London for foodies: A suggested one-day itinerary
Morning
Spend the morning eating your way around the stalls in Borough Market. The foodie heart of the city, the market has been open for over 1,000 years and features 100 stalls showcasing traditional British produce, artisanal goods and international fare – a shining example of the city’s cultural diversity. What makes it even more special is that many of the people working there are the original producers, farmers, bakers, and so on.
Afternoon
Afternoon tea is a London institution and spending an afternoon indulging in scones, finger sandwiches and cakes is one of the most quintessentially British things a foodie can do. While tea is the namesake component of this most British tradition, freshly baked scones smothered in clotted cream and jam are the clear highlight. Many restaurants and cafés across the city serve the mid-day treat – some of the best spreads can be found at The Ritz London, Claridge’s and Fortnum & Mason.
Evening
Whether you’re craving traditional British fare or international flavours, fine dining or budget cuisine, there’s something to tantalise every food lover’s taste buds in London’s eclectic dining scene. For a meal to remember, dine in the clouds at one of the city’s sky-high restaurants. Hutong on the 33rd floor of The Shard serves flavoursome Chinese cuisine against unforgettable panoramic views of the city. If something more casual appeals, why not explore London’s burgeoning burger scene, where MEATliquor is the crown King. After dinner, sample London’s favourite liquor: gin. The city is home to myriad gin bars but Graphic Bar claims to stock more varieties than any other bar in the UK, so this is a good starting point.
Image credits:
Afternoon tea © iStock: Eva Katalin
Olives at Borough market © iStock: whitemay
Man eating street food © iStock: Nicolas McComber
