Open Travel Guide
Food tours in England

England Food Tours Guide 2026

The culinary side of England — which food experiences are worth booking and which to do yourself.

This guide covers 8+ food tours and culinary experiences in England — Borough Market Food Tour, East London Street Food Tour (Shoreditch / Brick Lane) and Afternoon Tea Experience top the list. Every recommendation carries its practical details: typical costs, the best time to visit, and what to know before you commit.

England is the largest and most populous country of the United Kingdom, offering a remarkable blend of ancient history, vibrant cities, and stunning countryside. From the iconic streets of London to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, rugged moors of Yorkshire, and dramatic coastlines of Cornwall, England captivates visitors with its extraordinary diversity. World-class museums, medieval castles, Shakespearean heritage, and a thriving arts and food scene make England one of the world's most rewarding travel destinations.

Top food tours

Guided experiences that show you England through its food.

Market Tour

Borough Market Food Tour

2-3 hours

A guided tour of one of the world's great food markets, established on this site for over 1,000 years. Local guides introduce the best artisan producers: Neal's Yard Dairy (English farmhouse cheeses), Northfield Farm (rare breed meats), Bread Ahead bakery, Kappacasein grilled cheese, and the best seasonal fruit and vegetable stalls. Tastings throughout.

Includes: Neal's Yard Dairy cheese tastings · Artisan bread from Bread Ahead · Charcuterie and cured meats · Fresh produce · Monmouth Coffee

Street Food Tour

East London Street Food Tour (Shoreditch / Brick Lane)

3 hours

Brick Lane's Bengali curry houses, Petticoat Lane market, Spitalfields, and Shoreditch's street food scene represent some of London's most vibrant and diverse food cultures. This tour explores Brick Lane's curry houses (the street has been synonymous with Bangladeshi food since the 1970s), bagel shops (open 24 hours), and the street art and independent food culture of Shoreditch.

Includes: Beigel shops (24-hour bagels) · Brick Lane curry culture · Spitalfields Market food stalls · Street art context · Craft beer bars

Traditional Experience

Afternoon Tea Experience

2 hours

The traditional English afternoon tea experience, with finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and a selection of pastries and cakes, served with a pot of fine English tea. London's grand hotels (The Ritz, Claridge's, The Savoy, Fortnum & Mason) all offer versions from £55-£95 per person.

Includes: Finger sandwiches (cucumber, smoked salmon, egg mayonnaise) · Scones with clotted cream and jam · Selection of cakes and pastries · Fine English teas · Grand hotel interiors

Cooking Class

Padstow Seafood School

Full day (6 hours)

Rick Stein's Seafood School in Padstow offers half-day and full-day courses in fish preparation and cooking. Learn to fillet flat fish, prepare shellfish, and cook the dishes that have made Cornish seafood world-famous. All produce is sourced from local day boats that morning. You eat what you cook for lunch or dinner.

Includes: Fish filleting masterclass · Shellfish preparation · Cornish cuisine techniques · Morning catch from local boats · Eat your own cooking

Farm Tour

Yorkshire Dales Farm Visit and Cheese Tour

Full day

A full-day farm tour through the Yorkshire Dales visiting traditional cheese makers (Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes and an artisan cave-aged Swaledale cheese producer), a heritage breed farm, and local food producers. Includes a farmhouse lunch of Yorkshire produce. One of the best ways to understand how traditional English farming produces exceptional ingredients.

Includes: Wensleydale cheese making (as enjoyed by Wallace & Gromit) · Swaledale cheese cave ageing · Heritage breed sheep farm · Farmhouse Yorkshire lunch · Wensleydale valley scenery

Food and Market Tour

Oxford and Cotswolds Food Tour

Full day

Beginning at Oxford's Victorian Covered Market (trading since 1774 with butchers, cheesemongers, and bakers), the tour moves into the Cotswolds to visit artisan food producers, a honey farm, an artisan ice cream maker, and a village bakery using ancient grain varieties. Excellent introduction to the farm-to-table culture of England's most beautiful countryside.

Includes: Oxford Covered Market · Artisan Cotswolds honey producer · Village bakery with heritage grains · English farmhouse cheese · Cotswolds village settings

Neighbourhood Food Tour

Manchester Northern Quarter Food and Drink Tour

3 hours

Manchester's Northern Quarter is a creative, independent neighbourhood packed with excellent food and drink businesses. The tour visits artisan coffee roasters (Manchester has one of England's best specialty coffee scenes), craft beer bars, independent bakeries, and Manchester's excellent curry mile. Also explores the food history of a city that was shaped by global migration.

Includes: Specialty coffee roasters · Craft beer and Manchester brewing · Independent bakeries · Manchester's diverse food culture · Northern Quarter street art

Self-Guided Food Trail

Cornwall Fish and Chips and Seafood Trail

Self-paced

A self-guided tour of Cornwall's finest seafood stops. From Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant in Padstow to Nathan Outlaw's in Port Isaac, the crab sandwiches at the Coasters in Padstow, and the legendary fish and chips at Harbour Fish Bar in Newquay. Cornwall's proximity to exceptional fishing grounds makes its seafood remarkable.

Includes: Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant, Padstow · Nathan Outlaw's Restaurant, Port Isaac · Fresh crab sandwiches from harbour stalls · Newquay fish and chips · Cornish oysters at coastal restaurants

Foodie tips

Get more out of every meal.

Tip

Book tours and cooking classes at least a few days in advance — small-group experiences sell out quickly.

Tip

Come hungry — most food tours include 5-8 tastings.

Tip

Bring cash for unscheduled stops the guide may recommend.