English-style fish and chips, or a spicy Indian curry, there are fabulous food and drinks to be enjoyed all over the British capital. 

This post details 18 of the best food tours in London. Whether you want to find a London secret food tour, see one of the world’s best markets for yourself or sample cheese, gin, chocolate, doughnuts or cocktails, this guide includes all the top London tours for committed or even casual foodies. 

Read on to discover the true flavour of the UK food and drink scene . Some of the best food tours in the world are to be found in London, so here’s a great selection of the top options. 

Our Top 2 Picks: Best Food Tours in London

Summary – best london food tours, brunch borough market tour, london gin sampling experience, evening food tour of soho, historic london pubs walking tour, secret british food tour of london, cheese tasting walking tour, secret indian food tour, east end food and drinks tour, south bank & borough market tour, downtown doughnut walking tour, the full english private food tour, 10 tastings with locals private tour, london gin palace & distillery tour, vip chocolate tour of london, soho food & cocktail tour by twilight, taste of britain foodie cruises, which food tours in london will you take , london travel guide & itinerary planner (+ 4 bonus ebooks).

#1 TOP PICK 🏆

Food Tour of London’s Historic Pubs ✔️ Explore 5 historic pubs in the City of London ✔️ Expertly guided small group walking tour ✔️ Enjoy traditional pub fare and a drink at every stop

Food Tour of Borough Market & Southwark ✔️ Taste 7 delicious foods and 1 drink at 6 local businesses ✔️ Unravel the fascinating connections between food and history in London’s oldest borough ✔️ Expertly guided small group walking tour

18 of the best food tours in London

• Duration: 2.5 hours
• Destination: Borough Market
• Meeting time: 10:30
• Meeting point: The Needle Sculpture 
• What’s included: Small group tour, samples, brunch & drinks
• What’s not i ncluded: Extra purchases

This semi-private tour has a maximum group size of six, so you’re assured of personal attention throughout. Taking in the famous Borough Market – which is a firm feature of the foodie scene as well as starring in many films – you’ll emerge well-fed as well as educated about British food.

Dishes and morsels you’ll try along the way include a traditional English breakfast, fish and chips (the national dish), British cheeses and the city’s finest sausage rolls. You’ll also discover the history, and see why London now plays such an important role in the global food and drink scene. 

You can also book this tour as a private experience here .

• Destination: Covent Garden
• Meeting time: 16:00
• Meeting point: Trafalgar Square
• What’s included: Small group tour, 4 gin samples
• What’s not included: Extra purchases

It’s all about gin for many Britons right now and even in supermarkets and local pubs there’s an astonishing array of brands and flavours available. The tour introduces you to the UK’s gin scene while showing off the fine pubs of the Covent Garden area. 

You’ll explore centuries of the history of this part of London as well as the development of the popular, juniper-based spirit. By the end of the tour, you’ll also be pro at pairing gin with tonic, plus which garnish to use for which drink. 

• Duration: 3 hours
• Destination: Soho
• Meeting time: 18:00
• Meeting point: Hippodrome Casino
• What’s included: Small group tour, 5-course meal + wine & beer

This tour takes you through the vibrant Soho district in the heart of London. During the evening you’ll visit over five locations to taste foods from all over the world. Your group of six or less will be led by an expert guide.

Typical dishes you can sample include British favourites like fish and chips and bangers and mash (sausages with mashed potato), plus more exotic foods like Indian curry or Chinese dumplings.  

• Duration: 3.5 hours
• Destination: 4 traditional London pubs
• Meeting point: St Paul’s underground station
• What’s included: Small group walking tour
• What’s not included: Food & drinks

Follow in the footsteps of famous authors like Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare by taking this London walking tour . Starting out in the city’s historic heart, you’ll end up close to the Strand. 

The walk is two miles long and you’ll visit four historic London pubs, which are the ideal places to sample British brews. The oldest pub visited dates back to the mid-16th century.  

• Destination: Borough Market & other locations
• Meeting time: Varies
• Meeting point: Evans Cycles, near London Bridge station
• What’s included: Guided tour, British food & drinks

If you’d like to see and sample all the foodie highlights the UK has to offer, then book this ‘secret’ food tour. The first port of call is Borough Market , and you’ll also visit a historic pub, London Bridge, Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast.

Culinary delights to taste as you wander include Cumberland sausage, English fudge, British cheeses, London beers, desserts like sticky toffee pudding and English tea. A secret dish will also be revealed – and sampled – by the end of the tour. 

• Duration: 2 hours
• Destination: Fortnum & Mason, Little Italy, Covent Garden
• Meeting point: Statue of Goddess Diana, Mayfair
• What’s included: Guided tour, British & Italian cheeses, prosecco

If you have something of a sweet tooth then this is the tour for you! You’ll visit upmarket food retailer Fortnum and Mason, a London institution. This store has been selling cheese for three centuries and even supplies the Royal households. 

Little Italy is a lesser-known destination and here you can sample cheese served with Italian sparkling wine. After learning all about cheese, your tour will end in Covent Garden.  

• Destination: Brick Lane
• Meeting point: Whitechapel Art Gallery
• What’s included: Guided tour, a range of Indian foods, wine or beer

Indian food is a firm British favourite and many a night out isn’t seen as complete without a visit to an Indian restaurant or ‘curry house’. There are streets lined with Indian eateries in various British cities, and London’s best can be found in the East End.

While touring the restaurants of Brick Lane you’ll sample the likes of spicy, hot or sour curries, fluffy naan bread, crispy pakoras and meats from the Tandoori oven. Soft drinks, wine or Indian beers are supplied to wash it all down with. You can also try Indian sweets and a secret dish that will only be revealed on the day. 

• Destination: East End
• Meeting point: Shoreditch High Street underground station
• What’s included: Guided tour, 4 foods & 4 drinks

This food tour also takes place in the East End but this time it’s focused on British fare. Try Scotch eggs, fish and chips, an English pie and some sweet treats. You can also sample 4 different drinks.

The tour doubles up as a trip around some traditional London pubs, and you’ll visit five of the East End’s best during the tour. 

• Destination: South Bank & Borough Market
• Meeting point: Southwark underground station

The South Bank and Borough Market are some of London’s foodie hotspots and this tour takes in them both. Setting out from Southwark, you’ll see Shakespeare’s Globe, the RIver Thames and the ancient Anchor pub before reaching the famous food market. 

Baked goods like scones and pies plus local beers can all be sampled during this tour. During the two-and-a-half hours you’ll stop at some traditional British pubs too.

• Destination: Borough High Street & Tower Bridge areas
• Meeting point: St. John Bakery near Borough underground station
• What’s included: Guided tour, curated doughnut tasting

They’re not donuts in the UK – they’re doughnuts. Whatever you call them, this tour allows you to sample all sorts, including freshly made and glazed or chocolate sweet treats.

The tour allows you to see the area around the famous Borough food market, plus the jaw-dropping Tower Bridge. 

• Duration: 4 hours
• Destination: Borough Market and Thames areas
• Meeting point: Flexible
• What’s included: Private guided tour, British food & drinks

The ‘Full English’ private tour lets you experience it all in four hours. During this time you’ll sample all sorts of British foods and drinks, including the likes of fudge, sausage, cheese, Scotch egg, carrot cake and craft beer.

As this is a private tour it can be tailored to your preferences and the meeting point is also flexible. 

• Destination: London Bridge & Southwark Cathedral areas
• Meeting point: The Spike at London Bridge Walk
• What’s included: Private guided tour, 10 food & drink tastings

Experience foodie London as the locals do with this exclusive, private tour. Your two-and-a-half-hour culinary journey of discovery includes ten tastings with local people.

This one’s not only about traditional British foods like pies or drinks like George ale, it’s about discovering local culture and history too. You’ll explore the areas around Southwark Cathedral and London Bridge during the tour to gain a real insight into London life. 

• Meeting point: Leicester Square Underground Station
• What’s included: Guided tour, 4 gins at 4 Gin Palaces

If you love gin then you cannot miss this tour! You can sample four different gins, and also visit the City of London Gin Distillery. A London historian will also explain all you’re seeing and tasting as you go.

• Destination: Mayfair area
• Meeting point: Green Park Underground Station
• What’s included: Guided tour, 7+ tastings, 10% chocolate discount 

Live the high life while taking a chocoholic’s tour of upmarket Mayfair. Perhaps best of all is the fact that your guide will explain the health benefits of the brown stuff as you go!

Some of the world’s best artisan chocolatiers are based here and you can taste their gold award-winning truffles and other concoctions. Two of these even supply the Royal family with their sweet treats. 

• Meeting time: 17:15
• Meeting point: The Spice of Life, Moor Street
• What’s included: Guided tour, 9+ tastings, 5 locations 

Take a Soho food tour by twilight and see one of London’s most lively nightlife areas. You’ll also get to try nine different foods at five locations in the beating heart of this vibrant city.

By the end, you’ll know all the best places to eat – or party – in Soho. Secret little cafes and restaurants are visited, so you can try everything from Chinese dumplings to Spanish-cured meats. 

Taking a boat tour of London is a very popular way to see the city, and there are plenty of foodie cruises to choose from in the UK capital. Pick a lunch or dinner cruise or an afternoon tea trip, or enjoy cocktails and canapes during an evening cruise while seeing the city from the water at the same time.  

So what will it be? Whether you opt to sail along the Thames while sampling afternoon tea, take a walking tour of traditional pubs to sample national dishes or explore Borough Market under expert guidance, there are plenty of ways to taste London during your visit.

Our top tip? Ask your expert foodie guide for their favourite, little-known restaurant, deli or market stall, so you can perhaps return to that later. The British food scene only continues to improve at an incredible pace, so who knows what secret culinary delights will await by the time you arrive in the UK. 

• London foods – 23 foods to sample in London
• London Travel Guide – links to everything you need to know to plan your trip
• Looking for accommodation? Read our guide to where to stay in London
• First time visitors? Read our top tips for visiting London for the first time
• How to get around London? Read our guide to using public transport in London and our guide to London’s main train stations.
• What to see and do – Complete London bucket list with guide to all the top sights and attractions & Guide to the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
• How to purchase tickets for London attractions – Guide to purchasing tickets for the most popular London attractions & Best London bus tours reviewed
• Boat trips and cruises – Comparison guide to the best boat trips and cruises on the Thames
• Visiting on a budget? Read out budget guide to London with tips to save money when visiting
• Free things to do in London – Discover 32 free things to see and do in London
• Best day trips? Read our guide to the best day trips by train and ou r guide to the best tours from London
• Love castles? Our guide to the most popular castles to visit from London
• Beatles fan? Read our guide to the Beatles in London
• More London tours? Read our comprehensive guide to the best London tours

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London Food Tour - Secret Food Tours

We are Londoners who are wildly passionate about all the delicious food found around this world-famous and historic city. It is true that English food has a bit of a bad reputation, however we are here to change that view. Just wait until you try our food. Once eaten, even the most discerning food critic will change their mind! When you book Secret Food Tours: London, enjoy a trip and culinary journey through British heritage and cuisine.

Embark on our Exclusive Secret Food Tour of Camden Market, where you'll be guided by a local food expert with exclusive access to Camden Market through a thoughtfully crafted 7 course tasting across vibrant Camden Market.

On our Secret Food Tour: London Bridge, you'll enjoy a variety of classic British foods such as award-winning Fish & Chips, World Famous Sausage Rolls and traditional Bacon & Egg Baps, tasters from street food vendors.

On our Secret Indian Food Tour: East London, you'll enjoy a variety of classic Indian foods. You'll discover and taste exciting curries, flavoursome dishes, try Indian sweets and learn about spices and Indian cuisine.

On your Secret Food Tour SoHo, discover the lesser-known side to the neon lit bohemian underbelly of London’s nightlife capital. From the fashionable home of the Swinging 60s, to the lamp lined lanes of Chinatown, follow your local food guide as you eat.

On our Secret Food Tour: London Shoreditch, you'll enjoy a variety of classic British foods, such as world-famous bagels, delicious fish and chips, desserts and lots more including our Secret Dish.

On our Secret Beer Tour: London you will taste the revival in London's brewing history. Come on a journey with us to discover and taste the liquid that this city was built and thrives on. We'll drink beers in some of the coolest and funkiest craft beer drinking holes

London is without a doubt one of the most iconic cities on the planet. With its impressive architecture, symbolic sites and array of stories hidden behind it's streets and buildings, London's culture and historical richness really is something to behold. Our Secret Tours London will introduce you to some of our most famous landmarks, whilst at the same time exploring some of our favourite 'Secret' locations.

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Gastro Travelogue

London Foodie Tours: Savour the Flavours

London is a food lover’s dream! You can find all kinds of delicious cuisines from all over the world in this city. If you want to really immerse yourself in London’s food scene, the best way to do it is by going on a food tour in London. I know that there are still some of you who might be doubtful, but the easiest way to experience the best food in London is to book a professionally run tour.

You probably know by now that food tours and tastings are some of my favourite things to do when I’m travelling – From Rome to Cambodia and beyond food tours offer a great insight into a new destination.

Why go on a London Food Tour?

London is a big city and even if you have visited it numerous times it is tough to know what’s good and what’s not. There is nothing worse than going back to a restaurant where you once had an amazing meal to find that it doesn’t live up to your expectations. I always feel cheated but most importantly for me, I feel like I have wasted my limited time when I could be having a delicious meal somewhere else enjoying a meal in a London foodies haunt.

Another plus is that tour companies employ passionate London foodies who are your guides and are eager to share their knowledge not only of the places on the tour but other spots that you might like to visit later. I have also come away with some fabulous tips, like the tip I was given in Seville, where find season specialities that otherwise I might have missed.

I am always inspired by a food tour . Good London food tours are about so much more than just food. You get to see the main attractions in the area, explore streets that you otherwise would not have been walking down, often learn a bit of the history and of course taste delicious food.

You get to try some of the best food in London

Hopefully, if you are on a tour, then you are up for trying new things. You may like them or not, but at least you won’t have to buy a whole meal to discover that perhaps it is not a dish that you like. You may even find something that becomes a new favourite food.

You get to try good quality local food

The food tours that I have been on in the past have all had very high standards when it comes to what you get to taste, which makes sense if you think about it. Why would anyone serve a tourist average food, especially on the best London food tours ?

You want it to be a memorable experience. Going on a food tour also means that you can avoid many of the tacky tourist traps and ask for a couple of local recommendations where you will get great local food at non-tourist prices. Your guide knows the neighbourhood and what’s good, so use their knowledge.

Learn the real stories and history of the areas you visit

One of the other things that I love about a London food tour is the local tales and legends that you hear about on the tour. The guides always have great stories to tell. It’s often the kind of thing that you won’t find in a guidebook . It’s these little gems that are shared with you that add value and interest. Some of them are weird, but a lot of them are fun as well.

The Best London Food Tours and Tastings

1. secret tours london.

Borough Market is the perfect place to start exploring the London food scene and one of my favourite foodie spots in London. Borough Market is the oldest fruit and vegetable market in London. These days there is so much more on offer. It is a London foodie heaven which makes it the perfect place for a food tour in London. It is also the home to one of the Secret Food Tours London.

Prepare yourself for an unforgettable gastronomic journey through London as your local guide leads you to Borough Market. This vibrant hub of culinary delights was once overlooked by tourists but has now become a must-visit destination for food experiences in London.

Immerse yourself in its lively atmosphere while indulging in heavenly English fudge chocolate and savouring award-winning Cumberland sausages. And let’s not forget about the pièce de résistance – treat your taste buds to the most mouthwatering fish and chips in town (remember: it’s all about chips here!)

You will also get to see some of the main attractions in the area and you walk around the London Bridge Area.

Recommended: Secret food tour around London Bridge – a 3-hour London food walking tour

East End food tours

East London is a popular haunt for some of the best London food. and the location of many good food experiences in London. There is a melting pot of cultures and an impressive range of food to choose from. Brick Lane is the most famous street in the area. It is packed with restaurants and street art. Shoreditch is located in East London.

2. Shoreditch street food tour

Get ready to see London in a whole new light with your guide on the Shoreditch Street Food Tour . Avoid the crowds and embark on an early morning tour to uncover hidden gems that most tourists miss. Your guide will entertain you with fascinating stories about the East End, revealing its best-kept secrets such as the zoo market, Roman burial grounds, and the French silk trade.

Follow your guide through Shoreditch, indulging in a variety of delicious treats along the way. Don’t miss out on the freshly baked salt-beef bagel that is simply perfection or tasting Ghanaian Cocoa Truffles . And of course, get ready for an unforgettable experience as you savour the best fish and chips in the East End .

You will also get to visit a historic London pub and taste some of the local beer.

If you are looking for a foodie tour in London then you will love this secret London food tour.

Recommended: 3.5-Hour Shoreditch Street Food Tour – 8 stops on the tour

3. London East End Tour

Get away from the crowds and explore some of the more interesting culinary experiences London has to offer. Discover hidden gems in the East End. You’ll not only satisfy your taste buds with up to 10 delicious food samples of East London food but also gain fascinating insights into the traditions and culture of the East End on this London food tour.

Along the way, discover ancient Roman burial grounds, stunning Georgian-style mansions from the silk trade era, secret synagogues, and awe-inspiring street art that will leave you in awe.

Recommended: London: East End Food Tour – 4 hours

4. Indian food tour London

I know that you’re not in India, but there are some amazing restaurants around the Brick Lane area that serve exciting Indian food. Get ready for a mouth-watering adventure on this Indian food tour in London!

The Secret Indian food tour is packed full of exciting dishes from all over the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Wander through the vibrant streets of Brick Lane, where you’ll find buzzing bars, amazing art, and of course, delicious restaurants.

Prepare to taste a variety of curries – from hot and sour combinations to traditional favourites – all served with fluffy naan bread that will leave you craving more. And don’t forget to wash it all down with a refreshing Indian beer (or choose from our selection of soft drinks or wine).

If you like savoury Indian food you will love the pakoras And if you have a sweet tooth, get ready to be amazed by the diverse range of Indian sweets and candy available at a traditional sweet shop on this fabulous London food walking tour.

Don’t miss out on trying the sweet Gulab jamuns and creamy ras malai – they’re absolute delights! I just love these and hunt them down whether I am in Little India in Singapore or the Indian part of town in Penang.

Recommended: Secret Indian food tour

5. London chocolate tour

This is the best London chocolate tour for chocoholics. I recently joined the VIP Chocolate tour and loved it! The guide is a passionate foodie and was a cocoa and coffee commodity trader previously. His in-depth knowledge of chocolate is fascinating,

On the ultimate London chocolate tour, you will visit some of the best chocolatiers in London, and taste some fabulous chocolate, including rose (pink) chocolate.  

Indulge in the most exquisite truffles and ganaches, handcrafted by the world’s top artisan chocolatiers. You won’t believe it, but two of these chocolatiers are even suppliers to the Royal family!

Be prepared to discover hidden gems that you never knew existed on this chocolate vip tour of London.

This tour is an absolute must for all chocoholics out there. Oh, and don’t forget about the cherry on top – enjoy a 10% discount on any additional chocolates you fancy buying. Naturally, I came away with far more chocolate than I should have.

Recommended: London  VIP Chocolate Tour These tours are normally on a Sunday and fill up quickly so book as early as possible.

6. Best afternoon tea in London with a view

I love afternoon tea and whenever I have the chance I try a different themed tea. Some of them have been amazing and some terribly disappointing like the tea we had at the Waldorf in London. Why not kill two birds with one stone and see some of the spectacular sights of London on one of these fun London tours while you enjoy afternoon tea? Board a riverboat at the tower and sail down the Thames enjoying afternoon tea in London with a view. I never get tired of admiring the scenery along the banks of the Thames.

If you don’t like the idea of a boat trip what about soaking up the London sights on a classic double-decker bus tour while you sip a glass of prosecco? Take in the sights of the London Eye , the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and more. The tour takes about 90 minutes.

Recommended: Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames OR Afternoon Tea Bus with Panoramic Tour of London

7. London Cheese Tasting

I am addicted to good cheese and am happy to eat it at any time of the day or night. I always pop into cheese shops wherever I go. My favourite London cheese shop is Neal’ Yard Dairy at Neal’s Yard Covent Garden. If you find yourself at Borough Market they have a branch there as well.

This London cheese tasting experience is a cheese lover’s dream. Spend an afternoon exploring the city on a guided walking tour that is all about cheese. Indulge in delicious cheesy treats, discover fascinating facts about London’s relationship with cheese,

The tour begins at one of my favourite London foodie stores, Fortnum & Masons. This iconic department store has been serving up cheese for over 300 years and even supplies the royals with their cheesy fix.

You will get to taste not only British cheese but also some very good drunken Italian cheese on the tour. The London cheese crawl ends in Covent Gardens.

Recommended: Cheese Walking Tour with Tastings

8.  Twilight Soho Food & Drinks Tour

Experience the vibrant nightlife and culinary delights of London’s Soho district on this evening London food tour. As the sun sets, Soho comes to life with its buzzing atmosphere and eclectic dining scene.

You’ll explore the hidden alleyways and bustling streets of Soho while sampling a variety of gourmet dishes and drinks. From traditional British pub fare to international cuisines, each stop offers a unique taste of Soho’s diverse culinary landscape.

Soho is another of my go to spots for delicious food in London, especially for SE Asian food.

Recommended: Twilight Soho Food & Drinks Tour

9. Historic Pubs of Central London Walking Tour

Step back in time and discover the rich history of London’s pubs on this guided walking tour. You’ll explore the city’s historic streets and iconic London landmarks while visiting traditional pubs with centuries-old stories to tell. From hidden taverns to grand alehouses, each stop offers a glimpse into London’s past and its enduring pub culture.

Recommended: Historic Pubs of Central London Walking Tour

10.  6-Course Luxury Dinner Bus Tour

Enjoy dining in luxury aboard a stylish double-decker bus transformed into a gourmet restaurant on wheels. Indulge in a lavish six-course meal prepared by top chefs while taking in the breathtaking sights of London’s iconic landmarks . With panoramic views of the city’s illuminated skyline as your backdrop, you’ll embark on a culinary journey unlike any other.

From appetizers to desserts, each course is expertly crafted using the finest seasonal ingredients, ensuring a dining experience that is as memorable as it is delicious.

Recommended:  6-Course Luxury Dinner Bus Tour

One of the best tips that I can give you is to book a London food tour on the first day of your stay. That way you will have an introduction to the local food, as well as get an insight into the area where the tour is held. You may enjoy it so much that you may want to go back to the same location to explore further or even try out some of the tour guide’s recommendations.

Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or simply looking to explore London, these 10 London food tours offer a taste of the city’s diverse flavours. From historic markets to trendy neighbourhoods, each tour promises an unforgettable culinary experience that will leave you craving for seconds.

Where to stay in London

• 12 Luxury hotels in London that will make you feel like royalty
• 14 Stylish. cool and quirky London hotels

More to read

• London: The essential guide to Borough Market, London
• England: Traditional English Food:17 Deligtful dishes you should try.
• London: 10 Of the best brunches in London
• London: The best food tour in London is a Secret
• London: Unique things to do in London that you never knew existed
• London: Over 80 Quotes about London- inspiration for your next holiday
• London: 30 Plus London travel tips
• Foodie Inspiration
• Other destinations

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As a foodie and traveller, let me share with you my passion for exploring new destinations and discovering their culinary delights. Food plays a big part in my travels, and I believe that it is a great way to learn about a destination's culture and history. With my first-hand travel tips and destination guides, I hope to inspire others to embark on their own adventures and create unforgettable experiences

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Best London Food Tours by a Local

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 17/02/2024

It is now hard to believe that English food used to be mocked. London is now one of the most foodie cities in the world.

However, it is a big sprawling city and can be intimidating for visitors and new residents. So if you’re a food lover visiting town, taking one of the London food tours is a great idea.

Also, some of the best bits of Foodie London are not in the guidebooks. It takes a local – like me – and your tour guide – to bring them to life.

From street food tours in London to Indian food tours in London options to a traditional English food tasting walking tour in London there is every type of tour you could imagine available.

Book these popular London Food tours before you leave home to avoid disappointment. 1. Afternoon Tea on a London Bus 2. Historical Pub Walking Tour 3. 3 Hour Secret British Food Tour 4. London East End Food Tour

London Food Tours – What are the Options?

I have been on quite a few London Food Tours. There are several key types/areas for tours.

The first is the Borough Market and the area around it – London Bridge. Second, is a London East End Food tour or around Brick Lane – the traditional home of Indian food in London.

Third are tours around traditional and modern British food where you can try England’s favorite foods for yourself. Fourth is touring around the English tradition of afternoon tea . And the fifth is quirky/slightly different types of London Food Tours.

Included within all of these are London food walking tour options, London bus tour options and every type of eatings tours London you can imagine.

I have gone through and reviewed the best options within each – as well as some other different foodie things to do in London.

I live in London and love to write about it. You might enjoy reading my articles on London’s Bridges , Unusual Experiences in London , Where to watch the Sunset in London , Where to watch the Sunrise in London , Famous Landmarks in London , Things to do in Notting Hill , Cotswolds Tours from London , Facts about London , Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea in London , Restaurants near Clapham Junction and Earlsfield Restaurants.

Wondering what else to do whilst in London? Check out this useful post on a 4 Day London Itinerary.

1. Best London Food Tours – Borough Market & Around

Borough Market is one of my favorite places in London. I first started going there when I moved to London 16 years ago. This is not very long ago considering this market has been operating for 1003 years.

It is the oldest fruit and vegetable market in London. There is so much on offer that sometimes it can be challenging when it comes to Borough Market what to eat, which makes it a perfect place for a food tour of London.

It is one of my most regular haunts – Monmouth coffee, burrata cheese flown in from Italy that morning, the amazing smell and colors of the vegetables – it is a bit of a happy place for me and no terrorist activity will ever change that.

It has become far more popular in recent years and quite a few London food walks now cover the area – a great solution to the Borough Market what to eat there is a million options problem.

One of the best tours I have done of Borough Market was with London Tailored Tour s. London Tailored Tours are led by the lovely Charley who is filled with enthusiasm and passion for Borough Market and the Borough area in general.

She is also a passionate foodie, which shines through – it is a pleasure going for a stroll with someone who is talking about their favorite thing.

If you’re visiting London – or live here – check out this great post on the Best London Weekend Breaks 

So our London food tours kicked off with the Borough Market what to eat classic – a Bacon Butty. For my non-UK readers, a bacon butty is a British institution and consists of bacon in fluffy white bread and butter or a fluffy white roll.

Tradition would then dictate you add your sauce of choice – red for me – before enjoying the perfect breakfast. Once you taste one, you will realise why this is where all the market traders come for their breakfast at 5 am.

This is one of the England food traditions. After the bacon butty, Charley took us to meet several different types of market traders where we had private tastings.

We kicked off with the rather different British cured meats stall. From seaweed and cider salami from Cornwall to pork, garlic and peppercorn and finishing with the unique blood, wine and chocolate this was a taste sensation.

Next up was cheese. We headed to a Swiss cheese stall – not as in the type with lots of holes in it but other types of Swiss cheese.

Most intriguing was the blue brain cheese and I took a few home with me including the amazing truffle cheese. There is an opportunity to purchase at every stall so make sure you bring a backpack or carry bag as it is very hard not to shop.

Charley is also a fantastic source of information on all types of tales of Borough Market – including showing you the door that was used as Bridget Jone’s home in all of the movies.

Then it was time to sample another British classic – a scotch egg. This was from a stall that only does scotch eggs – yes it has fryers sitting right there and you can have your scotch egg gooey and warm.

The Scotch Egg is a British tradition – egg and sausage meat done in breadcrumbs – the perfect breakfast before you start a big day.

Then on to oysters and a stall that has been in the one family for seven generations. Again they just do oysters, and there is quite the queue. Luckily when you are on the tour lines don’t exist as all had been pre-organized by Charley.

Next up on our Food Tours London was chocolate. The market’s best hot chocolate as well as amazing brownies. This is one I will be returning to as it serves a chocolate afternoon tea and has a lovely terrace.

Charley then takes her tours through the local area with some amazing finds like Crossbones and a secret view of the Shard. Next up was a local wine shop that used to be an old cork factory for a tasting.

We then finished this London food walking tour at a fantastic local pop up/street food venue near elephant and castle tube where we enjoyed some delicious Sicilian sweet puffs with chocolate sauce and pistachio.

The 3-hour food-tasting tour in London flies by and it is fantastic value. All the food is, of course, wonderful but it is all the great stories behind it and behind the Borough area that makes this such a memorable tour – no wonder it is one of the most popular London food tours Trip Advisor has listed.

This is a great tour to do if you’re a Londoner or a first-time visitor to the capital:

⇒ The Borough Market Food Tour runs every Monday and Friday at 230pm and Saturdays at 930am.

If you are looking for some other great places to eat in London why not take the view of a European? Here is a great post on Where to Eat in London from the great blog Travel Eat Enjoy Repeat. 

2. East End Food Tour

If you’re looking for an alternative London Food Tour then the East End is the place.

We met our lovely tour guide Amicie not far from Liverpool Street station on a luckily bright and sunny Saturday morning. Appropriately we met under the Goat sculpture.

Our first stop was coffee! We visited Nude who roast their own coffee and I had a fantastic flat white.

We were then on the edge of Spitalfields market. The tour wasn’t about Spitalfields (which is great if you haven’t been) but we did have a quick wander through.

Amicie then pointed out the classic Ten Bells pub. It was a little early for a pint but again this is a great place to go for a drink when in London.

The focus of this London walking tours foodie extravaganza was the back streets around Brick Lane. Brick Lane is traditionally known as being the centre of Indian food in London.

The famous Indian restaurants still dominate the street but now cool cafes and stores have been added as well as stunning London graffiti.

Amicie is a qualified art historian and her knowledge and understanding of art really helped us to gain an appreciation of the London graffiti that we saw.

We were fascinated to discover that one of the major trends in London graffiti is using smaller areas of the walls. Artists are essentially producing stickers and then applying them to the walls. This creates amazing collages with the works of multiple artists.

We also explored some of the lovely old architecture of the backstreets. Amicie shared with us background stories on the classic brick buildings.

I particularly loved the wooden shutters – it was almost like a touch of Amsterdam in London.

Our next stop was the Nomadic Community Gardens. I would never have known this place existed. It is a bit of a wander off Brick Lane so not so easy to find.

Essentially it is like an allotment on steroids. Apparently, the council will be developing this rather large plot in the future. As that is the case they have basically offered the space up free to residents to do with it what they will.

Importantly there is a little cafe – the Roving Cafe – on offer for coffee and cake.

We were able to stop for London street foods snacks along the way – all at spots of course recommended by Amicie. A highlight was the amazing bubble waffles.

These are waffles that basically act as a wrap for different fruit and sweet combinations. Our first stop, however, was at the Tibetan dumpling stand for some chicken momos. They were much better than most of the momos I tasted in nepal.

We then headed to the Old Truman Brewery . This gorgeous building is now filled with street food vendors. Every cuisine that you can imagine represented.

There is also a decent-sized seating area so that you can enjoy your food. Perfect for an eating London tours option.

Korean fried chicken with every variety of sauce you could imagine was on offer. However, the vendor that stood out to me was the one from Peru.

He was selling La Causa which is basically ceviche in a kind of milky mayonnaise-type sauce. He differentiated his offer by providing La Causa in mini sandwiches on purple bread – very Instagram-ready.

We then went past the Cereal Killer Cafe . Yes, what a brilliant name. This cafe actually does sell cereal – every kind you can imagine. It is quite small so we weren’t able to go in and try it but it was filled with quirky retro packaging and super cute.

Our last stop was appropriately chocolate based. Amicie introduced us to an amazing chocolate shop called Dark Sugars . There are two of them along Brick Lane.

They have a mix of chocolate truffles and slabs. And the most interesting were pearls. These looked like bath drops but tasted incredible.

This was a fantastic London eating tours option to really discover hidden London Graffiti and street food. Even as a Londoner I saw and learned many new things.

As you can also hopefully tell it was a very photogenic tour so make sure you take your camera.

3. English food traditional and new London Tours

As I mentioned earlier, English food now receives far more respect than it did, for good reason. London is full of fantastic versions of all food things in English – from the classic pub experience to Modern British Dining.

-You can’t head to London and not visit a pub. Check out this Historical Pub Walking Tour

– Enjoy Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace Gardens

-Enjoy a Gin Tour and Tasting in London’s East End

– Take an Authentic British Food Tour

4. Afternoon Tea Based Food Tours

I believe it is illegal to come to England and not enjoy a classic afternoon tea at least once. But why not make that afternoon tea experience as fun as possible? Check out these interesting tours:

– Afternoon Tea on a Bus with Prosecco

– Kensington Palace Gardens Tour with Royal High Tea

– Three Palaces guided walking tour with High Tea

– Vintage Bus Tour and Harrods Cream Tea

5. Interesting and Different London Food Tours

Did you know that London now has an exciting donut scene? I appreciate that donuts aren’t what first comes to mind when you think about London and food but these days you’ll find some interesting and delicious donut makers all over London.

The best way to discover London’s donuts is with the fab Underground Donut Tour . The Underground Donut Tour started in Chicago in 2015 and now runs in 17 cities across the world. These people know their donuts!

The London Underground Donut Tour includes four delicious donut stops including a Michelin star donut stop. In addition to donuts, you’ll visit Borough Market, see where Shakespeare used to drink and learn loads of quirky and interesting facts about London.

Camden is one of London’s most vibrant neighborhoods and home to the famous Camden Market. Check out this Camden Town Brewery Tour with a Beer Tasting.

Or take a Cheese Walking Tour or how about a Secret Indian Food Tour ?

3 More Foodie Things to Do in London

1. bustronome london.

Buses and great food are not normally associated with each other. Bustronome is looking to change this perception with gourmet high-quality food experiences. Where better than London to do this – home to one of the world’s most famous buses.

Bustronome offers lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. I went along to the dinner experience. The pick-up point is on Embankment near the embankment tube and is very easy to find.

I was very impressed when a sleek, black double-decker bus pulled up – and brought out black velvet ropes.

All seating is on the top floor for maximum views. The ceiling and the sides are all glass – and were immaculately cleaned. Essentially the idea is to drive around the key sites of London whilst having a fantastic dinner and wine.

The upstairs deck feels like a high-end restaurant with its wooden floors and design aesthetic.

Bustronome employs lots of clever items to support the experience. The middle of each table features a rather ingenious clear plastic little table that allows glasses to be slotted in to prevent spillage.

And every guest is given a map of the route with key tourism points. This is accompanied by a digital ‘pen’ which means guests can choose which famous London attractions they would like to learn more about.

This means guests can choose to chat or learn more rather than being stuck with a voice-over or loud guide.

Onto the food. Dinner is a 6-course tasting menu (lunch 4 courses) Our first course was a delicious crab & artichoke “gateau” which featured a generous amount of crab. This was followed by a crispy roll with goat cheese and beetroot prepared in 3 ways.

The seared tuna was my favourite course. It was served seared with carrot puree, girolle mushrooms in a tarragon sauce. Roasted guinea fowl followed the tuna.

Then we had both cheese and traditional dessert courses. The strawberries and ginger pavlova served with ginger sorbet were another highlight for me.

A generous amount of beverages accompanied dinner. Dinner brings a glass of champagne on arrival and then white wine for the first 2 courses and red wine for the balance.

The staff were generous with their pouring, which is always appreciated. Mineral water was also available as well as coffee or tea.

Overall this was a wonderful and unique way to experience London and one that I highly recommend.

⇒ Click here to read more reviews of Bustronome London

2. Maltby Street

Not far from Borough Market are four smaller London food markets that not many people know about.

A key thing to know before you head to these markets is that most of the stalls are only open on Saturdays and Sundays – check their websites before you leave – I have put links below.

The two best are Maltby St Market and Druid Street Market. Catch the tube to Bermondsey station and turn left onto Jamaica Road when you exit. Take a right up St James Road and then another right onto Dockley Road.

Follow Dockley Road and you’ll hit the old railway arches. All of these markets are in and around the old arches. These arches are now rented out by London Transport.

There is an interesting mix of tenants – Vespa repair shops and craft breweries. These areas feature in all the best London foodie guide publications.

If you’re visiting London check out this fantastic London City Guide

The first food market that you will hit is the fabulous Spa Terminus . I must say I do think this is my favourite of the lot. The meat and cheese shops here are extraordinary.

All of these markets are extremely generous with their samples and don’t hesitate to ask if you can try something. I do warn you though that it is highly likely anything you try you will end up purchasing as the quality of the produce is so excellent.

There are nine different stalls. Little Bread Pedler seems always to have a long queue and for good reason. Their pastries are pretty extraordinary, and the queue is worth it.

There is a Honey stall and, of course a coffee roaster. But Spa Terminus is mostly about amazing meat and cheese, which are the items to focus on.

The second is a tiny food market on the corner of Marine Street and Enid Street. This is literally the next thing in the arches after Spa Terminus. The fruit and vegetable stalls here are EXTRAORDINARY!

It is serious fruit and veg porn. They do samples and again you will not be able to leave without purchasing. I bought the most amazing melon I have ever eaten here on my last visit.

The next block or so along Enid Street are mostly repair shops. Keep heading towards London Bridge station and take a right under the arches at Abbey Street.

Walk down Druid Street, go under the arches and you will hit the final secret London food market –  Maltby St market .

This London food market is what started the whole area. A few stallholders at the Borough market wanted to try something different and the Maltby Street market was born.

There are permanent little bars and restaurants here – the pops ups only appear on Saturdays and Sundays (same for Druid Street). Again the stallholders will vary, but there are a few classics.

Depending on which end you start with, you will hit the most amazing giant bowl of tartiflette you have ever seen. I went quite early last time and saw the raw ingredients going in – wow.

The stalls are mostly food or drink-based (coffee roasters and craft brews of course!) but there are a couple of lovely toiletries stalls as well.

Try to pass the Cheese Truck without buying a toasted cheese sandwich – it is hard work. Then there are Dhans. These are sort of flat egg-shaped crosses between a waffle and a doughnut.

They are served in egg cartons and then you choose the sauce to be drizzled on the top – I went with salted caramel and custard, which was fantastic.

There is a serious gyoza stall that adds delicious sauces to the top of the gyozas and they aren’t all soy .

Unlike the other secret London food market options in this post, there are a few permanent residents on Maltby St. The St Johns Wine bar is one popular option as well as some very cute little restaurants.

You can visit these during the week – and on the weekends. It is just the stalls that appear on Saturday and Sunday.

At the other end of Maltby st is the super cute Lassco. Lassco is everything. It is a vintage antiquey kind of store but also with some newer stuff. And it is a bar. And it is a restaurant. It is a great spot for breakfast and a coffee before exploring.

Allow about 2 hours to walk and wander the arches and the 4 markets – assuming you stop somewhere for a meal along the way.

3. London Restaurant Festival

If you’re a foodie try to time your visit to London for October so that you can visit the fantastic London Food Festiva l . Every year this fantastic festival offers great deals at some of the top restaurants in London – at every price point and cuisine type.

This year I had a fantastic meal at one of London’s top Asian Restaurants, Hakkasan . Hakkasan has a couple of branches in the capital and I visited the one on Hanway Lane which is very near Tottenham Court Road Tube station.

This is one restaurant where you will need to book to get in – and they usually do a couple of turns, so most likely, you will need to take a 630, 830 or 10 pm slot.

For the London Restaurant Festival, Hakkasan allow access to their Taste of Hakkasan menu outside of the standard early and late options.

For just 38 pounds, there are 5 courses on offer plus one of Hakkasan’s delectable cocktails. I enjoyed the Hakka – vodka, sake, lychee, lime, coconut and passionfruit – fantastic.

If you can try to arrive a little early and have a seat at the stunning bar. Hakkasan is drop-dead stunning in terms of design. The bar has a terrific atmosphere.

The first course is Dim Sum – your choice if standard or vegetarian. The dim sum at Hakkasan is rather beautiful – dollops of scallops and pork in colourful wrappers – so so good.

Next up we shared the Stir-fry black pepper rib-eye beef with Merlot and the Three style mushroom stir fry. The ribeye was oh so tender and with a hint of greens.

Exotic mushrooms created a delicious stir fry as well as some fun ingredients like gai-lan, lily bulb and macadamia nut. Chinese vegetables and Vegetable fried rice complemented this.

And finally, dessert. This and the start dim sum were my personal favourites. The Chocolate Bomb is a sensation. It is made up of a hazelnut praline-style ice cream covered in rice crispies and milk chocolate sauce.

So many fantastic textures and tastes going on together. An outstanding multi-course meal.

Boutique Hotels in Londons

Artist Residence is located in Pimlico which is fabulously central. It is in a gorgeous 5 store regency building and has a cute bar.

⇒ Read reviews on TripAdvisor ⇒ Book Now

The Portobello Hotel is located in one of London’s best known and cutest neighbourhoods Notting Hill. This is also the hotel where Kate Moss and Johnny Depp filled up the bath with champagne. The hotel is located on a quiet street but is a great location.

The Great Northern Hotel is ridiculously close to Kings Cross and St Pancras stations which is incredibly convenient. The hotel dates back to 1854 but has had a major refurb so it feels fresh and modern.

The Hoxton hotel is in the heart of East London in Shoreditch and a perfect base for exploration. The rooms aren’t huge but the location makes up for it – as does the great value for London with rooms starting at £99 a night.

Getting to London and Getting Around:

⇒ Flights to London

Best Ways to get from the airport into London

London has several airports. It can be confusing and expensive to get from each of the airports into central London. And the last thing you need after a flight. It is much easier to organize tickets before you fly.

Heathrow is the most common airport for international flights. The fastest way to get from Heathrow into Central London is the Heathrow Express . This train only takes 15 minutes to get from Heathrow to Paddington Station and runs 4 times an hour. The Heathrow Express is much faster than a cab or any other option.

The lowest cost way to get from Heathrow to central London is the tube . The tube is actually one of the fastest options as well – and will get you the closest to your final destination.

There is also a bus or coach option which drops passengers at Victoria Station. This is a cheap option but you will have to deal with London traffic. If you are taking this option during peak hour it could take up to 2 hours each way.

Who Paid for What in this Post

Thanks to London Tailored Tours, Bustronome, London Restaurant Week and London Guddy for inviting me on their tours and to their restaurants. I live in London so there weren’t really any costs involved for me but as always my opinions are my own.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through on them and make a purchase I will receive a small commission. I just wanted to make sure you were aware of this.

Like this Post? Why Not Pin It?

Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Mamie Mckinlay

Monday 23rd of March 2020

The https://theboutiqueadventurer.com website is one of the best we have found, and the Definitive Guide to the Best London Food Tours article is very well written and useful! I want to share with you a link that also helped me a lot in cooking: https://bit.ly/easy-fat-burning-recipes Thanks and kisses! :)

Tuesday 22nd of October 2019

It’s like a foodies paradise, It seems like you had a great fun.

The Boutique Adventurer

Wednesday 23rd of October 2019

Ken it was a foodie paradise! I had loads of fun!

Monday 14th of January 2019

Im such a foodie when I travel. If I ever make it to London I am definitely going on a Food tour!

Tuesday 25th of December 2018

This looks exciting! I have to try this whenever I make it to England!

Sunday 23rd of December 2018

Wow, what a helpful post with so much helpful stuff. I really love it. Merry Christmas everyone!

Like this post? Why Not Share It?

Thanks for Sharing!

Top London Tours for Food Lovers

It’s no secret that London is one of the most progressive cities when it comes to wining and dining. The capital is chock-a-block with innovative restaurants, old-school taverns dating back centuries, and tasty street food markets, and one of the best ways to explore it is by embarking on a tour with an expert local guide. Whether you’re looking to explore the vegan dining scene or just want to eat your way around the city, there’s bound to be a tour suited to your palate. Here’s our guide to the top London tours for food lovers.

Some of the booking links in this article are affiliated. This supports all of the free advice and help we provide every day, at no extra cost to you… so thank you!

Image Courtesy of Rebel

Get to know the vegan scene on this Plant Power Vegan Food Tour

Enjoy the culinary delights of Camden Town on the Plant Power Vegan Food Tour , where you’ll get to explore the vibrant neighbourhood whilst sampling delicious plant-based snacks from the borough’s top eateries. Eat your way through Camden and learn about the history of this diverse area of London, like how it was established as a working-class district but became a powerhouse for the punk and goth movement in the ‘70s. The tour is usually led by insider Ellie, who will take you to try all kinds of tasty treats, like a vegan milkshake from a local favourite Camden market stall and fried chicken you’ll swear is chicken.

Plant Power Vegan Food Tour | Camden Town 

Image Courtesy of Eating Europe

Explore culture, creativity and the culinary delights of the East End

Explore the Land of the Cockney on this East End Food Tour , taking you through the diverse East End to try some of London’s most iconic dishes. This hip and historic neighbourhood has long been the city’s epicentre of culture and creativity, including vibrant street art and the Brick Lane dining scene. You’ll enjoy six tasting experiences, including the best city house on Brick Lane. Brick Lane is renowned for its curry houses, thanks to immigrants that began to settle here in the early 1970s, bringing the delicious dishes of their country with them. It’s also home to the legendary Beigel Bake, London’s most famous bagel spot that’s been around since the ‘70s; you’ll have the chance to skip the queues and try it for yourself.

East End Food Tour | Brick Lane 

Image Courtesy of Viator

Eat all the cheese on The London Cheese Crawl

If you consider yourself a turophile (a lover of cheese), you’ll love this walking cheese tour, where you’ll get to sample London’s finest cheeses. It starts in Mayfair, where you’ll get to try blue cheese from a counter that’s been serving customers for more than 300 years and selling tonnes of Stilton every December. You’ll head to Covent Garden, tasting many different kinds of cheese along the way. Tuck into London’s tastiest toastie at Fortnum & Mason before stopping by Little Italy in Soho to enjoy some of the best baked Camembert in the city. There will even be an interactive cheese-related quiz to keep your brain ticking.

The Cheese Crawl | Mayfair 

Satisfy your sweet tooth on this Mayfair Chocolate Tour

Next on our list of the Top London Tours for food lovers is Jennifer’s Mayfair Chocolate Ecstasy tour . You’ll embark on a sensory adventure, visiting famous chocolatiers, patisseries and candy stores in Mayfair, Piccadilly and Soho. You’ll sip on indulgent hot chocolate and eat decadent truffles and chocolates enjoyed by The Queen and Roald Dahl. The tour is run by chocolate expert and tour founder Jennifer Earle, who has been spreading her choccy knowledge for over 15 years. She has previously worked in new product development and buying for major food retailers and is a grand juror for the Academy of Chocolate Awards and the International Chocolate Awards. She’s also a chocolate specialist for the Great Taste Awards, so we think she’s definitely the best person to be taking you on a chocolate adventure around London.

Private Mayfair Chocolate Ecstasy Tour | Soho

Visit the capital’s best curry spots on an Indian food tour of London

London’s East End is brimming with a vibrant creative scene, street art, innovative restaurants, markets and stylish boutiques, but it’s primarily renowned for its Indian cuisine. Brick Lane has been nicknamed London’s Curry Mile thanks to its boom of curry restaurants in the 60s, 70s and 80s when the Bengali community started to grow. On this Indian food tour , you’ll explore buzzing bars and some of the best curry spots in the capital alongside a knowledgeable guide. Sample everything from fragrant curries and savoury snacks to Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani treats while learning about London’s cosmopolitan culinary culture. You’ll try ten dishes in your group, which is limited to 12 people, to keep the experience intimate.

London Indian Food Tasting Tour | Whitechapel Gallery 

Delve deeper into Chinatown on a community-led walking tour

Chinatown is famed for its vibrant shops, restaurants, and consistently buzzing atmosphere. One of the best ways to explore it is on this community-led walking tour , which we showcase in our Chinatown YouTube video, which you can watch just below. Discover this bustling area and learn about the area’s history, delving deeper beyond the buildings and symbols and exploring below the surface of this intriguing part of the capital. Each tour is led for the benefit of the community, headed up by trained community volunteers, with a portion of the ticket sales going to charities in the local area.

Chinatown Stories: The Community-Led Walking Tour | Chinatown

Image Courtesy of Devour

Travel back in time on the ultimate food tour of Southwark and Borough Market

Take a giant leap back in time on this London food tour of Borough Market and Southwark . You’ll be taken on a culinary adventure through more than a thousand years of British cuisine, specifically in the borough that has consistently remained an epicentre for the capital’s food scene. Explore small family businesses that have been around for centuries, Insta-worthy dessert bars, and everything in between. You’ll see where local Londoners enjoy eating with seven food tastings and a drink at six small businesses. Feast on everything from award-winning fish and chips inside Borough Market’s oldest restaurant and sample port paired with cheese from a family-run producer. See a side of Southwark you wouldn’t usually see and discover how the food scene has evolved over the past 1,000 years.

Ultimate London Food Tour: Borough Market & Southwark | WA | Southwark 

Explore the London pub scene on a food tour of London’s historic pubs

This list of the top London Tours for food lovers wouldn’t be authentically London without a tour of the pub scene with the chance to sample plenty of traditional lagers and ales. This food tour of London’s historic pubs will take you across five of the city’s local hot spots, from classic old boozers and traditional taverns to former hangouts of literary greats and some of the oldest pubs in the city. London’s pubs encapsulate a huge slice of the city’s fascinating history, and you’ll get to delve deeper into it on this tour, where you’ll explore London as if you were a local. Enjoy seven food tastings and five drinks at five different pubs in the City, and follow your expert guide as they describe the centuries of history between the walls of each place. Hear the gripping stories of each pub and visit the taverns that used to be home to the Crown Jewels. You’ll also have the opportunity to play a pub game that dates back to the 15th century. Cheers to that.

Tastes, Tales & Traditional Ales: Food Tour of London’s Historic Pubs | WA | City of London

Discover the history of Soho by night on this twilight London food tour

Last on our rundown of top London tours for food lovers is centred around one of London’s most vibrant and storied districts. This walking tour of Soho , led by a local, will teach you all about the history and heritage of this bright and bustling neighbourhood while enjoying all of the culinary delights of the area. Visit rock ’n’ roll landmarks and hear stories about Soho’s troubled and often dark past. Retrace the footsteps of legendary musicians like Elton John and the Rolling Stones, all while enjoying tasty treats like Spanish tapas and authentic pie and mash from a local pub. You’ll chow down on award-winning tacos, eat Chinatown’s best dumplings and indulge in dessert from an underground dessert bar while immersing yourself in Soho’s eclectic nightlife scene.

Twilight Soho Food Tour | Soho 

Be sure to tag us on Instagram ( @LoveandLondon ) if you do any of our London food tour recommendations. If you want some more ideas for tours to book and things to do in London, read these next…

• How to Travel from London to Other Parts of the UK
• Delicious Vegan Restaurants to Try in London
• Fun Things to Do in London that are Wheelchair Accessible

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Jessica Dellow

Jessica Dellow is an East Londoner who loves to travel the world and eat her way around the city. When she's not eating, cooking or hanging out in the local pub, you’ll probably find her walking one of her BorrowMyDoggy dogs in Victoria Park with a coffee in hand.

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Central London Food Tour with 10+ Food & Drinks Tastings

• Savor over 10 mouthwatering food tastings , including iconic British treats like Fish and Chips, scones, scotch eggs, tea, and sticky toffee pudding, allowing yourself to fully discover the landscape of British cuisine.
• From iconic British treats to renowned international flavors, let our expert guide lead you through Soho, St James , and Chinatown , adding depth to your exploration and ensuring a great time filled with captivating stories and insights.
• Conclude your food tour with a classic British experience – a Sticky Toffee and beer tasting at a historic pub . Our London Food Tour not only satisfies your taste buds but also adds the perfect finishing touch to your experience.

London’s Culinary Icons: A Central Food & Drinks Tour

What's included.

• Over 10 Food and Drink Tastings: Fish & Chips, Scotch Eggs, Scones, Indian Cuisine, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Italian delicacy, Tea, Indian drink, and 3 Beers.
• Expert, English-Speaking Tour Guide
• Hotel pick-up/drop-off

Sites Visited

• Fish & Chips Restaurant
• International Restaurants
• British Delicatessen
• British Pub
• St. James’s Church Courtyard (From Outside)
• Leicester Square (From Outside)
• Chinatown Haymarket (From Outside)
• Soho-Chinatown

Searching for the best food in London? Then enjoy a world-class culinary experience through the heart of the English capital with our exclusive Central London Food Tour.

Starting at the historic St. James’s Church Courtyard, the tour unfolds with a 30-minute tasting experience of a delightful spread that includes a classic Scotch egg, scone with cream and jam, both accompanied with a glass of sparkling tea. Group sizes are thoughtfully capped at 12, ensuring a comfortable atmosphere where you can savor each bite, socialize, and enjoy your guide’s expert commentary and valuable recommendations.

Your tour continues with a short walk to a local hotspot, celebrated for its renowned Indian cuisine. London boasts some of the world’s best Indian food, adding an international flair to your food tour before you savor the iconic British dishes that lie ahead.

Next, visit a famous ‘Fish & Chips’ spot to savor a small portion of freshly prepared fish and chips. Following this, immerse your taste buds in the sweet and satisfying notes of Italian confectionery at the next stop with a delicious dessert! A treat that adds a touch of sweetness to your palate.

But your culinary adventure doesn't end there. Following your first sweet treat, it's time to take a brief stroll into Chinatown. Your guide will then lead you to a historic British pub for your tour’s exciting finale.

Once there, you’ll savor a 35-minute sampling experience featuring Sticky Toffee Pudding and three different beer tastings. Take a moment as your guide and fellow travelers share recommendations, all inspired by the diverse flavors and cultural highlights encountered during your Central London Food Tour.

We've crafted this journey through London's culinary wonders not just as a tour, but as a memorable and delicious celebration of food, culture, and the spirit of the city.

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Know before you go, meeting point.

St. Jame’s Church - Open in Google Maps

Important Notes

• Please note that this tour is adaptable to Vegetarians and Pescatarians. We regret to inform you that this tour isn't adaptable to Vegans, gluten-free and nuts-free diets or to anyone subject to celiac diseases. The food served throughout the tour is neither halal nor kosher. Kindly indicate any dietary requirement upon booking and we will do our very best to accommodate you!
• Please make note of any food allergies upon booking. We will pass on the information to each restaurant, but we cannot guarantee they’ll be able to accommodate. Please also make your guide aware of any allergies or intolerance at the beginning of the tour.

Cancelation Policy

This tour is subject to a 24-hour cancelation policy. If you wish to cancel or amend your booking, you can do so without charge by contacting us up to 24 hours in advance of your expected departure time.

• Book with Confidence: Free cancellations up to 24 hours before the experience begins (local time).
• Multilingual Customer Service: Talk to us, we are here to help.
• No Hidden Costs: All taxes and fees included.

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20 Best Food Tours in London for a Culinary Journey Through the City

• 3 Pinterest

If you are passionate about food and want to get a deeper feel of what British cuisine has to offer, consider embarking on one of the best food tours in London !

Learn more about the history of different neighborhoods throughout the city and tuck into some classic  London dishes ranging from fish and chips, meat pies, scotch eggs, cream teas to delicious ciders and ales!

Taking a Food tour, is without doubt one of the top things to do in London  for those curious to discover the multi-cultural diversity that has influenced London’s food scene or for those keen to browse London’s most historic markets!

Want to dive straight in? Browse our catalog now!

• food tours in London

1 – London Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

Rating: ⭐️ 4.9/5 ( 1211 reviews )

“I would highly recommend taking this tour. Our guide – Billie- shared great historical information and wonderful food. She introduced us to the Borough Market, which was a ver special treat.” Margaret, Viator

Discover the delicious delicacies of British cuisine during a Secret Food Tours & Secret Tours foodie journey in the company of a small group. Opt for the London Bridge Tour to get a flavor for some classic English dishes such as fish and chips, sausage rolls, British cheeses and locally brewed beers and ciders.

Amble past the iconic  Tower Bridge with its distinctive drawbridge design and Victorian Gothic style towers! If you are lucky you may even see it open to allow river traffic to pass through. Arrive at the historic Borough Market and allow your guide to help you navigate through the busy stalls, explaining insiders tips into London cuisine!

We loved discovering Borough Market, one of the oldest in London and dating back to the 12th century! The guide was really passionate about food and gave us lots of local insights. After the market it was fun to visit a nearby historic pub and sample a traditional English sticky toffee pudding!

• walking food tours in London

Read more: Best walking tours in London

2 – London: Food Walking Tour with 8 Stops

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 13 reviews )

“The tour was delicious, educational and had a very diverse selection of food. Our guide was both friendly and full of information at each stop and had plenty of recommendations of what we should try.” Hannah, Getyourguide

Follow See The Sights Tours for a food inspired journey around London’s East End, stopping off along the way at a wide range of different food shops and stalls.

Discover where to find some of the best fish and chips in London, tuck into some tantalizing African chocolates or indulge with a cone of sugar coated Brazilian churros! This food tour is definitely a celebration of London’s colorful diversity with food ranging from Indian treats to Greek style gyros.

Your guide will also introduce you to the local London street art, the history of the neighborhood and even a Banksy special!

A good introduction into London food culture! We could pick and choose from the guide’s recommendations and enjoyed listening to the historical snippets at each stop off. We particularly enjoyed the bagels at Bagel Bake, a secret favorite of Prince William!

3 – Tea and Doughnuts: Historic Walking Food Tour of Southwark

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 95 reviews )

“What a fun tour! Our kids loved getting to sample some of London’s fabulous donuts, and we appreciated learning some info about London and the area around Borough Market.” Rachel, Viator

Embark on a doughnut adventure though the streets of London’s Southwark with the Underground Donut Tour!

This is definitely one of the best food tours in London for those with a sweet tooth! Get ready for some flavorsome and sugary donut styles! Follow your knowledgable guide though the bustling Borough Market, learning about its rich history, architecture and traditions.

Munch along to different freshly baked warm donuts along the tour and take some excellent photos of the Thames and the iconic Tower Bridge.

A tasty and educational walking tour for donut lovers! It was great to discover 4 different donut shops and walk around Southwark learning more about the local history. The English breakfast tea was delicious and kept us warm so we could power on with more sightseeing!

4 – London: Borough Market Foodie Walking Tour with Tastings

Rating: ⭐️ 4.9/5 ( 78 reviews )

“The food was incredible! There was so much that we were stuffed by the time we got to dessert. Highly recommend!” Crystal, Getyourguide

Discover the secrets and vibrant flavors of London’s historic Borough Market with Carpe Diem Tours . Learn more about the origins of this market which date back to the 12th century with an expert guide who will help you navigate around a range of classically British as well as exotic food stalls!

Tuck into some traditional fish and chips, try out some spicy Indian delicacies and sip on a warm cup of British tea! Learn more about British pub culture with a stop off at a local pub or historic wine bar to sample some typically English beverages!

An excellent introduction to British food for foodie enthusiasts! The guide provided plenty of background knowledge and interesting tips so we could make the most of our visit around Borough Market! We loved the market’s diverse offerings and locally sourced produce!

• Borough Market food tours

5- London Beer Tour With Secret Food Tours

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 87 reviews )

“We had a great time with a great host. It was very informative on beer and the history of the area” Dean, Viator

Delve into the local breweries and bustling pubs on this beer orientated walking tour around London’s trendy area of Shoreditch with  Secret Food Tours & Secret Tours. Get off the beaten tourist track and discover the hidden watering holes of this lively neighborhood!

During the tour participants will sample a variety of 7 different beer styles from refreshing lagers, Indian Pale Ales to smokey stouts! Learn more about the process of beer production from your local guide who will also fill you in with the history of Shoreditch!

Get to know your fellow tour goes and enjoy the company of fellow beer aficionados!

Fascinating to learn more about the old brewing district of Shoreditch! We loved grabbing a pint in some of the historic and atmospheric pubs near Tower Bridge! It was great to try 7 different beer styles throughout the tour plus a cheeky drink in a secret venue!

• beer tastings in London

6 – London Soho Food Tasting Tour With Secret Food Tours

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 40 reviews )

“Theo was a fantastic host, friendly and informative. We met so many lovely people and the food was delicious! Highly recommend!” Katharine, Viator

Explore the neon lit bohemian streets of trendy Soho, London’s neighborhood that is famous for nightlife and the buzzing entertainment scene with Secret Food Tours !

This is one of the best food tours in London for those looking to experience some of London’s trendiest bars, glamorous speakeasies, street food and the twinkling lights of Chinatown!

Sample some local historic gins, try some exotic culinary flavors and eclectic delights such as coconut beef curries or croquettes! Your guide will regale you with tales of Soho’s history, highlighting its enduring allure that has drawn artists and musicians to its theaters and comedy clubs over the years!

Lots of delicious food spots along the walking route, we particularly enjoyed the French Choux pastry and trying the bitter sweet vermouth. The guide was enthusiastic and informative, with lots of historic insights throughout the tour!

• food tours in Lisbon

7 – London: 3-Hour Secret British Food Tour

Rating: ⭐️ 4.8/5 ( 323 reviews )

“The tour was absolutely amazing! The guide was so well informed and had a rich knowledge of the history of food in London. We tried so many diverse dishes. I was worried I’d be too full to try all the dishes but surprising they were all great portions that you were able to enjoy every single one.” Caitlin, Getyourguide

Indulge your taste buds with Essor on this British food orientated London walking tour! Discover the area around London bridge, see some of the best tourist attractions in London and dive into the historic Borough Market and delve into a cosy historic pub to sample some fine English cheeses.

Expect plenty of British culinary delights such as classic fish and chips, hearty Cumberland sausages, home made freshly baked breads and plenty of real British ales!

Your guide will blend plenty of historic London curiosities with foodie tips and lots of British humor! Finish off your walking tour on a sweet note with a British dessert!

A good length walking tour with 8 different stops. We enjoyed stopping off at Borough Market to watch the daily trade and try the typically British egg and bacon bap! The international group was really friendly and the guide took excellent care of us.

• See price and reviews

8 – The Ultimate Cheese Crawl

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 301 reviews )

“Very enjoyable, tasty and educational tour. Nic was a great guide, the places we stopped were interesting and the cheese was delicious!” Bryan, Viator

Cheese lovers will fall in love with this See Your City London walking tour that also incorporates plenty of stops for high quality cheese tasting! Stop off at cheese counters in Mayfair, enter inside the world famous Fortnum & Mason store and discover the cheesy delights of Soho’s Little Italy district.

Learn more about the history of London’s central neighborhoods as well as detailed information on British cheeses and styles! The guide will keep you on your toes with a cheese related trivia quiz to give participants the chance to showcase their cheese passion!

Fabulous melt in the mouth stilton! The guide made us smile throughout the walking tour with plenty of cheesy jokes and facts about London. Lots of stops at speciality cheese shops and we loved the bustling atmosphere of Covent Garden! Was lovely to have a thrown in glass of Prosecco!

• chese tastings in London

Read more: Things to do in Central London

9 – Private Mayfair Chocolate Ecstasy Tour for 2

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 440 reviews )

“Excellent Tour! What a fun experience we had! Our guide was so knowledgeable about chocolate and historical places we went by. The pace we went was perfect. Of course, the chocolates were wonderful.” Barb, Viator

Chocoholics will enter paradise during the Chocolate Ecstasy Tours walking tour around some of London’s most luxurious neighborhoods!

Stop off at high quality chocolatiers, patisseries and sweet shops for samples along the way and learn more about the production of chocolate from the cocoa bean to the finished truffle! Warm up with a delicious rich hot chocolate and scrumptious handmade chocolates!

Learn more about the history of Mayfair with your experienced local guide as you make your way to the next chocolate filled destination!

An educational and sensory journey for those keen to learn more about the world of high quality chocolate making! Spend time browsing artisanal chocolate shops and appreciating the architecture and landmarks of Soho and Mayfair! A delicious mouth-watering experience!

• chocolate tastings in Lisbon

10 – London Walking Indian Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 376 reviews )

“Knowledgable tour guide, well run, a lot of fun! We enjoyed the tour, the food and learning about the spices and area” Laurence, Viator

Uncover the rich and colorful flavors of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh with Secret Food Tours as you make your way through some of Londons most multicultural and vibrant East End neighborhoods!

Join this small group tour for a whirlwind of different curries, tandooris and crispy pakoras! Discover the famous ‘Curry Lane’ of Brick Lane and inhale those inviting aromas of fresh spices, crushed herbs and sizzling meats!

Finish up your tour browsing the market stalls of Old Spitalfields, one of London’s surviving Victorian Market Halls! Your guide will keep you up to date with plenty of historical details and recommendations.

An amazing tour experience with a great mix of eating and walking. We were completely stuffed after sampling numerous yummy dishes and learning more about the rich cosmopolitan history of the East End. Would definitely recommend the spicy chickpea snack and the refreshing lassi!

11 – English Wine and Cheese Tour from London

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 20 reviews )

“Very well organized day! Wonderful wine experience!I” Lusine, Viator

Discover the dynamic up and coming British wine producers that are giving Champagne a run for their money! Embark on a day of adventure with English Wine Tastings Tours to discover the beautiful vineyards of Kent and some high quality cheeses!

Learn more about the chalky soils of Chapel Down and what makes them excellent for producing fine sparkling wines! Discover what grapes flourish in the cool English climate such as delightfully crisp Chardonnay and Pinot Noir!

Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the Kent countryside and indulge in an outstanding tasting of English wines paired with carefully selected local cheeses!

Very exciting to visit Chapel Down, the award winning British wine producer who have been known to feature in many Royal celebrations and events. It really opened our eyes to the potential of the British wine industry and we were blown away by the finesse of the bubbly!

• wine tours in London

12 – East End London Food Tour with Eating Europe

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 767 reviews )

“This tour was a highlight of our trip! Our guide was excellent. Besides tasting a variety of the best food to be found in the area, she provided us with a thorough history of the East End. This was a wonderful way to explore this part of London.” Cristy, Viator

Get an overview of the diverse culinary delights of London’s East with Eating Europe . With 8 different tastings and 6 different locations along the walking route, this walking tour will leave your stomach feeling more than satisfied!

Tuck into some classic freshly battered fish and chips sprinkled with finger licking salt and vinegar and try one of the warm salt beef filled bagels, an integral part of the East Ends Jewish community heritage!

Other foodie highlights include Indian curried treats, caramel tart with English tea or try a typical British desert such as the fruit crumble!

Wonderful tour for those looking to find some culinary delicacies that the average tourist is unlikely to encounter on their own! The tour guide was friendly and offered clear explanations on the history of various streets and buildings. Be sure to arrive on the tour feeling peckish!

13 – Twilight Soho Food Tour with Eating Europe

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 257 reviews )

“This was our first food tour for the 5 of us and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Delicious tastings and fun locations, including a speak-easy bar that we never would have found ourselves.” James, Viator

Get a flavor for the electric atmosphere of Soho at night in the trustworthy company of London food tours by Eating Europe .

Discover the international cuisine offered in some of Soho best bars and restaurants from Spanish tapas, Mexican spices to Chinese dumplings. Your local guide will take you to explore recommended trendy bars and explain the history of Soho, from entertainment hub to some of its more darker stories!

A tour round Soho wouldn’t be complete without diving into the heart of Europe’s largest Chinatowns or checking out the quirky and creative Soho mural!

We emailed ahead to advise that I am vegetarian and this was taken into account during the tour with plenty of alternative food options. We loved the atmosphere of the speakeasy bar that we would have never have found on our own. A fun group of travelers and a range of world foods to kick off our evening!

• night food tours in Lisbon

See also: Fun things to do in London at night and discover the best night tours in London

14 – London Shoreditch Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 179 reviews )

“Excellent, enthusiastic guide, very knowledgeable and attentive to our group of 8. Excellent choice of a diverse selection of foods and drinks.” Neville, Viator

Explore the vast spectrum of Shoreditch’s best eateries with Secret Food Tours . Follow your local guide round the best hideaways to find freshly baked bagels, traditional fish and chips and exotic international street food from bustling marketplaces!

Learn more about the rich and multi cultural history of Brick Lane and Spitalfields in between food stops and get a real feel for the streets of London’s East End.

Take in the buzzing sounds of street vendors, the inviting aromas wafting from different restaurants and the intense flavors as you immerse yourself in the creative atmosphere of Shoreditch!

Excellent to try some of the authentic London flavors! Our guide was super cheerful and kept us entertained throughout the 3 hour tour. In addition to lots of restaurants, we also got to see a lot of street art and enter inside a 50s style pub! Will definitely be returning to Shoreditch!

15 – Private London Food Tours – Borough Market, Soho, East End

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 191 reviews )

“Excellent tour guide. Full of knowledge and enthusiasm. Went to places that you would have normally just have walked past. Great experience.” Sally, Viator

For those who fancy discovering the culinary delights of London during a personalized private tour in London , the Chubby Fellow food tours tick all the boxes.

Follow your guide through the neighborhood of London that you want to fully explore, tasting lots of food samples along the way at carefully selected venues and listening to engaging historical details and local stories!

Venues along the route will range from historic pubs, trendy bars, celebrated local restaurants and street food venues to ensure your tour to gives you a true flavor of each London neighborhood selected!

We chose to take a tour of Chinatown and the experience was super personalized to our groups needs! The guide explained the fascinating background behind every dish that we ate and there were also a few surprises thrown in. Delicious food!

• private food tours in London

16 – Michelin Star Indian Food Tour

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 5 reviews )

“Excellent choice of restaurants and dishes. Mukta is very knowledgeable about Indian food. Right on time!” Pawan, Viator

This high quality Michelin star tour around the award-winning Indian restaurants of London is one of the best food tours in London for those who love curries and tandooris but want to take it to the next level!

Discover dishes from different regions throughout India and learn more about the best Indian sweets! In one of the restaurants, participants will also get a glimpse of the cooking process behind the scenes to see the mixing of spices, the preparation of fresh vegetables and the sizzling of the meats first hand!

Visit a range of different Indian restaurants throughout the city with some walking included to make space for more culinary delights and exploration of London’s diverse neighborhoods!

Exquisite Indian cuisine for those who love to experience the authentic flavors of India first-hand. The tour catered to our groups dietary requirements and we loved the intimate group size, it also felt like a private tour! A very memorable evening!

17 – Traditional English Walking Food Tour With London Food Tours

Rating: ⭐️ 5/5 ( 51 reviews )

“Our tour guide, Kevin Bond, was so friendly and so knowledgeable. The food was incredible and the tour was through one of the best places in London.” Megan, Viator

Uncover the classic culinary delights of the City of London and the Southwark Borough during this classical London Food Tour .

In a small and intimate walking group (no more than 10 travelers), allow your local guide to take you on a journey to explore the essence of London cuisine, with plenty of details on the history of British food culture!

Get ready to sample traditional scones and jam, fish and chips along with bacon rolls and hot meat pies! Browse around the famous Borough Market, one of London’s oldest operating markets and capture unforgettable moments through your lens, seizing the essence of London in remarkable photographs!

It was wonderful to try some typically British food specialties we weren’t familiar with such as tasty Scotch eggs and jellied eels. We loved the oysters and fizz along with the selection of British cheeses. It was fun to visit Shakespeare’s favorite pub and try some typical ale!

18 – London: Historic Pubs Traditional Food Walking Tour

“very charming, fantastic tour guide, thanks Beckie!!!” Kathrin, Getyourguide

Want to combine London pub culture with a dose of history and a walking tour? Then join Devour to discover some unusual historic pubs that are off the beaten tourist trail and sample some typical pub grub such as pork pies, sausage rolls or whitebait.

Discover pubs associated with legendary London figures such as the famous Charles Dickens or the murderous fictional barber Sweeney Todd.

Enjoy some heartwarming British pints of ale or try out some cider and connect with your fellow tour guides over some English pub games!

What an experience to enjoy a pint in a 500 year old pub! The guide kept us entertained with lots of stories and historical curiosities and we even learned how to play the traditional pub game shuffleboard. The group size was small so there was lots of group interaction throughout the tour!

19 – Greenwich Food Tour in London

Rating: ⭐️ 4.5/5 ( 11 reviews )

“Our tour guide, Victoria, did an absolutely wonderful job! Would highly recommend this tour. Great food and lovely neighborhood :)” Grace, Viator

Explore the foodie scene of Greenwich with Greenwich Royal Tours , one of the best places to visit in London , a fascinating area famous for its Royal Observatory, the beautiful Greenwich Park with views of the Thames, the Old Royal Naval College and the Cutty Sark 19th-century clipper ship.

Delve into some of the best cafés and hand picked restaurants with the help of a local guide and discover the bustling Greenwich market, a historic market established back in 1827! Sample some traditionally British food along the way and learn more about Britain’s rich culinary heritage!

It was lovely to get a great overview of Greenwich through the culinary delicacies. The small group made the tour feel really personal and we loved tasting the English cider at the gastropub. The food samplings were generous and we left the tour feeling stuffed. A good range of typically British food and intercontinental delights!

• Greenwich food tours

20 – London: Camden Town Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting

Rating: ⭐️ 4.7/5 ( 49 reviews )

“Amazing experience! We were amazed by the behind the scenes view of the brewing process. Also our tour guide was really knowledgeable. Such a genuine and immersive experience” Elena, Getyourguide

Beer enthusiasts should not miss the opportunity to discover the beer production process at the innovative  Camden Town Brewery !

Meet professional beer makers who can answer all your questions and discover the wide variety of different beer styles that are produced! Tours include sampling beer straight from the tank followed by a flight of five tastings! Learn how to recognize the nuances between a lager and a pale ale, perhaps with the possibility of trying a limited edition beer!

After the tour relax in the taproom and if you want to continue on your beer adventure, there’s a wide selection of 24 beers to dig into!

Very interesting to learn about the beer production process and everything that goes into producing a pint. We loved the beer flight tasting and the guide was very passionate and answered all our questions with a lot of detail! The perfect activity to do on a rainy day in London !

• beer tastings in Lisbon

How to book food tours in London?

We hope that this article has inspired your taste buds to book up a food tour in London!

There are many companies offering the best food tours in London and there are also many travel websites selling the same tours online. Many offer discounts, so be aware that the price may vary from one website to another!

To ensure that you grab the best bargain for your trip, take a look at the Tourscanner search engine to compare the range of offers, reviews, and competitive prices!

• compare food tours in London

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Money latest: The parents paying their kids hundreds of pounds for good grades - and what psychologists think

As exam season approaches, some parents are putting hundreds of pounds aside to reward their children for certain grades - and we've asked experts if they think it's a good idea. Share your thoughts on anything we cover in the form below, and we'll be back on Monday with live updates.

Saturday 20 April 2024 14:39, UK

Weekend Money

• Should you offer kids cash rewards for good grades? The psychologist's view  
• Amex hikes, inflation and child-free pubs: What our readers said this week
• Money news of week: Inflation falls, wages grow and fuel warning for drivers

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Ask a question or make a comment

By Brad Young, Money team

As exam season approaches, some parents are putting hundreds of pounds aside to reward their children if they achieve certain grades. 

While some parents lambasted the idea as "absolute potatoes", others told Sky News they saw their children's focus increase after offering up to £250 for the top results.

Among them was Sarah Cook, 45, from Dorset, who said cash incentives had improved her eldest daughter's concentration at GCSEs and she promised her youngest, Merryn, the same offer: £100 for a 9, 8 or 7 (A*/A in old money), £50 for a 6 or 5 (B) or £20 for a 4 (C). 

"We were definitely all for it and happy to pay up based on achievement. I think it reflects real life as well - if you do well in your job, you tend to get paid more," Ms Cook said. 

Merryn, 13, added: "I think it is better for the motivation and for that extra encouragement to get the highest you possibly can and to push yourself more."

Robert Gidney, from Norfolk, said his 14-year-old son's results had improved by a grade since the family decided on reward money: £250 for a grade 9, reduced by £50 for each lower grade, with no reward for grades below 5.

"He seems to be concentrating a lot more on it. He has been studying a lot more and putting a lot more effort in."

He admitted the practice might not be for everyone - something mother of two Sarah Paterson, 57, from Cheshire, would agree with. 

"Never in a million years," she said, recalling how her children, now aged 26 and 37, would protest that their friends were being offered cash rewards. 

"It's absolute potatoes. What are you setting you kids up for there? 

"If they are going to academic, they are going to be academic. Life is about self-motivation."

What the psychologists say

External motivators like money can help children focus in the short term, but they "eventually kill off intrinsic motivation", said Dr Cath Lowther, general secretary of the Association of Educational Psychologists. 

She said all children were intrinsically interested in learning, but regular external incentives "erode the engines of motivation" that cause them to find joy in learning or set and achieve their own goals. 

It could also cause conflict and jealousy in some schools, with "children in that classroom who can't afford breakfast". 

There is already too much pressure on children, said Dr Emma Citron, consultant clinical psychologist and chartered member of the British Psychological Society. 

They are already trying to catch up after the pandemic and taking exams that could determine if they get a university place, she said. 

"I just think that it's sending all the wrong messages as parents. You're adding to their pressure and actually, more importantly, changing the dynamic between you and your children. 

"You're making it conditional on outcome, on reward, rather than what we know to be good, which is unconditional approval and validation."

Parents ought to be "quietly supportive" and act in a pastoral capacity, she said. 

Teachers split on the practice

Charlotte, a biology teacher at a private school, who did not wish to give her last name, said approximately 20% of a given year group were offered cash incentives by their parents. 

The educator of 30 years said those children often found academia harder, misbehaved or hadn't put in much work before exam season. 

"It's not that much fun, revising, it's pretty dull, so I think anything that is an incentive is probably a good thing."

She said her children, now adults, were not offered cash, adding they had dyslexia and dyspraxia. 

"They knew that what we required was just for them to do their best," she said.

A 26-year-old teacher at a state school in Reading said she hadn't found cash incentives were common during her four years as a teacher, but she was offered money by her parents when she took exams. 

"I think sometimes it could be effective, but it could put more pressure on the pupil and I don't know if it's healthy," said the teacher, who did not wish to be named. 

"They are going to feel disappointed if they don't get the grades no matter what."

Dr Lowther said cash incentives spoke to a wider problem with the British schooling system, where external motivators are built in from the start, rather than practices that foster intrinsic motivators like autonomy and connection to others.

From gold stars at reception to narrow choices in the national curriculum, schools focus on extrinsic incentives, she said.

"It would be great if there could be some real thinking about the curriculum and getting science behind how it's developed and how it's implemented," she said. 

Each week hundreds of our readers share their thoughts on the things we've been covering in the Money blog.

This week's comments have been dominated by these topics...

• Our feature on renting your home out to celebrities;
• Wednesday's inflation announcement; 
• Changes to American Express cards;
• The prospect of child-free pubs. 

We learnt on Wednesday that inflation had eased to 3.2% from 3.4% in March.

Many readers said they felt no difference in their wallets after the announcement, with these two comments summing up the general mood...

It definitely does not feel like inflation is coming down. And isn't that what really matters, especially with elections coming up. These figures will feel like fake news to the majority of people. oellph

We're told inflation had fallen however the prices at the tills still remain unchanged. A pint is sold at £6-7, the weekly shop has reduced somewhat but only slightly, petrol and diesel prices are back on the rise and everyone is struggling to pay their bills and save money. Reggie

Others looked towards the summer's expected interest rate drop... 

A double-edged sword here. As interest rates go down, so will the value of sterling. So up go the costs of imports. kinlochdavid

Big money rentals for the stars

We got dozens of comments last weekend from hopeful readers with properties they thought would be perfect for a film set after our feature...

I live in Wales... I have a small two-bed, with a mountain and woods behind. Any good? Marc

I'm happy to let stars use my house for filming Pardeep ahluwalia

I have a beautiful period property full of antique furniture. I don’t live in part of it and a film crew could use it for filming and change it as they wished Margo

How would I go about letting my house out to film crews? Mia Foster

As our feature set out, parking, easy-going neighbours and having one large room for equipment help make your house an attractive prospect for filming.

Much of the industry is based in London but, between them, the three agencies contacted by the Money team for the feature have organised filming in Manchester, Birmingham, the Midlands, the Home Counties and coastal areas.

Others were less keen on the idea...

I wouldn't let them anywhere near my house I've seen the state they leave them in Gary pledger

Child-free pubs

Another talking point this week was whether kids should be allowed into pubs - after one unnamed boozer went viral online for a sign declaring it was "dog friendly" and "child-free". 

Lots of social media users were upset by the idea...

But many of our readers agreed:

Kids should NOT be allowed in pubs. It's an adult pass time. If I go for a drink, I expect peace and quiet, not people's brats running riot. Linda

All pubs used to be child-free. What's the problem? Wilco

There should be more child-free pubs, only places like a Beefeater or a Toby Carvery should be allowed children in. We have pubs/working men's clubs in our village where there is nothing for children to do or play with. These types of pubs are not places for children. Claire

American Express changes  

From November, the amount BA Amex and BA Amex Premium Plus cardholders will need to spend every year to get "two-for-one" companion vouchers will rise to £15,000.

American Express is also increasing the annual fee for its Amex Premium Plus card from £250 to £300 - an inflation-busting 20% increase.

It's safe to say the change went down badly with some of our readers... 

Does anyone really think paying over £600 per year for an American Express Platinum card is good value? They must be absolutely nuts!!!! Big Daddy Smooth

These increases from Amex are outrageous and totally unacceptable. I will be cutting up my card and sending it back. OutragedAmex

A spokesman for Amex said the companion voucher "remains an industry-leading credit card benefit", while both cards "continue to provide great value for customers".

On Wednesday, we found out that inflation has eased to 3.2%  from 3.4% when the Office for National Statistics released the latest data.

Economists had predicted the figure, which covers the month of March, would fall to 3.1%. 

It's important to remember that this doesn't mean prices are coming down - they are just rising slower. 

All eyes will now turn to decision-makers at the Bank of England as they prepare to consider cutting interests rates next month. 

You can read more on that here ...

A day earlier, the ONS released its latest data on wage growth. 

Wages excluding bonuses grew by 6% in the three months to the end of February, compared with the same period a year ago. 

A Reuters poll of economists had predicted wage growth would slow to 5.8% from 6.1% in November to January. 

The figures, while welcome on the face of it for struggling households, made for worrying reading at the Bank of England, which is assessing the timing for a long-awaited interest rate cut in its battle against inflation.

We also got a warning from the RAC and AA after government data showed petrol prices had risen by 8p since the start of the year. 

The two companies said the price at the pump could go well above 150p a litre . 

During this week alone, the cost has gone up by 1.6p - there has not been a sharper weekly rise since August 2023.

Average pump prices for diesel have also increased to 157.5p, the highest since November 2023.

"With increased tensions in the Middle East, the cost of oil is only likely to go up, which could push petrol well above 150p a litre," RAC fuel price spokesman Simon Williams said. 

This was echoed by AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet, who said pump prices were climbing towards the point "drivers fear". 

"It is a psychological shock that shouts out from the price boards each time motorists drive past," he said.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

Tesla has recalled more than 3,800 of its Cybertruck models following complaints that the accelerator pedal is at risk of getting stuck, US regulators have announced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had contacted the carmaker, founded and run by Elon Musk, about the issue earlier in the week.

That was after a video came to light, on the billionaire entrepreneur's X platform and TikTok, showing how a rubber cover attached to the accelerator could come loose, pinning the pedal down.

It has since been watched millions of times on both platforms.

Meta's AI has told a Facebook user it has a disabled child that was part of a New York gifted and talented programme.

An anonymous parent posted in a private parenting group, asking for advice on which New York education programme would suit their child.

They described the child as '2e' which stands for twice-exceptional and means they have exceptional ability and also a disability.

"Does anyone here have experience with a '2e' child in any of the NYC G&T [Gifted & Talented] programs?" the user asked.

"Would love to hear your experience, good or bad or anything in between."

Instead of getting a response from another parent, Meta's AI replied.

"I have a child who is also 2e and has been part of the NYC G&T program," it began.

Read more on this story here ...

People who are fit to work but do not accept job offers will have their benefits taken away after 12 months, the prime minister has pledged.

Outlining his plans to reform the welfare system if the Conservatives win the next general election, Rishi Sunak said "unemployment support should be a safety net, never a choice" as he promised to "make sure that hard work is always rewarded".

Mr Sunak said his government would be "more ambitious about helping people back to work and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life" by introducing a raft of measures in the next parliament.

You can read more about what they include here ...

Building society reforms - backed by MPs - could help people trying to get on to the property ladder.

The Building Societies Act 1986 (Amendment) Bill is closer to becoming law after its third reading was unopposed in the Commons.

The idea is to expand societies' lending capacity via modernisation.

Tory MP Peter Gibson the bill would help with "cutting red tape" and removing "outdated bureaucratic governance systems not faced by the big banks". 

It follows a government consultation which looked at how to allow building societies to "compete on a more level playing field with banks".

The bill is government-backed and Labour is behind it too, saying the changes will support "more working people to become homeowners".

Labour's Julie Elliott, the bill's sponsor, said: "It is important to acknowledge that whilst the housing sector has recovered significantly since the record low mortgage approvals during the COVID pandemic, approvals currently are still below that which we saw before the pandemic. 

"That is why I think a bill like this, which gives more choice to the building society sector to operate in the interests of its members, is a good thing."

Treasury minister Gareth Davies offered the government's support and said the bill would help ensure the "future growth and success" of the building society sector. 

Labour's shadow Treasury minister Darren Jones said building societies "direct a significant proportion of their lending to first-time buyers" and the bill "could unlock significant additional lending capacity".

The bill will undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords.

By  James Sillars , business reporter

There was a worse than expected performance for retail sales last month, defying predictions of a consumer-led pick up from recession for the UK economy.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported sales volumes were flat in March, following an upwardly revised figure of 0.1% for the previous month.

It said sales at non-food stores helped offset declines at supermarkets.

Sales of fuel rose by 3.2%.

ONS senior statistician Heather Bovill said of the overall picture: "Retail sales registered no growth in March.

"Hardware stores, furniture shops, petrol stations and clothing stores all reported a rise in sales.

"However, these gains were offset by falling food sales and in department stores where retailers say higher prices hit trading.

"Looking at the longer-term picture, across the latest three months retail sales increased after a poor Christmas."

While the performance will not damage the  expected exit from recession  during the first quarter of the year, it suggests that consumers are still carefully managing their spending.

While the  cost of living crisis  - exacerbated by the  Bank of England's interest rate rises  to push  inflation  down - has severely damaged budgets, wage growth has been rising at a faster pace than prices since last summer.

Separate ONS data this week has shown the annual rate of inflation at 3.2% - with wages growing at a rate of 6% when the effects of bonuses are stripped out.

Economists widely believe consumer spending power will win through as the year progresses, despite borrowing costs remaining at elevated levels.

"Misleading" labelling in some supermarkets means shoppers may not know where their food comes from, Which? has said.

Loose cauliflowers, red cabbage, courgettes and onions at Sainsbury's, peppers, melons and mangoes at Asda, and spring onions at Aldi had no visible origin labelling on the shelf or the products themselves, the consumer organisation found during research.

Only 51% of people find origin information on groceries helpful, a survey found.

Two thirds (64%) said they would be more likely to buy a product labelled "British" than one that was not. 

Almost three quarters (72%) said it was important to know where fresh meat comes from, while 51% said they wanted to know where processed and tinned meat comes from.

Under current rules, meat, fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, honey and wine should be labelled with the country or place of origin.

"Research has uncovered a surprising amount of inconsistent and misleading food labelling, suggesting that - even when the rules are properly adhered to - consumers aren't getting all the information they want about their food's origin," said Which? retail editor Ele Clark.

"Supermarkets should particularly focus on labelling loose fruit and vegetables more clearly."

An Aldi spokeswoman said: "We understand that our shoppers want to know where the food they buy comes from, and we work hard to ensure that all our labelling complies with the rules.

"When it comes to fresh fruit and veg, we are proud to support British farmers and aim to stock British produce whenever it's available. Customers understand that at this time of year that isn't always possible, but we remain firmly committed to supporting the British farming community."

Asda said: "We have stringent processes in place to ensure country of origin is clearly displayed at the shelf edge and on products themselves where applicable, at all our stores.

"We have reminded our colleagues at this particular store of these processes so that customers are able to clearly see the country of origin."

A spokesman for Iceland said: "At Iceland our products are great quality and value for customers and we follow UK government guidance on food labelling, including country of origin."

A Sainsbury's spokeswoman said: "We have processes in place to make sure country of origin information is clearly displayed on the product or shelf and we carry out regular checks working closely with our regulator, the Animal and Plant Health Agency."

By Jess Sharp , Money team 

Barclays has been criticised for making the "ludicrous" decision to limit how much cash its customers can deposit in a year. 

Ron Delnevo from the Payment Choice Alliance said the move was a "disgrace" and accused the bank of trying to force businesses to stop accepting cash. 

From July, the change will mean Barclays customers can only deposit up to £20,000 per calendar year into their personal accounts. 

The limit will reset every January. 

It comes after Natwest made a similar decision last year, capping deposits to £3,000 a day, or £24,000 in any 12-month period. 

"The decision by Barclays is ludicrous. This is plainly an anti-cash move," Mr Delnevo told Sky News. 

"It is trying to take free choice from people. It's like it is saying, 'if you are using cash, then we think you are a criminal'.

"It's a disgrace quite frankly and there is no excuse for it. It's just wrong." 

Asked if he was concerned other banks could follow suit, he said: "Definitely." 

He gave the example of someone selling a car for cash. "How would you deposit the money into your account?" he asked.

Barclays said the change was being made to help it identify "suspicious activity". 

"We take financial crime and our responsibility to prevent money laundering seriously," a spokesperson said. 

"We have contacted customers to let them know that from July we are making some changes to the amount of cash customers can deposit into their Barclays accounts.

"We have set the limit at an amount that will allow us to better identify suspicious activity, while still ensuring our customers have access to cash."

The UK's estimated 23 million pet owners are at risk of a new kind of scam, one that took nearly £240m in the first six months of last year. 

Scammers are now targeting the most vulnerable owners – those who’ve lost their pets. 

Fraudsters are turning to lost pet forums and websites to claim they've found missing pets, demanding a ransom payment for their return.

Figures from UK Finance reveal this type of fraud – known as Authorised Push Payment (APP), when a victim is tricked into sending money directly to a criminal’s account - cost British consumers £239.3m in the first six months of 2023.

James Jones, head of consumer affairs at Experian, has some tips on how to avoid the scam...

• Never pay the ransom – If someone is demanding a large sum of money in exchange for your pet's safe return, call the police immediately. Never pay the money upfront, as it will most likely be a scam. Be sure to take a step back and analyse the situation.
• Examine the photos - is it a fake? – In an era where the use of artificial intelligence to fabricate photos is becoming increasingly commonplace, spotting a fake is becoming more challenging. But if you do receive a suspicious photo, make sure to take a closer look to determine whether it is in fact your pet. To do this, check if the photo has been taken from your social media profile and reframed to pass as a recent photo. You should also check for any signs of photoshopping. This could be the way the image has been cut, or the lack of shadows. It is also always helpful to get a second opinion – what you might miss, another person could spot.
• Spotting fabricated stories – Scammers may share specific personality traits you recognise about your pet to convince you they legitimately have it in their possession. However, they may be getting this information from adverts you’ve shared on missing pet websites, or even details shared about your pet on your social media profiles. Be extra cautious and question their authenticity.
• Be careful not to overshare on social media – While sharing information of pets on social media channels is commonplace, this can make them a goldmine for fraudsters. Always be careful about posting personal details, such as your address, pet’s name, or your location in real time. This is all information a fraudster could use to their benefit. Even if you have a private account, you still need to be cautious, as fraudsters have sophisticated methods for obtaining personal information.
• Avoid using your pet’s name as your password – The easiest password to remember is your pet’s name, but unfortunately fraudsters know this too. Of course, you need to be able to remember your passwords, but it’s vital not to make them too simple. The ideal password should contain a minimum of 10 characters using a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. As a rule of thumb, it’s also best to ensure you are using muti-factor authentication, when possible.

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Keith Lee says he was 'blown away' by Toronto and ranks it top 3 on food tour

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It looks like Keith Lee's FamiLEE food tour has officially rolled through Toronto, but not before the food critic declared the city as one of the top three places he's visited so far.

In Lee's latest video, he recaps the restaurants he visited during his time in the city.

@keith_lee125 Toronto Food taste test 💕 would you try it ? 💕 #foodcritic @SUMAQ IRAQI CHARCOAL GRILL @Old Nassau @Biscuits To Baskets @The Brandon Gonez Show @D. @Jemilla Mills-Smith ✨ @Afro's Pizza @Jibreel Moore @No.1 ♬ original sound - Keith Lee

Lee's recap of Toronto highlights the surges in business each restaurant has seen in the wake of his reviews — from the already popular Sumaq Iraqi Charcoal Grill getting even popular, to the 'if-you-know-you-know,' Old Nassau becoming a city staple.

Lee even highlights No. 1 Jerk , where he alleged he was served by a "hungover" staff member, who have since introduced a "Keith Lee Hour Hangover Special," in honour of the now-infamous review.

The food tour has included stops in Arizona, Hawaii, Washington, Texas and more so far, but Toronto has marked the first international stop for Keith Lee.

Clearly, the TikTok star was impressed by what Toronto had to offer, stating in his video that he was "blown away," by the response to his reviews in the city.

"For this to be our first international food stop, I did not expect this kind of reception," Lee says in the video. "I was blown away the entire time. My mind was blown."

"Canada, y'all showed up and y'all showed out," he says. "Toronto, I appreciate you."

@keith_lee125

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