Best Place For Ice Cream In London
So there I was, last Tuesday, sweating through a linen shirt I definitely shouldn’t have worn in August, staring at a melting blob of “artisanal vanilla” that cost a fiver. It...
So there I was, last Tuesday, sweating through a linen shirt I definitely shouldn’t have worn in August, staring at a melting blob of “artisanal vanilla” that cost a fiver. It was clearly just posh custard. A pigeon looked at me with such judgement I almost tossed him the cone. I knew, right then, I had to find the real deal—the holy grail of dairy and sugar in this city.
I’m talking about the kind of ice cream that makes you close your eyes and ignore the traffic noise. The kind where the first bite is so good you actually laugh out loud, then feel a little embarrassed. London is a minefield of overpriced, mediocre scoops, but I’ve done the legwork (and the brain freeze) so you don’t have to.
There are a few undisputed champions, but if you force me to pick one—and I will fight you on this—you have to go to Gelupo in Soho. It’s a tiny, unassuming pastel shop on Archer Street, and it ruins all other ice cream for you. For life. You’ve been warned.
Owned by the genius behind Bocca di Lupo, Gelupo doesn’t do gimmicks. They do pure, intense flavour. The ricotta and sour cherry is a religious experience—creamy, tangy, with these dark, boozy cherries that actually taste like fruit, not syrup. Why are you still reading this? Go.
But I know what you’re thinking: “What about the trendy spots with the liquid nitrogen clouds?” Look, Chin Chin Labs on Camden High Street is legit, but it’s a totally different vibe. Their nitro-frozen honeycomb and burnt vanilla is a show, sure—and it’s delicious—but you queue for twenty minutes and it melts in five. Gelupo gives you time to savour.
If you’re south of the river, make a pilgrimage to La Sureña in Herne Hill. It’s a little Argentinian deli that also makes the most absurdly good dulce de leche ice cream you’ll ever eat. I’m not joking when I say I once bought a tub, sat on a bench, and ate the entire thing before the bus arrived. Zero regrets.
Good Ice Cream Places London at Declan Thwaites blog
Now, let’s talk about texture for a second. Gelato is not ice cream. I know, I know, but I have to say it. Gelato has less fat and less air, which means it hits your tongue like cold velvet. Ice cream is richer, denser with cream. Gelupo is gelato, but their chocolate sorbet is the one exception—it’s dairy-free and tastes like you’re drinking a melted dark chocolate bar. Pure, glorious sin.
For a proper old-school ice cream parlour experience—the kind with a stripy awning and chrome stools—go to Morelli’s in Mayfair. It’s been around since 1907. Their stracciatella is a masterpiece of chocolate shards, and the staff wear bow ties. Yes, it’s a bit touristy. Yes, it costs a mortgage payment. But that first bite of history is worth it.
But let’s be real: the best ice cream in London is often found in the most random places. Remember that time you left a pub in Hackney and stumbled upon a brightly lit window? That might be Ruby Violet in King’s Cross, where they do a sorbet called “English Garden” that literally has cucumber and mint. It sounds wrong. It tastes like summer.
A quick word on vegan options: Lickalix in Brixton makes a coconut-based “Blueberry & Lavender” that converts even the most hardened dairy lover. It’s not ice cream, but it’s so creamy you’ll forget what the name means. And they let you taste-test every flavour. Yes, you.
Ice Cream In London Bridge at Zoe Walker blog
Of course, there’s Hackney Gelato, which has become a mini-empire for a reason. Their “Brown Butter and Honeycomb” is the stuff of Instagram legend, but here’s the truth: it’s excellent, but it’s not a secret anymore. You’ll queue for twenty minutes with prams and dogs, and you’ll pay a premium for the vibe. Is it worth it? On a sunny day, absolutely. But don’t pretend you discovered it.
I have to mention one dark horse: Oddono’s in Bayswater. It’s been there for decades, and it’s deeply unfashionable. Their pistachio is the greenest, nuttiest, most alarmingly bright scoop you’ll see—and that’s because they use real Sicilian pistachios. It tastes like a vacation you can afford.
Where does that leave us? If you’re a first-timer visiting London, skip the chain shops on Oxford Street. Your itinerary should say: Gelupo for the ricotta and cherry, then a walk through Soho with a cone in your hand. If you’re a local, try La Sureña on a Sunday and thank me later. And if you’re lactose intolerant, I’m so sorry—maybe just look at the photos?
So next time you feel that hot pavement under your shoes and the threat of disappointing cheap ice cream, you know where to go. Save yourself from the overpriced custard. Get the real stuff. Your taste buds—and that judgemental pigeon—deserve better.
