We all know the classic foods which define our great nation; fish and chips, bacon sarnies, full English, afternoon tea. But have you ever wondered where to get the best versions of these signature British dishes? It’s widely known that pasties come from Cornwall, and afternoon tea should be at its finest in London, however we’ve researched UK-wide reviews on TripAdvisor and crunched the data to reveal that this might no longer be the case! Use our interactive map below to find out where you can enjoy the best of the best British dishes*.
The great(est) British food: map reveals where to find the best in British favourites
BACON SANDWICH – London
It’s no surprise that a traditional café has taken the crown for the best bacon sarnie. With a certificate for excellence, Sheila’s Café in Lancaster Gate is the destination for that breakfast classic. The Knobbly Cob in Gloucester, which doubles as a catering company, also really knows how to please with its crispy bacon in a granary bap.
FISH & CHIPS – Manchester
Reviewed by some as the ‘best fish and chips they’ve ever had’, Renfrew’s chippy in Denton proves that you don’t always have to be a coastal town to create this classic. Next up and ticking all the boxes for price, friendliness and great fish and chips is the Wigan Road Chippy in Leigh. Well done, Manchester!
AFTERNOON TEA – Scotland
A great British tradition introduced by the Duchess of Bedford in 1840, enjoying Afternoon Tea remains a favourite past time across the country. Greywall’s in Gullane receives the top spot for its tea menu, finger sandwiches and freshly made scones. Oldham’s Fika Uppermill tea rooms is also highly recommended, followed by a Hemel Hempstead golf club, the Centurion Club.
CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA – Leeds
This dish has been voted as a British favourite for many years, so knowing where to get the best version for your Friday night curry is key! Competition was high for this one, but the top spot belongs to Aagrah in Leeds, which has hundreds of excellent reviews. Hot on its heels is the Bradford Arms in Walsall which isn’t short of the word ‘amazing’ appearing in its reviews.
PASTY – Devon
An age-old argument – does the humble pasty originate from Cornwall or Devon? We may not be able to reveal which is true, but the data has shown that the tastiest version is in fact available in Devon! Specialist pasty bakery, Blackwell’s has taken the title, being described as a ‘gem’ in reviews. Intriguingly, the next recommendation is John Long’s - a traditional chippy in Belfast, where its home-made pasties are loved by the locals.
*According to Trip Advisor reviews. Data collated by scraping reviews which include a positive rating and specific mentions of the particular dish, and ranking the results by highest amount of dish-specific reviews to least.
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