Eating in London

Did you know… there are so many great restaurants in London offering such a diverse range of food that you can pretty much eat your way around the world!

You may fancy an Argentinian steak or perhaps a dish at one of London’s Zambian restaurants.

We Brits, however, love (and I mean love!) a curry. These days, there are about 8,000 Indian restaurants in the UK, which means you’ll find at least one Indian restaurant in every town or village.

With this in mind, you won’t be surprised to learn that the Indian meal (specifically, the Chicken Tikka Massala) is now even more popular here than the mighty fish ’n’ chips and the Sunday roast. And the nice fact is, there is no shortage of excellent quality Indian restaurants to choose from.

In and around the Brick Lane area of East London – very close to the Olympic Park – there are dozens of restaurants (some great, some less so) which serve an interesting array of Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine.

But you’ll find good Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants all over London, not just in the interesting and vibrant Brick Lane.

You’ll also notice a great many Chinese restaurants in London, some serving only take-out menus but many (usually the better ones) also offering the full table service.

As well as Indian and Chinese, there are of course a few traditional fish ’n’ chip shops (but not as many as you might think). A great quality fish ’n’ chip shop – and one of London’s hidden gems – is the one found on Berwick Street, in Soho.

Eating out in London can be as cheap or as expensive as your budget will allow. Despite all that you read about London being terribly expensive (which it is, generally), eating out in London can actually be great value. Eat in many of London’s ethnic restaurants (be it Turkish, Greek, Vietnamese or Italian) and it could cost as little as £10.

Eating out at lunchtime or early evening is often cheapest, and you may even be able to take advantage of set menus or special deals at many of London’s most famous restaurants. Pre-theater menus in the West End are often good value.

If your budget is a little more generous, why not enjoy a meal while absorbing one of London’s great views? Restaurants at Somerset House, Oxo Tower, Gabriel’s Wharf, the Savoy, Tate Modern and The Bridge all offer tremendous views of the River Thames. Or you could try Vertigo, the restaurant at Tower 42, in the City of London (London’s financial district, usually referred to as ‘The City’ or ‘the Square Mile’).

You can dine on a budget or in luxury. Go vegetarian or enjoy meat dishes you’ve never even heard of. Sit inside and soak up the atmosphere or outside and enjoy the view. Whatever you and wherever you want it, you’re sure to find a great restaurant in London to provide it.

Eating Out in London – even more ideas!

Enjoy lunch, tea or dinner as you cruise along the Thames on the London Showboat. This also includes entertainment and songs from famous West End Shows.

Eat ‘Al Fresco’ even when the sun doesn’t shine — at Covent Garden Market, where you’ll also be entertained by street entertainers (and perhaps even the odd opera singer!)

Wander through the gardens at Kew and enjoy a meal in one of the cafes or restaurants

Eat and relax in the Orangery built for Queen Anne at Kensington Palace

The Brew House Café at Kenwood is particularly well-known for its hearty breakfast — worth getting up for…

Eat lunch at the Royal Festival Hall – and enjoy their free foyer events at the same time!