Best Pastries in The Fleet

"Mini Éphémère, a lemon and yuzu meringue and cream version of the Merveilleux. Finding a delicious sweet treat for less than £2 anywhere in London is rare but finding something that will put your sweet tooth into a trance in South Kensington for £1.20 is some kind of miracle. At Aux Merveilleux de Fred, the mini versions of their namesake confections are so light – and inexpensive – that you can indulge without guilt."

"For the melt-in-the-mouth pastry experience only a true French chef such as Frédéric Vaucamps can achieve, book yourself in at Aux Merveilleux de Fred. Famed for their brioches, meringues and truffles, which are must-buys, the whole menu is highly acclaimed. Do yourself a favour and get some takeaway buns to enjoy as you travel around the rest of the city – they are truly merveilleux."

"If you’re a big fan of croissants, then the Pasty Parlour is a must for your Little Black Book. One of London’s best bakeries, everything is baked fresh on-site daily and their pastries are said to rival the originals from across the channel. 8 Piazza Walk, London E1 8FU; thepastryparlour.co.uk"

"This dog-friendly east London café is certainly one to add to your London vegan food roster. Not only is there a full vegan English breakfast, complete with crispy hash browns, roasted plum tomatoes and grilled sourdough dripping in creamy vegan butter, they also serve seriously generous portions, leaving even the hungriest of customers full. There’s far more than fry ups on offer, though: the spicy coconut ramen is a delightful winter warmer, served with silky tofu, shiitake mushrooms and thick udon noodles deliciously slurped up when drizzled in hot chilli oil."

"Italian-originating Said is the London offshoot of Rome’s oldest chocolate shop, but the gravity of such status doesn’t stop it from getting a little silly. Hot chocolate here transcends warm beverage to full-blown dessert – rich, thick, molten chocolate is spooned into cups so generously it often overflows. Cakes can be ordered here too, with the option of adding a dutiful drenching of hot milk, dark or white chocolate sauce."

"Philippe Conticini is a legend of pâtisserie and both of his eponymous Londoncafés are home to some of the finest gourmet pastries on this side of the channel. Paying a visit to Phillipe Conticini is like paying your respects to the butter gods. His Paris Brest is a thing of delicate, complicated beauty; his vanilla flan a reminder of what heights custard can achieve; and his pain au chocolat, a pastry so layered and flaky that it makes all pretenders seem a sham."

"Fashion fans should bookmark this undeniably chic patisserie pronto. Pasticceria Marchesi is one of Milan’s most established bakeries and is now owned by one of the world’s biggest fashion powerhouses, Prada. They opened a London outpost earlier this year and it’s become one of Mount Street’s most Instagrammable spots – for both it’s sweet treats and sugar almond coloured interiors."

"The one by Garden at 120 This healthy grab-and-go restaurant is famous for its Field Trays; flavour-packed proteins with your choice of grains, salads and sides all dished up in a compartmentalised tray for less than £8. A different day brings with it a different combination; pair your harissa chicken with brown rice, cavalo nero and bean salad and a tarragon dressing, or match grilled salmon fillets with pesto, sweet potato chips and wilted greens. The offerings are just that little bit different compared to most takeaway joints in the City, lending from Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Asian cuisines."

"Restaurants Bakeries Newington Green. From the folks behind Primeur and Westerns Laundry, Jolene is a supremely beautiful warehouse-style space in a quiet spot opposite the park in Newington Green. During the day it runs as a low-key brunch spot and bakery: they stone-mill their own flour in-house using 100 percent unaltered grains grown sustainably on farms in Sussex and Norfolk."

"Cafe/Bakery , Brunch"

"The popular Dalston bakery is expanding, opening a new shop on Green Lanes in North London. A baker by day, serving some epic sandwiches, pastries and more, the venue will also work as a pizza restaurant three nights a week. And if previous form is anything to go by, expect to queue for seats at what looks to be a popular place to bag a bite to eat."

"They say: ‘The Dusty Knuckle Bakery (Est 2014) is a London-based social enterprise and food operation that supplies some of London’s most renowned chefs with exceptional bread and pastries.’. The sweet stuff: Top-notch hot cross buns and morning buns. Delivery: Free if your order is over £40."

"Tucked behind the Arcola Theatre in Dalston since 2014, this enterprising social enterprise produces some of London’s finest breads and pastries: morning buns to make Tartine blush and a potato sourdough that is without doubt one of the city’s greatest."

"The world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design is not the most obviously family-friendly of the South Kensington museums, but there’s a lot more to the Victoria & Albert museum for kids than you might expect. Better with older preschoolers than toddlers, there are various children’s activity packs, including the Agent Animal backpack with coloured blocks which make a noise to entertain as you follow the animal-themed trail. As you might expect from a museum focused on ‘decorative and applied arts’, there are plenty of creative activities as well – the chance to draw and let imaginations be inspired by the exhibits as well as opportunities to dress up."

"Lovers of culture should head to Exhibition Road, home to some of London’s best museums and galleries. There you will find the remarkable Victoria and Albert Museum, which offers free general admission, talks and tours. The foundation stone of the current V&A building was laid in 1899 by Queen Victoria, and the stunning building houses thousands of art and design objects from a wide range of periods, including Art Deco, Medieval, Renaissance and Surrealism."

"With more than 2.3 million objects, multiple visits (and some comfy shoes) are required to get a handle on the V&A’s enormous collection. Whatever your passion, you’ll find part of its history here, with displays dedicated to fashion, furniture, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and performance to name but a few. It costs nothing to get in, and you’ll leave feeling inspired by the endless possibilities of human creativity."

"By far the most extensive and sophisticated exhibitions of photography can be found at the dedicated Photographers’ Gallery, which is perhaps more aptly described as a museum of photography, spread over five floors. There is no permanent collection, but exhibitions are carefully curated with an educational and historic focus. The gallery also hosts a bookshop, a café, and a lively series of educational and social events, making it a premier yet relatively underappreciated attraction for anyone out and about in the city."

"The Photographers’ Gallery was founded in London by Sue Davies opening on 14 January 1971, as the first public gallery in the United Kingdom devoted solely to photography in a converted Tea Bar in London’s Covent Garden. In 1980 the gallery extended to a neighboring building."

"The grooviest gallery on the Greenwich Peninsula presents three solo shows each year. The glass facade frames this 7m high space, creating a window into an artistic world. A key feature of NOW’s artist interventions is their immersive nature, so expect some wild and wonderful exhibitions."