Best Pastries in Shoreditch

"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."

"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."

"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."

"((Just a note that we don’t visit in on the regular HP Tour, but it’s included in the Audio Guide and on our web pages so I”ve noted that at the bottom.)). Located in the City of London, Leadenhall Market is a true treasure. Leadenhall is a covered market and the ornate rooftop, as well as the cobbled floors, were designed in 1881 and are nearly all original, although there was some redecoration done in the 1990s."

"I consider this to be one of the lesser known photo spots in London, but am always surprised when people visit and have no idea what it is. I absolutely love Leadenhall Market and the fact that it’s just a place for everyday City workers to grab their cup of coffee in the morning or drink after work. It’s such a normal place, but it’s so beautiful!"

"For almost 700 years, the undercover Leadenhall Market has been delighting shoppers with its food and other market stalls. One of the great historic food markets in London, it’s the perfect opportunity to grab some food in a gorgeous setting. Don’t miss the scrumptious pasta bar of celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo for a drool-worthy carb-loaded feast."

"Everyone loves a bargain, and there plenty to be had with top brands at the London Designer Outlet. Situated in the heart of the Wembley Park district, LDO is London’s first outlet centre, with shops offering discounts of 30-70% (and up to 85% during sales) on retail price all year round. There are more than 70 outlet stores, restaurants, and coffee shops at the LDO, with brands including Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, GAP, Nike, PUMA, Kurt Geiger, Lindt, Calvin Klein, and many more on offer within the shopping centre."

"Fleet Street is the former home of London’s printing and publishing industry. It has an old-timey appearance, with tall grey buildings stacked high on either side of the street. It’s a great spot for raw street photography."

"The pelicans were first introduced to Green Park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian Ambassador, and today there are over 40 pelicans living there. Toddlers will love seeing the most famous pelicans, Louis, Vaclav and Gargi sunbathing on their favourite rocks – don’t miss the pelican feeding between 2.30pm and 3.30pm daily."

"If visiting Buckingham palace or taking a jaunt through central London, St James's Park is the perfect rest stop. Stunning lakes which home many a duck and beautiful gardens, what more could you want?"

"I’ve always felt torn between the two, and I’ve been incredibly grateful for London’s parks lately. It’s so nice to get a nature fix even while being confined to the city."

"A hidden idyll in Charlton, this animal park is home to more than 15 different types of animals including sheep, pigs, ducks, chickens and goats. They also look after RDA ponies, Arthur, Teddy and Tiny Tim, who give rides to disabled children and adults. Elsewhere, visitors can pet and feed the animals, and it’s one of the only places in London where you can see fallow deer up close."

"There are two versions of Camberwell: one where Silk Road is its destination Chinese restaurant, and the other where it’s Tasty House. Like the Kosher Chinese restaurants of Golders Green, this takeaway on Denmark Hill is a testament to the ability of Chinese cuisine to mould itself round the tastes of a local community — in this case a predominantly working class, predominantly West African clientele. Its reputation is built off the back off burnished fried rice dishes, whose fugitive notes of wok smoke shares DNA with Ghanaian jollof, while all orders can be customised to levels of spiciness and porkiness."