London is a city that is well-known for its diverse and delicious food scene. With an abundance of food festivals taking place throughout the year, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to attend. Fortunately, this guide provides a comprehensive list of the top foodie events in the capital, making it easier for food enthusiasts to plan their culinary adventures.
Whether it’s a festival dedicated to BBQ or one that’s entirely devoted to chicken wings, London has something for everyone. From old favorites like Taste of London to lesser-known culinary adventures, this guide covers all the must-visit food festivals in the city. So, get ready to eat your way through the best London food festivals with this ultimate guide.
Key Takeaways
- London offers a wide range of food festivals throughout the year.
- From BBQ to chicken wings, there is a festival for every type of food enthusiast.
- This guide provides a comprehensive list of the top foodie events in the capital.
Best London Food Festivals
Marylebone Food Festival
Marylebone Food Festival is a five-day affair that takes place in Marylebone, with an opening night feast hosted by the best chefs in the neighborhood, and top-foodie Jay Rayner. The festival offers limited-edition menus, pop-ups on everything from masterclasses with top chefs to butchery lessons and sophisticated wine tastings. All the proceeds from the festival go to The Food Chain, a local charity dedicated to making sure people with HIV have access to nutritious meals.
More info and tickets here
Pub in the Park
Pub in the Park is the biggest touring music and food festival in the UK. The festival drops by towns, villages, and London in 2023 to offer delicious examples of what the UK’s most talented chefs prepare at their restaurants and pubs. The lineup regularly features faces recognized off the old tele box – Ainsley Harriot and Tom Kerridge, to name a couple. The London Locations for 2023 are Wimbledon, Dulwich, and Chiswick.
More info and tickets here
Taste of London Festival
Taste of London is probably the biggest food festival London has in the calendar, taking over a segment of Regent’s Park in mid-June to bring the whole city’s foodie community together for a five-day feast. Attendance regularly reaches around 50,000, and the festival gathers all of the hottest restaurants from around London, seeks out those up-and-coming chefs, plus a couple well-established big-hitters and has them cook up a storm under afternoons of (fingers crossed) beaming sun.
More info and tickets here
London Restaurant Festival
London’s Restaurant Festival is a cornerstone of the high-end food fest schedule in London. During the month-long event, restaurants all around the city offer limited edition menus where you can sample the best of what each restaurant offers. Chefs often involved helm Michelin-starred kitchens or came at the forefront of their chosen cuisines cooking worldwide. They run two every year so you can sample the best of all the seasonal ingredients. The first is throughout June, and the second is in October.
More info and tickets here
Taste of the Caribbean Food & Drink Festival
Taste of the Caribbean is the largest festival of Caribbean food and drink in Europe. The festival travels around six locations across London in July, taking the best of Britain’s Caribbean chefs, drinks, and dishes with them as they go. There are performances, cooking demonstrations, activities for all ages, funfairs, and even the odd eating competition.
More info and tickets here
Nat Geo Traveller Food Festival
National Geographic Traveller is getting close to 80 independent stalls together where you can sample the best from all over the world under one roof. Stalls at The National Geographic Traveller Food Festival even get the backing of their home nation’s tourism board so you know they’ve gotta be legit.
More info and tickets here
London Wing Fest
London Wing Fest is a festival of all things wing, taking over the London Stadium in Olympic Park and turning it into wing paradise. From the Korean to the Cajun and everything in between, you’ll be dolloping hot sauce on a variety of wings from the best of London’s businesses. Entertainment-wise things take a turn for the wild with games like axe throwing done under the influence of killer bourbon cocktails and live music to be enjoyed with more of the same.
More info and tickets here
Meatopia
Meatopia is a whole food festival built around a love of meat and its varied cooking methods, special attention here is paid to the naked flame and the hot coal. The festival gets in over 70 naked-flame chefs from all over the world to showcase their take on the oldest cooking method in the book. Meat, fish, and veg are all on the menu and are all guaranteed to be sourced sustainably.
Tickets and more information here
Hampton Court Palace Food Fest
Hampton Court Palace opens their royal grounds up to a festival of all things food when the summer swings around. This one has the bonus of feeling a bit more like a traditional English fete than a full-on festival like some of the others in our guide. There’s plenty of activities and entertainment to give the event a real celebratory feel. That, combined with a spread of delicious eats, French wines, and the chance to explore Henry the VIII’s palace, makes for quite the day out.
More info and tickets here
London Halal Food Festival
The London Halal Food Festival has announced that they will be back for 2023. They will be taking over Olympic Park’s London Stadium and for one day, and one day only, turning the place into a veritable Mecca of halal eating. There’ll be cuisines from all over the world, as well as mock
Practical Tips for Exploring the Best London Food Festivals
To make the most of London’s diverse food festival scene, it’s important to keep a few practical tips in mind. Firstly, booking tickets in advance is essential, particularly for smaller festivals with limited capacity. Additionally, while some tickets may include food tokens, it’s wise to budget for additional expenses once inside. Finally, don’t forget to pack suncream, as many of these events take place during the summer months and you don’t want to leave with a painful sunburn. Following these tips will ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience at London’s food festivals.