The Best Bakeries In London
It’s not just brunch that London really excels at, it’s bakeries too. Whether it’s a 9am croissant before work, a midday sandwich or a freshly baked country loaf that’s straight out of the oven – London’s bakeries know just how to hit the spot. From independent family-run spots serving the best sandwiches to much-loved institutions serving some legendary doughnuts across the city, we’ve put together a list of our favourite London bakeries.
St. John
There are three St John bakeries in London – Druid Street, Neal’s Yard and Borough High Street, all serving up fresh bakery products from the sweet to the savoury. The doughnuts here are legendary, with a pistachio flavour announced earlier this year which has light pistachio-flecked custard with a touch of lemon zest. But there are also croissants, hot cross buns for Easter (some of the best in the city) and pastries galore.
The doughnuts here are legendary, with a pistachio flavour announced earlier this year.
where: across london
Website: stjohnrestaurant.com
Bread Ahead
Bread Ahead doesn’t just sell you baked treats to take home with you- it also offers lessons in the art of baking itself. There are plenty of outlets across London, like Wembley, Hampstead and Pavillion Road, with the Borough Market site being the original. Each bakery offers everything from tasty cakes to fresh sourdough pizza, and their website shows all of the courses, group classes and baking cookbooks you could want.
where: across london
Website: www.breadahead.com
Jolene
Combining a bakery and a restaurant into one is Jolene, a fantastic place for baking goodness spread across four outlets in Newington Green, Redchurch Street, Well Street and Colebrook Row. On the restaurant side of things, Jolene serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the day from Tuesdays to Sundays. The bakeries use unaltered grains from Jolene’s own mills to keep things fresh, authentic and tasty.
The bakeries use unaltered grains from Jolene’s own mills to keep things fresh, authentic and tasty.
where: 21 Newington Green, London N16 9PU
Website: www.jolenen16.com
Fabrique
If you prefer your baked delights to be more Scandinavian, then Fabrique will be of interest: the Stockholm-born bakery is one of the best places to get bread and pastries in the (British) capital. Each of its six London outlets uses fresh ingredients to make delicious sourdough in an artisinal stone oven baking style. You can head on over to their site to order for delivery or in store pickup. If you prefer your baked delights to be more Scandinavian, then Fabrique will be of interest: the Stockholm-born bakery is one of the best places to get bread and pastries in the (British) capital. Each of its six London outlets uses fresh ingredients to make delicious sourdough in an artisanal stone oven baking style.
where: across london
Website: fabrique.co.uk
Ole & Steen
Another great Scandinavian bakery, Ole & Steen delivers some of the best baked goods in the capital. A testament to this fact is that there’s plenty of them dotted around London (too many to list here), and they’ve got a reputation for baking seriously good pastries. From rye bread and cakes to Denmark’s famous Danish pastries, if you’ve not been to an Ole & Steen yet, you’re missing out.
From rye bread and cakes to Denmark’s famous Danish pastries, if you’ve not been to an Ole & Steen yet, you’re missing out.
where: across london
Website: oleandsteen.co.uk
Layla
Another fantastic London bakery, Layla is located in Ladbroke Grove and produces some wonderful baked goods. It has a great menu, with highlights including cookies, spiced buns and mouthwatering sausage rolls for when you really want to treat yourself at lunch. It works closely with suppliers to source great ingredients and uses ancient baking traditions to make some amazing cakes, pastries and more.
where: Layla Bakery, 332 Portobello Road, London W10 5SA
Website: www.laylabakery.com
E5 Bakehouse
The E5 Bakehouse is situated in Hackney, spread across three railway arches. The bakery is dedicated to using ethically, locally sourced ingredients, and prides itself on being dedicated to preserving the ecological health of the planet. Not only that, but the baked foods itself are amazing, with breads, pastries and cakes, as well as non-baked fare like cheese, nuts and seeds. It also offers baking classes where you can learn about everything from fermentation to sourdough pizza.
where: E5 Bakehouse, Arch 395, Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PH
Website: www.e5bakehouse.com
Dusty Knuckle
The superb Dusty Knuckle is another of our favourite bakeries in the capital. It’s got outlets in Harringay and Dalstone and has a lovely menu of baked treats. Not only does it have baking classes and cookbook, Dusty Knuckle also has the Milkfloat, a mobile bakery on wheels that can deliver fantastic pastries and more near you, without having to make the trip to Harringay or Dalstone.
Dusty Knuckle also has the Milkfloat, a mobile bakery on wheels that can deliver fantastic pastries and more near you.
where: Abbot Street Carpark E8 3DP and 429 Green Lanes N4 1AH
Website: www.thedustyknuckle.com
WA Cafe
WA Cafe is a fab Japanese bakery located in Ealing Broadway and Covent Garden. Small and independent, it offers some of Japan’s best-baked foods to make unlike any other bakery in London. Each pastry is skilfully made by WA’s Japanese baking team, and the craft that goes into it produces some very Instagramable results, so make sure to pop in if you’re looking to add some flair to your Insta feed. You can also order both in-store and online.
where: 5 New Row London, WC2N 4LH and 32 Haven Green Ealing, London, W5 2NX
Website: https://www.wacafe.co.uk
Pophams
An artisanal bakery and restaurant, Pophams currently has three locations across London, in Islington, London Fields and Victoria Park, and all of them serve up fantastic pastries, croissants and pain au chocolat, as well as delicious hand-crafted viennoiserie pastries and fresh pasta.
All of them serve up fantastic pastries, ccroissants and pain au chocolat.
where: across London
Website: www.pophamsbakery.com
Charles Artisan Bread
Charles Artisan Bread is a small micro-bakery in Clapton, though what it may lack in size it makes up in quality: their baked treats are seriously tasty. There’s an abundance of amazing pastries to be found here, from delicious brownies to tasty Cardamon buns and delightful croissants. Their bread selection is no slouch either, with a particular emphasis on sourbread; their loaves and baguettes are wonderful. Be sure to pop over to their store if you’re in the mood for some real baked goodness.
where: 51 Lower Clapton Rd, London E5 0NS
Website: https://charlesartisanbread.co.uk
Quince Bakery
Located in the heart of Islington, Quince Bakery was founded by pastry chef, Anna Higham to celebrate British produce and baking traditions. Named after Anna’s favourite fruit, the quince, the bakery is all about quality, ingredients and creating a sense of community. From a carefully curated bread selection to Anna’s seasonal signature bakes, Quince Bakery makes a lovely breakfast place or midday snack spot.
From a carefully curated bread selection to Anna’s seasonal signature bakes, Quince Bakery makes a lovely breakfast spot or a midday indulgence.
where: 267 New N Rd, London N1 7AA
website: quincebakery.co.uk
Fortitude
From a summery apricot danish with white chocolate cream to the blueberry and custard morning buns with blueberry dust, Fortitude will leave you spoilt for choice. The lovely cream-filled beignets get sold as quickly as they get put on the shelf – so you’ll be lucky to get your hands on some. There are also plenty of savoury options with some delicious sandwiches and pies on the menu too.
From a summery apricot danish with white chocolate cream to the blueberry and custard morning buns with blueberry dust, Fortitude will leave you spoilt for choice.
where: 35 Colonnade, Bloomsbury, London WC1N
website: www.fortitudebakehouse.com
Toad Bakery
An independent bakery in Camberwell, Toad has a cool open-plan set up that serves freshly baked breads, pastries, cakes, sandwiches and some great filter coffee. Classics on the menu include croissants, chocolatines and some glorious cinnamon buns.
An independent bakery in Camberwell, Toad has a cool open-plan bakery that serves freshly baked bread and more.
where: 44 Peckham Road, Camberwell
website: toadbakery.com
Forno Bakery
A bakery, pastificio and deli, Forno Bakery serves exquisite maritozzis, if you’re craving a taste of Italy. They’ve just launched an exquisite croissant dough finished with salty crystallized hazelnuts that looks like the perfect chocolate lover’s treat. The country loaves are wonderful and made from British flour, and don’t miss the lovely tortelli di carnevale – nuggets of choux, deep fried and rolled in granulated sugar, box them up and take them home for the best tea-time snack.
The country loaves are wonderful and fresh, made from British flour.
where: 322 Andrews Rd, London E8 4RP
website: forno.london
Buns From Home
Buns From Home started as a lockdown project and now, it’s all over London. Expect everything from cinnamon buns that glisten to Normandy butter buns that melt in your mouth, to a bun version of a Victoria sponge that’s on the menu for summer – you’ll be spoilt for choice here.
Buns From Home started as a lockdown project and now, they’re all over London.
where: across London
website: www.bunsfromhome.com
Chestnut Bakery
Chestnut Bakery is the proud winner of the Best Croissant UK 2023 title, so if you love your croissants, this is the place to be. The bakery has some fun treats on the menu like the trio crookie with vanilla ice cream that’s basically a gooey chocolate cookie hugged in a croissant. Or give the summer special, strawberry-filled, chocolatey, crispy Danish a try – you won’t regret it.
Where: Belgravia and Covent Garden
website: www.chestnutbakery.com
Hachi
From Japanese yuzu basque cheesecake to delicious sandos and milk loaves, Hachi is your go-to place for delicious Japanese-inspired baked goodies. If you’re looking for an authentic matcha latte, Hachi is your best bet. The bakery’s signature loaf is made from fresh cream and milk, and is irresistibly soft and fluffy and will leave you coming back for more.
If you’re looking for an authentic matcha latte, Hachi is your best bet.
where: 11 blenheim crescent, London, United Kingdom W11 2ee
website: www.hachibakery.com