Our guide on where to buy the most tempting bread and pastries in town

There’s something irresistible about a bakery: the smell of a freshly-baked batch of bread that entices you in from the street; the sight of the patisserie chef hard at work behind the counter; the sense of community it fosters. Not to mention the enticing array of baked goods on offer.

We’ve rounded up some of our favourite bakeries in London, boasting the best pastries and breads made using locally-sourced ingredients. Whether you’re after a tangy sourdough or an indulgently flavourful bun, our list has you covered.

Le Choux 

For a true taste of Parisian patisserie, look no further than Le Choux.

Abigail Scheuer, the mastermind behind the company, has always had an affinity for the edible artform. Having spent time in Paris as a child, she felt that London was missing the beautifully elevated pastries and cakes of the French capital.

After training as a pastry chef in Paris, Abigail returned to London and began producing choux from a basement kitchen before her Ladbroke Grove bakery was born.

Le Choux combines traditional artisanal methods with responsibly-sourced ingredients. Its light-as-air choux are baked in the traditional Parisian way, with a ‘craquelin’ made of dark sugar, before being finished with indulgent fillings – think pistachio and white chocolate, salted caramel and passionfruit. Need a stand-out centrepiece for a special event? What could be more eye-catching and enticing than a choux tower?

lechouxlondon.com 

@lechouxlondon

Fabrique 

Hailing all the way from Stockholm, artisanal bakery Fabrique first opened in London in 2012, and now has branches in Shoreditch, Covent Garden and Notting Hill.

Founders – David and Charlotta Zetterstrom – place emphasis on quality, not quantity, with an uncomplicated selection of pastries and bread baked in a traditional stone oven.

The bakery is most well-known for its cardamom and cinnamon buns, which perfectly balance spicy and sweet. If its bread you’re after, you can’t go wrong with a staple sourdough or a loaf of the cranberry and rye bread.

fabrique.co.uk 

@fabriquebakery

Layla Bakery 

A relative newcomer to Notting Hill’s bakery scene, Layla Bakery launched in March 2021 and has since become a firm favourite in the neighbourhood. Specialising in seasonal ingredients, traditional baking methods and minimising waste, expect sausage rolls and cinnamon buns made from leftover croissant dough as well as weekend specials.

Don’t miss their seven-seed sourdough or patisserie standouts such as the honeycomb and rhubarb Danish and flourless Bounty cake. For something more substantial, Layla’s occasionally moonlights as a supper club, opening its kitchen doors to fellow independents – Thomas Straker, Poon’s and The Kochi Kitchen to name a few. 

laylabakery.com 

@layla_w10

Gails Bakery 

Gail’s may be the best-known bakery on this list, but it holds a certain charm thanks to their loyal customer base and reputation for baking excellence and cosy cafes.  

Arguably one of the original masters of the sourdough loaf in the UK, Gail’s has been around since 2005. Ever since, Gail’s has been a firm favourite among London residents, offering a laid-back environment to enjoy coffee and cake. Whether you’re shopping in Soho, strolling down Regent’s Canal or heading up to Hampstead Heath, you won’t be far from one of their iconic bakeries.

Gail’s recently released their Waste-Less sourdough bread, made from bread, milled into crumbs to be used as dough. The initiative is part of their larger Waste Not range, featuring croissants and fruit juices, which use offcuts and wonky fruit that might otherwise go to waste.

gailsbread.co.uk 

@gailsbakery

Arôme 

There is certainly no shortage of sweet treats in Covent Garden, but bakeries such as Arôme have garnered a cult following and shining reputation – and for good reason. A fusion of French patisserie methodologies with Asian ingredients, their pastries are baked onsite in their large open-plan kitchen space.

They are best known for their Honey Butter Toast; a square block of Japanese shokupan bread, toasted with a crunchy honey crust. For a savoury sensation, their Miso Bacon Escargot is a must-try. Make sure to get their early, the queues speak for themselves.

aromebakery.co.uk 

@aromebakerylondon

E5 Bakehouse 

Built into the corner of a railway arch in London Fields, E5 Bakehouse has been a firm part of the Hackney community since 2011. Founded on principles of an ‘Agrarian Renaissance’, they use renewable energy and locally-sourced ingredients to create their award-winning baked goods. Pick up a classic sourdough loaf, or something a bit different like their Stout and Oat Porridge Loaf. If you’re not in a hurry, their brunch menu features mouth-watering Halloumi Buns and Toasties.

They opened their Poplar Bakehouse in 2017, wanting to apply their ethos to the coffee they served. Now, E5 Bakehouse sources and roasts all their coffee. They also have an on-site bakery academy; classes to make sourdough, flatbreads, pastry and pizza. Plus, their farm-style shops offer organic produce and refillable milks. Non-dairy drinkers can replenish their Rushmere Farm Toats Mylk bottless

e5bakehouse.com 

@e5bakehouse