Traditional Food in London: From Fish & Chips to Roast Dinners

Visiting a new city is always exciting, but when they are metropolises or just very big cities, things change because there are always many cultures interacting in the same place. In the case of the UK, its capital couldn't escape this. In fact, when we're talking about traditional food in London, we have to do it with great care, to not go from English fry-ups to Aussie health food without noticing it.

That's why we listed in this article everything you need to know about the unknowing English local food, where to find it, the best recommendations, and all that you need to be a real foodie in London. So, get ready, and let's plan this amazing trip!

Traditional dishes to try in London

1- Fish and Chips

British food in London has a lot of history and flavor, and this reputation is thanks to the use of seasonal ingredients. Locals learn to use them to sustain itself in the most difficult times; but also developing its economy harvesting potatoes, beans, beets, wheat and barley. So, it's not strange that one (actually more than one) of its national dishes has potatoes as a companion like the Fish & Chips. An essential dish in the lives of Londoners that consists of battered and fried fish with chips, accompanied by mashed peas and tartar sauce. 

But don't let the simplicity of its name fool you... because to find a delicious and different Fish & Chips you have to try the infinite number of proposals throughout the city. So, if you are a first-timer in Europe's largest city, you have to go try this dish at Poppies in Soho, a place famous for preparing fish & chips with love, care, and good Cockney charm. 

This place is ideal to try fresh, crispy and delicious fish for the first time, but you must make your reservation in advance. It’s located at 6-8 Hannbury St, walking towards Brick Lane from Soho. You can also get there to the subway station Liverpool Street, using the Central line (red), Cicle Line (yellow), Hammersmith & City Line (pink), or the Metropolitan Line (purple).

2- Full English Breakfast

Do you think about English food and automatically think of their breakfasts with eggs, sausages, baked beans, tomatoes and toast? You're not the only one! And we will tell you why that happens. The English breakfast is a centuries-old tradition that began after the Norman invasion of Anglo-Saxon Britain around the year 1066. 

It was an elite tradition adopted by the working classes, because it's a complete meal that provides enough energy to explore the city. You can try this dish at The Breakfast Club, it's about a 30-minute walk from nhow London, specifically in Hoxton at 2-4 Rufus St, London N1 6PE. There you will try the best British food in London, in a beautiful cafe with a classic style, which will make you feel in a movie. 

Another must-see is E Pellicci, a fun Italian restaurant opened in 1900, famous for serving the best English breakfast in the city. It’s located at 140 Bethnal Green Rd, and you can take bus lines 8, 388 and 106 or take the red metro line to Berthnal Green station.

3- Sunday Roast

This is a very popular dish on the Sunday tables of Londoners, and consists of roast meat with potatoes and seasonal vegetables, accompanied by a bread known as Yorkshire pudding. It's a traditional meal after hunting, so it can be found made of beef, lamb, chicken or other birds. 

Try this dish is something that you have to put on your itinerary, and we recommend booking it for lunch at The Owl & Pussycat pub, located at 34 Redchurch St, Shoreditch. This restaurant is famous for its large portions, comfort food, and authentic British atmosphere. To get there you can take the pink, red, purple, and yellow metro lines to Liverpool Street station. Or taking the Overground train towards Shoreditch High Street. 

Another very popular place to go for a Sunday Roast is The Edinboro Castle, located at 57 Mornington Terrace Camden (closest Camden Town tube station - Northern black line). Here you can be sure that you are going to try an original version with Yorkshire pudding, and you do not need to make a reservation in advance, you can always find a table.

4- Shepherd's Pie

This is a very comforting dish on cold days, since it's a kind of stew of minced lamb or beef topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Perfect when you're facing the typical rainy London weather, and when you need to find a nice comfort food. Try it at The Sherlock Holmes on Northumberland Street in St James. A Victorian-style pub famous for offering traditional dishes of the highest quality, which you can reach by bus from lines 15, 59, 68 and 139.

Another place you can visit to try this traditional food in London is The Ivy Market Grill in Covent Garden. There it’s served with garden peas on the side, and you can drink a typical English larger to improve your experience. So, you can go using the Piccadilly (blue metro line) to Covent Garden station, and from there you walk a few minutes towards Henrietta Street.

5- Bangers and Mash

Continuing with the traditional British food in London, comes one of our favorites: Bangers and mash, a simple dish of sausages with mashed potatoes. This dish is typical of Londoners' meals and lunchboxes, and it’s served with onion gravy to improve their texture. Its name “bangers” is due to the fact that during World War I and II it was common for sausages to explode when they were cooked. 

So, you can find this dish at Mother Mash, a small restaurant with several locations in the city, offering 8 types of sausages, 8 types of mashed potatoes, and 5 types of gravy to choose from. To get to the Soho location, you can take the blue subway lines or the Bakerloo line (brown), to Piccadilly Circus station, and then walk west along Brewer Street. 

But if you are looking for something more traditional you can go to Heap Sausages, there you will find traditional and vegetarian sausages with an exceptional quality-price ratio. This pub is at 8 Nevada Street Greenwich, and you can get there via the Southeastern train line.

6- Sticky Toffee Pudding

If you love sweets, you should finish your meal with a classic sticky toffee pudding. It's a moist sponge cake bathed in toffee sauce, dates, and cream or vanilla ice cream. Locals recommend it after a light meal or sharing with someone, because it's quite filling. You can find one of the best at Hawksmoor Air at 42 King's Cross Road, at King's Cross St Pancras subway station, via the Northern, Piccadilly, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines. 

Or you can try other version at The Old Ship Pub at 2 Sylvester Path, which comes dipped in butterscotch (differs from toffee is the cooking time). To get there, you have to go to the Fulham Broadway station via the District line (green), and walk 10 minutes south along Fulham Road to Sylvester Path.

7- Cornish Pasty

This is a traditional empanada or pastry filled with meat, potatoes, onions and other vegetables cooked in the oven. They are an alternative for long walks, because you can get them in almost all the bakeries and restaurants in the city. That's why its flavor and practicality have made it a favorite of the British food in London. 

So, if you're ready to try this classic of traditional food in London, you can do so at The Cornish Bakery, known for its variety of fillings and flaky pastry. This location is located at 51 Fore Street in St. Ives, and you can get there from the train to St. Ives station.

Best places to try traditional food in London

Find real British food is more common than you think, and can be found in almost every pub, restaurant, and market in the city. So, add to your London's travel guide these foodie recommendations:

Pubs and Restaurants:

● Flat Iron: This is a typical steakhouse at 17 Beak Street Soho, which offers the highest quality cuts of beef at affordable prices, in addition to offering traditional meals such as the Sunday Roast. To get there, you must take the tube to Piccadilly Circus station (blue line), and walk west along Regent Street to Beak Street. 

● The Fox & Anchor: This is a legendary pub located at 115 Charterhouse Street, which has been very popular for its selection of traditional London food. There you will find a nice Sunday Roast and Fish & Chips, and to get there, you must take the metro to Farringdon station (yellow and pink lines).

● St. John: If you like meat, this is a restaurant with a Michelin star that you will love... Located at 26 St. John St, it's a restaurant to get out of the conventional, and appreciate the noble use of animal protein in British culture. So, to get there you must take the metro to Farringdon station (yellow and pink lines), and walk 10 minutes in the direction of St. John Street.

Food Markets:

● Borough Market: One of London's oldest and most famous food markets, it offers you a wide range of foods from all over the world, but the star here is the Fish & Chips. It’s located at 8 Southwark Street, and you can get there by taking the Jubilee (gray line) to London Bridge station. 

● Camden Market: Located in Camden Lock Place, it is the ideal destination to try Cornish Pasty or British Sausage Roll. To get there, you must take the subway to Camden Town station, using the line of subway Northern (black). 

● Portobello Road Market: This is one of the most emblematic street markets in the city, and you can find classics of traditional food in London such as Bangers and Mash or freshly made Beef Wellington. To get there, you have to take the subway to Notting Hill Gate Station (purple or yellow lines).

Food Tours: Culinary experiences in London

But if you want to know about more London attractions, which tells you the fun-facts and secrets of each dish of British food in London, you can take some of these tours in the city: 

● Tours to local markets: Choosing the perfect tour depends on the areas you want to visit, for example, there are morning tours to explore the Borough Market. Another one's specialized in donuts and tea, or learn about the food of Brixton Market, among others. 

● Walking food tour: This is a special concept to get to know traditional English walking food, and the most emblematic places to eat near London Bridge, Soho and other neighborhoods of the city. 

● Multicultural tours: Remember that London culture has been permeated by many others, and food is a reflection of this diversity. So if you want to know some of the most important proposals, schedule a tour through different neighborhoods such as Brick Lane, Soho, Shoreditch & Spitalfields so you can see them first-hand.

British food offers more than you imagine

Traditional food in London is a living testimony of its history and cultural diversity, so coming to the city without trying its most emblematic dishes can be considered sacrilege. For this reason, we invite you to plan your trip very well with some of the recommendations that we list for you, to not miss the opportunity to experience the flavors and textures of this gastronomy. So no matter how long is your trip, keep in mind that London will always have the best culinary experiences in the world at your disposal, so it's worth trying.

FAQs about traditional food in London

What is England's most famous food?

There are many emblematic dishes in British culture, but the most famous is Fish & Chips, a breaded and fried fish accompanied by potato fries that will blow your mind.

What are the 3 most popular British food in London?

The 3 most popular meals in London that you cannot miss on your trip are: Fish & Chips, English Breakfast, and Sunday Roast.

What do Brits eat for breakfast?

Londoners tend to eat large breakfasts to get them through the day, that's why a traditional British breakfast includes eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, and toast.

What is a "buttie" in British slang?

In London, sandwiches are known as “butties”, and they are usually filled with sausages, vegetables, bacon, among others.