445 Best Restaurants in England

Husband-and-wife team Kevin and Nicola Tickle run this superb fine-dining restaurant in the village of High Newton, just outside Cartmel, which has earned a Michelin star. An imaginative set menu with dishes such as wild Cumbrian deer cooked over embers and morel cooked in bone marrow is served at lunch and dinner, and a separate Sunday menu is available until 6 pm. The building was a 17th-century inn, and the Tickles have preserved many of its original architectural features. Heft also has five double bedrooms.

This bustling, cozy little café and deli with white-painted exposed-brick walls is lined with jars of locally made jams and chutneys. Bang in the center of Grasmere, it's great for hot or cold breakfast or lunch, or delicious coffee and a homemade pastry or flapjack (bars made with syrup, butter, and oats). Heidi's also offers a B&B experience in the five-room lodge.

This friendly bistro with wooden floors and simple tables has been at the heart of Exeter's vegetarian and vegan scene for more than 30 years. It's an ideal spot for unwinding over leisurely conversation and enjoying such dishes as roasted pepper and red lentil lasagna; a jackfruit, beet, and bean burger; kari sayur (a Malaysian-style curry with split peas, butternut squash, peppers, and sugar snaps); or carrot and cashew nutloaf with a wild mushroom sauce. Leave room for such scrumptious desserts as "Heaven in Devon" (fudge ice cream with a chocolate brownie and a vanilla sauce). All the wines are organic or "natural" (unadulterated), too.

In this popular, casual Argyle Street eatery with white-painted stone walls, wood tables, and metal chairs, it's all about the steak. The mouthwatering meats all come from Aberdeen Angus and Hereford Cross cows on local area farms. Those who aren't fans of red meat will find other menu options, including homemade pastas and diverse cheese boards.

Mayfair is home to more than its share of fussy fine-dining restaurants, so HIDE is a welcome alternative, charming with experimental dishes that make the new-Nordic, produce-focused modern European menu shine. Look out for artlike dishes strewn with wildflowers on the seasonal eight-course tasting menus served in a fairy-tale setting. There's also an in-house bakery, and a menu that includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and cocktails; be sure to explore the 6,500-bottle strong wine list, one of London's finest. Set lunch and dinner menus are great value.

Fat Duck's esteemed chef Heston Blumenthal owns this Michelin-starred pub across the road, where he sells less extreme dishes at more reasonable prices. A brilliant modern take on traditional English cuisine, the menu may include roast chicken and smoked almonds, or stone bass with mussel and saffron broth. The atmosphere and dress code are relaxed, and the look of the place is historic, with exposed beams, polished wood-panel walls, and brick fireplaces. There's also a menu for kids. It gets busy, so book ahead if you can.

This restaurant close to the cathedral serves the best of old-school British food, including freshly made savory pies and succulent beef, as well as pork belly, sausage and mash, and exotic pie specials. Its early evening menu is notably affordable.

This acclaimed Israeli eatery goes from strength to strength in its airy home on Bloomsbury's most fashionable foodie thoroughfare. Whether you feel like sharing mezze such as aubergine rolls stuffed with pistachios and caramelized onions or are in the mood for mains like the utterly sublime fish siniya (sea bass baked with harissa and tahini), be sure to leave space for their legendary cheesecake. Booking ahead is advised, although window counter stools are reserved for walk-ins.

Overlooking Swanpool Beach a mile south of Falmouth, this popular eatery has a lively buzz and a menu that showcases the best seafood to be found in Cornish waters. Plump and juicy scallops from Falmouth Bay, mussels served with baked focaccia, wild prawns in 'nduja sauce, lobster with garlic and herb butter, crab and lobster risotto, and plain old fish-and-chips are among the favorite items on the family-friendly menu, while cocktails and mocktails can be ordered at the table or in the adjoining alfresco bar. Staff are young and enthusiastic, and the ambience is relaxed. Book a table on the outdoor terrace for the best experience—Pendennis Castle is visible just across the bay. Swanpool Beach is a stop on the Falmouth Coaster bus route.

This pint-size eatery, which specializes in vegetarian Indian street food, is one of the very few independents in a neighborhood dominated by pubs and chain restaurants. Start with crisp samosas before indulging in a creamy dal or curry. The mouthwatering mango lassis are also made fresh.

Diners flock to chef Miller Prada's Humo to enjoy the full-on experience provided by the chefs cooking on open wood fires in clear sight of tables. The 4-meter-long grill pit is the kind of flourish that lives long in the memory but is no mere interior design statement, it is the fuel that powers the entire kitchen: electricity and gas are removed from the equation and it is left up to flame, smoke, and ember to cook the likes of Jerusalem artichoke with roasted chestnut and aged Brixham turbot.

The best of the numerous natural-food cafés on Glastonbury's High Street offers a fresh and friendly setting in which to enjoy the organic, locally sourced dishes. The menu includes filled jacket potatoes; sourdough sandwiches and toasties; vegetable quiche; Stilton and walnut salad; and a garden platter that consists of flatbread, dips, marinated olives, and salad (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, of course). A congenial, wooden-floored space with local art on the walls, the café is best known for its breakfasts, snack lunches, coffees, and teas, but it's also occasionally open for dinner. There's a small garden out back, too.

The luxuriant marigolds in the window might draw you in, but locals will tell you it's the Indian dishes that are the real appeal here. The extensive menu lists plenty of balti and rogan josh choices; for a little less heat, try the tandoori chicken with mild spices and mixed fruits, or increase the heat a bit with jhinga bhuna (king-size prawns in a spicy tomato sauce with coriander). Wash it all down with Cobra draft beer.

This bright, modern Yorkshire take on an American steak house emphasizes locally sourced ingredients for its slow-roasted rotisserie or grilled meats. Specialties include options like sizzling teriyaki beef with peppers and onions or baby-back barbecue ribs, as well as classic steaks and burgers. Fish eaters and even vegetarians are accommodated with dishes like seafood linguine or a superfood salad.

The area between Victoria and Westminster is something of a wasteland in terms of independent quick-bite eateries, but this minimalist café serves excellent coffee, salads, wraps, and more. Peak office lunchtimes can get pretty busy, so aim to avoid the rush if you want to dine in.

Birmingham has some of the country’s finest Indian restaurants, and this is one of the best in the city. The cooking concentrates on north Indian dishes like koyla murgh (chicken marinated in yogurt and seared over charcoal) and hara bhara gosht (a casserole of lamb cooked with garlic, chili, and spinach). The decor is traditional and colonial; potted palms and portraits rub shoulders with Raj-style antiques.

Set in an opulent Regency building with a statement bar, the Ivy serves first-class food with British and European specialties. In its heyday, the Rotunda building was a bathing pool with spa water on tap, and its domed roof and seating area have been exquisitely restored to house the smart restaurant. Racehorse murals line the walls in a nod to Cheltenham's equestrian heritage. Choose from dishes such as apple and Stilton salad, aromatic duck curry, or crab linguine. The Ivy also serves a classic afternoon tea. Reservations are advised, especially when there are race meetings and festivals.

This popular restaurant and café is a must for visiting vegetarians, though even the most ardent carnivores are likely to leave satisfied. The food is laid out cafeteria style (or "canteen" style in British English), so you choose your meal based on choices of main dishes, sides, and toppings. You could go for a chile bean enchilada or pea-and-goat cheese arancini (breaded and fried rice balls), maybe with some Cajun spiced potato wedges or sugar snap slaw. The restaurant also does a very popular vegetarian breakfast.

There is no finer fish dish in town than the Malai stone bass tikka at this upmarket Indian restaurant. The food and spices here are so authentic that it regularly buzzes with Bollywood stars, wealthy Mayfair moguls, and the entire well-heeled Indian diaspora. Inspired by the Viceroy's House in New Delhi and oozing with Lutyens-style furniture, this spot is perfect for luxuriating in mini dosas, coconut spiced lobster, or Old Delhi butter chicken.

The first London restaurant from two Michelin-starred chef Henrique Sá Pessoa offers views over the landmark Battersea Power Station from its 15th floor perch and explores the flavors of his native Portugal with excursions farther afield into Catalonia. Unsurprisingly, tapas like patatas bravas, Iberico croquetas, or a hand-dived scallop with chorizo, fennel, and celeriac puree feature prominently, while big plates like suckling pig and arroz de marisco come from the Josper oven. You pay for the glamorous art deco atmosphere and the views, but a three-course set menu on weekends (£45) offers better value. 

Renowned chef José Pizarro has managed to re-create an authentic, slightly rustic Spanish tapas-and-sherry bar. With just 30 seats and no reservations, it's always packed after 6 pm, but it's worth the wait for remarkably fresh, perfectly prepared, classic tapas plates like patatas bravas, croquetas, skewered prawns with lemon and garlic, and clams with fino sherry. Everything's impeccably sourced, from the peppery Marqués de Valdueza olive oil to the top-flight acorn-fed Ibérico ham; you'll also find more than 50 Spanish wines and sherries.

Tom Kerridge made his name earning Michelin stars at rural gastropubs, and there's still a sense of pub grub about the menu here, at his first London restaurant, despite the glamorous high-ceilinged dining room, flawless service, and rather steep prices. That's no bad thing, however, when you've got a chef as skilled as Kerridge—think rich, meat-focused dishes served alongside unusual twists, such as gherkin ketchup or black cabbage purée.

Relaunched in 2024 as an upscale steak house, this sleek, plant-filled restaurant offers a pared-back menu of prime-cut, grass-fed bavette, sirloin, and rib-eye steaks cooked over charcoal. The meat, which you can watch cooking in the open kitchen, comes medium-rare unless otherwise specified. To accompany your steak, choose from a selection of tasty sauces (from peppercorn to chimichurri) and sides (from sweet potato fries to macaroni cheese). There's a good choice of desserts too (try the lemon posset), along with a tempting wine and cocktail menu.

Tiny and unassuming, this restaurant might seem like an unlikely venue for exceptional sushi, but it's the best for miles. Everything is fresh and delicious, from the fragrant miso soup to the light tempura to the sushi platters that are big enough to share. For something heartier, try a bowl of steaming fried noodles or a katsu curry. Note that the restaurant doesn't serve alcohol, although you're welcome to bring your own.

Named after an infamous 18th-century courtesan, Kitty Fisher's is situated in a tiny, creaky Georgian town house in Mayfair’s Shepherd Market. Crammed with antique prints, portraits, and silver candelabras, here you can sample some of the finest wood-grill and smokehouse fare around. Options on the changing menu include to-die-for Highland beef and luxurious Wagyu steaks.

Having established itself as a wine lodge in 1942 before shifting gears and morphing into a Polish-Mexican restaurant in the 1970s, L'Autre is a bona fide Mayfair icon. Polish-Mexican fusion is undoubtedly rare on London's restaurant scene but L'Autre pulls it off; expect to find Polish classics (the pierogi are excellent) alongside Mexican favorites like enchiladas in a setting that would stand out anywhere, but certainly in the heart of Mayfair.

Cumbrian ingredients are used to create authentic Spanish tapas in this rustic, casual little restaurant in the center of Penrith. The extensive tapas menu includes a number of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices as well as meat and fish, and the best value option is to choose four specials (available Tuesdays through Thursdays as well as Sundays). 

With the legend Tous Célèbres Ici ("All Famous Here") boldly etched on the front doors, the delightful LPM boasts an impressively well-sourced and balanced French Mediterranean, Ligurian, and Provençal menu based on the relaxed Riviera style of the original La Petite Maison in Nice. Try the soft Burrata cheese with a sweet Datterini tomato–and–basil spread or aromatic baked turbot with artichokes, chorizo, five spices, and white wine sauce. Dishes come to the table as soon as they're ready, and the très jolie and informal waitstaff make for a convivial rosé party vibe.

This eatery has one of the best views in Bowness, thanks to its outdoor terrace overlooking the lake that is drenched in sunshine for much of the summer and has quite a party feeling. There's an extensive drink menu that includes signature cocktails, plus a tasty selection of sourdough pizzas, burgers, and shared plates.

This addition to the National Theatre's restaurant roster (it's named after the building's architect) puts the emphasis on fresh British ingredients, whether Dorset crab on a warm saffron bun or Carlingford oysters from the seafood bar, a Tamworth pork and guinea fowl terrine with burnt pear chutney, or a grilled whole plaice for sharing (the brown butter honey custard tart is much in demand for dessert). Theatergoers will appreciate the two-course (£40) or three-course (£45) pretheater menu.