Best Bakery and Cake Shops in Brompton

"This North London bakery describes itself as ‘a bit health conscious’: cakes contain low fat and sugar, but enough to ensure they taste delicious. Cutter & Squidge cakes make the perfect centrepiece for a big celebration too: the Macron Drip Cake, for instance, is a layered creation decorated with macarons, topped with chocolate shards and finished with 24 carat gold. Vegan cakes are also available, and everything can be personalised."

"We make everything from scratch and where possible we use real British ingredients or source from British producers where we can’t.’. The sweet stuff: Cakes and (wince) ‘biskies’. The stuff looks next-level, though, and the mixed selection boxes would make anyone’s day."

"You'd be bonkers not to try one of their famous 'Biskies' (a merge between a cake and a biscuit - v moreish) while sitting in their secret garden."

"Having started out as a small street food stall, its innovative use of tangy sourdough has turned its sweet treats into a London must-try. There are now 20 Crosstown locations across the capital, selling doughnuts in exciting flavours including pomegranate with orange blossom, caramel with banana cream and peanut butter with blackberry compote. Various locations, crosstowndoughnuts.com"

"What: Sourdough doughnuts are a thing, and a thing of beauty as Crosstown have proven time and time again. These pillowy piles of perfection have gained cult status among doughnut lovers (the majority of us, we think) and are available on same day delivery. Try and find a fault in any of that."

"Flor’s baking, now spearheaded by Emma Tillyer, Helen Evans, and Rihito Maruhashi after the departure of Anna Higham, puts a London accent on the exacting tradition and relentless experimentalism that make Paris and Copenhagen two of Europe’s most formidable cities for pastry. On the fringe of the city’s oldest food market, croissants and pain aux chocolats shatter into perfect layers, but carry the austere depth of fresh wheat and a deeply caramelised, savoury sheen; blackcurrant danishes — with blackcurrant leaf custard — and fig danishes — with fig leaf custard — possess seriousness of flavour and imagination to match their beauty. Currently open all day from Thursday — Sunday, it’s offering sandwiches and pizza alongside its outstanding pastries and breads."

"Flor, in Borough Market, comes with serious credentials; after all, it's the long-awaited little sister to the Michelin-starred Lyle’s. Its ground-floor wine bar doubles as a bakery, already known for its sourdough; supplies are limited, so invest in a loaf on arrival. Stools—reserved for walk-ins—line the window and marble counter, which overlooks the kitchen (tiny is an understatement; even four chefs seems a squeeze)."

"This Chinatown bakery has taken a classic Japanese sweet treat and made it both bigger and (possibly) better. Bake’s signature serve is inspired by taiyaki cakes – tiny cakes made in a waffle iron that are shaped to resemble a Japanese fish called a tai. Bake makes relatively massive taiyaki, opens their mouths, and uses them as cones for its green tea-flavoured soft serve."

"Ice Cream , Bakery/Cafe"

"Dee Rettali and Jorge Fernandez set at least some of the templates for London’s approach to coffee and baked goods at Fernandez and Wells. The emphasis here is on slow-fermented doughs with wild yeasts, and unlike many, excellent bakeries, that extends to sweet buns and even cakes affably named “Blocks,” rather than sticking to sourdough. There’s also something called a beef and onion roll, which is what would happen if a sausage roll went to the gym; stuffed with a huge hunk of stickily caramelised, slow-braised meat."

"Bakes, buns, bread, and coffee – that’s what you can get from Fortitude Bakehouse and, honestly, what more could you possibly ask for from life?. Fortitude’s sourdough loaves are complex creations, blessed with just the right amount of satisfying chew and tang; the sticky buns are wonderfully light and sweet; and the hefty slices of cake, which are also made from sourdough, sit somewhere in-between. Whatever carbohydrate you’re in the mood for, Fortitude Bakehouse is guaranteed to satisfy your desire."

"A small but perfectly formed bakery tucked away on a quiet mews. Fortitude’s speciality is sourdough cakes that are baked with alternate flours using a slow fermented baking process. Stop by for a morning bun, a cuppa tea and a look at all the other pastries and treats they have."

"Sitting just off Columbia Road, Lily Vanilli has been reeling in the queues since it opened back in 2010. Its eponymous founder, Lily, uses seasonal, organic produce to create some of the most picture-perfect cakes we’ve ever seen. Flavours include chocolate pretzel, strawberry ripple and a particularly impressive tiered creation titled the Accidentally Wes Anderson Cake, inspired by the director’s aesthetically pleasing films."

"Restaurants Bakeries Bethnal Green. They say: ‘The bakery has a weekly-changing seasonal menu of cakes, pastries, fresh juice and our famous sausage rolls and brownies.’. The sweet stuff: The popular Columbia Road spot is offering cakes and brownies, baked by the titular Lily."

"Self-taught baker Lily Jones has been the go-to queen of unique and whacky baking for over a decade. Prior to opening her shop in Bethnal Green, Lily created wonderfully macabre sweets including zombies and bleeding hearts. Now her bakes feature fewer skulls but still pack a wacky punch thanks to her creative flavour combinations."

"Restaurants Cafés Highbury. With its serene but welcoming atmosphere and short but tempting food menu – think breaded halloumi with romesco sauce and Israeli couscous or treacle-cured bacon sarnie with smoked garlic and tomato chutney – Franks will fix your day before it’s even had a chance to go wrong. Good coffee, efficient staff, generous portions and a playlist full of memorable tracks will gently transform you from a duvet zombie to a chipper day-seizer with minimum fuss."

"British , Brunch"

"One of Europe’s largest inland wetland projects, this 42-hectare centre run by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust was transformed from four Victorian reservoirs in 2000 and attracts some 140 species of bird, as well as frogs, butterflies, dragonflies and lizards, plus a thriving colony of watervoles. The glass-fronted observatory affords panoramic views over the lakes, while meandering paths and boardwalks lead visitors through the watery habitats of black swans, Bewick's swans, geese, red-crested pochards, sand martins, coots, bitterns, herons and kingfishers."

"Voted in 2012 as Britain’s Favourite Natural Reserve, WWT London Wetland Centre is an oasis of natural wildlife placed right in the heart of London. Managed by Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, this idyllic wetland reserve is located in a loop of the Thames and occupies more than 100 acres of land. Home for a significant number of unique species of birds, insects, amphibians and other wildlife representatives, the Wetland Centre represents a real natural wonder."

"Just ten minutes from Hammersmith, you'll get lost in the London Wetland Centre and its lakes, ponds and gardens. Aside from the daily guided tours, you can meet the otters, feed the birds, or take part in a host of family activities such as pond dipping and nature walks."

": Row upon row of glass jars, with everything from tiny organisms, to strange two-headed beasts, to examples of gross diseases, this museum can be very creepy at times, especially when it’s quiet. However, it’s so much more than the freakshow that it is sometimes made out to be, offering a unique insight into the history of surgery and advances in modern medicine. The next few months are your last chance to see the museum before it closes in 2017 for refurbishment, so get going!"

"A great buggy friendly walk with loads to see along the way is from Tower Bridge right up to the London Eye alongside the river. The walk is about 2 miles long so bring a buggy in case your toddler gets tired, but the path is fully pedestrianised and there are plenty of places to stop off on the way. On the way, you will go past the Tate Modern, Millennium Footbridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre up to Southbank and the Royal Festival Hall."

"Alexandra Park is an award-winning park in north London, and is best known as the home of Alexandra Palace. The winding paths and views over the city mean this place is guaranteed to be beautiful, whatever the weather—particularly if you’re lucky enough to catch the sun rising or setting. COVID-19 UPDATE: Alexandra Palace is currently closed, but the park remains open to the public, with limited support services."

"This is a wonderful hillside public park set in the grounds of the spectacular and historic Alexandra Palace. Located near Muswell Hill in North London, the 80–hectare park dates from 1863 and has a Green Heritage status and a Green Flag Award. The wonderful London park offers locals a place to relax and escape from city life."

"Alexandra Park can be found on London's Musgrove Hill, a short distance from Wood Green Underground Station. The sloping park has its own nature reserve. Parkland Walk is picturesque walk along a disused railway."