London Food Tours: Best Eats and Markets in 2026

Borough Market is London's oldest and most famous food market, trading in some form since the 13th century. Today it draws food lovers from around the world with over 100 stalls selling everything from aged British cheeses to Ethiopian injera. The quality is exceptional. Must-tries include the grilled cheese from Kappacasein, scotch eggs from Ginger Pig, Turkish gozleme from Tas, and the brownies from Bad Brownie. The market is open Wednesday to Saturday (full market) and Monday to Tuesday (limited stalls).

Camden's food scene rivals Borough Market for variety. The stalls inside the Lock Market and Stables Market serve global cuisines at reasonable prices (£5-10 per dish). Highlights include handmade dumplings, Argentinian steak wraps, Caribbean jerk chicken, fresh Thai curries, and Neapolitan-style pizza from wood-fired ovens. The competition between vendors keeps quality high and prices fair. Come hungry and share several dishes.

Beyond the big names, London has brilliant neighbourhood food markets:

• Maltby Street Market (Bermondsey, weekends) - the local's alternative to Borough Market, under railway arches, with top-quality producers
• Broadway Market (Hackney, Saturdays) - artisan food stalls, Vietnamese baguettes, and excellent coffee
• Kerb (various locations) - a collective of street food traders at markets across London
• Brick Lane Market (Sundays) - curry houses, beigels, and multicultural street food
• Exmouth Market (Clerkenwell, weekday lunches) - neighbourhood gem with a great mix of stalls and restaurants

A guided food tour takes you behind the stalls and into the stories. The best tours include multiple tastings, visits to specialist producers, and insider knowledge about where chefs and food writers eat. Tours typically last 3-4 hours and cover enough food for a full meal.

Popular options include Borough Market food tours, East End food walks (covering Brick Lane, Spitalfields, and Bengali cuisine), and Soho food tours exploring London's restaurant heartland. Expect to pay £60-80 per person, including all tastings.

London's restaurant scene has never been better for quality at reasonable prices:

• Dishoom - Bombay-inspired dishes in stunning settings. The black daal is legendary. Multiple locations.
• Flat Iron - brilliant steak and a free ice cream dessert. Under £15 for a meal.
• Bao - fluffy Taiwanese bao buns in Soho and other locations. Queue-worthy.
• Padella - fresh handmade pasta from £6. Borough and Shoreditch. Always a queue but it moves fast.
• Hoppers - Sri Lankan hoppers and curries in Soho. Incredible value.
• Kiln - Thai grill cooking in Soho. Bold flavours, reasonable prices.

Some food experiences are uniquely London:

• Sunday Roast - a proper pub roast with all the trimmings (roast meat, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, vegetables, and gravy). The best pubs for roasts include The Harwood Arms (Fulham), The Anchor (Bermondsey), and The Bull and Last (Hampstead).
• Fish and Chips - Poppies (Spitalfields), The Golden Hind (Marylebone), and Rock and Sole Plaice (Covent Garden) are among the best.
• Afternoon Tea - the classic cream tea experience ranges from £30 at Fortnum & Mason to £80 at The Ritz. Book well in advance for the top venues.
• A Beigel from Brick Lane - the salt beef beigel from Beigel Bake (open 24 hours) is a London institution.

London has embraced the food hall concept. Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden, Market Hall in Victoria and Fulham, and Boxpark in Shoreditch and Croydon offer curated collections of street food vendors under one roof, with communal seating and bars. These are perfect for groups where everyone wants different cuisines.

For more London tips, browse our Camden Market guide or check our budget tours for affordable food experiences.