Despite our best efforts to ‘eat like a local’, it’s not always easy to find great food when you’re travelling. If you’re planning a trip to London this summer, here are some tips to help you avoid the tourist traps and discover some of the fantastic food experiences the city has to offer.
1. Get social – Follow restaurants, food guides and bloggers for inside info, special offers and recommendations you won’t find in a guidebook. Want to know which restaurants and dishes are hot right now? Follow local experts like @HotDinners, @Clerkenwell_Boy, @londoneating and @TimeOutEatDrink.
2. Maps and apps – Pin the places you want to visit on a Google Map and make it available offline so you don’t have to rely on wifi or use up your mobile data. You can get around the city with free apps like Uber and Citymapper, and use the OpenTable app to find and book restaurants on the move.
3. Book ahead – Most restaurants have a few tables set aside for walk-ins, but if you’ve got your heart set on a table with a view or a celeb chef experience, it’s best to book ahead. A week in advance is usually fine but for high-profile restaurants like Duck & Waffle or Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, the sooner the better!
4. Take a tour – If you’re short on time, a food tour is a great way to get a taste of the city in just a few hours. You can explore Borough Market with Celia Brooks, satisfy your sweet tooth on a Chocolate Ecstasy tour, or eat your way around east London or Soho with Eating London. If you prefer to find your own way, try a self-guided tour of foodie hubs like Brixton Village, Maltby Street, or the Camden Lock Market.
5. Get more bang for your buck – Try high-end restaurants without blowing the budget by dining off-peak at lunch or early evening. You can enjoy lunch for £35 a head or less at critically acclaimed restaurants like Pollen Street Social, Fera at Claridge’s, and Bar Boulud. Looking for somewhere more casual? Visit our special offers page and find 50% off, 2-for-1 deals and more at restaurants all over London.
Whether you’re local or just visiting, check out our London Dining Guides on Pinterest or chat with our restaurant gurus on twitter. We’d love to help you find that next delicious dining experience.
