Food and drink

Long the butt of culinary jokes, the capital’s restaurants and British cooking have improved so much in recent years that London is now regarded as among the best places in the world for eating out. The only drawback is that this can be expensive, but fixed-price meals, particularly at lunchtime, can make your pound go very much further.

WHAT TO EAT

The world is your oyster, with representatives from virtually every culinary school on the planet. The most acclaimed generally fall under the banner of Modern European cuisine. When in Britain, however, it would be a shame not to eat British food, from traditional hearty English dishes to the more sophisticated, foreign-influenced, eclectic Modern British cuisine. Long assimilated into mainstream British culture, Indian food should also be on your menu. And of course, at the end of the night look for the local fish and chip shop!

WHERE TO EAT

At the cutting edge of the market the current vogue is for restaurants to boast huge dining rooms, with some likened to ocean liners. Restaurant fashion seems almost as important as the food itself and a score of London’s leading eating houses were created by renowned design guru Sir Terence Conran.

Fashion pervades all the way down the price scale, with yesterday’s humble cafés making way for today’s trendy cafés. In line with this trend, museum food options have improved enormously in the last few years, too.

If you’re on a tight budget, but want to avoid fast food, pop into a pub or grab a picnic of well-prepared salads, sandwiches and more at delis, convenience stores, markets and supermarkets.

WHEN, WHERE AND WHAT TO DRINK

London is no longer straitjacketed by antiquated licensing laws and, consequently, you can drink alcohol at most times of the day or night. As with restaurants, there are any number of different styles of bar, many of the designer variety. Order a cocktail or a soft drink, a bottle of beer or a glass of wine – but watch out for high prices in up-market establishments. London has many fine traditional English pubs serving traditional English beer. At its best, it is hand-drawn from oak casks and is darker, stronger and warmer than lager beers.

BRITISH FOOD

There are places still serving the type of food Charles Dickens would recognize – hot savoury pies, roast meats and game, followed by steamed sweet puddings and pies – though they don’t usually come cheap. The traditional British Sunday lunch (roast beef and Yorkshire pudding) is a must; try one of our recommended British restaurants or any good large hotel.

Wherever you are staying you will probably get the chance to start the day the traditional British way, with a cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon and/or sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes and/or baked beans and toast. Afternoon tea is the other great English institution, comprising small thinly sliced sandwiches, scones and/or cake. Nowadays, this ritual is best enjoyed at a glamorous London hotel.