Food destinations within easy reach of London. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.

Worth the trip

Whitstable (Kent oysters) ★ 4.7

1h 25min by trainDirect trains from London Victoria or St Pancras to Whitstable, 1h 25min, returns from £25

Famous for: Whitstable native oysters at The Whitstable Oyster Company since 1856

Whitstable in Kent, a 90-minute train ride from London, runs The Whitstable Oyster Company since 1856, Wheelers Oyster Bar from 1856 and a fishing-village seafront. Oysters at the beach.

Whitstable (Kent oysters)

Bray (Berkshire riverside dining) ★ 4.8

45 min by trainTrain from London Paddington to Maidenhead, then taxi 5 min, returns from £30

Famous for: Heston Blumenthal's three-Michelin-starred Fat Duck and the Hinds Head pub

Bray on the Thames in Berkshire, 45 minutes from Paddington, runs Heston Blumenthal's three-starred Fat Duck and the Hinds Head pub. The Riverside Brasserie at Bray Marina is the cheaper option.

Bray (Berkshire riverside dining)

Margate (Kent seafood) ★ 4.4

1h 30min by trainDirect trains from London St Pancras to Margate, 1h 30min, returns from £28

Famous for: Whole-roast turbot at The Sett by Mark Sargeant and seafront pubs

Margate on the Kent coast, 90 minutes from St Pancras, the seaside town reopened post-2010 by the Turner Contemporary; The Sett, Buoy and Oyster, and Sargasso run serious seafood-focused kitchens.

Margate (Kent seafood)

Oxford (university-city pub lunches) ★ 4.3

1 hour by trainDirect trains from London Paddington to Oxford, 1 hour, returns from £25

Famous for: The Turf Tavern, The Eagle and Child, college dining halls

Oxford, an hour from Paddington, runs historic university pubs (The Turf Tavern from 1381, The Eagle and Child) and the Covered Market for traditional British lunches.

Oxford (university-city pub lunches)

Cambridge (river-and-college lunches) ★ 4.3

1 hour by trainDirect trains from London King's Cross or Liverpool Street to Cambridge, 1h to 1h 20min

Famous for: Fitzbillies Chelsea buns and Midsummer House riverside fine dining

Cambridge, an hour from King's Cross, runs Fitzbillies's century-old Chelsea bun bakery (1920), Midsummer House two-Michelin-star riverside dining and the punting-and-lunch combination.

Cambridge (river-and-college lunches)

Rye (East Sussex) ★ 4.4

1h 30min by trainTrain from London St Pancras (change at Ashford), 1h 30min, returns from £30

Famous for: Webbe's at the Fish Cafe and the Mermaid Inn since 1420

Rye in East Sussex, 90 minutes from St Pancras, the medieval Cinque Ports town runs The Mermaid Inn (1420), Webbe's Fish Cafe and the cobbled-street tea-rooms of Mermaid Street.

Rye (East Sussex)

Brighton (seaside Italian and seafood) ★ 4.3

55 min by trainDirect trains from London Victoria to Brighton, 55min, returns from £22

Famous for: The Salt Room seaside dining, The Lanes' fish-and-chip shops

Brighton on the south coast, an hour from Victoria, runs The Salt Room beachfront dining, The Lanes' twisted alleys of fish-and-chip shops and the Royal Pavilion's Indian-themed lunches.

Brighton (seaside Italian and seafood)

Food Day Trips in London, FAQ

When is the best time to eat in London?

Peak food season in London is year-round.

What time do people eat in London?

Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.

How does tipping work in London?

service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.

What is the one dish to try in London?

Ask the next local you meet what they would order. London rewards trust.

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