London Food tour - high tea

I’m going to be quite honest here and admit that I’ve been to London on a number of different occasions, yet I never come here thinking that this city will satisfy my hunger for great food.

Many people believe that London is best known for fantastic fish and chips and massive fried English breakfasts, and that’s about it.

For someone that doesn’t thrive on these kinds of deep-fried delights, it didn’t really make my mouth salivate at the thought of it.

I have been proven quite wrong a few days ago when I booked and joined a Food Tour of London. The half-day London food tour was fully guided by a local Londoner.

She showed us some hidden parts of the Shoreditch area of London and introduced us to some delicious local specialties. We learned so much about the area we were exploring as well as tasted many surprisingly great foods along the way.

Here’s how our afternoon unfolded.

best london food tour english tea
Best London Food Tour has to include a stop for English tea and cake

Let’s begin our London Food Tour

We met Charli, our very friendly and knowledgeable guide, walked close by Tower Bridge, and settled down for some British Tea and Cake in a modern-day tea-house. Oh, how lovely it was.

Charli explained that all British people break at around 11 am each day to tuck into a nice hot cup of fresh tea accompanied by some incredibly moist tea cake.  Delicious!

Feeling satisfied from the mid-morning break, we wandered towards a vibrant marina with luxury yachts and settled outside in the sun at a cute-as-a-button cafe and shared two different types of British Pies.

My favourite had a delightfully crisp outside pastry filled with tasty mushrooms and lightly covered in truffle oil, a delicate combination.

We finished up here and strolled back towards and crossed over Tower Bridge. Charli explained to us tales from times gone by of the old buildings and forts around this area.

It’s always interesting to hear stories of how things used to be and imagine what the city would have looked like hundreds of years ago.

london food tour city views

Exploring charming neighbourhoods in London

We were taken to a lovely little neighbourhood shortly after and it was here that we stopped in at a gorgeous little delicatessen with a cosy atmosphere. There is no way that tourists would find a place like this on our own, which made it all the more special.

The front window was strung with dried prosciutto and salami. Many different kinds of cheese sourced from local farmers were displayed beautifully along the front window and a big basket of fresh crusty baguettes and ciabatta bread sat at the end of the counter.

Not forgetting big juicy olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and more antipasti looking fresh as ever in small bowls dotted between the cheese.

We were served a wooden platter with a little bit of everything, yum.

best london food tour charcuterie board
This tasting board was one of my favourite stops on our London Food Tour

A London Pub stop!

The next stop is a local pub that brews its own delicious beer. Locals love their pub and beer culture so I was pleased we stopped here to enjoy half a pint with a generous serve of giant pork scratchings!

These crispy, salty sticks of goodness went perfectly with the crisp cold ale.

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Borough Markets – This Place is Fantastic!

The next stop was probably my favourite, but I think that’s because I’m a sucker for any focal Food markets.

We strolled through Borough Markets past the freshest vegetables, and local Artisan producers selling amazing bread, cheeses, meats, and tasty treats.

I was loving taking photos and trying to capture all the vibrant colours of the local produce. If it were up to me, I’d be happy for the London food tour to just walk me in circles around here and point out the best treats!

Charli took us to a bustling little bread stall and handed us a bag with a fresh donut filled with a vanilla creamy custard.  She explained that these donuts were incredible.

She was right, it was super fresh, messy, and delicious.

london food tour bread

After leaving the markets, we followed Charli a short distance away to the top of an old office building to uncover an awesome roof-top bar.

It was here that we enjoyed a cold cider in the sun and finished the tour.

I had a smile on my face, a full stomach and a new appreciation for London, and maybe even a feeling that I was saying goodbye to a friend that made me feel like a ‘local Londoner’ for a day.

More about the Best London Food Tours Below:

What a great experience this was, a London Food Tour is the perfect introduction to some fantastic food on offer here. What is your favourite place to eat or food market to visit in London?

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