Christmas has arrived in London! People travel to the city from all over the world to see the sparkling Christmas lights on Regent and Oxford Street, glamorous shop displays on Bond Street, and tall Christmas trees in Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. But the lights aren’t the only thing London has to offer around Christmas time.
Several amazing restaurants, cafes and other food spots in London have created unique and scrumptious treats just for the Christmas season. If the decorations around the city haven’t gotten you into the Christmas spirit yet, believe me when I say that these treats most certainly will!
Savoury treats to try
The Black Pig’s “Sleigher”
The Black Pig is arguably one of Borough Market’s most famous vendors! The stall always has one of the longest queues in the entire market, as their pulled pork sandwiches are incomparably good and far up in my personal ranking of the very best sandwiches in London.
Only during Christmas time, they sell their “Sleigher” sandwich, topped with their signature pulled pork, thinly cut turkey, red cabbage, fruity cranberry sauce and irresistible gravy mayo. If you happen to be around Borough Market this December, you need to check it out. The “Sleigher” is currently priced at £13. They also offer a vegetarian version for £11.
Sandwich Sandwich’s Christmas Sandwich
Sandwich Sandwich is selling the most massive sandwiches in London. Their Christmas special is no exception, as the two slices of bread are stuffed with two layers of turkey, bacon, sage and onion stuffing, savoury crumble and cranberry sauce. The cherry on top is the free pot of gravy that comes with the sandwich.
This monstrosity of a sandwich could pass as an entire Christmas feast. What’s even more amazing is that they also offer a vegan version, including meat alternatives, red cabbage and spinach. Each option is priced at £13.50 and are great for sharing. You can find Sandwich Sandwich on Gresham Street, close to St. Paul’s Cathedral.
B Bagel’s “Holly Jolly Turkey” and “Tofu Tinsel Treat”
If you love bagels just as much as I do, you will love B Bagel’s take on a Christmas bagel. Either turkey or tofu is combined with mayo, fresh spinach, red cabbage, cranberry sauce and homemade crumble. This one comes with a free pot of delicious gravy to dunk the bagels in as well, which is sure to get you into the Christmas spirit! The “Holly Jolly Turkey” and “Tofu Tinsel Treat” Bagels are priced at £9.85 and £7.80 respectively. They can be found in Soho, Bloomsbury, Hampstead, Camden and Fulham.
Sweet Treats
Gong Cha’s Gingerbread Pearl Milk Tea
This might be the cutest bubble tea you will ever drink! Gong Cha, which you’ll find in Covent Garden and Chinatown, is selling tapioca pearl milk tea in gingerbread man shaped bottles this year. They even provide a hat and a scarf for these adorable little drinks! You can pick between pearl milk tea with milk foam or a taro drink with pearls and milk foam. Each costs £6.90.
Humble Crumble’s Christmas Special
Some say you haven’t been to London if you haven’t tried Humble Crumble. While their regular, all-year-round crumble is already amazing, their seasonal specials are truly phenomenal! This year, their Christmas special consists of plums and cranberries, cooked in a cinnamon-orange mix, topped with shortbread crumble, gingerbread-cream, freeze-dried cranberries and pistachios.
To make it even more special, they add a bit of shimmer and a mini gingerbread man from Biscuiteers, the famous cookie shop found in Belgravia and Notting Hill. If this one doesn’t taste like Christmas, I don’t know what does. A regular sized crumble will cost you £8, and a large one £9.50. Either option is great for sharing! You can find Humble Crumble across London, including Covent Garden, Borough Market, Old Spitalfields Market and Camden Market.
Blank Street’s Vanilla Fudge Matcha
After their Banana Bread Matcha went viral in autumn, Blank Street added another amazing special to their menu. Their winter Vanilla Fudge Matcha mixes matcha with an irresistible blend of cinnamon, vanilla and a hint of sweetness. It’s perfect for a crisp December morning, or after a long day of studying on campus. The regular size is priced at £4.20. You can find Blank Street on almost every corner in central London, while the closest one to campus is the one in Holborn.
These were all my food-picks for this year’s Christmas season in London! If you are in the city during Winter break, trying them is the best way to get into the Christmas spirit! Enjoy!
