London’s bakery scene has exploded over the past decade, driven by a new generation of sourdough-obsessed, technique-focused bakers. But if you’re looking for the best bakeries in London, there are a few standout players serving up unmissable pastries, sourdough loaves and seasonal specials too good to miss whilst in the English capital. These are our top 10 choices to add to your bakery bucket list when in London.
The best bakeries in London for pastries and bread (top 10)
E5 Bakehouse — A Hackney institution credited with helping kickstart London’s modern sourdough movement.
Gail’s Bakery — Now a citywide chain, but still reliably excellent for sourdough and morning pastries.
Pophams Bakery — Known for its inventive laminated pastries, including a much-loved bacon and maple pain au chocolat.
St. John Bakery — From the renowned nose-to-tail restaurant, famous for its Eccles cakes and Chelsea buns.
Bread Ahead — A Borough Market bakery famous for its doughnuts and hands-on baking classes.
Fabrique — A Swedish bakery import known for its cardamom buns, popular with the Shoreditch crowd.
Layla Bakery — A newer Hackney bakery earning a cult following for its cardamom buns and seasonal fruit danishes.
Comptoir Gourmand — A French bakery-café known for classic, technically precise viennoiserie.
Ole & Steen — A Danish bakery chain known for its “cinnamon socials” and reliably excellent Nordic-style pastries.
Yeast Bakery — A Fulham favourite for its inventive croissant flavours and strong Instagram following.
Konditor — Known citywide for its cakes, particularly its “Magic Cake” range, alongside solid everyday bakes.
The Dusty Knuckle — An Dalston bakery with a strong social mission, known for its sourdough and focaccia.
Bonus choice: Buns from Home — although not your typical bread and pastry bake shop, Buns from Home has built a reputation for itself as having some of the best buns in London. Now with multiple outposts around the city, its a top choice for that morning cinnamon bun craving, or if you’re feeling adventurous the seasonal specials offer surprisingly good creations.
Bonus choice: Santa Nata —another top choice for a specialty treat is Santa Nata, a small outpost serving up freshly baked Portuguese tarts throughout the day. This is the only item this bakery sells, but if you’re an egg tart lover like me, this is as close as you’ll get to the real thing in London and I never miss a pitstop (or two!) when I’m in town.
London Bakery Neighborhoods to Know
Hackney and Dalston have become London’s bakery epicenter over the past decade, home to E5 Bakehouse, Layla Bakery, and The Dusty Knuckle within a short distance of each other.
FAQs: Bakeries in London
Why has London’s bakery scene grown so much? A new generation of bakers trained in artisan sourdough and French technique has driven a citywide bakery boom over the past 10-15 years.
What is the best bakery neighborhood in London? Hackney and Dalston in East London have the highest concentration of well-regarded independent bakeries.
Where can I take a bread-making class in London? Bread Ahead at Borough Market runs regular hands-on baking classes for all skill levels.
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