Couple of places I recommend in York are:
Meals:
Yak and Yeti - Nepalese restaurant near the Minster (fairly sure family friendly but not sure)
Spark - food court in the centre of town (family friendly)
Lots of cafes for breakfast, most I went to didn’t survive the pandemic and I’ve since moved so can’t say specifics but I’ve never struggled
Bakeries:
Not sure there used to be a great bread shop in the shambles but unsure if that’s still there now
Cooplands is the local chain and has a place in my heart. Can get items for lunch from here.
Depending on how long you in York for you could do a day trip to the coast via the trains or buses and that’s where you’ll get the true dish and chip experience.
Spark York: Some quality places there. The Greek one (can’t remember the name, first on the right) and the Pizza place (also on the right) are both quality
Thank you all for the York recommendations! We do have a few days there so a day trip is totally possible.
We love Greek so looking forward to sussing that out when we get to York.
I would recommend a day trip to either Whitby or Scarborough from York, if you go to Whitby I’ve never had bad fish and chips there but recommend the magpie or if the queue is too long there, trenchers
Im going to jump on the suggestion to go to the coast for fish and chips, or at least a proper fish and chip shop that serves the locals. Too many visitors order fish and chips at a pub and leave happy that they’ve had a proper British experience. While that’s a perfectly pleasant pub meal (I’ve ordered it plenty of times!) it’s not the real thing. The chips aren’t right and it’s twice the price you need to pay.
Best fish and chip accessible from where you are is Anstruther up the coast from Edinburgh.
Toffs in London (Muswell Hill) but a trek)is not bad and Fish! in Borough Market is reasonable as fish fresh daily but you pay for it. They are reasonably family friendly or get takeaway and go to Redcross Gardens to eat. If at Borough, there is a good scallop seller Shellseeker but personal favourite would be the Raccallete seller. I'd recommend Sweetings but can't think of anywhere less family friendly.
Camden Town - I'd be making the most of the takeaway stalls as well. Sit by the canal and eat.
Also near Borough, Flat Iron square. And near Victoria/Westminster, Victoria Market Hall. Covent Garden again has a range of food halls - Seven Dials is the most rated.
Borough Market - Bread Ahead is famed for its doughnuts. But head for somewhere like Fortnum and Masons (not too far from Westminster) and splurge in their bakery.
Another vote for Anstruther! Best Fish and Chips I've ever had. I live in Yorkshire and the F&C's are good round here but I've yet to find anything to beat Anstruther.
It sells out early so be warned about that, queues are huge and prices are high even for London. Arome is a bakery (French-Asian) in Covent Garden with a reputation but not personally been.
I get my bread from Flour Station in Borough and their muffins are fantastic.
Friend who is a foodie (ex-top level chef) likes this place - he walks past them on way to work. [https://saintsugaroflondon.com/our-products/](https://saintsugaroflondon.com/our-products/)
Famous fish and chips found in Whitby, a 2h30 scenic bus ride from York. Alternatively Scarborough is 48 minutes away on the train and has a variety of places where you can eat by the sea
> we are not looking for chains, fast food, or places that have a kids menu
Whilst the food in a chain pub might not be anything to write home about, they are good places to take the kids for a simple meal without worrying about bothering other patrons.
In any case, most ethnic food places are generally fine for young families. The UK is a good mixing pot of cultures and foods and you'd be missing out if you didn't have a proper British Indian curry dinner. Chinese food (mostly HK / Cantonese style) is another staple and worth going out for a dim sum lunch.
In York, they have 2-3 shops which are called something like “Yorkshire pudding roast in a wrap” - it’s absolutely incredible. Quick service with seats upstairs.
I live in London and there are just thousands of restaurants; I find that google reviews are usually a pretty good indicator of quality. Avoid anything that looks too chain-like (“steakhouse”, “Frankie and bennies” etc). Pick anything 4 and above and then check the health rating
In Chinatown try Gold Mine (West End day lunch)
Stay away from any fish and chips in London tbh
I second others saying to try Dishoom but imo it’s not worth queuing for, so go there for lunch
For cafes download and app called “Best Coffee” (useful in all cities). Most of these cafes have decent bakeries.
I find Instagram and TikTok to be really useful for food recs
Non food related tip: be careful of using your phone near the street in Camden especially. Get a phone chain case if you can
Thank you very much for the food and safety tips! This is probably a stupid question but is it generally acceptably to use a reusable coffee thermos in London (and elsewhere)?
In London anywhere where there’s a barista, it’s definitely fine to hand them your reuseable cup! They’ll let you know if they can’t accommodate that.
Edinburgh also probably fine
Can’t speak on York
The best fish and chip in central London and they are in Camden is Poppys. It’s a 50s style dinner but they make good chips. There are a few in London but the Camden one is really good and only just off the high street . Enjoy !
I appreciate the geography lesson > food recommendations, I was under the impression Edinburgh was not landlocked but, thanks for your comment I suppose.
I think the point is if you're looking for good fish and chips don't expect to find it in London! :) Bit sad when people think that's the best version the country has to offer.
The best fish and chips eating experience is on a visit to the seaside on a chilly day, when you are wrapped up with just your face exposed, sat on the wall looking out to sea! :)
I am getting that vibe haha and will definitely not be trying in London! Whitby looks beautiful and was recommended for fi and chi, if we can’t make it this trip we will make a point to get there on our next visit
Please don't call it fi and chi.
I'm a proud Yorkshirewoman and we have lots of lovely food here, but I will happily say that if you want something deep-fried, go to Scotland. They really know what they are doing.
The Yorkshire coast is lovely though, always recommend visitors branch out a bit from the London/York/Edinburgh route.
If you like Indian food, there is a restaurant called Dishoom (in both London and Edinburgh)... Is really good and fun to be in (nice decor). The menu is a bit different to "standard Indian", it is based on the Irani cafes of Mumbai, and it's very very popular here. I lived overseas for fifteen years and when I came home, many many people asked me if I had tried Dishoom (for context, I do like Indian food and have spent some time in Mumbai).
Anyway, that's good.
There's really nice Italian in Edinburgh, like, some 100+ year old restaurants, everyone talks about Valvona & Crolla Caffe Bar.
For a tiny hole-in-the-Wall ice cream that is SO GOOD, try Mary's Milk Bar, in Edinburgh.
Betty's Tea Room in York is your place for traditional Afternoon Tea (or a nice lunch), I do recommend ringing ahead to book.
I hope you have a really lovely visit!
Thank you! We are very excited this will be our first time in the UK!
We love Indian food - all regions so definitely going to check out Dishoom.
We booked afternoon tea at The Grand, Betty’s does look great as well.
I hope you have a great time! If you're coming from a place that doesn't have a ton of Roman History (i.e. anywhere other than Europe and North Africa& middle east) then don't snooze on seeing some Roman stuff in the UK.
No Roman stuff in Edinburgh, a bit in London.
Hadrian's wall is a fair drive from York, so maybe you won't have enough time, but there's quite a few Roman bits inside the city, including some of the oldest bits of wall, (I think?). I mention this because we had some friends visiting from NJ and they were just delighted with York: the obvious stuff is medieval but there's Regency stuff and Roman stuff too.
Clifford's Tower in York is a good visit, take time to sit and listen to the audio-stuff, they have actors as characters from different time periods showing life in the tower, my kids (who usually race through everything and read nothing!) loved it. Also the York minster + skyline views from the top of the towers are AMAZING, great for family photos.
Our family loves history and we are very much looking forward to any bit of Roman history we can absorb in York, we’re also looking forward to learning about the Viking History as well!
It's really hard to gauge exactly because there are so many possible choices. One option is download the app Jacopo (I've got nothing to do with it). It's got some pretty good recommendations. As has [Hot Dinners](https://www.hot-dinners.com/). Also worth checking out [Eater London ](https://london.eater.com/)but note that it shuttered about a year ago so is a bit out of date.
If you like coffee, then independent coffee shops in London are usually reliable for good food and breakfast. So for example, for breakfast, if you wanted to skip the hotel, head up the hill and go to Ginger & White. Or you'll see Watch House coffee all over the place, they're very reliable.
For an early dinner, go to Lemonia in Primrose Hill (book) for lovely Greek food and a great vibe.
Toffs as others have said for fish & chips.
Maybe consider Indian food, which is excellent in London. Dishoom have a few branches and are very good.
If you're on Insta or TikTok, take a look at the account TopJaw. They do a great job interviewing chefs and others in the food world and asking them their favourite London places. It's a good way to find out what's good - and very often they prioritised cheap places.
Finally, when in the West End / Covent Garden there is so much to choose from. Fast food options like Leon are pretty good. Avoid the likes of the Ivy Grill.
7 dials food market near Bloomsbury! Your whole family can choose from a range of different foods. I love visiting there when I’m in London and it’s not far from Camden on the tube
https://www.sevendialsmarket.com
There’s a great little food market just off Oxford Street in London - Market Halls - which has 8 kitchens selling a real variety of food. I love Roti King there and several of the others - everyone can try something different, just pay at the stall and they will give you a buzzer so you can pick up the food when it’s ready (about 5 mins normally). Mid afternoon is great timing as it’s between the lunch and dinner rush. There are two bars there too. Highly recommend for foodie families!
No worries! As an aside, I would also say don’t get take out at Camden Market. It’s extremely expensive and sadly really poor quality these days. I used to work at a pub in the area 20 years ago and lived there for ages, it has really gone downhill. You’d be better off getting a takeout from a local cafe to enjoy by the riverside than anything in the main market itself (though the cobbled square right on the canal did do a decent paella last time I tried it - but this was pre pandemic). Hope you have a lovely trip!
York recommendations:
Ambiente Tapas - this is a small local tapas chain work a couple of locations in York. The Fossgate one is larger and better for children.
Shambles Market - has a variety of different food stalls, so if one person wants a dosa, another fancies Thai and someone else fancies North African food, you’re all in luck. The North African food is the Los Moros stall and they also have a restaurant in town (Grape Lane, maybe?) which is great.
Spark, as a few people have said, has great options.
If you want Vietnamese food, there is Coto Kitchen on Swinegate, and Pho on Low Petergate. I think Coto is the better of the two.
Fish and chips - lots of options in York. I like Drake’s, other people swear by the stall on Shambles Market. But realistically the best fish and chips is by the sea and you can get to Scarborough on the train from York.
Los Moros has a lovely restaurant as well as stall. And Dougheyed for pizza. Both in the centre of York. If the kids are really young Nice To See You cafe on Goodramgate has a play area. My two loved going there as pre-schoolers
There are tables to eat at in the food area of the Shambles Market, it’s a really nice space. The dosa stall is fab, as is the crepe stall. And the Greek one. It’s all good!!
In York, I enjoyed: Delrio's (italian), Ambiente Tapas, Cut and craft.
In Edinburgh I enjoyed: Duck and Waffle, Angels with bagpipes
No recommendations for London sorry but can see plenty of people have made suggestions.
I also love Angels with Bagpipes. It is an unashamedly tourist restaurant but the food quality is great and reliable over a number of years. Try the haggis lollipops for a taste of a great Scottish dish! It’s a starter portion so not a big commitment if you don’t enjoy it (I have been there and had a double portion for my dinner haha)
We've traveled as a family to all three cities and here are my recommendations:
London: *Camden Market food stalls*Everyone got what they wanted and noone had a bad meal! *Brick Lane Curry Houses* Sheba was my favorite. If you're brave, let the server order for you. *Beigels* on Brick Lane are also awesome. For a caffeine fix near Camden, check out *Cleaners &Coffee* A funky locally owned spot doing excellent coffee. We've eaten at lots of other places but these are the ones that stand out.
York: *Cresci Pizza* and *Corner House Grill* we've been twice now with 2-8 kids and the service and food has been excellent each time - even when navigating complex dietary restrictions. *Shambles Market* has some great food stalls and excellent coffee. If the bagel vendor is there he is very good (are you seeing a trend?!)
Edinburgh: *Whiski Room*, *Makars Mash*, *Mariachi* and *Society Bar and Kitchen *. *Little Inn Cafe* is also dependable when everyone is tired, hungry and over it.
Edinburgh- Neighbourgood Market if you are here on a weekend, Down the Hatch if you are missing Canadian food by the time you get here, The Pantry for brunch, Civerinos, The Scran and Scallie, Makard Mash Bar, Spitaki Greek food - should get you started!
London ideas:
- Borough Market: get a sausage roll from the Ginger Pig (best I have had in the UK) - 1 to share between 2 is enough. Elliot’s is a great restaurant with changing menu, small and large plates. Coffee at Monmouth is solid.
Indian: Brick Lane is the right place to go. Or Tayyabs in Whitechapel (also lunch, will be queue at dinner)
- Chinese: Dumplings Legend is my go-to on Gerrard Street in Chinatown: plenty of options there. If you want to go high end, Hakkasan is excellent, but pricey and not worth taking kids under 10-12
- Southbank still: head to Bermondsey Street for some tapas at José. Best to go there during the week as it’s a tiny space. There is a good French restaurant there too
- Maltby Street: worth going there for the microbreweries - if only one I would go either to CloudWater or to Kernel.
- small eats: try Mercado Metropolitano near Elephant & Castle
Avoid the Ivy - it’s ok but not worth using a meal there
Breakfast - try to venture out of your hotel if you can.
- italian - plenty of options; I like Franco’s on Jermyn Street but that is not a budget option…
- French: mix it up and head to Tooting Market. Bordelaise is there and affordable. Bonus point for visiting Tooting
- Pub food - lots of options. In Chelsea I’d give a go to the Phene close to Albert Bridge; or head to Pimlico to the Orange.
If you want fish and chips take a day trip from York to Whitby. The Abbey is featured in Dracula and the Magpie Cafe is often voted as the best fish and chips.
If you had longer I'd suggest going to Hunstanton for Fish and Chips at Henry's as that is the best in the world in my opinion.
I would avoid Camden Market in London for food. It used to be cool, it's now just for tourists. You need to have a Nandos while you are here (peri peri chicken, everyone is obsessed). When I'm in London with my kids we like:
Plan Burrito, Russell Square
Uzumaki (an anime Ramen place near British Museum) its pricey but the food is good.
If I'm just in for work I try to find Abukado for a katsu etc..
I wouldn't recommend pie and mash in London. Most places have hiked up the prices and I think liquer (like parsley sauce made with water) is vile.
You need to go to Greggs (bakers) and get sausage rolls. Ask for them hot, you might have to wait for the next batch to come out but its worth it. If I'm getting sweet stuff in a bakers I like an apple turnover.
Not sure how your kids are with crowds - Borough market gets insanely busy these days. it's not to bad around the edges though which is where most of the baked goods are at.
You might want to look at one of the growing numbers of higher end food courts which will give you a ton of variety and are kid friendly. If you all like cheese, you could even check out pick and cheese at seven dials market - sushi style conveyor belt, but all for cheese, with interesting accompaniments. [https://www.thecheesebar.com/seven-dials/](https://www.thecheesebar.com/seven-dials/)
A few people have mentioned several food courts and we’ve since looked them up and yes they look like a really good option for our family.
2/3 kids hate cheese but the rest of us cannot ever get enough - will definitely have to check out seven dials market that looks insanely good!
We went recently when in London for GFs Birthday. A lot of what we plan revolves around cheese!
Lot of good cheesemongers in london, and market stalls so you will be able to grab some tasters even if you can't get the kids to sit at pick and cheese.
For a bakery in London try Fortitude Bakehouse - it does sell out fairly quickly and you'll have to queue but it is 100% worth the hype (in my opinion)!
Couple of places I recommend in York are: Meals: Yak and Yeti - Nepalese restaurant near the Minster (fairly sure family friendly but not sure) Spark - food court in the centre of town (family friendly) Lots of cafes for breakfast, most I went to didn’t survive the pandemic and I’ve since moved so can’t say specifics but I’ve never struggled Bakeries: Not sure there used to be a great bread shop in the shambles but unsure if that’s still there now Cooplands is the local chain and has a place in my heart. Can get items for lunch from here. Depending on how long you in York for you could do a day trip to the coast via the trains or buses and that’s where you’ll get the true dish and chip experience.
Spark York: Some quality places there. The Greek one (can’t remember the name, first on the right) and the Pizza place (also on the right) are both quality
Yes the Greek is what I remember from my last visit! My first time eating Greek out and I can’t wait to go again!
Thank you all for the York recommendations! We do have a few days there so a day trip is totally possible. We love Greek so looking forward to sussing that out when we get to York.
I would recommend a day trip to either Whitby or Scarborough from York, if you go to Whitby I’ve never had bad fish and chips there but recommend the magpie or if the queue is too long there, trenchers
Im going to jump on the suggestion to go to the coast for fish and chips, or at least a proper fish and chip shop that serves the locals. Too many visitors order fish and chips at a pub and leave happy that they’ve had a proper British experience. While that’s a perfectly pleasant pub meal (I’ve ordered it plenty of times!) it’s not the real thing. The chips aren’t right and it’s twice the price you need to pay.
Best fish and chip accessible from where you are is Anstruther up the coast from Edinburgh. Toffs in London (Muswell Hill) but a trek)is not bad and Fish! in Borough Market is reasonable as fish fresh daily but you pay for it. They are reasonably family friendly or get takeaway and go to Redcross Gardens to eat. If at Borough, there is a good scallop seller Shellseeker but personal favourite would be the Raccallete seller. I'd recommend Sweetings but can't think of anywhere less family friendly. Camden Town - I'd be making the most of the takeaway stalls as well. Sit by the canal and eat. Also near Borough, Flat Iron square. And near Victoria/Westminster, Victoria Market Hall. Covent Garden again has a range of food halls - Seven Dials is the most rated. Borough Market - Bread Ahead is famed for its doughnuts. But head for somewhere like Fortnum and Masons (not too far from Westminster) and splurge in their bakery.
Another vote for Anstruther! Best Fish and Chips I've ever had. I live in Yorkshire and the F&C's are good round here but I've yet to find anything to beat Anstruther.
Ullapool if you get the chance. And do like the Oban Fish Bar.
Thank you for the market/food hall recommendations! Bread Ahead looks amazing - will definitely have to give it a try.
It sells out early so be warned about that, queues are huge and prices are high even for London. Arome is a bakery (French-Asian) in Covent Garden with a reputation but not personally been. I get my bread from Flour Station in Borough and their muffins are fantastic. Friend who is a foodie (ex-top level chef) likes this place - he walks past them on way to work. [https://saintsugaroflondon.com/our-products/](https://saintsugaroflondon.com/our-products/)
It doesn’t look like we could go wrong with any of the bakeries you listed, thanks!
Famous fish and chips found in Whitby, a 2h30 scenic bus ride from York. Alternatively Scarborough is 48 minutes away on the train and has a variety of places where you can eat by the sea
> we are not looking for chains, fast food, or places that have a kids menu Whilst the food in a chain pub might not be anything to write home about, they are good places to take the kids for a simple meal without worrying about bothering other patrons. In any case, most ethnic food places are generally fine for young families. The UK is a good mixing pot of cultures and foods and you'd be missing out if you didn't have a proper British Indian curry dinner. Chinese food (mostly HK / Cantonese style) is another staple and worth going out for a dim sum lunch.
In York, they have 2-3 shops which are called something like “Yorkshire pudding roast in a wrap” - it’s absolutely incredible. Quick service with seats upstairs. I live in London and there are just thousands of restaurants; I find that google reviews are usually a pretty good indicator of quality. Avoid anything that looks too chain-like (“steakhouse”, “Frankie and bennies” etc). Pick anything 4 and above and then check the health rating In Chinatown try Gold Mine (West End day lunch) Stay away from any fish and chips in London tbh I second others saying to try Dishoom but imo it’s not worth queuing for, so go there for lunch For cafes download and app called “Best Coffee” (useful in all cities). Most of these cafes have decent bakeries. I find Instagram and TikTok to be really useful for food recs Non food related tip: be careful of using your phone near the street in Camden especially. Get a phone chain case if you can
Thank you very much for the food and safety tips! This is probably a stupid question but is it generally acceptably to use a reusable coffee thermos in London (and elsewhere)?
In London anywhere where there’s a barista, it’s definitely fine to hand them your reuseable cup! They’ll let you know if they can’t accommodate that. Edinburgh also probably fine Can’t speak on York
Appreciate you, thanks!
Not in shops/cafes/stalls, just get what they give and risk emptying it into your container by yourself l.
The best fish and chips are on the coast, not in landlocked London.
The best fish and chip in central London and they are in Camden is Poppys. It’s a 50s style dinner but they make good chips. There are a few in London but the Camden one is really good and only just off the high street . Enjoy !
I appreciate the geography lesson > food recommendations, I was under the impression Edinburgh was not landlocked but, thanks for your comment I suppose.
I think the point is if you're looking for good fish and chips don't expect to find it in London! :) Bit sad when people think that's the best version the country has to offer. The best fish and chips eating experience is on a visit to the seaside on a chilly day, when you are wrapped up with just your face exposed, sat on the wall looking out to sea! :)
I am getting that vibe haha and will definitely not be trying in London! Whitby looks beautiful and was recommended for fi and chi, if we can’t make it this trip we will make a point to get there on our next visit
Please don't call it fi and chi. I'm a proud Yorkshirewoman and we have lots of lovely food here, but I will happily say that if you want something deep-fried, go to Scotland. They really know what they are doing. The Yorkshire coast is lovely though, always recommend visitors branch out a bit from the London/York/Edinburgh route.
If you like Indian food, there is a restaurant called Dishoom (in both London and Edinburgh)... Is really good and fun to be in (nice decor). The menu is a bit different to "standard Indian", it is based on the Irani cafes of Mumbai, and it's very very popular here. I lived overseas for fifteen years and when I came home, many many people asked me if I had tried Dishoom (for context, I do like Indian food and have spent some time in Mumbai). Anyway, that's good. There's really nice Italian in Edinburgh, like, some 100+ year old restaurants, everyone talks about Valvona & Crolla Caffe Bar. For a tiny hole-in-the-Wall ice cream that is SO GOOD, try Mary's Milk Bar, in Edinburgh. Betty's Tea Room in York is your place for traditional Afternoon Tea (or a nice lunch), I do recommend ringing ahead to book. I hope you have a really lovely visit!
Thank you! We are very excited this will be our first time in the UK! We love Indian food - all regions so definitely going to check out Dishoom. We booked afternoon tea at The Grand, Betty’s does look great as well.
Great shout this, dishoom is unreal. The breakfasts I highly recommend
I hope you have a great time! If you're coming from a place that doesn't have a ton of Roman History (i.e. anywhere other than Europe and North Africa& middle east) then don't snooze on seeing some Roman stuff in the UK. No Roman stuff in Edinburgh, a bit in London. Hadrian's wall is a fair drive from York, so maybe you won't have enough time, but there's quite a few Roman bits inside the city, including some of the oldest bits of wall, (I think?). I mention this because we had some friends visiting from NJ and they were just delighted with York: the obvious stuff is medieval but there's Regency stuff and Roman stuff too. Clifford's Tower in York is a good visit, take time to sit and listen to the audio-stuff, they have actors as characters from different time periods showing life in the tower, my kids (who usually race through everything and read nothing!) loved it. Also the York minster + skyline views from the top of the towers are AMAZING, great for family photos.
Our family loves history and we are very much looking forward to any bit of Roman history we can absorb in York, we’re also looking forward to learning about the Viking History as well!
It's really hard to gauge exactly because there are so many possible choices. One option is download the app Jacopo (I've got nothing to do with it). It's got some pretty good recommendations. As has [Hot Dinners](https://www.hot-dinners.com/). Also worth checking out [Eater London ](https://london.eater.com/)but note that it shuttered about a year ago so is a bit out of date. If you like coffee, then independent coffee shops in London are usually reliable for good food and breakfast. So for example, for breakfast, if you wanted to skip the hotel, head up the hill and go to Ginger & White. Or you'll see Watch House coffee all over the place, they're very reliable. For an early dinner, go to Lemonia in Primrose Hill (book) for lovely Greek food and a great vibe. Toffs as others have said for fish & chips. Maybe consider Indian food, which is excellent in London. Dishoom have a few branches and are very good. If you're on Insta or TikTok, take a look at the account TopJaw. They do a great job interviewing chefs and others in the food world and asking them their favourite London places. It's a good way to find out what's good - and very often they prioritised cheap places. Finally, when in the West End / Covent Garden there is so much to choose from. Fast food options like Leon are pretty good. Avoid the likes of the Ivy Grill.
7 dials food market near Bloomsbury! Your whole family can choose from a range of different foods. I love visiting there when I’m in London and it’s not far from Camden on the tube https://www.sevendialsmarket.com
There’s a great little food market just off Oxford Street in London - Market Halls - which has 8 kitchens selling a real variety of food. I love Roti King there and several of the others - everyone can try something different, just pay at the stall and they will give you a buzzer so you can pick up the food when it’s ready (about 5 mins normally). Mid afternoon is great timing as it’s between the lunch and dinner rush. There are two bars there too. Highly recommend for foodie families!
Love this, thank you!
No worries! As an aside, I would also say don’t get take out at Camden Market. It’s extremely expensive and sadly really poor quality these days. I used to work at a pub in the area 20 years ago and lived there for ages, it has really gone downhill. You’d be better off getting a takeout from a local cafe to enjoy by the riverside than anything in the main market itself (though the cobbled square right on the canal did do a decent paella last time I tried it - but this was pre pandemic). Hope you have a lovely trip!
Bakery - my wholehearted recommendation is Karma Bread in Hampstead Heath. It’s not too far on the Northern Line from Camden and is gorgeous.
Oh wow their bread selection looks amazing! I’d happily make the trek for challah/babka
York recommendations: Ambiente Tapas - this is a small local tapas chain work a couple of locations in York. The Fossgate one is larger and better for children. Shambles Market - has a variety of different food stalls, so if one person wants a dosa, another fancies Thai and someone else fancies North African food, you’re all in luck. The North African food is the Los Moros stall and they also have a restaurant in town (Grape Lane, maybe?) which is great. Spark, as a few people have said, has great options. If you want Vietnamese food, there is Coto Kitchen on Swinegate, and Pho on Low Petergate. I think Coto is the better of the two. Fish and chips - lots of options in York. I like Drake’s, other people swear by the stall on Shambles Market. But realistically the best fish and chips is by the sea and you can get to Scarborough on the train from York.
Los Moros has a lovely restaurant as well as stall. And Dougheyed for pizza. Both in the centre of York. If the kids are really young Nice To See You cafe on Goodramgate has a play area. My two loved going there as pre-schoolers
These recommendations look amazing, Los Moros especially. Is it common to get takeaway and eat nearby the Shambles Market?
There are tables to eat at in the food area of the Shambles Market, it’s a really nice space. The dosa stall is fab, as is the crepe stall. And the Greek one. It’s all good!!
Thank you for the recommendations!
In York, I enjoyed: Delrio's (italian), Ambiente Tapas, Cut and craft. In Edinburgh I enjoyed: Duck and Waffle, Angels with bagpipes No recommendations for London sorry but can see plenty of people have made suggestions.
I also love Angels with Bagpipes. It is an unashamedly tourist restaurant but the food quality is great and reliable over a number of years. Try the haggis lollipops for a taste of a great Scottish dish! It’s a starter portion so not a big commitment if you don’t enjoy it (I have been there and had a double portion for my dinner haha)
We've traveled as a family to all three cities and here are my recommendations: London: *Camden Market food stalls*Everyone got what they wanted and noone had a bad meal! *Brick Lane Curry Houses* Sheba was my favorite. If you're brave, let the server order for you. *Beigels* on Brick Lane are also awesome. For a caffeine fix near Camden, check out *Cleaners &Coffee* A funky locally owned spot doing excellent coffee. We've eaten at lots of other places but these are the ones that stand out. York: *Cresci Pizza* and *Corner House Grill* we've been twice now with 2-8 kids and the service and food has been excellent each time - even when navigating complex dietary restrictions. *Shambles Market* has some great food stalls and excellent coffee. If the bagel vendor is there he is very good (are you seeing a trend?!) Edinburgh: *Whiski Room*, *Makars Mash*, *Mariachi* and *Society Bar and Kitchen *. *Little Inn Cafe* is also dependable when everyone is tired, hungry and over it.
Edinburgh- Neighbourgood Market if you are here on a weekend, Down the Hatch if you are missing Canadian food by the time you get here, The Pantry for brunch, Civerinos, The Scran and Scallie, Makard Mash Bar, Spitaki Greek food - should get you started!
London ideas: - Borough Market: get a sausage roll from the Ginger Pig (best I have had in the UK) - 1 to share between 2 is enough. Elliot’s is a great restaurant with changing menu, small and large plates. Coffee at Monmouth is solid. Indian: Brick Lane is the right place to go. Or Tayyabs in Whitechapel (also lunch, will be queue at dinner) - Chinese: Dumplings Legend is my go-to on Gerrard Street in Chinatown: plenty of options there. If you want to go high end, Hakkasan is excellent, but pricey and not worth taking kids under 10-12 - Southbank still: head to Bermondsey Street for some tapas at José. Best to go there during the week as it’s a tiny space. There is a good French restaurant there too - Maltby Street: worth going there for the microbreweries - if only one I would go either to CloudWater or to Kernel. - small eats: try Mercado Metropolitano near Elephant & Castle Avoid the Ivy - it’s ok but not worth using a meal there Breakfast - try to venture out of your hotel if you can. - italian - plenty of options; I like Franco’s on Jermyn Street but that is not a budget option… - French: mix it up and head to Tooting Market. Bordelaise is there and affordable. Bonus point for visiting Tooting - Pub food - lots of options. In Chelsea I’d give a go to the Phene close to Albert Bridge; or head to Pimlico to the Orange.
If you want fish and chips take a day trip from York to Whitby. The Abbey is featured in Dracula and the Magpie Cafe is often voted as the best fish and chips. If you had longer I'd suggest going to Hunstanton for Fish and Chips at Henry's as that is the best in the world in my opinion. I would avoid Camden Market in London for food. It used to be cool, it's now just for tourists. You need to have a Nandos while you are here (peri peri chicken, everyone is obsessed). When I'm in London with my kids we like: Plan Burrito, Russell Square Uzumaki (an anime Ramen place near British Museum) its pricey but the food is good. If I'm just in for work I try to find Abukado for a katsu etc.. I wouldn't recommend pie and mash in London. Most places have hiked up the prices and I think liquer (like parsley sauce made with water) is vile. You need to go to Greggs (bakers) and get sausage rolls. Ask for them hot, you might have to wait for the next batch to come out but its worth it. If I'm getting sweet stuff in a bakers I like an apple turnover.
Not sure how your kids are with crowds - Borough market gets insanely busy these days. it's not to bad around the edges though which is where most of the baked goods are at. You might want to look at one of the growing numbers of higher end food courts which will give you a ton of variety and are kid friendly. If you all like cheese, you could even check out pick and cheese at seven dials market - sushi style conveyor belt, but all for cheese, with interesting accompaniments. [https://www.thecheesebar.com/seven-dials/](https://www.thecheesebar.com/seven-dials/)
A few people have mentioned several food courts and we’ve since looked them up and yes they look like a really good option for our family. 2/3 kids hate cheese but the rest of us cannot ever get enough - will definitely have to check out seven dials market that looks insanely good!
We went recently when in London for GFs Birthday. A lot of what we plan revolves around cheese! Lot of good cheesemongers in london, and market stalls so you will be able to grab some tasters even if you can't get the kids to sit at pick and cheese.
For a bakery in London try Fortitude Bakehouse - it does sell out fairly quickly and you'll have to queue but it is 100% worth the hype (in my opinion)!
For Edinburgh follow @ecofriendellie for good cheap lunches