With summer on the horizon, ice cream season is officially upon us, which means we can comfortably justify more gelato trips. While we’ll take a scoop even in the grips of a crisp London winter, it certainly is more enjoyable in the sunshine.
Chances are, however, that everyone else has had the same idea. So if you want to ensure that the cone you’re queueing for is worth the wait then we’ve got you covered with our pick of the best ice cream in London.
Making for the perfect post-dinner pit stop or midday indulgence, whether you favour authentic Italian gelato, an aromatic sorbet or a refreshing soft serve, all tastes are well catered to here. Whether you're after traditional favourites like vanilla or vegan updates and contemporary twists that will challenge your palate, these creamy classics and Instagram worthy creations are sure to help you upgrade your Flake 99 game.
So from the precariously tall stacks of scoops to the generally good gelato, here’s where to find the best ice cream London has to offer for those who enjoy the sweeter things in life.
1) Gelupo
Sister brand to neighbouring restaurant Bocca di Lupo, Gelupo has been delighting gelato lovers since 2010. With flavour combinations that change regularly, our all time favourite has to be their peanut butter stracciatella, closely followed by ricotta sour cherry. Gelato is made fresh onsite each day using natural flavours, making for high-quality ice cream that has more depth of flavour than your average sickly sweet scoop.
Location: 7 Archer St, London W1D 7AU
2) Oddono’s
With locations dotted around London, Oddono’s serves up Italian-style gelato and sorbet in more than 130 flavours. This is one chain that does not compromise on quality, promising delicious ice cream each time. Refreshing and light sorbets that include passionfruit, mango and banana will not disappoint, nor will their take on timeless classics like pistachio and baccio. Superior quality at fair prices, this is one ice cream parlour you need to try at least once.
Locations: 14 Bute St, South Kensington, London SW7 3EX and several others as here
3) Yolkin
Pretty pastel creations are on the menu at Yolkin, which is a bright and whimsical Chinatown ice cream parlour where macarons encase velvety ice cream in an endless selection of colourful combinations.
An innovative way of cutting down on food waste, ice cream at Yolkin is made with leftover egg yolks used to bake batches of macarons. While their impressive specials change regularly, some of our recent favourites include their rich chocolate bear macaron sandwich, closely followed by their cookie monster equivalent. Rarely does a dessert taste as good as it looks, yet Yolkin effortlessly balances the two with their cutesy desserts.
Location: 24 Rupert St, London W1D 6DQ
4) Nardulli
Clapham’s Nardulli serves up the type of gelato that you’ll think about for days after, musing on how they managed to achieve such blissful creaminess. Nutella is our go to but other summertime favourites here include their fresh fig gelato and white peach sorbet. The perfect place to stop before an afternoon on the Common, this gelato is easily the best in south west London. If the sun is out, come prepared to queue, but rest assured that it’s worth the wait.
Location: 29 The Pavement, London SW4 0JE
5) Prime Gelato
When it comes to authentic Italian gelato, Prime Gelato is the real deal. Smooth, flavourful and with just the right amount of sweetness, this is gourmet gelato at its best. Exceptional quality and velvety textures come together to produce real gelato that keeps Italians and Londoners alike coming back.
Better still, this is one of the few spots in London that offers gelato options for vegans that aren’t just sorbet based. Alongside their non-vegan offering, each day Prime Gelato has at least six vegan options on offer, with hazelnut and almond being our favourites.
Location: 216 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8EB
6) Mamasons
Mamasons specialise in what they call ‘dirty ice cream’ that features quintessential Filipino flavours like ube (purple yam) and calamansi (lime). Providing a little slice of home for some and a new obsession for others, Mamason’s bilog is a must try. Creamy and velvety ice cream is sandwiched between toasted pandesal to make one of the most delicious desserts you will ever try. Truly a unique experience, when getting the bilog we suggest going with the ube flavour - tangy with a creamy texture and with spot on, authentic flavours that are hard to replicate.
Locations: 32 Newport Ct, London WC2H 7PQ and 91 Kentish Town Rd, London NW1 8NY
7) Milk Train
If you’re looking for Instagrammable ice cream, this is it. Proving that aesthetic food can be delicious too, Milk Train specialise in creative offerings that have delicious flavour combinations to match.
Set in a light and airy interior with hanging flowers, this Covent Garden spot is a real treat for the senses. While their ‘normal’ ice creams are fairly luxe themselves, if you’re looking for extra wow factor we recommend taking on their specials menu. While this offering changes with each season, past creations have often included a generous cloud of candy floss and delicate flavour mixes that balance one another out. With summer on its way, the latest instalment of these specials is set to transport ice cream lovers to tropical climes with themed sundaes and piña colada ice cream floats. Magical looking ice cream that also tastes incredible, what more could you want?
Location: 2 Tavistock St, London WC2E 7PH
8) Gelateria 3Bis
This bright Borough Market ice cream parlour is one hidden gem worth knowing about. Promising generous portions and efficient service, our menu highlights here are their hazelnut, fig and mascarpone gelato, all of which are wonderfully creamy, thick and rich. Gelato is made fresh on site each day using high-quality, thoughtfully sourced ingredients. With another location in Portobello and two in Rimini, you’ll be hard pushed to find more authentic Italian gelato.
Locations: Borough Market, 4 Park St, London SE1 9AB or 178 Portobello Rd, London W11 2EB
9) Chin Chin Labs
A zany premium parlour all about indulgence to the highest degree, Chin Chin Labs is home to liquid nitrogen ice cream. While this might sound like a worn gimmick, Chin Chin Labs were among the first to this trend - a method of freezing the ice cream’s custard base instantly to make for a smoother and more flavourful result. Offering trusty flavours like burnt butter caramel and mango lassi, for those feeling extra indulgent their brownie cookie sundae will more than satisfy a sweet tooth.
Locations: 49-50 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF and 54 Greek St, London W1D 3DS
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10) Soft Serve Society
Sometimes only a soft serve will hit the spot, and for those days there’s Soft Serve Society. However, much more than just a soft serve joint, this ice cream parlour offers a generous selection of different creations that range from matcha sundaes to charcoal coconut freakshakes.
By far their most impressive order here is Cloud 9, a combination of vanilla ice cream, strawberry sauce, popping candy, pocky, berry candy floss and strawberry crunch. If that sounds like a little too much for your senses, a trusty vanilla soft serve cone is always on offer. With options to customise and combine toppings, this place offers excellent options for those who favour the simple things and equally those who like a little extravagance in their ice cream.
Location: Unit 35, BOXPARK, 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6GY
11) Udderlicious
True to its name, Udderlicious serves up tasty treats from its three London locations. Offering fantastic flavours that speak for themselves, past favourites have included millionaire’s shortbread and lemon sorbet. Kitchy interiors and constantly changing flavours make Udderlicious one of our favourite ice cream spots in London, with customers being able to vote each month to decide the following month’s flavours.
One of the best things about Udderlicious in particular is the wide range of dairy free ice cream options they have available, meaning that vegans and those who are lactose intolerant need not settle for boring flavours.
Location: 187 Upper Street, London, N1 1RQ and others as here
12) Gelataria Danieli
Sitting directly opposite Richmond Green, Gelataria Danieli is the perfect pit stop on a summer’s day. Offering quality ice cream at reasonable prices, authentic Italian gelato and friendly staff make this a standout in London’s ice cream scene.
Using only the best ingredients including mangoes from India and fresh milk from Sussex, though ice cream here is low fat you’d never know the difference because of the zesty flavour each scoop packs. While they have a host of traditional options on offer, we recommend trying one of their more unusual contemporary flavours, whether it be elderflower and honey or champagne truffle.
Locations: 13 The Green, Richmond TW9 1PX and others as here
13) Snowflake
Serving up scoops of joy across London, Snowflake offers over 40 different flavours and a selection of tasty treats that span from blissfully rich brownie sundaes to cinnamon crepes. Offering all the usual classic gelato flavours as well as refreshing sorbets, you’re never too far from one of their shops, with locations in Soho, South Kensington and beyond. Those looking to treat themselves to something a little extra are advised to try their Italian-style hot chocolate, a thick, rich and creamy delight of a dark chocolate drink that any chocolate connoisseur will appreciate.
Locations: 44 Edgware Rd, London W2 2EH and others as here
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14) La Gelatiera
La Gelatiera is a great all rounder ice cream shop, hosting a generous selection of artisan gelato with flavours including usual favourites as well as some more unconventional yet delicious alternatives. Honey, rosemary and orange zest is our top pick here, making for a light and refreshing treat. With vegan gelato options on the menu like pistachio and dark chocolate with chilli, there’s no need for anyone to miss out on the joy here.
Promising high-quality gelato at excellent value, La Gelatiera’s option to try two flavours in their smaller portion means you can get a real feel for their unique offering even if you’re wanting something a little lighter.
Locations: 27 New Row, London WC2N 4LA and others as here
15) Grom
You might’ve seen Grom in your local supermarket, but did you know they have a brick and mortar shop? This is the type of place where you can order vanilla and still leave being blown away, which is no small feat. While a medium ice cream comes in at just under £5, you haven’t really tasted quality gelato until you’ve tried Grom. High-quality ingredients make for delicious gelato - your only regret will be that you didn’t try it sooner.
Location: 16-18 Piccadilly, London W1J 0DF
16) Greedy Goat
As you might have gleaned from their name, Greedy Goat is an independent ice cream shop that specialises in goats’ milk ice cream. While this might sound like just another gimmick, the goats’ milk in these Borough Market ice creams translates into a wonderfully rich and creamy texture that is not to be missed. Banana and pecan is our menu highlight here, with mint chocolate chip coming in at a close second.
Location: Green Market Green Dragon Walk Borough Market, Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
17) Gelatorino
Gelato is prepared fresh each day at Gelatorino using only the best natural ingredients. With locations in Covent Garden and Richmond, this wonderfully rich and soft ice cream promises great value for money, with flavours that span from amarena (cherry) to peanut butter. Smooth, fresh and with friendly service to match, those seeking a taste of Italy will not be disappointed.
Locations: 2 Russell St, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5JD and 405 Upper Richmond Road, Richmond upon Thames, London, SW14 7NX
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Lian Brooks is Hearst's SEO Manager. Helping brands stay ahead of emerging trends, she is an experienced digital marketer and writer with a penchant for all things tech.
