A journey through East London’s food scene with Eating London.
Fact: London’s sprawling food scene is as daunting as it is impressive. There is seemingly a taste for every palate and a plate to silence every stomach rumble. For this reason, exploring food options in London is sometimes like heading to the mall to buy gifts on Christmas Eve: confusing and chaotic. This is especially true as a tourist or London neophyte.
Which brings me to the point of this post. On my most recent trip to the city I’ve grown to appreciate I was invited to partake in an Eating London food tour. As I am a glutton and often stick to the same 4 or 5 restaurants when I go out (I’m a creature of habit, sue me), I jumped at the opportunity to discover a few new places.
Eating London’s East End food tour is a new addition to the London circuit and is novel in that it combines culinary exploration with your standard walking tour. The three and a half hour session doesn’t only cater to your tastebuds but also arouses the history buff that lies deep within: in our time with our animated and highly knowledgeable guide, we talked Jewish and South Asian immigration to the East End, great fires of London, religious persecution, Jack the Ripper, and evolutionary architecture. Of course, the focus is on the food, and the tour takes us disciples on a journey that comprises 8 mouth-watering stops at eateries in the area.
The tour has the traditional English fare we’ve all come to expect while in the UK (bread pudding and fish&chips), but some things may come as a surprise (a stop at French cheese shop figures, for example). I don’t want to give too much away in terms of the stops, but a curry at a Bangladeshi restaurant on the well-trodden Brick Lane features on the tour (a given considering the high concentration of South Asian people and establishments in the area). A pint quaffed in a local pub makes the tour as English as Oliver Twist, Union Jacks, and Coronation Street.
I’m far from a food critic but everything I ate was of high quality: fresh and tasty. Additionally, with the exception of the cheese place, all the portions were hearty, which will excite the big eaters who adhere to the tour. My only gripe, perhaps, is the cost of the excursion. At 65 GBP per adult, it is expensive for those on a budget and the sticker shock is sure to give even some of those who can afford it pause. That said, sometimes you can’t put a price on an experience. Me and my stomach throughly enjoyed ourselves so if you can swing it financially I say go forth on this tour and eat, drink, and be merry!
Have you ever been on a food tour?
I was a guest of Eating London on this tour but all opinions and jealousy-inducing food pictures are my own.
58 Comments
These pictures look gorgeous and of course, as a British expat, everytime I look at the food items, I feel terribly home-sick LOL!
At £65, the tour is pretty hefty but you can’t put a good price on an exciting, exotic experience! I used to work at an office in Greenwich: did you have pie and mash? Good authentic stuff!
Actually I didn’t have any pie or mash! Might have to write Eating London and petition to have them added to the “menu”!
It all looks absolutely delicious, but I’m not sure I could spent £65 on a food tour, as much as I love food! Perhaps I would if I only had 24hours in the UK and wanted to taste as much as possible on a short amount of time.
A tour like this definitely takes the guess work out of choosing where to eat!
I went on a food tour in NYC which focused on the Lower Eastside of Manhattan. As you said with your London tour, it was a great combination of history, food, and local insights. Highly recommend. Also, I got a half price ticket through Livingsocial.com – great resource for deals in US cities. Groupon.com is also helpful.
Ooh, thanks for the recs!
I thoroughly enjoyed this tour recently and if you’re a foodie who you wants to get to know a little of the real London this is the perfect tour. I’ve been on a few food tours in various cities and this is one of the best.
This was the first of its type I had taken! I would love to do the one in Rome. 🙂
This post brings back happy memories of my East London tour with Eating London! I miss..
Cool that you have been on it as well!
I have been on this tour and the food was all so tasty. I would happily take a friend on it as you explore the area as well as stuff your face with good food.
Nice! Which place was your favourite?
How fun! Now that you mention this, I’m tempted to do a food tour next time I’m in London. I always run out of time to eat at all the places I’d like to, so getting bites at several types of restaurants could be the perfect solution.
Sad that I will miss you the next time you’re in town!
Haven’t been to London yet! Me and my foodie tummy will certainly look forward to exploring such delights once there..:-)
Put it on your list!
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I love your blog and pics! I wanted to comment on ‘Traveling While Black’. Could you also throw in lack of funds in the equation please? I would love to travel like you do, BUT, I do not have the funds! That’s the bottom line! I think a lot more people (Blacks) would like to do a lot more things, but money puts a stop to making certain moves.
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