Eats and Treats: A Culinary Tour of London with Context

On the vibrant streets of St James and in Soho and Covent Garden’s eclectic enclaves, you’ll find some of London’s favorite foodie spots. On this walking tour with Alice Venessa Bever, a culinary connoisseur and Context Travel expert, you’ll get to know Central London through its culinary offerings and hear a few stories behind the places we’ll visit.

Starting on Pall Mall, you’ll wind your way through the city, visiting unique landmarks, enjoying some fun tastings, and learning about some off-the-beaten-track places that will help you get the feel of London’s spirit. You’ll pass by Fortnum & Mason who claim to have invented the Scotch Egg, and Lina Stores Soho Delicatessen, an Italian vendor that’s been selling cheese and cured meats for the past 80 years. You’ll also learn about and have the opportunity to try over 100 gins at Gerry’s Wines & Spirits. As you wander around Soho, you’ll discover the history behind its community of immigrants and find out how, although tea was considerably more popular in British culture, London’s oldest coffee shop, Algerian Coffee Stores, knew there was a market for the hot beverage. Alice will also show you Bar Italia, which was originally a hub for the Italians living in the area but later became a hangout for artists like Nenah Cherry, David Bowie and Harvey Keitel. You’ll have a chance to visit the Seven Dials Market, a network of street food vendors who bring their talents together in a shared space. Our tour ends in Neal’s Yard, where you’ll get recommendations on where to eat next.

On this 90-minute walking tour of London, you’ll:

• Explore three establishments in the St. James neighborhood and have the chance to buy everything from tea and spirits to chocolate and cheese
• Walk through Covent Garden to discover a market of street food vendors and bakeries
• Take in Berry Brothers & Rudd, a shop that has a 300-year-long legacy of providing wines and spirits to England’s royal households and aristocracy
• Learn the history behind Beau “Buck“ Brummel, a man associated with style, good taste, the perfect cravat knot, who was the original “influencer“ of dandyism
• Visit Paxton & Whitfield, the oldest cheesemonger in England, which as been going since 1742
• Hear the meaning behind the Royal Warrants, the sign that a store has gotten a proverbial ‘golden thumbs up’ by the late Queen or, nowadays, the former Prince of Wales, the King
• Pop into Bar Italia to see their 50-year-old Gaggia machine, the first espresso machine in the UK!
• Indulge in the multicultural flavors of Soho, sampling authentic Italian cannoli, Swedish baked goods, and a wide selection of London gin
• Try Cantonese buns made with milk from Bun House
• Stop by the eclectic and charming Maison Bertaux, the oldest patisserie in London, and try one of their famous scones

From learning about the rich immigrant history of London and getting a quick glance into the theatre and music scene, this tour is guaranteed to whet your appetite and enrich your time and taste buds in London.