London is one of the easiest cities in the world to visit as a vegetarian or vegan: almost every restaurant has meat-free dishes, supermarkets sell large own-brand vegan ranges, and whole neighbourhoods specialise in vegetarian cooking. The main thing to learn is how to read British menus and labels, because "vegan" and "vegetarian" do not always mean what you expect.
A vegetarian diet leaves out meat and fish but usually includes dairy products and eggs. A vegan diet leaves out all animal products, including milk, butter, cheese, eggs and honey. In London you will also see the term "plant-based", which on menus and packaging usually means the same as vegan, and the menu symbols V (vegetarian) and VG or VE (vegan).
This guide covers where to eat, how to check a menu, what the labels on food mean under UK rules, how to find meat-free versions of traditional British dishes, and what to buy in supermarkets. It gives no nutritional or medical advice. If you have a food allergy as well as a dietary preference, read the section on allergies carefully, because a vegan label is not an allergy guarantee.
Meat-free London in brief
- Menu symbols
- V = vegetarian; VG or VE = vegan; PB = plant-based
- Legal definition of "vegan"
- None in UK food law; the label means no ingredients of animal origin were intentionally used
- Best areas
- Soho, Camden, Hackney, King's Cross, and the South Indian and Gujarati areas of Tooting, Wembley and East Ham
- Cheapest options
- Supermarket vegan meal deals, market stalls, South Indian cafés
- Watch out for
- Meat stocks, fish sauces, animal fats in chips and roast potatoes, cheese made with animal rennet
- Allergies
- Vegan food may still contain traces of milk, egg, fish or shellfish
Why Britain is easy for meat-free travellers
Britain has a long history of organised vegetarianism, and it is where the word "vegan" was invented. According to The Vegan Society, it was founded in November 1944 when Donald Watson called a meeting with five other "non-dairy vegetarians". They wanted a shorter word to describe themselves, rejected ideas such as "dairyban" and "benevore", and settled on "vegan", which Watson later described as the beginning and end of "vegetarian".
Today, meat-free eating is mainstream in London. Large chains of cafés, pubs and restaurants mark vegan and vegetarian options on their menus, and fully vegan restaurants operate across the city. The city's large South Asian communities add another layer: many Indian cuisines, especially Gujarati and South Indian cooking, are vegetarian by tradition rather than as an alternative option.
What "vegan" and "vegetarian" mean on a UK label
The Food Standards Agency says the term "vegan" is not defined in food law. A vegan label on a product means that no ingredients of animal origin were intentionally used in making it. "Vegetarian" labels are likewise claims made by the manufacturer or restaurant itself, not a government certification.
That matters for two reasons. First, businesses do not have to follow the strict cross-contamination controls needed for "free-from" allergy claims before they call a product vegan. Second, some products are labelled by charities and trade bodies that run their own certification trademarks, each with its own rules. If you follow a strict ethical diet, those trademarks can help, but the ingredients list is always the final check.
On prepacked food, allergens such as milk and eggs must be highlighted in the ingredients list, usually in bold. That makes it quick to check a sandwich or snack for dairy and eggs, but it will not tell you about non-allergen animal products such as gelatine, animal rennet or carmine (a red colouring made from insects), so read the full list.
A vegan label is not a milk-allergy guarantee. The Food Standards Agency warns that food labelled vegan can still contain traces of milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans or molluscs through cross-contamination. If you have an allergy, look for a "may contain" warning and tell restaurant staff about the allergy itself, not only that you are vegan.
How to read a restaurant menu
Most London restaurants mark vegetarian and vegan dishes with symbols, and many will adapt a dish if you ask. The difficulty is with ingredients that are not obvious from the name of the dish. These are the ones to ask about:
- Stocks and gravies: soups, risottos and gravies are often made with chicken or beef stock.
- Fish sauces: Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies, and Caesar dressing traditionally does too. Many Thai and Vietnamese dishes use fish sauce, and Chinese dishes may use oyster sauce.
- Cheese: some traditional hard cheeses, including Parmesan, are made with animal rennet and are therefore not vegetarian. Restaurants sometimes use a vegetarian alternative; ask.
- Frying fat: some fish and chip shops still fry in beef dripping, and roast potatoes are often cooked in goose, duck or beef fat.
- Butter, ghee and cream: common in Indian dishes and in British vegetables and sauces.
- Gelatine: found in some desserts, sweets and glazes.
A simple question works best: "Is this dish vegan, including the sauce and the cooking fat?" In most places staff will check with the kitchen. Restaurants must also be able to give you allergen information on request, which can help you check for milk and eggs.
Where to eat: neighbourhoods and long-running favourites
Soho and Covent Garden have the densest choice of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the West End, from global chains to small independent cafés. Mildreds, which has been trading since 1988, started in Soho and now describes itself as a vegan restaurant group, has several branches in central London. It is one long-established choice among many in the area.
Camden is known for its street-food stalls, many of them vegan, in and around Camden Market. Hackney and Dalston in east London have a younger, more experimental vegan scene, with cafés, bakeries and plant-based takes on fast food. Around King's Cross, the redeveloped streets north of the station have many restaurants with strong meat-free menus.
South Asian vegetarian cooking is where London is at its most distinctive. Drummond Street near Euston, the Ealing Road area of Wembley, East Ham and Tooting all have restaurants serving dosa, thali, bhel puri and Gujarati snacks that are vegetarian by tradition. Many dishes are vegan too, but ghee, yoghurt and paneer (a fresh cheese) are common, so ask. Our guide to London's curry areas describes these neighbourhoods in more detail.
Markets are good for grazing. Almost every street-food market has several vegan stalls, and Borough Market sells vegetarian cheeses, breads and hot food alongside its meat and fish traders.
Meat-free versions of British classics
Many visitors want to try traditional British food. Most of the classics now come in vegetarian or vegan form, but it helps to know where the hidden animal products are.
| Dish | Usual meat-free version | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Full English breakfast | Vegetarian sausages, eggs, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast; vegan versions swap eggs for tofu or avocado | Whether hash browns and vegetables share a pan or fryer with meat, and whether the toast is buttered |
| Sunday roast | Nut roast, a vegetable pie or a stuffed squash, with vegetables | Roast potatoes in animal fat; meat gravy; Yorkshire puddings contain egg and milk |
| Fish and chips | Battered tofu or banana blossom as a "fish" replacement; chips with mushy peas | Chips and batter fried in beef dripping, or in the same oil as fish |
| Pies and pasties | Vegetable, cheese and onion, or plant-based "meat" fillings | Butter or lard in the pastry |
| Afternoon tea | Vegetarian or vegan sandwiches, scones and cakes, often by advance request | Most hotels need notice; ask when booking |
Our guides to the full English breakfast, the Sunday roast, fish and chips and afternoon tea describe the traditional dishes. For a wider overview of what to try, see traditional British food.
Book a vegan afternoon tea when you reserve, not on the day. Hotels and tea rooms bake in advance, and many can only offer a vegan or vegetarian version if they know beforehand. Mention it in the booking and again when you arrive.
Supermarkets, meal deals and self-catering
British supermarkets are one of the best resources for vegan and vegetarian travellers. All the large chains sell own-brand vegan ranges, from sandwiches and ready meals to sausages, burgers, cheeses and desserts. Plant milks are sold everywhere, and most coffee shops offer oat, soy or other plant milks, sometimes for a small extra charge.
Supermarket meal deals, which combine a main item, a snack and a drink for one price, usually include several vegan and vegetarian choices. Look for the V or vegan marking on the front of the pack, then check the bold allergens in the ingredients list. The central London branches are small but well stocked with lunch food. For more low-cost ideas, see cheap eats in London.
If you are staying in an apartment, health food shops and larger supermarkets sell tofu, tempeh, seitan, nutritional yeast and vegan baking ingredients. Chinese and South Asian supermarkets are good, cheaper sources of tofu, lentils, spices and fresh vegetables.
Pubs, beer and wine
Pub food almost always includes a vegetarian main course and often a vegan one, such as a vegetable pie, a plant-based burger or a curry. The drinks are harder to judge. Some beers and wines are "fined" (cleared) during production using animal products such as isinglass (from fish), gelatine, egg white or milk protein. Traditional cask ales have often been fined with isinglass, although many brewers have moved away from it.
There is no easy way to tell from a pump or a wine list. Ask the bar staff, look up the brewery or winery, or choose drinks labelled vegan. For more on how pubs work and which ones to visit, see our guide to London's historic pubs.
Allergies, intolerances and staying safe
Many people choose vegan food because they cannot eat milk or eggs. The Food Standards Agency is clear that this can be risky: vegan products may be made in kitchens and factories where animal-derived allergens are present. Food businesses must tell you whether a dish contains any of the 14 regulated allergens, but they do not have to offer you an alternative meal.
The FSA advises checking menus or calling ahead, being clear about your allergy when ordering, and not eating in a place if you doubt that the staff understand. If you also avoid gluten, our gluten-free guide explains the labelling rules. If you have a reaction, seek medical help; the NHS explains the signs of a food allergy and what to do, and our guide to healthcare for visitors explains how visitors can use NHS services.
South Indian cafés are the best-value vegetarian meals in London. A dosa or thali in Tooting, East Ham or near Euston is filling, freshly cooked and usually vegetarian from the start, rather than a single meat-free option on a meat-based menu.
Frequently asked questions
Is London good for vegans?
Yes. Most restaurants mark vegan dishes, there are many fully vegan restaurants and market stalls, and every large supermarket sells an own-brand vegan range. The main care needed is with hidden ingredients such as stocks, fish sauces, animal fats and cheese made with animal rennet.
What does VG mean on a London menu?
VG, or sometimes VE, means the dish is vegan: it should contain no meat, fish, dairy, eggs or honey. V means vegetarian, which usually allows dairy and eggs. PB, for plant-based, is normally used to mean vegan. If you are unsure, ask the staff to confirm.
Is vegan food safe for someone with a milk allergy?
Not automatically. The Food Standards Agency says food labelled vegan can still contain traces of milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans or molluscs through cross-contamination, because vegan labelling does not require the strict controls of a "free-from" claim. Check for "may contain" warnings and tell staff about the allergy.
Can I get a vegetarian full English breakfast in London?
Yes, most cafés and pubs that serve a full English also offer a vegetarian version with meat-free sausages, and many offer a vegan one. Ask whether items are cooked in the same pan or oil as the meat if that matters to you.
Are chips in London vegetarian?
Usually, but not always. Many fish and chip shops fry in vegetable oil, but some still use beef dripping, and chips may be fried in the same oil as battered fish. Ask the shop what it fries in.
Sources
- Food Standards Agency - Food allergy and intolerance advice for consumers (vegan food and the law) (checked September 2026)
- Food Standards Agency - Allergen guidance for food businesses (checked September 2026)
- legislation.gov.uk - Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (checked September 2026)
- The Vegan Society - History (checked September 2026)
- Mildreds - Home page (checked September 2026)
- NHS - Food allergy (checked September 2026)