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London, United Kingdom

Food tours

Food tours in London

A food tour is the quickest way to eat your way around London. The most comfortable months are April to September, with highs around 69°F (20°C) and about 8 rainy days a month.

Photo: Ilya Grigorik, CC BY-SA 3.0

What to eat and drink in London

Expect to taste the local staples. Ones to look for:

Fish and chips
Battered fried fish (usually cod or haddock) with thick chips, salt and vinegar.
Full english
A cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, toast, mushrooms and tomato.
Sunday roast
Roast meat with roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, served in pubs on Sundays.
Pie and mash
Minced beef pie with mashed potato and green parsley liquor, a classic East End meal.
Afternoon tea
Tea with finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and small cakes, served mid-afternoon.
Curry
Britain's adopted national dish; Brick Lane and Tooting are known for South Asian curry houses.
Bagel
Dense ring-shaped bread, boiled then baked, often eaten with cream cheese or salt beef.

How to pick a good food tour

  1. Skip a big meal beforehand: most tours serve the equivalent of lunch or dinner across six to ten stops.
  2. Small groups of 12 or fewer get served faster and fit into tiny counters and bars.
  3. Check what's included. Some tours count drinks as stops, others charge for them on the day.
  4. Ask about dietary swaps before you book. Many tours can replace meat or gluten dishes if they know ahead.

London month by month

Averages for London, 1991–2020.

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F (°C)47 (8)48 (9)53 (12)59 (15)65 (18)71 (22)75 (24)74 (23)68 (20)60 (16)53 (12)48 (9)
Low °F (°C)37 (3)37 (3)39 (4)43 (6)48 (9)54 (12)58 (14)57 (14)53 (12)48 (9)42 (5)38 (3)
Rainy days12109988888111111
Sunset (15th)4:20 pm5:15 pm6:04 pm7:56 pm8:45 pm9:19 pm9:12 pm8:24 pm7:16 pm6:08 pm4:12 pm3:51 pm

Questions

When is the best time for food tours in London?

April to September. Expect highs around 69°F (20°C) and about 8 rainy days a month. The least comfortable months are January and December.

What food is London known for?

Fish and chips: battered fried fish (usually cod or haddock) with thick chips, salt and vinegar. Full english: a cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, toast, mushrooms and tomato. Sunday roast: roast meat with roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, served in pubs on Sundays.

Where can I book food tours in London?

The tours above book on Viator. Compare group size, duration, what is included and the cancellation terms before you pick one.

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