If you’ve ever wondered what a global food culture tastes like (or looks like, or smells like, for that matter), the answer is London. Not literally, of course – who would want to eat that? But as one of the world’s most multi-cultural cities, where roots are celebrated through the city’s shared passion for food, it’s not surprising that London has a kaleidoscopic food scene. Whatever your style, whether it’s getting lost in off-the-beaten-path neighbourhoods where you might just stumble across a Turkish coffee house or Peruvian bakery, or you love nothing better than discovering dishes and ingredients you’ve never tasted before at international markets, there’s a food experience here that you’ll fall in love with at first bite.
It’s certainly London’s diversity which makes its food culture so intoxicating. Ask any two Londoners what they think the city’s most iconic dish is, and you’ll undoubtedly get two different answers. It could be a classic British dish, an exciting fusion food, or a dish with roots stretching to the other side of the world, that’s been woven into the integral fabric of British food culture.
But if you’re not a local who knows exactly where the latest pop-ups are popping up, exactly which restaurant to head to for each particular culinary craving or which markets to graze your way around, how are you supposed to know where to start? The answer might just be looking for a food tour in London. After all, having a local on your side who can make sure you don’t waste a single, precious bite on any dish less than mind-blowing is always handy. So here are four London food tours which will give you a taste of the city’s eclectic, glorious food scene.
1. Secret British food tour
From £67.85 / per person.
If you think British food is boring, think again. This London secret food tour takes whatever false rumours you might have heard about British foods and throws them out of the window! With three hours and a London local on your side, not only will you explore the gastro-paradise that is Borough Market, you’ll taste some of the best fish and chips in London and enjoy a pint along with an indulgent cheese board in an authentic British pub. Along the way, you’ll chat with vendors about their produce as you sample delicacies like British fudge and Cumberland sausages, and your local guide will show you some of the area’s top sights like the Shard and Southwark Cathedral – this is a London Bridge food tour, after all.
2. Borough Market and gin distillery small group tour
From £49 / per person.
If artisanal food and drinks, gin tasting and London’s oldest market sound like your idea of a good time, don’t miss this London food tour of Borough Market and the Beefeater gin distillery. This food tour of London keeps groups small, and each guest has their own VOX audio headset, meaning no matter how busy the market may be, you’ll be able to hear every word that your professional tour guide shares with you about the history of the 1000-year-old Borough Market. Explore the passageways bursting with a cornucopia of independently produced British and international produce and exciting street foods. Then, learn how gin is distilled, discovering the different herbs which can be added to give unique flavours and of course, sample some gin for yourself!
3. Shoreditch street food tour
From £63.72 / per person.
Looking for a London East End food tour? Then this street eats feast in Shoreditch is for you! With a local to guide you through the street-art-lined lanes of Shoreditch, you’ll discover an alternative view of some of the artistic neighbourhood’s best-loved food haunts – eight of them, to be exact. Try street eats with roots hailing from Ghana to the UK, India to Greece, as well as some delicious sweet treats and Shoreditch’s most famous street food. But even better than just incredible food, your guide will share with you local stories and spill the secrets of the East End, from the historic silk trade to a zoo market.
4. Secret Indian food tour
From £63.72 / per person.
The only thing better than a feast of Indian food along Shoreditch’s Brick Lane, the heart of London’s Indian food scene, is a London East End food tour that has a few secrets up its sleeve. On this three-hour walking tour with a local guide, discover the incredible flavours and food cultures of the Indian sub-continent, all within the eclectic streets of this vibrant East London neighborhood. At seven different stops, try a variety of dishes from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, from hot tandoori to hot vindaloo to creamy coconut curries. But more than this, with your guide’s local knowledge you’ll learn not only about Indian cuisine but its influence on British food culture. And for dessert? Indulge at a traditional Indian sweet shop, as well as exploring an Indian supermarket and watching an unusual street food being made.
