In the past few decades, Great Britain has experienced a culinary renaissance. From traditional working class Londoner lunches to the famous oysters of Whitstable, here's a guide to some of the best food the island has to offer. Your culinary travels shouldn't have to wait for land, either: with its continuing "Height Cuisine" program, British Airways re-imagines airplane food to bring you new dishes, wines, and teas that are designed to taste great even at high altitude. So make it easy and book a British Airways flight—you can even receive two free nights at select hotels, thanks to British Airways and VisitBritain.
A chef shows off his creations at the Perch and Pike Pub in Reading, England (©VisitBritain / James McCormick)
Gastropubs. All around Britain it's easier and easier to find great food for good prices in a casual setting. Even in the U.S. the gastropub has been making waves for years because of its accessibility and focus on comfort food.
Find yourself in Edinburgh, Brighton, downtown London, or the Welsh countryside and you can find a fantastic interpretation of Sunday roast, haggis, lamb chops, and deep fried cod, often served with homemade breads, pickles, and chutneys. And of course, you get to wash it all down with what Britain is perhaps known for best: beer. Standouts include The Applecross Inn in Scotland (a spectacularly scenic drive from Edinburgh), the Hardwick in Abergavenny, and the Old Coastguard in Cornwall.
A cheese stall at Borough market, London, England (©VisitBritain / Joanna Henderson)
Cheese. One of the best reasons for traveling is sampling the foods that aren't available in your homeland. Americans love their cheese, but the fact of the matter is that they don't really have access to the good stuff. Laws in the U.S. prohibit the sale of most unpasteurized dairy products, and even if a state allows the sale of raw milk cheeses, they must have been aged for no less than 60 days.
This makes it impossible to get the mild, sweet, raw milk cheeses that are available in Europe. Cheesemongers like The Cheese Shop in Louth, Melton Cheese Board in Leicestershire, and The Cheese Place in Manchester will change your perception of how good dairy can be.
You can also sample varieties Americans love that actually originated on the island: did you realize that Cheddar is named after the Cheddar Gorge caves in Somerset? You can even attend The Great British Cheese Festival in Cardiff, Wales, where there are master classes, demonstrations and, yes, amazing cheese.
Celebrity Chefs. Great Britain has produced some world-renowned chefs in the past few decades, many of which have gone on to fame in the U.S. as well. Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, and Heston Blumenthal have all had TV shows and book sales stateside.
Meat and vegetable curry dishes at a Leicester restaurant (©VisitBritain / Andy Ward)
Indian Food. Tikka masala is certainly Indian-inspired, but its origin is most likely in Britain. It's a contentious issue, but food historians most frequently cite Glasgow, Birmingham, or Newcastle as the birthplace of Britain's unofficial national dish.
Every major city has its own neighborhood for Indian food, but favorites are the Balti Triangle in Birmingham, Curry Mile in Manchester, and Brick Lane in London. For a full day of activities, Balti Triangle has dressmakers, sweets shops, and jewelry stores and is beloved for being a true snapshot of India's presence in England.
Fine Dining. Long-famous for its masterful take on molecular gastronomy, Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck in Bray owns three Michelin stars and is the gold standard for fine dining in Britain. In London, his newer restaurant Dinner is located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for decadent ambience.
For a more traditional menu focused on nose-to-tail dining, try St. John in London. Up on the Isle of Skye, the Three Chimneys houses a restaurant and inn, both sitting on the gorgeous Scottish coast. It's quite a trip, but the scenery, food, and five-star lodgings make it more than worth the journey. Make sure to spring for the tasting menu to try the best seafood and Highland game Scotland has to offer.
Markets. Britain's proud culinary heritage means there are numerous farmers markets to choose from wherever you happen to be visiting. In London, Borough Market attracts thousands of people every weekend for its vast array of butchers, bakers, farmers, and artisans.
In Scotland, the Edinburgh Farmers Market couldn't get more picturesque: vendors line up in the shadow of the 12th Century Edinburgh Castle, which is steeped in history and is Scotland's most-visited paid tourist attraction. In Wales, the Swansea Market is indoors and boasts 100 stalls selling produce, meats, seafood, and crafts like jewelry and leather goods. But any reasonably-sized town is likely to have its own market—ask around and see what the area has to offer.
A waitress models proper Cornish pasty form (©VisitBritain / Rod Edwards)
The real thing is always shaped like a flat "D" with the crimped seam on the side; if the crimping is on top, you're looking at an impostor. Head to Cornwall to sample a true pasty—there will be shops everywhere.
Afternoon Tea. A treat everyone should experience at least once, afternoon tea can be had all around Britain. Brown's Luxury Hotel or Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair London, the Lanesborough London in Knightsbridge, and the Landmark London all offer exceptional tea service. For cream teas, try out the Devonshire clotted cream at Bovey Castle in Devon or, for Cornish clotted cream, Primrose Tea Rooms in Lustleigh.
The ritual sounds dainty, but don't worry—you won't be hungry afterwards. Treat it like a three-course meal: small sandwiches like salmon or cucumber first, followed by a variety of scones, capped off by a tray of chocolates, pastries, and cakes. And don't forget to sample as much tea as possible, it's a great time to experiment!
Lamb. England's favorite dish is often said to be roast beef as "Sunday roast", but it is facing some strong competition from lamb. The tastiest lamb is saltmarsh lamb and hails from North Wales, Kent, and Cumbria.
The sheep are so called because of their grazing on salt marshes along coastal estuaries, which lends a subtle, delicate flavor to the meat. Salt marsh lamb has long been appreciated in France (as "agneau de pré-salé"), but is becoming more well-known in the U.K.
An apple orchard in East Sussex (©VisitBritain / Britain on View)
Apples. England's lush countryside is home to many farms and one of its stellar crops is apples. The orchards in Kent are particularly renowned, and you can visit the world's largest collection of fruit trees and plants at the Brogdale Collections.
Somerset and Herefordshire pride themselves on making delicious ciders from their apples. In fact, there's a Herefordshire Cider Route, where you can also experience perry, a cider-like drink made from pears.
Festivals. A great way to spend a whole day sampling new things is by going to a festival. Great Britain is home to tons of great events, but some highlights include the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, the International Cheese Awards in Cheshire, and the Whistable Oyster Festival in Northeast Kent. Taste of London in June is also a great bet for anyone wishing to try bits from the best of London's restaurant scene. In 2012, the event hosted 40 restaurants and over 200 producers of the best food and drink from Britain.
The fry up at the Hawksmoor, London (Courtesy Hawksmoor)
Fry Up. In other words, a full breakfast that would put any diner's lumberjack special to shame. Think bacon, sausage, eggs, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, black pudding, and toast all on one plate. The Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and English all have their own varieties, so make sure to try one out wherever you are.
Gusto & Relish in Glasgow take the heritage breed, artisanal approach with homemade black pudding and tattie scones (flat, Scottish potato cakes). If in London, don't miss Hawksmore Guildhall for a critics' favorite gourmet breakfast starting at 7am.
Pork Pies. Nowadays, there are pork pies in every stop and shop in Britain, but traditional pork pies hail from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire and getting your hands on one is quite a treat. Tasty rough-chopped pork tossed with some fat and seasonings get baked up in a flaky crust, and the result is sort of like a tiny porcine pot pie.
Pork pies are traditionally eaten cold as an afternoon snack or light meal. If you can't make it to Melton Mowbray itself, a good bet is Pieminister, which has shops and stockists all around England—their Moo Pie with steak and real ale is an award-winner.
Bacon Butties. It's simple, sure. A bacon butty is nothing but a basic bacon sandwich: soft white bread, butter, a smear of ketchup or HP sauce—sort of a U.K. equivalent to A1—and some not-too-crispy back bacon. Bacon in the U.K. is typically this type of bacon, which is lean and meaty like Canadian bacon.
This satisfying combination is, to the surprise of no one, the unofficial national dish of Great Britain. Grab one to go (students in Glasgow swear by Bacon Butty on High Street) or head to a pub or restaurant for a slightly fancier take; an especially good rendition lives at St. John's Bread & Wine in London.
"Height Cuisine": Your trip to the island doesn't have to be boring either—British Airways has teamed with researchers to develop "Height Cuisine," food and drink menus that are specifically designed for high-altitude dining. The average person loses 30% of their taste at cruising altitude, so focus on inspired seasoning, wine and cheese pairings, and teas that brew best in the air helps bring you a luxurious flying experience.
