Top 10 cake shops in London

Dubbed the "queen of cupcakes" after building her reputation baking for the stars, Lily Jones' (AKA Lily Vanilli) London bakery just off Columbia Road is a gallery of beautifully crafted cakes, patisseries and savoury treats, all baked on site. The perfect pit stop after a morning at the nearby flower market.

For marvellous macarons and picture-perfect pastries that taste as good as they look, head to Parisian patisserie, Laduree. Savour the moment over a cup of delicate Blue Royal Garden tea at the Laduree tea room in Covent Garden or pick up tasty treats to go at one of the shops in locations such as St. Pancras International Railway Station and Harrods Food Hall.

Head to Belgravia to discover Peggy Porschen's Parlour. The shop is as pretty as the cupcakes and sweet treats found within the sugary pink walls. It almost seems a shame to eat the beautifully crafted treats in here – almost! Perfectly accompanied with a cup of tea or why not a flute of Moët & Chandon Rosé Imperial Champagne?

Previously named Bea's of Bloomsbury, Bea's Cake Boutique lures customers in with its creamy cupcakes, handmade marshmallows, mini meringues and all the other sweet dreams that emerge from its open-plan pastry kitchen. The cake shop has five branches across the capital, in Bloomsbury, Marylebone, St Paul's, Farringdon and Maida Vale.

Head to this upmarket Japanese bakery and try their famous mille crepes. After all, why have just one crepe when you can have a few dozen stacked together layered with lightly whipped mousse in between? Matcha fans might also be tempted by the tiramisu and gateaux.

After a day of shopping on nearby Oxford Street and Carnaby Street, head to Crumbs & Doilies in Kingly Court for a sweet reward. Its cupcakes are made to order in small batches and are hand decorated by the cake-loving team. The only problem is having to choose from its 40 cupcake flavours...

Famous for making Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's lemon and elderflower wedding cake, Claire Ptak's Hackney-based bakery Violet Cakes has a full menu of delights worth arriving hungry for, including artfully presented cakes, whoopie pies, blondies, cupcakes and biscuits – all made using organic and seasonal ingredients.

Home of the red velvet cupcake, succumb to temptation with a visit to the original Hummingbird on Portobello Road in Notting Hill, where you can sample the decadent range of cupcakes, layer cakes, brownies, pies, cheesecakes and more. Hummingbird also has branches in Soho, Islington, Spitalfields, Richmond and South Kensington.

Just yards away from its previously successful pop-up space, Cutter & Squidge's Soho home is full of sweet delights. Choose from a wide selection of its speciality biskies, or opt for vegetarian marshmallows, dream cakes, honeycomb or its award-winning salted caramel. Sample a selection of cakes and treats during a magic afternoon tea experience in the shop's Potion Room in the basement.

Head to vegan and gluten-free bakery Cookies and Scream on Holloway Road to indulge in delicious treats. The selection changes daily but includes brownies, pies, doughnuts, cookies and “scream shakes” – non-dairy ice cream, milk, and brownies or cookies blended together.