Where to eat in London this year.

The 12.5% service charge: what to do at the table

Is service included, should you tip on top, and can you refuse the charge? Many London restaurants, including most hotel restaurants, add a discretionary service charge, commonly 12.5%. If it is on the bill, that is the tip. You do not need to add more.

• Read the bill before you tap. Card machines may still prompt for a tip when service is already included. Choose no tip in that case.
• It is discretionary. If service was genuinely poor, you can ask for it to be removed. Do so quietly with the manager.
• It goes to staff. Since 1 October 2024 the law has required employers to pass tips and service charges to workers in full.
• No charge on the bill? Around 10% to 12.5% for good service is normal.

At fine-dining restaurants, a small extra thank you for an outstanding sommelier is a kind gesture, never an expectation.

Q: Do I need to tip if there is a service charge in a London restaurant?

A: No. The service charge is the tip, so you do not need to add anything. Decline the tip prompt on the card machine.

Afternoon tea: the Ritz, Fortnum's, Sketch or the Langham?

Where should you go for afternoon tea, how far ahead should you book, and is there a dress code? The famous names compared:

• The Ritz: The grand classic in the Palm Court. Book well ahead, especially for weekends. Gentlemen must wear a jacket and tie, and jeans and sportswear are not allowed for anyone.
• Fortnum & Mason: The tea salon above the Piccadilly store, relaxed and very British, with tea to buy on the way out.
• Sketch: Playful and photogenic, more art installation than tradition.
• The Langham: Its Palm Court says it was the first hotel to put afternoon tea on the menu.
• Claridge's and The Savoy: Elegant settings, polished service, and strong alternatives when the Ritz is full.

Outside the Ritz, smart casual is fine almost everywhere. Mention allergies or dietary needs when you book, as kitchens prepare in advance. Weekday afternoons are easier to book and calmer than weekends.

Q: What is the dress code for afternoon tea at the Ritz?

A: Gentlemen must wear a jacket and tie, and jeans and sportswear are not permitted for anyone. Smart day wear is right for women.

Sunday roast: pub lunch or grand dining room?

Where is the best Sunday roast, do you need to book, and should it be a pub or a restaurant? Book, almost always. Good roasts sell out, and many kitchens serve them only until the beef runs out. A week or more ahead is wise for a popular place.

• The pub roast: Relaxed and family-friendly, with Yorkshire puddings and gravy. Gastropubs in Marylebone, Belgravia and Mayfair serve excellent roasts in handsome old rooms.
• The restaurant roast: Steakhouses such as Hawksmoor are known for theirs, while Rules in Covent Garden, founded in 1798 and famous for game, offers a classic British dining room for Sunday lunch.

A roast is a long, slow lunch. Book for 1pm or 2pm and keep the afternoon free for a walk in a nearby park. If you prefer lamb, pork or a vegetarian roast, ask when booking, as some places offer only beef.

Q: Do I need to book a Sunday roast in London?

A: Yes, for any popular pub or restaurant. Book a week or more ahead and aim for an early afternoon table.

London's most atmospheric historic pubs

Which pubs are the oldest or most atmospheric? Three names come up again and again, and each deserves the trip:

• Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street: Rebuilt soon after the Great Fire of 1666, with dark, low rooms and cellar bars. Dickens was a regular.
• The George Inn, Southwark: London's only surviving galleried coaching inn, owned by the National Trust and a short walk from London Bridge.
• The Lamb, Bloomsbury: A Victorian pub with rare etched snob screens at the bar, close to the British Museum.

Historic pubs are small and fill fast after office hours, so mid-afternoon on a weekday is ideal. Order at the bar; there is no table service and no need to tip. Some City pubs keep short weekend hours, so check before you go. A concierge or private guide can plan a walking route linking two or three, with history along the way.

Q: What is the oldest pub in London?

A: Several pubs claim the title. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, and the galleried George Inn in Southwark are among the most historic you can visit.

Borough Market: which day to go

Is Borough Market open on Sundays or Mondays, and which days are best? It is open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Monday. Regular hours are 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Hours change at bank holidays and over Christmas.

• Weekday mornings are the calmest time to browse and talk to traders.
• Saturday has the biggest buzz and the biggest crowds. Arrive at 9am.
• Sunday has shorter hours, so go early.

For a more polished visit, book lunch at one of the restaurants around the market rather than eating standing up, or ask your hotel to arrange a guided food tour with tastings. Combine it with Southwark Cathedral next door and a walk west along Bankside to Tate Modern.

Q: Is Borough Market open on Mondays?

A: No. It is open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays. Check the market's website for bank holiday and Christmas hours.

Coeliac, vegan or halal: dining well in London

Can you eat well in London if you are coeliac, vegan or need halal food? Yes, and at the top end it is straightforward. Restaurants must tell you if a dish contains any of the 14 major allergens, including gluten, so staff can always check.

• Coeliac: Say coeliac, not just gluten-free, so the kitchen treats cross-contamination seriously. Tasting menus can usually be adapted with notice.
• Vegan: Many leading restaurants now offer a full plant-based tasting menu. Ask when you book.
• Halal: Plenty of upmarket restaurants, particularly in Mayfair and Knightsbridge, serve halal meat. Confirm directly, as it may apply to some dishes only.

Put your requirement in the booking notes and repeat it on arrival. A concierge can call ahead and check the restaurant is confident, which avoids an awkward conversation at the table. Afternoon tea needs the most notice, as everything is prepared in advance.

Q: Do London restaurants have to tell me about allergens?

A: Yes. Restaurants must provide information on 14 major allergens, including gluten, nuts and milk. Always tell staff about a serious allergy or coeliac disease.

What to wear for dinner in London

Do London restaurants have dress codes, and what should you wear? Fewer than visitors expect. Most restaurants, even Michelin-starred ones, follow smart casual: good trousers or dark jeans, a shirt or smart top, and clean shoes. A jacket is rarely required, but you will never look out of place in one.

• Formal exceptions: A handful of grand hotel dining rooms and some private members' clubs still ask men for a jacket, sometimes a tie. Check your booking confirmation.
• Sportswear: Gym clothes, shorts and flip-flops are turned away at upmarket places.
• Trainers: Clean, smart trainers are fine in most modern restaurants, less so in traditional rooms.
• Hotel bars: Often smarter than the restaurant downstairs, especially in the evening.

For a celebration dinner, dressing up a little is part of the pleasure and never wrong. Ask the concierge if you are unsure about a specific restaurant.

Q: Can I wear jeans to a nice restaurant in London?

A: Usually, yes, if they are dark and smart with a good shirt or top. A few grand hotel dining rooms and members' clubs are stricter, so check when you book.

Dining alone in London, from counters to fine dining

Where can you eat alone comfortably, from casual places to fine dining? London is one of the easiest cities in the world for solo dining.

• Counter seats: Chef's counters and bar seating suit one perfectly. Barrafina's tapas counters are a favourite, and you watch the cooking up close.
• Grand cafés: The all-day brasseries of Mayfair and St James's welcome solo guests at breakfast and lunch without fuss.
• Hotel bars: Many luxury hotel bars serve full meals, and a seat at the bar comes with conversation if you want it.
• Fine dining: Lunch is the best time to go alone. Tables for one are easier to book, set menus are better value and the room is calmer.

When booking for one, ask for a good table, not the one by the kitchen door. Bring a book if you like; nobody will stare. Your concierge can suggest places where solo guests are made welcome rather than tolerated.

Q: Is it normal to eat alone in London restaurants?

A: Yes, very. Counter seats, hotel bars and fine-dining lunches are especially comfortable for solo diners.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day dining

Which restaurants are open on 25 and 26 December, and when should you book? Most independent restaurants close on Christmas Day. The main option is a hotel restaurant, which usually serves a set Christmas lunch, and sometimes dinner, at a festive price.

• Book early. Popular hotel lunches can be full by autumn, so reserve when you book your room.
• Expect a set menu. Choice is limited and pre-payment is common. Check the deposit and cancellation terms.
• Plan transport. There is no Tube, bus or train on Christmas Day, so choose somewhere within walking distance or book a car well ahead.
• Boxing Day is easier. More restaurants reopen, though some keep shorter hours.

Staying in? Many luxury hotels offer in-room Christmas dining. A walk in a quiet Hyde Park before lunch is one of the nicest parts of the day.

Q: Are London restaurants open on Christmas Day?

A: Most independent restaurants close, but many hotel restaurants serve a set Christmas lunch. Book months ahead and plan transport, as there is no public transport that day.

Booking Michelin-starred and fine-dining restaurants

Which Michelin or fine-dining restaurants are worth booking, and how far ahead? London has dozens of starred restaurants, from grand hotel dining rooms to small chef-led places. Use the current Michelin Guide as your starting point, as stars change every year.

• Know the booking window. Many top restaurants release tables on a set date, often a month or more ahead. Note the release day and book as soon as it opens.
• Join the waiting list. Cancellations are common, especially a day or two before.
• Try lunch. Lunch is easier to book and usually better value.
• Expect a deposit. Card details and cancellation fees are standard.
• Ask your hotel. A good concierge has relationships with restaurants and may find a table when the website shows none.

Large hotel dining rooms tend to have more availability than tiny chef's tables. Tell the restaurant about a celebration or dietary needs at booking.

Q: How far ahead should I book a Michelin restaurant in London?

A: For the most sought-after places, as soon as tables are released, which can be a month or more ahead. Lunch and waiting lists give extra chances.