Eating London Tours

It’s a lot to digest

Donโ€™t have time to read the whole article? The best accommodation in Central London is The Resident Coven Garden.

Need more trip-planning tips? Check out our resource list below!



Experience

What food is East London known for?

London classics on the East side consist of iconic dishes like fish and chips, pie and mash, jellied eels, and cockles, all originating from the East End of the city.

My Experience

Growing up with my British grandparents, I was exposed to some ‘interesting’ cuisine. Although originally invented by a French Canadian in the United States, I remember as a child asking my father why my Grandpa’s ‘traditional’ casserole tasted funny. My father explained, half-jokingly “The English aren’t really known for their cooking… most of their recipes involve using whatever is left in the fridge and mixing it all together.” Though he was somewhat right, at least as far as my childhood exposure went, there was an entire world of gastronomical delights that awaited me in my eventual visit. I just didn’t realize that my grandparents cooking wasn’t necessarily an accurate portrayal of the country. I would one day find myself eating London by the fork full, and not being able to get enough!

Of course, finding the best places to eat in London would be my first real challenge. I didn’t want to stumble upon mediocracy if I was to prove this theory false. I knew if I was to find the where to eat in London properly, I would need to seek the pros. For this reason, I decided to go on an organized tour of the historical East End. Why not get a cake’s layers worth of flavours, history, cultural diversity, and of course be able to eat it to?

The East End Food Tour came packed with more than a mouthful of succulent smells, flavours, and some pretty awesome points of historical significance! Our guide was really top notch and had enough enthusiasm to wake the dead (note: luckily no dead people were in our group, even though it was almost Halloween).

Without giving away any overly secret locations, I can tell you this culinary journey took us eating London through retro fish and chip shops, to old jewish quarter bagel shops (or beigle as it’s locally spelled), to dipping into (not ‘too’ spicy) Indian curries, to sampling proper ales and ciders! And that’s just the half of it. In addition to that (and several other dishes), we learned about interesting tidbits of the area which may otherwise go unnoticed. From the shape of the street posts, through the old stomping grounds of Jack the Ripper, besides an ancient Roman burial ground. You’ll even go past a structure which has been a christian church, an islamic mosque AND a jewish synagogue in it’s lifetime! Holy building, batman!

Eating London’s Food Tour certainly showed me a different side to British cuisine. Apparently it’s much more complex than just throwing last night’s scraps into the blender and re-heating it. In fact, it just may be one of the oldest melting pots of international cuisine! I have a feeling I’ll be eating London quite a few more times – in fact, some of my trips there may be just for that reason alone now!

If you have a sweet tooth, there are some great luxury shops for desserts in London too!

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SEE – Photos & Videos

Eating London Food Tour โ€” Surprisingly delicious bread pudding!
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Surprisingly delicious bread pudding!
Eating London Food Tour โ€” One of many (and declared the best) Brick Lane curries
Eating London Food Tour โ€” One of many (and declared the best) Brick Lane curries
Eating London Food Tour โ€” The group getting a history lesson
Eating London Food Tour โ€” The group getting a history lesson
Eating London Food Tour โ€” An old Jewish soup kitchen
Eating London Food Tour โ€” An old Jewish soup kitchen
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Poppies Fish and Chips (and mushy peas)
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Poppies Fish and Chips (and mushy peas)
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Poppies staff (usually dressed in 50โ€™s attire โ€“ not usually dressed as zombies!)
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Poppies staff (usually dressed in 50โ€™s attire โ€“ not usually dressed as zombies!)
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Pride Of Spitalfields famous cat
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Pride Of Spitalfields famous cat
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Pride of Spitalfields on tap
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Pride of Spitalfields on tap
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Some very beautiful (and sometimes very political and moving) street art
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Some very beautiful (and sometimes very political and moving) street art
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Salted Caramel tart... umm, YUM!
Eating London Food Tour โ€” Salted Caramel tart… umm, YUM!

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GO – Getting There

The East End Food Tour takes place in none other than… you guess it: London’s East End.

The meeting points may vary, so it’s best to check your confirmation email from them. We started our day at a spot only a five minute walk from Liverpool Street Station. It was pretty simple to find, though if you’re new to the city or at least to that part of the city, it may be best to bring a map along (pre marked with where you have to go).

Eating London โ€“ East End Food Tour โ€“ Map
Eating London โ€“ East End Food Tour โ€“ Map

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Do – Activities & Attractions

Coming Soon!

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means WSE Travel may earn a small commission if you choose to book or buy through themโ€”at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we believe can genuinely enhance your travel experience.

Stay – Accommodation

There’s a very good chance that you may need a comfy place to stay for a well-deserved nap after this food tour! London has some incredible options from fancy budget to uber posh hotels to choose from.

For the best deals on any hotel style, we recommend using Booking.com when travelling to London, or any other region in Europe for that matter!

Other hotel recommendations in London:

The Resident Covent Garden

If you’re looking for the perfect base for your London adventure, The Resident Covent Garden ticks all the right boxes. Rooms are spacious by London standards, modern, and impeccably clean. The thoughtful design makes them both practical and comfortable. While thereโ€™s no on-site restaurant, the endless dining options of Covent Garden and the surrounding area make it unnecessary. Whether youโ€™re catching a West End show, exploring historic landmarks, or indulging in Londonโ€™s incredible food scene, this hotel puts you right in the middle of the action.

Ready to book the Resident Covent Garden? Check for Availability Here!

Wilde Aparthotels London Paddington

If you’re looking for a modern, comfortable, and well-located stay in Central London, Wilde Aparthotels London Paddington is a fantastic choice. Just a short walk from Paddington Station, this 4-star aparthotel offers the perfect mix of home-like convenience and hotel luxury. The compact yet smartly designed rooms made great use of space, and the kitchenette was a fantastic bonus. Whether you’re in town for a foodie adventure with Eating London Tours or simply exploring the city, this accommodation provides a great base.

Ready to book the Wilde Aparthotels London Paddington? Check for Availability Here!

art’otel London Hoxton, powered by Radisson Hotels

Looking for a hotel that blends art, luxury, and prime location in Central London? art’otel London Hoxton is a standout choice. Located in the trendy Hackney district, this stylish hotel places you right in the heart of Londonโ€™s vibrant food and cultural sceneโ€”perfect for anyone exploring the city with an appetite! The rooms are thoughtfully designed with comfort in mindโ€”think plush beds, smart lighting, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame Londonโ€™s skyline. Guests rave about the exceptional service, with staff going above and beyond to make each stay memorable.

Ready to book the art’otel London Hoxton? Check for Availability Here!

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Eat – Restaurants

Tour Food Highlights Include

Plus– See some of Londonโ€™s most dynamic street art, introduce yourself to buildings steeped in history and understand Londonโ€™s cosmopolitan culture.

Please Note: These restaurants/dishes are subject to change, at any time, by the discretion of Eating London Tours.

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Time – Seasonality & Schedules

This tour departs daily at 10:00 am (except Sundays).

All Sundays and English National Holidays (approximately eight days per year) will be unavailable. You will see these days blacked out on the booking page of their site.

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Safety – Possible risks

I have always found London a fairly safe city. That said, there is always the risk of pick-pockets almost anywhere in the world, especially in busy markets or public transit. Be mindful of your valuables – as losing your wallet would certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Please Note: Travel inherently comes with an element of risk (just like crossing the road does). You are putting yourself in elements that are unfamiliar and foreign to your usual lifestyle and with that, become more susceptible to fall victim those who try to play off those unfamiliar to their local scams. There are also potential dangers in the environments to which you may not be accustomed to.

Please take extra care in travelling, ensure that you have adequate travel medical insurance (accidents seem to happen when you least expect them), and have let a trusted colleague, family member or friend know your whereabouts and activities.

Where Sidewalks End travel advises you to travel at your own risk, and to be extra aware of your surroundings (without letting it spoiling your time).

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Pay – How much does it cost?

The East End Food Tour was (at the time of writing this) a reasonable ยฃ65 (GBP) for adults. There’s lower costs for children and adolescents. I’d say this is roughly equivelant to eating out at 3 restaurants in London… though as mentioned earlier, this tour lets you try 8 restaurants on top of a cool walking tour! In my books, it’s definitely worth it!

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Responsible Travel – Best Practices

Coming Soon!

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Reality Check – Be Aware

London has incredible food all over the city – though if you have to buy a full plate of it at each restaurant just to get a sample, you may as well sell your first born and remortgage your home. I found this was a perfect way to try several dishes and not break the bank.

While we were exceptionally lucky (22 degree Celsius sunny weather at the end of October) with our weather, London is notorious for it’s rainy days. Considering this tour spends 3.5 hours, most of which is walking around, you will want to make sure you’ve got an umbrella or rain jacket handy, somewhere dry for your camera and other water-sensitive belongings, and comfortable, dry shoes (if not a dry pair of socks upon your return to your accommodation).

There was several stops where the dishes were not primarily vegetarian. It is possible to get supplements on the tour, but you have to let them know in advance at the time of booking, or you’ll only experience half the amount of samples as the others, as most food was prepared in advance of our arrival.

Overall, I really enjoyed this way of sight seeing (and eating) around London. If you’re looking for fun things to do in London, this is a pretty delicious start!

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JOIN US! WSE Travel Packages

This sounds like quite the adventure, right? We thought so too! Though we realize it can be pretty intimidating to get out there into the world on your own, especially when travelling to some of these off the beaten path locations. We love it when our readers give it a shot and try it for themselves! In fact, please leave us feedback if you do!! If trying something โ€˜thisโ€™ adventurous on your own is just a bit outside of your comfort zone, WSE Travel is here to help!

Follow this link for our โ€˜Choose Your Own Adventureโ€™ Tours โ€“ packages that are highly personalized and tailored at your request.

London Travel Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

  • Best Flight Deals: Trip.com โ€“ Trip is my favorite flight search engine. It is a flight aggregator that provides travelers with the best rates on airline tickets. Its innovative search finds the best option for specific travel dates by comparing airfares offered by all major airlines and agencies. The aggregator displays final prices, without any hidden fees. They are hands down the number one place to start.
  • Best Hotel Deals: Booking.com โ€“ Booking is the best all-around hotel booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates because it compares all the other major hotel booking sites. They have the widest selection of comfortable accommodations. In all my tests, theyโ€™ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
  • Best Tour Deals: Where Sidewalks End (of course) โ€“ WSE Travel is a boutique tour operator with specially curated tours, events, and workshops. We have many tour options available in cities in Mexico and worldwide, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, art workshops, and more!
  • Best Car Rental Deals: Discover Cars – If you want to have the freedom of mobility, renting a car is an incredible option – but finding the best deal can be a nightmare! Discover Cars scans all the major car rental sites and includes all mandatory fees, taxes, and extras in the quoted price so there wonโ€™t be any unpleasant surprises when you arrive at the rental desk.
  • Best Travel Insurance Deals: SafetyWing – SafetyWing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to all your travel needs. They have cheap plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road. They even have subscriptions if you are planning long-term, without having to re-apply for each segment of your trip.
  • Best E-Sim Provider: Airalo – Airalo is one of the most versatile e-sim providers I’ve ever found, offering e-sim in almost every country on earth! No need to take your home phone provider’s sim card out and risk losing it on your trip! As long as your phone has e-sim capabilities, Airalo has you covered at really good rates too, meaning you can be connected at all times on your trip!
  • Best 100% Pick-pocket Proof Clothing Deals: Clever Companion โ€“ They make clothing specifically for travel, with hidden pockets to hide your valuables. From hoodies to briefs, they cover all your clothing needs – each with hidden pockets to hide your money, wallet, and anything else you want to keep safe!
  • Best Eco-Safe Travel Products: TreeTribe – This company is just awesome! From water bottles to yoga pants, wallets to bikinis, and everything in between – all their products are great quality, and eco-friendly AND they plant a tree for every purchase!
  • Best Outdoor Travel Product: LifeStraw โ€“ My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.

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Have you ever tried eating London? Have you tried eating any other city for that matter? What’s your favourite?

Hopping around Europe? Go off the beaten path and visit Lugo, Spain!

Please feel free to share your stories and thoughts in the comment section below!

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WSE Travel - Eating London - East End Food Tour - bread pudding
Surprisingly delicious bread pudding!

4 Responses

  1. I am going to London for the first time next year. My husband and I will be doing a food tour when we are there to try and get a variety of tastes from Europe. Until then I am reading up on other’s experiences as much as I can!

  2. Love Fish and Chips. Poppies they say serves the best one in London. But have tried North Star Fish and Chips in Bloomsbury and they are good with a good price value.

    1. Hmmmm good tip to know, thanks Vanessa! I did really like Poppies (and I’m not much of a fish and chip eater myself, actually), but am always keen to find other food lovers’ suggestions on what’s hot – especially in a gastronomical haven such as London!

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