Book a spot at one of these British restaurants for a true taste of London.
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From historic restaurants serving up little-changed dishes, to more recent eateries putting a new spin on age-old recipes, there are plenty of fantastic places to try the best traditional British food in London.
Check out the best British restaurants in London for traditional dishes below. Alternatively, try one of the many specialist British restaurants London has to offer, including fish and chip venues, pie shops or Sunday roast hotspots.
London's oldest restaurant has been serving traditional British cuisine from its
Covent Garden location since 1798. Find a cosy spot as you tuck into game dishes, oysters, pies and puddings
– much of the produce comes from the restaurant's own estate in the Pennines.
Where:35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7LB
Rub shoulders with royalty and politicians, who have been known to frequent this
Victoria restaurant. Featuring a stunning room with
Swarovski chandeliers, The Dining Room at The Goring serves up traditional fare
– expect superbly cooked dishes such as beef wellington and eccles cake.
Where:The Goring, Beeston Place, Victoria, London, SW1W 0JW
Treat yourself to seasonal roast grouse or turbot at Wiltons, which has been serving fine British food since 1742. Alongside wild fish, shellfish, game and meat, the menu includes its famed oysters, which Queen Victoria regularly ordered from this
Jermyn Street restaurant.
Where:55 Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y 6LX
Gaze out across
Borough Market, where much of Roast Restaurant's produce is sourced, from this light-filled eatery. Here, you'll find classic dishes such as roast beef, alongside English wines and local cheeses. If you can't book a spot in the restaurant, head to Roast To Go downstairs for takeaway.
Where:The Floral Hall, Borough Market, Borough, London, SE1 1TL
You couldn't get much more British than Boisdale of Belgravia, which is housed in an elegant regency building near
Buckingham Palace. Select from the primarily Scottish menu featuring mini roast haggis with neeps (turnips), potatoes and whisky. Visit in the evenings for live jazz.
Where:15 Eccleston St, London, SW1W 9LX
Pick from traditional London fare such as skate with tartare sauce, pie and mash, or smoked eel sandwiches at this
Soho institution. Quo Vadis opened in 1926, and the restaurant maintains a retro feel with stained glass windows and parquet floors.
Where:26-29 Dean Street, London, W1D 3LL
Delve into everything from kidneys to tripe at St. John, a Smithfield restaurant housed in a former smokehouse. Its ethos, which chef Fergus Henderson has termed "nose-to-tail eating", means every part of the animal is used. So it's the perfect spot for meat-lovers, but less so for the squeamish.
Where:26 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4AY
Offal features heavily at Bayswater venue Hereford Road, so be adventurous with the likes of calf’s brain or sweetbreads. Alternatively, play safe with the likes of British staples lemon sole or pork chops. Comforting desserts such as rhubarb crumble, rice pudding or Bakewell tart round off the meal nicely.
Where:3 Hereford Road, Bayswater, London, W2 4AB
