Covent garden market old

A history of London street food

By Andrew Peter Doherty
  • 100

    Roman London- Londinium

    Roman London- Londinium
    Most Londoners back then didn't have access to kitchens of their own. Street vendors fueled the growing population. Evidence reveals very little of the typical diet, however, excavations always collect a large number of oyster shells. This was a popular food of the lower classes.
  • Apr 25, 1170

    Medieval London

    Medieval London
    A booming market economy dazzled both Londoners and visitors alike. Rows and rows of stalls flanked the Thames selling spices and silk from the Middle East. The First Crusade established a trade link allowing people to develop a taste for spices and new flavours. Saffron, cane sugar and ginger were popular among the wealthier of the city's inhabitants. In this age people liked to combine flavours, sweet and savoury in particular. A recipie from the era was a ground pork pie filled with honey.

  • Georgian London

    Georgian London
    Cherries were a popular sweetner of the time and sold with the cries of "ripe-ripe-ripe". Cakes and pastrys were widespread too, the muffin man nursery rhyme is said to come from this era. Stall owners wanted to avoid paying rates and taxes and would move around carrying food on their heads. Only downside, bird poo.

  • Victorian London

    Victorian London
    Following the Second Industrial Revolution, London's population surged to over 3m. The workers of the new factories needed to be fed but didn't have access to kitchens of their own. Demand for street food grew rapidly. There were now 6,000 vendors operating in the city. Popular dishes included, pea soup, hot eels, fried fish and pickled whelks.

  • 20th Century London

    20th Century London
    The British Nationality Act gave British citizenship to all people living in Commonwealth countries. In post World War 2 London, streets were now occupied with new vendors offering food from Africa, India and Asia. Multiculturalism was born.

  • Modern London

    Modern London
    Long hours and fast-paced lifestyles have led to a renaissance in the street food community. London vendors continue to sell some of the best grub and stay up to date with food trends from the whole world. Wether you fancy a gluten-free brownie or a bottle of home distilled lemon gin, London has something for every palate.