The 9 Best Bakeries in London (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 9 picks

The best bakeries in London in 2026 include E5 Bakehouse in Hackney, TOAD in Camberwell and Arôme in Covent Garden, all on the Good Food Guide's 2026 best-bakeries list, plus Pophams in Islington, St JOHN Bakery in Bermondsey, Dusty Knuckle in Dalston and Bread Ahead at Borough Market.

London's bakery scene runs from railway-arch sourdough bakeries in Hackney to Soho patisseries that have been open since the nineteenth century. Several of the places below are small, can sell out of popular bakes and are closed on some days, so go in the morning and check opening hours before you travel. A croissant or pastry typically costs roughly £3 to £5 and a loaf of sourdough roughly £5 to £8. For coffee to go with your pastry see our best coffee shops; for a sit-down meal, our best brunch spots; and for stalls and street food, our best markets.

1. E5 Bakehouse — Hackney, Shoreditch & East London

A railway-arch sourdough bakery in Hackney that is on the Good Food Guide's 2026 best-bakeries list.

$$ Mid-range

E5 Bakehouse began in spring 2010, when founder Ben took a short sourdough course, returned to Hackney and built a clay oven in a railway arch fuelled by off-cuts from local carpenters, according to the bakery's own story. It started with bread and has since added lunches, coffee, hot drinks and cakes. Time Out reported it as a returning entry on the Good Food Guide's 2026 list of Britain's best bakeries.

The arch on Mentmore Terrace, near London Fields and Broadway Market, is the best-known site; the bakery also runs a Poplar Bakehouse in the Poplar Union. Its website also lists baking classes and an e5 Storehouse at V&A East.

Good to know: Check the website for current opening hours before you visit, and go early for the widest choice of bread.

Arch 395, Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PH

Google Maps Website

2. TOAD Bakery — Camberwell

A Camberwell cult bakery known for inventive croissants, on the Good Food Guide's 2026 list.

$$ Mid-range

TOAD Bakery is on Peckham Road on the Camberwell and Peckham border, opposite the South London Gallery. Time Out lists it among the Good Food Guide's 2026 best bakeries, calling it a cult Camberwell spot. It is known for laminated pastry, including an everything-bagel croissant with a cream cheese centre, alongside plain croissants, chocolatines and sourdough sandwiches.

Listings give opening as Tuesday to Saturday in the morning and early afternoon, so it is not a Sunday option. TOAD has also reported opening a second, larger bakery in Deptford in summer 2026 (on Deptford High Street), so check its website for current details of both.

Good to know: Open Tuesday to Saturday only according to most listings; go before lunchtime for the best choice.

44 Peckham Road, London SE5 8PX

Google Maps Website

3. Arôme Bakery — Covent Garden, Soho & the West End

A Covent Garden bakery blending Parisian patisserie technique with Japanese-influenced flavours.

$$ Mid-range

Arôme Bakery's Mercer Street bakery and café is a short walk from Seven Dials and Covent Garden. Time Out reports it as a new entry on the Good Food Guide's 2026 best-bakeries list, describing it as blending Parisian patisserie techniques with global flavours, with standouts such as shokupan and sausage-and-cheese croissants with a Japanese barbecue sauce.

Its website lists Mercer Street open Tuesday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm and Sunday from 9am to 4pm, closed Mondays. Arôme also has bakery cafés on Duke Street, Marylebone, and a Bread & Ice Cream counter on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Good to know: Closed on Mondays; check the website for current hours.

9 Mercer Street, London WC2H 9QJ

Google Maps Website

4. Pophams Bakery, Islington — Islington, Hampstead & North London

A pastry-and-pasta bakery on a quiet Islington street, popular for croissants and weekend queues.

$$ Mid-range

Pophams is an artisan bakery and restaurant on Prebend Street, a short walk from Angel and Canonbury, with a second site on Richmond Road by London Fields in Hackney. Pastries and bread are the draw by day, with lunch and pasta dishes also served.

Opening hours differ between sources and between its sites, so check its website before you go.

Good to know: Check the website for current opening hours before you go.

19 Prebend Street, London N1 8PF

Google Maps Website

5. St JOHN Bakery — Bermondsey, South Bank & Borough

The Bermondsey bakery arch behind St JOHN's famous custard doughnuts.

$$ Mid-range

St JOHN Bakery sits in an arch on Druid Street, a short walk from Maltby Street Market. It is the bread and pastry arm of the St JOHN restaurant group and is best known for its custard doughnuts, which are widely praised.

Hours and stock change, particularly at weekends, so check the website or call before making a special trip. St JOHN also runs a bakery on Borough High Street and one at the London Review Bookshop near the British Museum.

Good to know: Combine it with Maltby Street Market on Saturdays, and check hours first because they have varied.

72 Druid Street, London SE1 2HQ

Google Maps Website

6. Dusty Knuckle — Dalston, Shoreditch & East London

A Dalston bakery and café known for its bread and for training young people through its youth programme.

$$ Mid-range

Dusty Knuckle runs cafés in Dalston (Abbot Street car park) and Harringay (Green Lanes), plus a van at Highbury Fields. Its website says 100% of proceeds from its merchandise go to the Dusty Knuckle Youth Training Programme, and it offers baking classes and events.

It is a good stop for bread and pastries, and its website advertises events such as a Dalston pizza takeover and wine nights. Check the website for current events and opening hours at each site.

Good to know: The Dalston cafe is tucked into a car park off Abbot Street, so follow the signs.

Abbot Street Car Park, Abbot Street, London E8 3DP

Google Maps Website

7. Bread Ahead, Borough Market — Borough Market

Borough Market's famous doughnut bakery, with bread, pastries and baking classes.

$$ Mid-range

Bread Ahead's Borough Market shop is its original London home, selling bread fresh from the ovens, pastries, cakes and doughnuts six days a week, according to its website. Doughnuts are the big draw.

Borough Market extended the bakery's lease in October 2026, so the shop is staying put for now. Bread Ahead also has bakeries at Leicester Square, South Kensington, King's Cross and Wembley Park, and runs baking classes through its school.

Good to know: Go on a weekday to skip the Saturday crowds at Borough Market.

Borough Market, Cathedral Street, London SE1 9DE

Google Maps Website

8. Rinkoffs Bakery — Whitechapel, Shoreditch & East London

A family bakery in the East End since 1911, now famous for its crodoughs.

$ Budget

Rinkoffs says Hyman Rinkoff opened the bakery in 1911, and the family still runs it, bringing recipes from Eastern Europe to East London. Today it sells pastries, doughnuts, cakes, challah, sourdoughs and bagels, and calls its London shops the official home of the crodough.

The main bakery is on Jubilee Street in Stepney, listed as open daily from 8am to 6pm, and a deli on Vallance Road is open daily too. Its website does not state a kosher certificate, so check with the bakery if you need one.

Good to know: Pair a visit with Brick Lane's beigel shops, about a mile away.

224 Jubilee Street, London E1 3BS

Google Maps Website

9. Maison Bertaux — Soho

Soho's cake shop and tea room, making cakes on Greek Street since 1871.

$$ Mid-range

Maison Bertaux's website says it has been creating cakes in Soho since 1871, which would make it one of London's oldest patisseries. The Greek Street tea room serves cakes, pastries and tea.

Opening hours vary between sources, so call or check its website before you go. It is a charming place to stop between Covent Garden and Oxford Street.

Good to know: Come on a weekday afternoon for the best chance of a table.

28 Greek Street, London W1D 5DQ

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best bakery in London?

E5 Bakehouse in Hackney, TOAD in Camberwell and Arôme in Covent Garden all appear on the Good Food Guide's 2026 list of Britain's best bakeries, so they are a safe place to start. Pophams in Islington and St JOHN Bakery in Bermondsey are also well-regarded.

Where can I get the best croissants in London?

TOAD in Camberwell is known for inventive croissants, including an everything-bagel version, and Arôme in Covent Garden for savoury ones such as sausage-and-cheese croissants. Arrive early, as popular bakes can sell out.

Where can I get the best sourdough in London?

E5 Bakehouse bakes its bread in a railway arch in Hackney, and Rinkoffs and Bread Ahead also sell sourdough. Dusty Knuckle and Bread Ahead both run baking classes.

Which London bakeries are open on Sundays?

Arôme (Mercer Street) lists Sunday opening on its website, and Rinkoffs lists daily opening at its Jubilee Street bakery; others such as TOAD close on Sundays and Mondays. Check each bakery's website for current hours.

Where can I find London's best doughnuts?

Bread Ahead at Borough Market is best known for its doughnuts, and St JOHN Bakery in Bermondsey is famous for its custard doughnuts. Both are in south London near London Bridge.

Are there kosher bakeries in London?

Yes. Most are in Golders Green, Hendon and Edgware under KLBD or other supervision; our best bagel shops guide names several, and our best kosher restaurants guide covers kosher dining.

1. E5 Bakehouse — Hackney, Shoreditch & East London

2. TOAD Bakery — Camberwell

3. Arôme Bakery — Covent Garden, Soho & the West End

4. Pophams Bakery, Islington — Islington, Hampstead & North London

5. St JOHN Bakery — Bermondsey, South Bank & Borough

6. Dusty Knuckle — Dalston, Shoreditch & East London

7. Bread Ahead, Borough Market — Borough Market

8. Rinkoffs Bakery — Whitechapel, Shoreditch & East London

9. Maison Bertaux — Soho

Frequently asked questions

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