London is one of the great culinary capitals of the world. A hotbed of innovation, immigration and imagination, it’s brimming with cafes, markets, bars, restaurants and foodie events. Food tours are one of the easiest ways to sample the best the capital has to offer, and many of them are affordable too.
London is one of the most visited cities in the world, for good reason. There’s something for everyone, from historic sights to cutting-edge design. The same can be said of its culinary offering too, which ranges from award-winning £3 bagels to the world’s most renowned (and expensive) restaurants. Thanks to a long history of immigration, it’s possible to tuck into delicious dishes from across the world, particularly in neighbourhoods set further away from the city’s main sights, like Brixton, Brick Lane and Kingsland Road. Unsure where to begin? From chocolate tasting tours to the best Indian cuisine, we’ve cherry-picked five of the best affordable food tours in London.
London: Small Group East End Market Walking Tour
Participants can explore a range of cuisines on this market tour (Photo: Get Your Guide)
For an introduction to the East End’s vibrant culinary scene, this small-group market walking tour is an excellent option. Participants get to stroll around some of the city’s most iconic markets, including Brick Lane Market, Spitalfields Market and Middlesex Street Market on Petticoat Lane. Along the way, knowledgeable guides share the fascinating history of traditional Victorian pubs and the impact of immigrant communities on London’s food scene today, from the Huguenots to the Jewish community to the Bangladeshi community. There’s prop yourself up with a pint at the bar of a traditional East End boozer to refuel too. From £25 per person.
Book at GetYourGuide.com
London: Cheese Walking Tour with Tastings
Participants can tuck into a wide range of dairy delights on this cheese tour (Photo: Get Your Guide)
Cheese lovers needn’t travel as far afield as Paris or Bologna for their dairy fix– there’s plenty to go around in London. This half-day tour ticks off some of the capital’s best dairy delights, from brilliant blues to brie. Starting in Mayfair, the tour also includes pitstops at some of the city’s most renowned cheesemongers, including the legendary Fortnum and Masons and Borough Market. Along the way, you’ll also hear all about London’s long – and sometimes turbulent – relationship with cheese too. It’s brimming with cheese samples, so best avoided if you have an aversion to lactose. From £30 per person.
Book at GetYourGuide.com
London: 3 hour VIP Chocolate Tour
This chocolate tour is a real crowd-pleaser (Photo: Get Your Guide)
Sweet-toothed tourists will love this three-hour chocolate tour around Mayfair. It’s led by a former Cocoa and Coffee commodity trader too, so they know what they’re talking about. As well as finding out interesting facts, trivia and tidbits about the history of chocolate and chocolate-making in the capital, there’s an eye-popping amount of chocolate on trial too. Highlights include truffles and ganaches from two of the Queen’s favourite artisan chocolatiers, one of the world’s best sea salt caramel truffles, as well as marmite truffle (seriously) and some London Gin popping candy. From £49 per person.
Book at GetYourGuide.com
London: 3 hour Secret Indian Food Tour
This Indian food tour explores the history of Brick Lane (Photo: Get Your Guide)
Brick Lane is renowned for its Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisine, so where better to sample the best the city has to offer? Led by a local guide, participants are invited to learn all about the history of immigration in the area and the making of ‘Banglatown’. Pit stops include a tour around a famous Indian supermarket to buy Indian species and unusual vegetables, a bakery to sample pipping hot pakoras and a traditional sweet shop. There are also numerous curries on offer, served with fluffy naan bread and frosted Indian beers. The tour finishes with a secret dish at an authentic Punjabi restaurant. From £65.49 per person
Book at GetYourGuide.com
London: 3 hour Secret British Food Tour
There’s more to British cuisine than fish and chips (Photo: Get Your Guide)
British cuisine gets a lot of flak from fellow Europans but this tour is out to dispel the myths you’ve heard about it. For three hours, participants are invited to dive deep into the capital’s culinary highlights. Highlights include everything from chocolate and fudge to Cumberland sausages and fish and chips to the best of British cheeses washed down with real ales, lagers and ciders. Guides are a treasure trove of knowledge and will share a fascinating – and often entertaining – history of the capital’s best-loved sights, including Borough Market, the Shard and London Bridge. From £84.53 per person.
Book at GetyourGuide.com
By Allie d’Almo