British gastronomy is often unfairly criticised. Whilst it’s true that it’s less varied and sophisticated than some more renowned cuisines such as French or Spanish, it offers several dishes worth trying. Not only is food an integral part of any journey and a wonderful way to immerse yourself in local culture, but many traditional British dishes are genuinely delicious.
Forget about continental pastries and espresso – it’s time to prepare your stomach and palate for a proper, quintessentially English breakfast. The British are accustomed to eating a substantial breakfast, a light lunch, and then dining in the evening.
By continental standards, the English breakfast is rather “heavy”: scrambled eggs and bacon, baked beans and mushrooms, buttered toast with marmalade (usually orange) are the staples you’ll find at your hotel’s breakfast bar. If you’re fortunate, you might also find chips, hash browns and grilled vegetables. If your stomach feels a bit full and you don’t want to leave the dining room empty-handed, reach for the fruit juice – it’s always available!
Perhaps the UK’s most famous dish: as the name suggests, it consists of battered fish fillets (typically cod, plaice, skate, haddock, but also shark or sole) served with generous portions of chips and mushy peas. Enjoy it in pubs and restaurants, or grab it as street food. If you’re in London, discover the best fish and chips in London.
Also known as “bangers and mash”, this dish features pork or wild boar sausages served with creamy mashed potatoes. Everything is smothered in gravy sauce – a rich, thick sauce made from meat or vegetable stock. It’s the perfect comfort food after a demanding day of sightseeing in London.
Are you familiar with shortcrust pastry? Well, the British use this pastry to create delightful savoury pies, served alongside creamy mashed potatoes and vegetables.
Generally considered a main course, you can choose from various fillings: if you enjoy red meat, Steak and Kidney will delight you with its tender beef and kidney pieces, previously braised in beer. If you prefer something lighter, Chicken and Mushroom, made with chicken and mushrooms in a creamy sauce, will be more to your taste.
A base of lamb ragù (or alternatively beef), mixed with carrots and peas, is topped with a generous layer of creamy mashed potato, then baked in the oven and finished with a golden top. As you might imagine, it’s typically served as a main course.
Beautiful to look at and delicious to eat, when you order a Jacket Potato you’ll receive a large potato, cross-scored and filled with melted butter and other toppings (such as baked beans or cheddar cheese), then baked in the oven. Don’t be surprised when your plate arrives with the potato still in its skin – that’s precisely what makes a Jacket Potato distinctive!
If you’re thinking “I’m not going to London to eat fast food”, think again. British burgers aren’t the usual sandwiches you’ll find at commercial chains, but the result of meticulous preparation and a culinary tradition that has been carefully crafted in London for years.
The meat is usually beef or chicken breast, and the burger is accompanied by classic chips or, if you prefer something different, I’d definitely recommend trying Onion Rings (battered fried onion rings).
To add even more flavour, don’t forget to generously spread your burger with mayonnaise or ketchup, but most importantly, try the more characteristically British burger sauce or brown sauce.
This is a dish most of us are familiar with, but if you taste it in London, you’ll appreciate it even more. Served with roast potatoes or vegetables, it gains a certain je ne sais quoi, but if you really want to try something new, don’t hesitate to order Yorkshire pudding or horseradish sauce as an accompaniment.
Sunday is always special, even in London. The British don’t forgo their celebratory Sunday lunch: the main course is roasted meat (beef, pork or lamb), served with the familiar roast potatoes or vegetables, or the more traditional Yorkshire pudding and gravy sauce.
Come what may, no visitor can return home without experiencing afternoon tea. Along with the hot beverage, you’ll find an essential selection of biscuits and cakes (including the Bakewell Tart, Eccles Cake, Victoria sponge and ginger cake), as well as savoury options (such as sandwiches). If you’re in London, discover the best tea rooms for afternoon tea in London.
If you’re visiting during Christmas, don’t miss this festive pudding, made with candied fruit, almonds, honey, rum and warming spices.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel