UK food: what to eat in the United Kingdom
British food is better than its reputation, and it is best where it is simplest: a full breakfast, a proper pie, fish and chips by the sea, a Sunday roast in a pub. Each nation and region has its own dishes, from Scottish haggis to Cornish pasties. Eat the local thing and book dinner in the city you are in.
The short answer
- Order this first
- A full English breakfast, then fish and chips, then a pie and a Sunday roast. Add a cream tea in the south-west.
- When people eat
- Breakfast early, lunch around noon to 2pm, dinner from about 6pm to 8pm. Many pubs stop serving food by 9pm.
- Tipping
- About 10 to 12.5 per cent, often added to the bill as a service charge. Check before you add more.
- Where to eat well
- Pubs and markets for traditional dishes. London, Manchester and Edinburgh for the widest range, with food from every part of the world.
What to eat in the United Kingdom
- Full English breakfastEggs, bacon, sausage, beans, tomato, mushrooms and toast, sometimes with black pudding. Found in cafes all day and in hotels in the morning.England
- Fish and chipsBattered fish with chips, best by the sea or from a chip shop that fries to order. Haddock is more common in the north and Scotland, cod in the south.England
- Sunday roastRoast beef, lamb, pork or chicken with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy. Pubs serve it from midday on Sundays, and good ones run out by mid-afternoon.England
- Pie and mashA minced beef pie with mashed potato and a green parsley sauce called liquor. London's old pie and mash shops serve it, and jellied eels if you ask.London
- Cornish pastyA folded pastry of beef, potato, swede and onion, made to be eaten by hand. Look for ones baked in Cornwall by a baker rather than a chain.Cornwall
- Haggis, neeps and tattiesSpiced offal and oats served with mashed swede and potato. It is the national dish, and Edinburgh pubs serve it, with a vegetarian version on many menus.Scotland
- Cullen skinkA thick soup of smoked haddock, potato and onion. Warming and filling, and common on Scottish menus.Scotland
- Welsh rarebitA sharp, rich cheese sauce on toast with mustard and ale. Found in pubs and tea rooms.Wales
- Cream teaA scone with jam and clotted cream, with tea. Devon puts cream first, Cornwall jam first, and both are good.Devon and Cornwall
- Lancashire hotpotA slow-cooked lamb and onion stew under sliced potatoes. A cold-weather dish you find in northern pubs.Lancashire
How the food changes across the United Kingdom
London and the south-east
The widest range in the country, from old pie shops and pubs to markets and restaurants of every cuisine. Curry houses are as British as the roast.
The north of England
Hearty food: hotpot, Yorkshire puddings, pies, black pudding and good fish and chips. Manchester and York have strong markets and a growing restaurant scene.
The south-west
Seafood, pasties, cream teas and cider. Cornwall and Devon are the places for them.
Scotland
Haggis, smoked fish, seafood, oats and venison. Edinburgh has traditional pubs and a good modern dining scene.
Wales and Northern Ireland
Welsh lamb, rarebit and laverbread in Wales. Soda bread and the Ulster fry in Northern Ireland, which is not covered by a city on this site.
What to drink in the United Kingdom
- TeaServed strong, with milk, and the answer to most situations. Afternoon tea is a meal with sandwiches, scones and cake, usually booked ahead.
- Real ale and bitterCask beer pulled by hand at a pub, served cooler than a lager and with little fizz. Ask the bar for a taste.
- CiderStrongest and best in the south-west and Herefordshire. Dry or sweet, so ask which.
- Scotch whiskyEdinburgh has whisky bars and tastings. Single malts differ by region, from smoky Islay to soft Speyside.
- GinA British staple, served with tonic. Many cities now have small local distilleries.
Where to eat in United Kingdom, city by city
London
The biggest and most varied city break in Europe, with free museums, parks, markets and a theater district. It suits a first visit and anyone who likes to walk.
Order Fish and chips
Edinburgh
A compact capital of castle, Old Town and hills, with Scotland on its doorstep. It suits history, walking and festival visits.
Order Haggis, neeps and tatties
Bath
A Georgian spa town of pale stone, small enough to walk end to end in a morning. It suits a calm weekend and a day out from London.
Order Bath bun
Manchester
A northern city of music, football, museums and a strong food scene, more modern than historic. It suits a younger crowd and anyone heading to the Peak District.
Order Eccles cake
York
A walled city with a Gothic minster, medieval lanes and good tea rooms. It suits history lovers and fits between London and Edinburgh.
Order Yorkshire pudding and Sunday roast
How the United Kingdom eats
- Meal timesEarly by southern European standards. Dinner often starts at 6pm, and the kitchen of many pubs closes around 9pm.
- PubsYou usually order and pay at the bar, then take your drink to a table. Table service is the exception, found mainly in restaurants and some gastropubs.
- ReservationsBook for Sunday roasts, tasting menus and anywhere popular on a Friday or Saturday. Many casual places take walk-ins.
- TippingAround 10 to 12.5 per cent in restaurants, often as a service charge on the bill. Round up in cafes. Nothing is expected for drinks at a bar.
Signs of a place to walk past
A tourist restaurant with a hawker outside or a menu in six languages.
A pub with a Sunday roast sign and no one inside at one o'clock on a Sunday.
Fish and chips on a seafront with frozen fish and a laminated menu.
A cafe selling all-day breakfast alongside pasta, curry and burgers.
Food in United Kingdom: questions people ask
What food is the United Kingdom known for?
Fish and chips, a full English breakfast, the Sunday roast and pies. Each nation adds its own, such as haggis in Scotland and pasties in Cornwall.
What are traditional British dishes?
Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, pie and mash, Cornish pasties and Lancashire hotpot. Puddings include sticky toffee pudding and apple crumble.
What should I eat in the UK for the first time?
Start with a full English breakfast and fish and chips. Have a Sunday roast in a pub if you are there on a Sunday.
Is food expensive in the United Kingdom?
London is dear and other cities less so. Pubs, markets and lunch deals keep costs down, and a meal deal from a supermarket is cheaper still.
Do I tip in UK restaurants?
Usually 10 to 12.5 per cent, often already added as a service charge. Check the bill before adding more.
Is there good vegetarian food in the UK?
Yes. Most menus list vegetarian and vegan dishes, and the cities have many specialist places. Even haggis has a vegetarian version.
What is a cream tea?
A scone with jam and clotted cream, served with a pot of tea. It comes from Devon and Cornwall, and you can find it in tea rooms across the country.