Guides
WHERE TO GET ICE CREAM IN LONDON
There’s no shortage of places to get ice cream in London, but these are the spots we keep coming back to. From nostalgic soft serve and small-batch scoops to cult sandwiches and East London locals, consider this your summer hit list.
1. Chunk Provisions, Leyton
A local spot for us in Leyton, Chunk Provisions is a chef-owned gelato shop serving small-batch flavours churned fresh daily. Their menu balances classics with more experimental combinations, from pistachio and salted caramel to burnt honey earl grey and black sesame soy. Set inside a railway arch just off Leyton Midland Road, it’s the kind of neighbourhood place you end up visiting more than once a week in Summer.
2. The Dreamery, De Beauvoir
Part natural wine bar, part ice cream shop, The Dreamery is one of those places that makes a quick dessert stop turn into a whole evening. Alongside a strong wine list, they serve playful soft serve, sundaes and rotating seasonal flavours that lean nostalgic without feeling overly sweet. Go for a scoop, stay for a glass of wine and a seat outside on a warm evening.
3. Big Kid Ice Cream, Soho
Located in Soho, Big Kid Ice Cream has built a loyal following for its inventive flavour combinations and rotating specials. The menu changes often, but there’s always something unexpected involved. It’s exactly the kind of place you want to stumble across on a summer evening in central London.
4. Romeo & Giulietta Artisan Gelateria, Islington
A North London institution, Romeo & Giulietta Artisan Gelateria is where to go for proper Italian gelato. Think pistachio, stracciatella and hazelnut done perfectly, without overcomplicating things. It’s classic for a reason, and worth the trip any time the sun comes out.
5. Happy Endings, various locations here
If you spot Happy Endings on a menu, order it. The East London brand is best known for its ice cream sandwiches, which have become something of a cult favourite across cafés, delis and restaurants in the city. Rich, nostalgic and slightly over-the-top in the best way, they consistently get it right.
Consider this your sign to spend the next sunny afternoon with an ice cream in hand.
