Last updated: 29 July 2023
Gone are the days of grabbing an ice cream out of the packet by it’s Birch timber stick, desserts have now becoming showstopping dazzling spectacles. People travel far and wide for the best decadent dessert shops and London is no different. As the weather heats up for the summer, there’s no need to melt away. Get yourself to one of these hot spots for a summer special.
Duck & Waffle Local
The famed establishment of Duck & Waffle has a new little sister which has just popped up in Piccadilly Circus. This is the fast casual version of the 24 hour sky-high eatery in Heron Tower.
Don’t worry, they’re still doing all things Duck… and Waffle.
Making this list is their new dessert, the Vanilla Fudge Brownie Waffle. Chunks of chocolate brownie, smothered in a salted caramel sauce stuffed into a waffle cone and topped with pieces of fudge. Sign me up!
SW1Y 4RP | Nearest Tube Station: Piccadilly Circus
Greedy Goat
Inspired by the frenzy that is Wimbledon, the crew at Greedy Goat have created four flavours for the quintessentially British event. Each cone is adorned with edible Wimbledon themed accessories, everything from mini rackets and tennis balls to the lush lawn of Centre Court. I’ve got my eye firmly planted on Murray’s Mint, a mint and caramel mix garnished with green 100’s and 1000’s. Yum!
These creations are limited edition and only for sale during Wimbledon 03-16 July. Get in quick!
Canada Square Park E14 | Nearest Tube Station: Canary Wharf
Bake
First it was matcha powder, then it was tea then it was the matcha latte was the new IN thing. It was only a matter of time before matcha ice cream made an appearance on dessert menus around London.
The concept of Taiyaki took NYC by storm and it’s now arrived here London. At a small bakery in Wardour Street in London’s Soho lies Bake. Their food-porn Instagram worthy item is Japanese Taiyaki – a fish-shaped cake. No, it doesn’t taste like fish. Taiyaki, which translates from Japanese as “baked sea bream” is a fish-shaped pastry – it’s traditionally filled with red bean paste.
Replace the cake with a crispy fish-shaped waffle cone and replace the red bean paste with a dollop of matcha tea soft serve ice cream. Ta Da!
W1D 6PF | Nearest Tube Station: Leicester Square
Melba
Melba, one of London’s finest éclair specialists, has a new take on the french classic treat. The Icéclair consists of a light choux pastry filled with delicious hand-made ice cream. The new store just opened at The Savoy on the Strand. At the time of visiting, the multi step ordering process needs refining. Choose your eclair, choose your icecream, toppings and glaze drilled across the top. It’s like buying a car but with more choices and lasts just minutes.
WC2R 0EU | Nearest Tube Station: Embankment
Maxwell’s
Start with a bubblegum shake, plus candyfloss to make the hair. Add hearts for eyes, rainbow ribbons and a horn made of marshmallow. What have you got? A unicorn freakshake! Freakshakes are a mash up of drink and dessert with a combination of ice cream, chocolate, and in some cases entire slices of cake. Sounds good right? It’s not surprising that these high-cal megashakes are still totally trendy right now and Maxwell’s know exactly what they’re doing.
WC2E 8BH | Nearest Tube Station: Covent Garden
Milk Train
You’ll know you’re in the right place when you spot the queue, it wraps around the block. These soft serve ice creams come with their very own floating cloud of fairy floss. Base flavours include vanilla, matcha and hojicha (roasted green tea) then top with toppings and sauce of your choice, think fluro coloured popcorn, Oreos, popping candy smothered in salted caramel. The shop is small, the queue is lengthy and the reviews are mixed. One thing is for sure, it’ll look great on Instagram!
Can’t disagree with their motto: Ice Cream Makes You Happy.
WC2E 9HA | Nearest Tube Station: Leicester Square
So glad to have found this post (and your site generally) just before our first trip to London in a long long time! Milk Train is going straight on my list, it looks insane!
Great news Jamie, you’re gonna have a blast in London
What a lovely treat in London. Each of these places seem to serve some tantalizingly tempting stuff. I would love to get my hands on a Vanilla Fudge Brownie Waffle. The Iceclair at Melba is another thing that I would surely binge on.
Just another reason to visit London hey Sandy? Desserts before a trip to the Postal Museum perhaps? 😉
This all looks so good! Now I’m super hungry haha. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Hope you get to London soon to try some Julia
Dessert is my favorite meal of the day. In fact, I often skip the entre. I wish I’d had this list when I was in London recently. I can’t decide which delicacies look more delicious, but I’m a big fan of the eclairs from Melba and the Japanese Taiyaki from Bake!
I hope you’re still hungry when you get back to London 🙂
These look absolutely dreamy! I love desserts and I will have to scope out which ones are popular when I get there next summer! I know that Melba will be high on my list! Cheers!
Ooooo a London visit, how exciting! If you need local intel just drop us a line. 🙂
Bake and Melba are definitely the two places I would choose. What beautiful desserts they have in London. 😉 These were all stellar photos and descriptions.
Certainly tempting aren’t they!
Having just returned from London I’m secretly pleased I didn’t know about some of these places. They look wicked and I would have had to walk even more than I was used to to get rid of all of that food ! Interesting to see the Duck and Waffle has a new offshoot too. Some amazing looking food here, very inventive.
Hope you enjoyed your trip to London Kerri, I’m sure some of these places will still be around on your next visit. 🙂
Those desserts look so yummy!!! I’ll take note of these places especially the Melba. I love eclairs! <3
Absolutely Trisha
I don’t venture into central London enough, these desserts looks delicious! Really keen to try Bake matcha icecream!
Perhaps we’ve give you a reason to come into town now? *wink wink*
Hmmmm. The next time I’m London will be New Years and I’m thinking I won’t be wanting to walk down the street with ice scream. But, I may have to suck it up and get a n Icéclair even if it’s snowing outside.
We don’t get snow all that often here Sherianne, you might get ONE sunny day while you’re here. Fingers crossed!
That Vanilla Fudge Brownie looks like it is loaded with calories but a real treat! It’s absolutely huge. What a yummy collection of goodies this is.
Soooo good!
Duck and Waffle…how I have not visited you yet! I must get there on my lunch break for my sugar fix!
Certainly worth a visit for the sugar rush!
Oh wow, they all look so delicious especially the fudge waffle. I am saving your post for next time I am in London.
Great news Chrysoula. Share with all your fellow travellers too. Sugar and sweets for everyone!
I have such a sweet tooth so thank you for making my mouth water! You had me at vanilla fudge brownie waffle with that salted caramel sauce!! Oh, my word. London’s food scene is already so amazing but I’d have no choice but to save space for a dessert like this!
I’ve taken to asking for the dessert menu at restaurants then ordering backwards for this exact reason! Always save room for dessert!