When King Writes

Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in the London Secret Food Tour?
What types of food will I try?
How long does the tour last?
Where does the tour start and end?
What happens if it rains?
Do I need to book in advance?
Do I need to tip the guide?

What I love about food tours is they give you a literal taste of a place while sharing a bit of its history. After all, food is history on a plate—it tells you so much about a city’s past, culture, and people. That’s why whenever I travel, food exploration is always part of the itinerary.

For this trip, I booked a food tour through Secret Food Tours.

But don’t worry—I’m not here to give you a history lesson straight from the guide. My goal is simple: to share the food spots we tried so that on your next trip to London, maybe you can check them out too!

Must-Try Eats and Drinks

What’s on the menu? Four food spots and a takeaway dessert! Details below:

Horn OK Please: Vegetarian Indian Street Food

I’m neither vegan nor vegetarian, but I did appreciate the spicy chaat! Of course, you can choose the non-spicy one. I’ve had plenty of Indian food at home because Mama cooks a lot of it, so I can say this one from Horn OK Please tasted as authentic as it gets. 

It’s packed with fresh ingredients that burst in your mouth from the first bite. And as expected from a truly authentic Indian menu, if you order it spicy, expect it to be really spicy! 🔥

Fish Kitchen Borough Market: Fish and Chips

Just a short walk from Horn OK Please, Fish Kitchen is supposedly one of the best fish and chip spots in London. But honestly, how do people even decide which one’s the best? Is it the freshness of the fish? The crispiness of the chips? The overall taste? 

While this one was good enough and I had no complaints, it didn’t stand out from the countless fish and chips I’ve eaten in my life. Still, we followed local tradition and ate ours with vinegar and salt, fresh from the kitchen.

Food Guide Special: Pork Sausage and Mead

To be honest, I have no idea where the pork sausage and mead came from. Our guide just pulled us aside, opened his bag, and casually brought out a bottle of mead. He shared some fun facts about mead and its significance in English history—then suddenly, out came a (homemade, maybe?) pork sausage.

It wasn’t the thin and long kind sold everywhere; this was supposedly the “real” pork sausage. And we really enjoyed it so much that we asked for more. 😅 The mead, meanwhile, was a welcome warmth in my belly on a chilly day. Our guide kept pouring until we finished the bottle. 

Looking back, it’s funny that we were just standing in the streets of London, drinking alcohol. I hadn’t realized until now that it was my first time drinking in the street. 🤣

The Mug House: Tea, Cheese and Crackers

Every time I passed by this side of London the Mug House (just in front of the London Bridge Experience—another London bucket list checked I’ve yet to share with you all) always catches my eye. There’s this pull to come inside and see what’s up, but for some reason I just never did. See, this is why food tours are worth joining. You discover spots you would never have gone into were it not for a local food guide leading the way. 

Anyway, I would have liked to try out other items on the menu, but at this point we were STUFFED! And the experienced guide probably knows this is true for most of his guests, as we were served the quintessentially British combo: tea, cheese and crackers. ☕ I liked the crackers so much I asked the waiter for the name so I can buy it.

This was also our only sit-down stop on the tour, which was much needed after hours of walking and standing. Plus, it was a nice break from the moody London weather.

Takeaway: Bread Ahead

Before parting ways, our guide handed us some baked goods to take home. I didn’t get around to trying mine until the next day, but the Bread Ahead doughnuts still tasted fresh! 

A bit too sweet for my liking, but that’s just my low tolerance for sugary treats. If you love sweet desserts, though, you’d probably enjoy them more than I did.

Other munchies we tried at Borough Market

After finishing our fish and chips, our guide let us roam Borough Market for a bit. Of course, we took this chance to explore and grab some goodies. So many stalls were selling cheese, chocolates, and cured meats—we couldn’t resist picking up a few treats for loved ones back home.

Then, we spotted a stall just outside the market—Kappacasein Dairy. Honestly, if it weren’t for the incredibly long line, we might have walked right past it. But locals were queuing up, and that’s always a sign of something worth trying. So, we hopped in!

After a 20-minute wait, we got to order. The choices? Raclette or a toastie, and we chose the latter.  Later we learned that these are two of the most famous and irresistible street food options in London (hence the long line). 

Apparently they make their own cheese in Bermondsey! The toasted cheese sandwich is made with a blend of Montgomery’s Cheddar, Ogleshield, and Comté, melted between two slices of sourdough, and then toasted until golden and crispy. They also add a mix of onions, leeks, and garlic for extra flavor. As a cheese lover, this was top notch and low-key wish it had been part of the food tour. 😁

London Secret Food Tour 101

What is included in the London Secret Food Tour?

The London Bridge Secret Food Tour includes food, drinks, and a tour guide. We didn’t pay anything else during the tour aside from the extra snacks we couldn’t resist taking home. 😋

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasted 3 ½ hours. We met up at 11am and parted ways at half past two. This was the perfect time for a food tour—early enough for lunch and ending just before students and office workers flood the streets.

Where does the tour start and end?

Our guide met us at a bicycle shop just outside London Bridge station. From there, we walked to various food spots (mostly in Borough Market) while he shared interesting tidbits about the landmarks we passed. The tour wrapped up at our final stop—the iconic Mug House tucked beneath London Bridge.

What happens if it rains?

In true London fashion, of course, it rained a little during our tour. I mean, what do you expect? It’s London. 🤣 But for the most part, we got lucky with some sunshine, which was good enough for us! That said, rain or shine, the show must go on. London Secret Food Tours run no matter the weather, so bring an umbrella or a raincoat just in case.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes, you do! Tour slots are limited, so we booked weeks in advance to snag the date we wanted. London Secret Food Tours run Tuesday through Sunday. View upcoming tours here.

Do I need to tip the guide?

Tipping in the U.K. isn’t as big of a deal as it is in the U.S. In my opinion, only excellent service deserves extra ££. 🤑

Final Thoughts

People turn up to food tours very hungry and excited, and then they go, “Oh J**sus Ch**s*.” That’s what happened in our food tour haha! Even with all the walking and standing, the food and drinks on this tour were seriously filling.

So if, while reading this, you thought it didn’t sound like enough food, it actually is. It’s just the right amount of filling—enough that you’re completely satisfied but not so much that you immediately slip into hibernation mode. Well… at least not until you get home and all that food really settles in your belly. 😅