London Pastries: Best Sweet Treats and Where to Find Them

When you think of London pastries, delicate, buttery baked goods that blend British tradition with global influences. Also known as British pastries, they’re not just dessert—they’re a daily ritual for locals who know where to find the perfect flake, crumb, or custard filling. Forget the tourist traps with stale Victoria sponges. The real magic happens in small bakeries tucked into East London alleys, quiet corners of Notting Hill, and hidden basement spots in Camden—places where bakers start at 3 a.m. to get the dough just right.

What makes a great London pastry, a fusion of French technique and British taste. Also known as British pastries, it’s not just about sugar—it’s about balance. A perfect croissant, a layered, buttery viennoiserie that shatters with every bite. Also known as French croissant, should have a golden crust and a hollow center that smells like heaven. In London, you’ll find them at La Boulangerie in Peckham, where they use French butter and ferment the dough for 24 hours. Then there’s the scone, a crumbly, slightly sweet bread traditionally served with clotted cream and jam. Also known as Scottish scone, and in London, the best ones come from The Scone Shop in Notting Hill—warm, moist, and never dry. Don’t skip the Chelsea bun, a spiced, sticky, raisin-studded pastry with a caramel glaze. Also known as London bun, a relic from the 18th century that still holds its own against modern cakes.

London’s pastry scene isn’t stuck in the past. You’ll find vegan croissants made with oat milk butter, matcha danishes that taste like spring, and gluten-free scones that don’t taste like cardboard. But the real winners? The ones that stay true to the craft—flaky, buttery, and made with care. Whether you’re grabbing a pastry with your morning coffee or treating yourself after a long day, the best ones don’t need a sign. You’ll know by the line outside, the smell in the air, and the way the crumbs fall just right.

What you’ll find below are real, tested spots—no sponsored posts, no fake reviews. Just the places locals return to again and again, the bakeries that never compromise, and the pastries that make you forget you’re in a city that never sleeps.