London is a foodie paradise, with plenty of great venues offering delicious fare ideal for gifting to loved ones. We’ve compiled this quick guide to six of the top spots in the city for finding the perfect present for the real foodies in your life.
- Fortnum & Mason
This upmarket store in Piccadilly is one of London’s finest foodie spots, first established in 1707 by dynamic duo William Fortnum and Hugh Mason. From humble origins as a grocery store, the space rapidly grew throughout the Victorian era to become the department store it is today, with a strong focus on sourcing and stocking delightful foods from around the world.
Fortnum & Mason stocks items from exclusive ranges such as preserves, biscuits and more from the Highgrove Estate, home of Prince Charles. Within easy reach of West Kensington, the store is also well-known for its eclectic range of teas, as well as acting as an official Royal Warrant holder and supplier to the Queen’s own dinner table.
- Harrods
For those seeking the height of luxury, you can’t go wrong with Harrods. This world-famous brand stocks seasonal goods within easy reach of Park Grand Kensington. Opening for the first time in 1824, the shop has 330 departments which cater to everything from clothing to sporting items – but food is a large part of what draws visitors here year after year. There’s haute cuisine and small, portable foods which are ideal for transporting back home in your suitcase. If you’re looking for something more elaborate, Harrods also offers a wide range of hampers, perfect for sampling a little bit of everything the food hall has on offer.
- Melrose & Morgan
First founded in 2004, Melrose & Morgan is a grocery store with branches in Primrose Hill and Hampstead. With a wide range of items sourced from the British Isles, it’s the ideal venue for finding authentic UK produce during your stay at the Park Grand Kensington. The venue specialises in artisan producers, so you’re sure to find something unique to suit any foodie taste.
- Rococo Chocolates
Chocolate fans staying in London will be delighted to find Rococo Chocolates, which has branches in Covent Garden, Chelsea and Notting Hill. After a meal at the Park Grand Restaurant, you can find plenty of chocolate bars and luxury confectionery gifts sure to impress even the most discerning of chocoholics.
- Selfridges
The food hall at Selfridges is legendary, providing a wide array of foodie-friendly goods from around the world. There’s lots of weird and wonderful treats on offer here, including everything from cupcakes to healthier goods and specialist spices.
- The Spice Shop
It’s difficult to miss this store, with its bright yellow signage in the corner of Portobello Road. Once a food stall, the space has since evolved to stock over 2500 varieties of herbs and spices, making it food-loving Londoners secret weapon. To get something extra special, try their ‘Essential Spice Tin’, which contains nearly 50 types of spices.
