There’s nothing quite like a piping hot serving of fish and chips. Whether wrapped in newspaper or served in a stylish dining room, this classic British dish is always a favourite in London. From classic options made with fresh-caught cod or haddock to innovative vegan and vegetarian twists, the best fish and chips in London can be found scattered around the city.
Head to Marylebone for sustainably caught fish in a vintage pub, or swing by Borough Market for award-winning fish and chips. A retro chain features eclectic memorabilia and local brews, while a Bankside hotspot is perfect for pre-theatre dining. Covent Garden is home to one of London’s best-known restaurants, serving classic fish and chips alongside live jazz, while The Savoy Hotel hosts one of the most fine-dining fish and chips in the capital. A popular chain is part fishmonger, part restaurant with outposts across the city, while a Liverpool Street favourite prides itself on its sustainable menu. For a classic chippy experience, head to Mayfair, or visit Paddington for a local, homemade touch.
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For top-notch fish and chips at one of the best gastropubs in London – visit The Coach Makers Arms Pub Marylebone in Marylebone
The Coach Makers Arms Pub Marylebone is a cosy Victorian gastropub in the heart of Marylebone. Relax on plush red-leather stools and couches downstairs, or head up to the elegant green-walled dining room on the second floor for a full-course meal. The Couch Makers Arms sources most of its seafood from the coast of Devon, and the kitchen only uses sustainably farmed fish. Try the crispy battered haddock served with chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. The kids’ menu also features hake goujons and chips. Pair your fish and chips with an aromatic white wine like a sauvignon blanc from New Zealand or a riesling from France. Alternatively, try a refreshing cocktail or one of the craft beers on tap.
For award-winning fish and chips – gather your mates and head to Fish! in London Bridge
Head to busy Borough Market and hide away at Fish!. Large windows in the spacious, brightly lit dining room let you watch the action roll by outside, while the open kitchen invites you to watch the chefs at work as they prepare your seafood feast. With its own fishmonger, Jarvis of Kingston, Fish! brings diners the freshest produce, delivered each morning. You can have the beer-battered fish and chips (with mushy peas and tartare sauce) made with cod, haddock, wild halibut, plaice or the fish of the day. Recognised by the National Fish and Chip Awards, you can be sure that whatever you choose will be crispy, tender and fresh. Gin and tonics are the speciality at the bar with over 15 types of gin, each paired with the perfect tonic and fruit garnish.
For one of the best fish and chips in London for a family meal out – visit Poppies in Spitalfields, Notting Hill, Camden and Soho
After Pat ‘Pop’ Newland founded his first restaurant on Hanbury Street in Spitalfields, Poppies has gone on to open locations in Notting Hill, Camden and Soho. Each location immerses you in vintage London with eclectic, vintage decor. Peruse the walls of wartime memorabilia, model aeroplanes, photographs, a jukebox and newspaper cuttings (Pop got his start in the business cutting newspapers for fish and chips). The fish here is delivered fresh from Billingsgate each morning. Order it off the grill or fried in a crispy, golden batter. The chefs use high-quality groundnut oil to fry melt-in-your-mouth fish and crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside chips. Round out your fish and chips feast with some calamari rings, jellied eels or a hand-peeled prawn cocktail. Pair it all with a bottle of English sparkling wine, or try one of the draught beers from Camden Town Brewery.
📍 Spitalfields — Check availability
📍 Notting Hill — Check availability
📍 Camden — Check availability
📍 Soho — Check availability
For one of the best restaurants for vegan and vegetarian fish and chips – visit The Mayfair Chippy in Mayfair
Vegans and vegetarians don’t have to miss out on British fast-food classics like fish and chips; The Mayfair Chippy has a menu that boasts traditional and veggie takes on all your favourite dishes. Step into the old-school dining room with chequerboard floors, cosy booths, high bar seating and colourful fish paintings. If you’re after fish and chips, you’ll find a plethora of options. For a classic dish, enjoy responsibly sourced, fried cod or haddock served with a homemade chip shop curry sauce. If you’re after something even meatier, order the battered rare breed sausage for a unique twist. Vegetarians can try the fried halloumi, while vegans will love the to-fish served with sriracha mayonnaise. Other comfort food favourites include the fish finger butty and kedgeree scotch egg with smoked haddock.
For great views and some of the best seafood in London – head to Swan London in Bankside
Perfect for a night out at the theatre, Swan London’s location at Shakespeare’s Globe puts it right on the banks of the Thames, with sweeping views across the river towards St Paul’s Cathedral. The a la carte menu includes a flaky halibut with aubergine Provencal. If you’re after classic fish and chips, book the weekend brunch from 10 am to 2 pm. Beer-battered haddock with chunky chips and crushed peas is perfect with cocktails like the lady Macbeth with gin, vermouth and Campari. Finish off with some fluffy homemade scones or a sticky toffee pudding. For an extra special sweet treat, book Swan London’s much Ado about tea afternoon tea. Shakespeare’s Messina-based comedy inspires the cakes and pastries served on tiered trays alongside pots of tea.
For special occasions – book a table at J Sheekey – The Restaurant in Covent Garden
An iconic London institution, J Sheekey – The Restaurant is a seafood gem in the heart of the West End. Easily spotted with its signature ruby-red exterior and luxurious interior, a meal here will feel special from the moment you arrive. Enjoy sparkling wine and shellfish platters out on the terrace, or relax with cocktails and live jazz in the chic dining room every Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. Start with some Jersey oysters with a glass of Henriot Brut. Seafood mains include classic fried haddock with chips and mushy peas and pan-fried hake with shellfish rice. At the bar, the showstopping artistry of J Sheekey’s mixologists is the perfect complement to a night out on the West End. Try the chamomile-infused West End negroni or a classic grasshopper. Running for over 125 years, J Sheekey is a London experience that’s not to be missed.
For one of the best fine dining experiences in London – visit River Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in The Strand
London’s Savoy Hotel is home to River Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, a relaxed, classically stylish restaurant perfect for special occasions. For a private dining room, book the River Restaurant experience and try the seafood tasting menu. The three-course lunch set menu is always a great deal, and if you book the a la carte menu after 7:30 pm Sunday to Thursday, you’ll get a complimentary glass of fizz. With a central raw bar, Imperial Beluga caviar and freshly shucked oysters, River Restaurant is one of London’s best fine-dining seafood restaurants. But the kitchen still knows how to appreciate a classic, and Gordon’s fish and chips is one of the best in London. Plus, it’s included on the Sunday menu alongside the Sunday roast beef with crispy roast potatoes and fluffy Yorkshire puddings. Finish up with a lemon posset served with blackberries and blackberry sorbet, or try one of the seasonal ice cream and sorbet scoops.
For one of the best fish and chips in London from local fishmongers – book a table at Fishworks in Marylebone, Piccadilly or Covent Garden
With locations in Marylebone, Piccadilly or Covent Garden, Fishworks blends a wet fish counter with a stylish restaurant. Diners can work with the fishmonger to select their ideal fish and have it cooked by the experts, then order some to take home to cook yourself. Fishworks makes the fish and chips with ale-battered halibut or cod fillet and served with double-cooked chips and homemade tartar sauce. Other great seafood options include the classic seafood bouillabaisse served in a copper pan and the spicy blackened Cornish mackerel served with chargrilled chicory. Pair it all with an Aperol spritz or a French wine, and finish off with a smooth espresso panna cotta.
📍 Marylebone — Check availability
📍 Piccadilly — Check availability
📍 Covent Garden — Check availability
For one of the best fish and chips in London for sustainable seafood – try Fish Market in Liverpool Street
Fresh, sustainably caught fish forms the backbone of the Fish Market seafood menu. Part of D&D London, this restaurant group is committed to minimising environmental impacts at every step of the process. Grab a seat in the laid-back wood-and-marble dining room and order a smooth negroni to enjoy while you peruse the menu. The three-course seafood brunch on Saturdays includes fish and chips, juicy soft-shell grilled prawns with lemon butter and smooth dark chocolate mousse. The main a la carte menu has delicate sea bass ceviche, tender USDA sirloin and much more. Check the board to find the catch of the day, fresh off the boat and served with your choice of sauce.
For a local favourite serving up traditional fish and chips – swing by Hobson’s Fish and Chips Restaurant in Paddington
Carefully selected potatoes hand-peeled and cut in-house to create traditional British chips exemplify what makes Hobson’s Fish and Chips Restaurant so special. The sustainably sourced fish is delivered fresh each day from Billingsgate Fish Market to this family business that’s fast become a local favourite. The blue-tiled walls and chequerboard flooring create a cosy, vintage chip shop atmosphere. Fried fish is the signature dish on the menu, with cod, haddock and plaice battered and coated in matzo for a crispy golden finish. Hobson’s also has a gluten-free batter, fried in separate oils. The kids’ menu includes cod goujons, homemade fishcakes and calamari, all served with chips and a drink. Finish off with an indulgent deep-fried Mars bar served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Pair it all with a glass of the house rose or a pint of Hobson’s draught beer.
London has countless restaurants serving up fantastic fish and chips. From elegant fine dining in five-star hotels to classic hole-in-the-wall chippies in the heart of London, everyone can find something to suit their tastes. These restaurants serve up freshly caught fish, fried for a golden finish alongside plenty of seafood starters and sides. As one of Britain’s most iconic culinary traditions, you won’t find too many extra bells and whistles here; instead, wherever you go, you can enjoy crispy, tender fish and fluffy chips alongside mushy peas, tartar sauce and, perhaps, a pint or two.
