The Best places to eat Fish & Chips in London
Fish and chips in London.Cracking childhood memories of going down’t chippy for fish and chips with Mum as a treat, then later sneaking out to meet illicitly with friends as a teenager, then fish and chips as a hangover breakfast after staying out all night at University… Yes, the Spanish have paella; the Moroccans have tagine; in London we have fish and chips.
Fish & chips is actually said to have prevented a revolution during the Great Depression, as it allowed everyone access to a decent, cheap square meal. And the perfect fish & chips is more of an art form than you might realise. But enough waffling, you want to know where to find the best fish and chips in London.
THE GOLDEN HIND (Bond Street) – Central, good value, relatively tourist-free: the Golden Hind is the real deal. Fish is succulent and salty and the restaurant has been going for almost 100 years. It’s nothing fancy, but is exactly what it is: a central London fish and chip joint par excellence. Top everything off with a generous helping of tartar sauce, and don’t forget to bring your own alcohol (corkage charge is £ 1). Beware – this chippy can get busy. Where: 73 Marylebone Lane.
FISH BONE (Regent’s Park) – Granted, the restaurant doesn’t look like anything special, but if you fancy something more atmospheric you can take your fish & chips down the road to Regent’s Park. Some of the best fish and chips in London – light, airy and crisp. Chips are hand-cut, so this is a great place to go if you like ‘em chunky. Where: 82 Cleveland Street.
THE MAYFLOWER (Canada Water) – Also recommended in our article “Top five bars and pubs in London”, the Mayflower does not just sell fish and chips. No, it sells Beer Battered Fresh Haddock, Chips and home-made Mushy (puréed) Peas. And all for the very reasonable price of £ 10.75. You can also get a decent real ale, and the bar has an attractive outdoor terrace over the Thames. It’s slightly out of the city, but well worth the journey. Where: 117 Rotherhithe Street.
THE GRENADIER (Hyde Park) – Like the Mayflower, this is a pub rather than a chippy. Typically British, it’s tucked away close to the Hyde Park tube station in the upmarket area of Belgravia. The fish & chips is like a crisply fried taste of heaven, and if you don’t like it you can try other British lunches like an enormous ham and pickle sandwich or pie. Wash it down with the malt flavours of a pint of London Pride or mulled wine. Prices are slightly higher, but well worth it. Beware, though – the Grenadier has a reputation for being one of the most haunted pubs in London. Where: 18 Wilton Row.
Have you ever eaten in any of these restaurants? Do you agree with what we’ve said? Do you have any more to recommend? With vinegar, thin-cut, hand-made, battered, with a gherkin on the side: let us know how you like your perfect fish and chips in the “comments” box below.
