Best Bakery and Cake Shops in Gilwell Park Scout Activity Centre

"This sister-owned Soho bakery looks sweet, but isn't saccahrine. Using no more sugar and fat than they need, their inventive and joyfully decorated offerings are delicately, carefully flavoured. Cutter & Squidge’s Dream Cakes make for jaw dropping centrepieces for your big celebration, or can also be enjoyed by the slice in house – the Lychee Kiss is an elegant flavour trio of lychee, raspberry and rose."

"The menu at this Soho dessert stop features a lot of the delicious treats mentioned on this blog, but most famous are their biskies – a biscuit/cookie/cake hybrid filled with tasty buttercream, jams and caramels. Flavours include passion fruit and salted caramel, apple crumble, chocolate lava and miso caramel. If you’re feeling extra naughty, order one of their indulgent freakshakes to go with it."

"Each one features two biscuit pieces closing in on a layer of cream to create a beautiful dessert sandwich. They’re the perfect sugary pick-me-up and come in a selection of creative flavours. Try the rich billionaire dreambar, which is served with an extra layer of chocolate in the middle."

"No longer need we rely on our stateside cousins for doughnut decadence with these guys around. Once a market stall on Leather Lane, Crosstown Doughnuts have opened 5 permanent locations around London in the last 2 years, serving up their unique take on the American classic. Crosstown bake their doughnuts from sourdough, giving them a bread-like texture, topped and filled with myriad intriguing flavours, from Yuzu & Passionfruit to Beetroot Lemon-Thyme."

"You don't actually have to cross town for these, not now they've got vans, bars and stockists all over the place. You would, though, if you had to — for somewhere among the Standards, the Mini Bites and the Seasonal Specials is the doughnut of your dreams. They use sourdough for a denser, chewier doughnut at Crosstown, one thing which sets them apart from the doughnut masses."

"Another place that absolutely slays the donut game is Crosstown. These guys have only been in London since 2014, but they’ve garnered a massive following since then. As plenty of Londoners would confirm, a donut from Crosstown is absolutely one of the best desserts in London."

"With the sunlight streaming into Flor’s first floor windows of a Saturday, the chic bakery, wine bar and restaurant by the laudable Lyle’s crew feels heaven-sent. Pam Yung is now firmly at the helm, and with lunch undivided from its mid-morning cousin, dishes might include cucumber aggressed by chicory and cocoa; a scallop aguachile with tarocco orange and rhubarb; or a maritozzo overspilling its cod brandade filling. Needless to say, the wine list is stellar."

"Outstanding pizza slingers ASAP have left the building, but outdoor seating continues for superb pastries and Pam Yung’s eclectic approach to modern London cooking."

"Modern European , British"

"Fabrique is an artisanal stone-oven bakery chain that’s come to London via Stockholm and taken the city by storm. The bread they do is top tier stuff but it’s the pastries where Fabrique’s talented bakers are really given a chance to stretch their legs. The adorable semmelbuns and Ibiza-tanned cardamom buns make the most of punchy aromatics that staid British bakes are often too afraid to experiment with."

"Fabrique Bakery originated from Stockholm and now have 4 shops around London. Their bakeries are usually small, cosy and designed with that rustic, feminine charm the Scandinavian are known for. Guaranteed to make any interior design lovers giddy with joy."

"Of all the restaurants in the list, it’s possible that Casse Croûte is the most French. A small wine bar turned restaurant on Bermondsey Street, the successful formula here is to keep things simple and do them well, with a short daily-changing menu of home-cooked French classics on hand as if only really to accompany a notably good value all-French wine list. But the dishes are much better than that would suggest: well-sourced, well-cooked and utterly, effortlessly delicious in the way that only truly foodie countries can manage."

"Located in Bermondsey, this French eatery has an incredibly homely feel. The tiny Casse-Croûte can seat just 20 people at a time, and the village-like interior adds to the small-town atmosphere. You can expect to dine on old French favourites such as shavings of calf’s head, creamy mackerel rillettes, pollock and guinea fowl."

"Restaurants French Bermondsey"

"Perfect for a romantic evening drink, Champagne and Fromage is for lovers of authentic French produce. The small bistro tucked away on Wellington street, offers a variety of 25 award winning Grower Champagnes and artisanal charcuterie platters. The outdoor seating provides soft blankets, outside heating and baked cheese to warm our hearts up."

"It’s a cultured pairing and the precise reason why Bel Canto is so unique amongst the best French restaurants in London. The waiters at this Hyde Park eatery are talented opera singers with professional training, singing to guests every 15 minutes in solos, duets and group arias. On top of that, there’s classic French dishes prepared by Gilles Martin, the Brittany-born and Parisian-trained head chef."

"This opera-themed restaurant near Hyde Park serves up French fine dining with a difference: it’s delivered by waiters singing opera classics. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the music – don’t worry, you’ll not have to sing for your supper."

"Motivated by a love of bao and a desire for something productive to do during lockdown, locals Julie Lynch and Li Lin Chung launched the city’s first bao bun delivery service in March 2021. Each pillowy bun is handmade by chefs to order, with no MSG or artificial flavours in sight – instead, vibrant ingredients such as beetroot and matcha are relied on for colour and only local, free-range meat is used. Even the packaging trays are 100% curb-side recyclable."

"Situated just a few doors down from North Wembley train and tube stations, Ayur Hair & Beauty specialise in women's hair and beauty treatments. From inside this friendly independent salon, you'll find a selection of beauty essentials alongside all the hair staples from brands such as Keune, L'Oreal, CND Shellac and OPI. Menu highlights include the popular keratin-infused Brazilian blow dry, detailed highlights finished with tailored cuts and an impressive selection of manicures and pedicures finished with a choice of classic or longer lasting gel lacquers."

"If it’s pizza that the kids are craving then give Homeslice a try, rather than the big chains. There’s no special menu, but given that the enormous 20 inch pizzas arrive whole at the table for sharing, that’s not really a problem. Certain pizzas can be bought by the slice, too, which is perfect for those who aren't so fond of communal eating."

"Proving pizza can be just as delicious without the cheese is Homeslice, one of London’s best pizza joints. Plant-based options include a mushroom number with chilli flakes and a soy truffle glaze, plus the ‘Ndontja, topped with tenderstem broccoli, vegan mozzarella and vegan ‘Nduja. Various locations.homeslicepizza.co.uk"

"Neal’s Yard is a colorful alley in Covent Garden. It’s worth the quick visit just to take a photo. Just around the corner is Neal’s Yard Dairy, one of the best spots in the city to sample artisanal cheese."