mayfairMon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun 11:30-18:00Walk-in onlyHampers, scones, Scotch eggs and biscuits
The 1707 grocery and bakery on Piccadilly in Mayfair London, founded by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason, claims the original Scotch egg (1738) and runs the food hall and hamper rooms.
Tip: The basement food hall queue is shorter than the main bakery counter. The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon books two weeks ahead.
Worth the queue: Original Scotch egg
sohoDaily 12:00-22:30Modern kebabs and flatbreads
Stephen Tozer and Manu Canales's modern kebab counter on the top floor of Kingly Court in Soho London, opened 2015, runs ethically sourced lamb shawarma, doner and falafel flatbreads.
Tip: The Kingly Court site has a sun terrace. The Coal Drops Yard sibling in King's Cross runs the same kitchen.
Worth the queue: Lamb shawarma flatbread
hackneyMon-Sat 07:30-17:00, Sun 08:00-16:00Walk-in onlyStoneground sourdough and laminated pastries
Ben Mackinnon's railway-arch bakery beside London Fields station in Hackney London, opened 2010, mills its own organic flour and ships Hackney Wild sourdough across the city.
Tip: The Sunday morning canal-side queue runs 30 minutes; weekday opening at 07:30 walks in. Cinnamon buns sell out by 11:00.
Worth the queue: Hackney Wild sourdough
hackneyMon-Fri 08:00-15:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-16:00Walk-in onlyLaminated viennoiserie and morning pastry
Olly Gold's laminated-pastry counter in Hackney London, opened 2016 on Richmond Road, runs the city's most-photographed viennoiserie and a Pophams Pizza sibling next door.
Tip: Bacon and maple Danish sells out by 10:00 on a Saturday. The Islington site at 36 Prebend Street has identical bake but quieter queues.
Worth the queue: Bacon and maple Danish
borough-bermondseyWed-Sat 08:30-17:00Walk-in onlyDoughnuts and pastry
Justin Gellatly's bakery arch on Maltby Street in Bermondsey London, opened 2010, runs the original St John custard doughnut and a Saturday railway-arch counter that closes by 17:00.
Tip: Maltby Street market on Saturday is the canonical visit. Custard doughnuts sell out by 13:00; mid-morning runs the best selection.
Worth the queue: Custard doughnut
boroughDaily 10:00-17:00Walk-in onlyDoughnuts and sourdough
Matthew Jones's bakery counter inside Borough Market in London, opened 2013, runs hand-rolled doughnuts and a bakery school in the railway arches behind the market.
Tip: The vanilla cream doughnut is the marquee bake. Their bakery school runs day classes for £150; book through their website three weeks ahead.
Worth the queue: Vanilla cream doughnut