Traditional British Dishes You Have to Try in London

Are you planning a trip to London and looking for some traditional British dishes to try during your visit? In this post, we will share with you the best of British cuisine – the traditional dishes and desserts in the United Kingdom.

For each dish, we will explain how it’s cooked, typically served and where to try them.

Most tourists generally think of ‘Fish and Chips’ when it comes to traditional British food. But given that Britain is made up of four different countries, each with its own culture and history, it’s no surprise that the cuisine is so diverse.

Learn about England’s unique regional cuisine, from dishes that originated on the Welsh coast to delicious desserts found all over England. Our list begins with the best of Britain’s traditional main dishes to the best of desserts.

And yes, reading this will surely make you hungry! So, book our walking food tour London today!

10 Traditional British Dishes

Fish and Chips

Considered the national dish of Britain, fish and chips is still the most popular takeaway food in all parts of the country. In fact, it’s something like an English institution. So, it would be impossible to start our list of the best traditional British dishes with anything other than this world-famous dish.

A typical fish and chip consists of large filets of white fish (usually cod or haddock) that are battered and fried until crisp. And traditionally in England, chunky chips are served with fish instead of fries. It is usually drizzled with salt and vinegar then wrapped in paper and served to take away. Wrapping the meal steams the chips up a bit, giving them the softness that the Brits love. The side dishes to complete the fish and chips meal include pickled eggs, pickled onions or mushy peas.

Origin: Both London and Lancashire lay claim to inventing the fish and chips, although the exact origin is unknown. However, Charles Dickens mentioned the ‘Fried Fish Storehouse’ in Oliver Twist. In fact, London was home to the first fish and chip shop, which opened in 1860.

Where to try it: Fish and chips are served across the UK, from street stalls to fine dining restaurants. But for a real, authentic experience, buy it from a real fish and chip store (chippy) and eat it straight from the paper wrapping.

Shepherd’s Pie

This is one of the UK’s favorite dishes, but the only thing is it doesn’t really meet the requirements to be called a pie. Shepherd’s pie is a hearty meal containing an underlayer of usually minced or diced lamb meat cooked with onions and other vegetables in a thick gravy. It’s then topped with a thick layer of mashed potato and baked.

Origin: All four regions of Britain claim to have invented Shepherd’s Pie, but its true origins remain unclear. Legend has it that this dish was originally made in Scotland and topped with pastry (so it must have looked like a pie). But it seems that the recipe made its way to Ireland, where potatoes were a popular staple food. The Irish decided to do away with the pastry toppings and used a layer of mashed potatoes instead. This revised version of the recipe has stuck ever since.

Where to try it: Shepherd’s pie is served in almost every restaurant and pub in the UK.

Steak and Kidney Pie Pudding

Steak and Kidney Pie (or Pudding) is one of those traditional British dishes you must try. The filling consists of diced steak with chopped onion and kidney, usually pork or lamb. The mixture is cooked with brown gravy, then coated in pastry and baked.

For steak and kidney pudding it’s steamed for several hours in a suet pastry. Sometimes mushrooms are added with some kind of ale. The kidneys give a filling of a full and wild flavor. It certainly has a unique taste, but it is very delicious. Usually served with mashed potatoes, green beans and plenty of gravy.

Origin: The recipe for steak and kidney pie is believed to have first appeared in writing in 1694, but the ingredients included lamb, currants and spices, so it didn’t look much like the pies you will enjoy today. By 1939, however, the steak and kidney pie as we know it today was so popular that Winston Churchill reported enjoying it at his home in Chartwell.

Where to try it: Steak and kidney pie are served across the United Kingdom and are traditional pub favorites.

Bangers and Mash

Bangers and Mash is another staple that is part of the British menu. A hearty meal, it is served in a rich onion gravy with vegetables.

Traditionally it’s a dish for the working classes, but you will find gourmet versions that use specialty sausages and mashes of other root vegetables such as carrots and suede.

The ‘mash’ part of the dish simply refers to the mashed potatoes, but the term ‘bangers’ can be a bit difficult to catch. A banger is an English sausage and is a generic term used for all sausages made in the UK.

Origin: The reason why it’s called banger is during the first world war – a combination of the cheap ingredients was used to fill the sausages and their tight skins caused them to explode in the pan. However, no one calls a sausage a banger at any other time. This is the only time sausages are called bangers with mashed potatoes in this classic British dish.

Where to try it: Bangers and Mash are available in pubs and restaurants across the UK.

Yorkshire Pudding

Yorkshire Pudding is one of those traditional British dishes that is not what you will expect it to be. In fact, it’s nothing to do with the sweet custard that the world calls ‘pudding’. Yorkshire pudding is a type of savory pastry made from a batter of eggs, flour, water or milk, and is usually served as a side dish.

Today, Yorkshire pudding is generally served alongside a Sunday roast. However, they were originally served as a gravy-covered appetizer to curb the appetites of guests whose main meal was too small to be satisfying. When Yorkshire pudding was first served on a Sunday roast, it was meant to accompany beef. Today, they are usually included when cooking any meat. Although the dough is now divided into individual small puddings, it was originally cooked in large tins and cut into squares.

Origin: You may think Yorkshire puddings must have originated in Yorkshire, but that’s not true. In fact, a culinary magazine of 1747 called it Yorkshire pudding, describing the light, airy batter made in this region by comparing it to batter made in other parts of England.

Where to try it: Yorkshire pudding is served all over the UK. They are generally available wherever you will find the best Sunday roasts, mostly traditional British pubs.

Sunday Roast

This is one of the country’s favorite meals and is a long-standing British institution in itself. It is also called ‘Sunday Joint’ after the roasted cut of meat that is the centerpiece of the meal. In addition to meat, it also includes roasted potatoes, fillings, vegetables (usually cauliflower cheese, peas and Brussels sprouts) and Yorkshire pudding.

This delicacy is covered in a thick gravy made from the juices of the meat and sauces that come along with the meat used. Horseradish sauce goes well with beef, mint sauce with lamb, mustard with pork, and cranberry sauce with chicken.

Origin: Sunday roasts have always been a big part of British family life and are believed to have originated during the Industrial Revolution. Preparing for church, the family put the meat in the oven to start cooking, added the potatoes and vegetables and left. By the time they returned from church, the meal was nearly ready.

Where to try it: On Sundays, most restaurants in the UK offer a traditional roast dinner. But for the best experience, head to a traditional English pub on a Sunday afternoon!

Full English Breakfast

The best way to start your day in the UK is with a full English breakfast. And it’s appropriate to use the word ‘full’ as this meal can keep you going right up until dinner time. A full English meal is also known as a fry-up due to the method used to prepare the ingredients. It usually consists of bacon slices, sausages, eggs (fried, poached, or scrambled), mushrooms, baked beans, fried or grilled tomatoes, black pudding and fried bread. For most, this must be filling, but the meal comes along with a side serving of hot buttered toast and a cup of British tea.

There are a few regional variations on the full English meal, with each region adding its own twist. In Scotland – a ‘full Scottish’ will usually contain Tattie Scones (potato scones) and the square ‘Lorne sausage’. In Wales – a ‘full Welsh’ may include laverbread along with locally sourced ingredients. In Ireland – a ‘full Irish’ is more likely to contain white pudding than a black pudding.

Where to try it: Almost all British restaurants serve a full English breakfast. And the good news is that you’re not limited to just eating in the morning. Most British pubs serve breakfast all day, so you can always enjoy this wonderful hearty meal.

Toad in the Hole

Many British dishes fall into the comfort food category. This is probably due to the country’s wet and cool climate. And Toad in the Hole is no exception.

Thankfully, this strangely named dish doesn’t actually contain toads. Originally, it’s a battered pudding containing meat such as steak, offal, or pigeon. The dough is the same recipe as the Yorkshire pudding. But with Toad in the Hole, the meat is baked in batter and then puffs up and wraps around it. That’s how this dish got its name because it looks like a toad peeking its head out of its hole.

The dish was created by poorer families in England who needed to increase their meager supply of meat. Combining them with inexpensive batter was a great way to turn a little into a filling meal. Today, the dish is made with pork sausage and is still considered very simple and rustic. But modern cooks like to add ingredients like fresh rosemary and gourmet sausage to give it their own flavor.

Where to try it: Toad in the Hole is mainly served in British pubs. But make sure you’re hungry before ordering the dish as it’s served in large portions.

Spotted Dick

This is one traditional dessert that is enjoyed all over the United Kingdom. It is a steamed sponge pudding, usually made of suet, stuffed with dried fruit (usually currants and raisins) and served with hot custard. Now you may wonder how this dish got such a strange name, but the answer is simple. At the end of the 19th century, puddings were often referred to as ‘dicks’ or ‘dogs.’ And as this particular pudding is speckled with raisins – it became known as Spotted Dick. And in Scotland it’s called a Spotted Dog.

Where to try it: This dessert is generally baked at home. It fell out of favor for some time in the UK, until recently it became a part of the school lunch menu for British children. However, like many traditional British dishes, Spotted Dick has made a revival. Today, it appears on the menus of traditional British restaurants and many pubs.

Eton Mess

Eton Mess is a simple yet delicious sweet named after the prestigious boys’ school of the same name. A wonderful mix of mashed meringue, cream and strawberries, Eton Mess is a classic British treat. Look for variations made with different kinds of fruit or with ice cream instead of cream. Although the best experience is with the classic strawberry ingredient.

It makes a refreshing end to a big meal. Scotland puts its own twist on this traditional British dish, creating a tipsy retreat where sponge fingers are soaked in whiskey or whisky liqueur instead of sherry. While all other parts of the UK serve a non-alcoholic version, usually known as ‘fruit trifle’.

Where to try it: The Brits usually prepare this dessert at home and may be hard to find in restaurants. Although restaurants with traditional British dishes are more likely to serve it. You can buy trifles (usually the non-alcoholic version) at supermarkets.

So, there you have it, this is our list of the very best of traditional British dishes.

We hope this inspires you to try traditional foods beyond the most popular options when visiting the United Kingdom. As you can see, some really delicious dishes hide behind strange names.

So, if you see ‘Toad in the Hole’, ‘Bangers and Mash’, or ‘Spotted Dick’ on the menu, give it a try.

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