You probably already know that London is chock-full of great bakeries, ranging from those that cook up classic bakes to places bringing some international flair to baking in the city. If you're a dedicated fan of all things bread and pastry you'll be excited to know that five different bakeries in the capital have been named by The Times as among the best in the whole country.
The newspaper spoke to a range of experts including chefs and bakers from all over the country to put together a list of the 49 finest bakeries all over Britain. The bakeries are listed by geographical area, meaning that a single best bakery hasn't been crowned and the rankings are in no particular order.
Trendy E5 Bakehouse was the first London location to make the list, celebrated for its community feel and well-crafted bread, with the Stockholm loaf singled out as the bakery's best buy. Next comes Pophams, with the warm pain au chocolat being touted as a favourite. Arôme Bakery is next on the list, celebrated for its fruity shokubombs, a shokupan bun loaded up with tea-infused cream, jam, and fruit, as well as its honey butter toast and savoury croissants.
Then there's West London's Happy Sky Bakery, a Japanese bakery that was recognised for its delicate pastries, lack of preservatives, and the Tokyo milk loaf in particular. The Little Bread Pedlar, which has numerous locations in the city, was the final London bakery to make the cut, noted in particular for its sourdough loaf.
Whether you enjoy a sweet pastry or the freshest bread, it's clear that London has no shortage of fab places to get your baking fix. Hungry Londoners can add these top bakeries to their bucket list or check out our guide to the best bakeries in London for even more inspiration.
