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London, the city that is known for its rich history, culture and architecture, now proudly boasts of its gourmet bests. It has an incredible array of restaurants that serve dishes from all around the world and of course, the country's own creations.

These restaurants are flocked by locals and tourists alike and for good reasons! Some of the most critically acclaimed chefs welcome guests with award winning dishes at these eateries. So put aside the fish and chips for a while and read on to find out how London became one of the most revered destinations for food lovers.

 

A glimpse of London’s gourmet history:

In the 1980s, if anyone dared to say London was a great place to wine and dine, he probably would have been contested right then and there. Sure, there were occasionally a restaurant or two that managed to capture people’s attention, and sometimes admiration, for example - the iconic Le Gavroche, but everyone knew that it was not for everyone per se. Very rarely would ordinary Brits venture beyond the doors of such elite restaurants. In the 1980s, there was no dearth of stalls serving fish and chips and mushy peas. Steakhouses and pubs dominated the gastronomic scene, but sophisticated dining had yet to make its presence filled in this beautiful city.

 

Three decades and a lot of changes later, nobody would dare to miss London’s name when listing the most popular food destinations around the globe. Seriously, anyone who has had the good fortune of dining at one of the best restaurants in London near Tower Bridge would surely come back for more!

 

How did London’s food scene change so much in such a short span of time?

The change practically came about in 1992 when Planet Hollywood London and Qualingo’s started welcoming food lovers of all types. These two somewhat unlikely pair of restaurants showed the ordinary Brits that it is okay to eat out and occasionally even splurge to have a premium dining experience. After they had democratised the 'eating out' concept, more and more restaurants started catering to Londoners with varied cuisines. The boom in London’s population in the last couple of decades was also a contributing factor.

 

The increase in the number of food related shows on television also brought out the chefs in common Londoners. Everyone was ready to contribute his or her opinions and talents when it came to new recipes. Even food criticism saw enthusiastic participation from Brits as opposed to tweed-jacketed uptight critics of olden times. Even later, social media had a thing or two to say about the popularisation of London's dining scene. 

 

Irrespective of the reason, London today is one of the hottest destination for chefs, food critics and food lovers alike. With a celebrity-driven restaurant opening up in the city every other day, eating out in London is now as common as perhaps going for a walk in the morning. From fine dining restaurants to street side stalls, London has something to satisfy every food lover's taste buds.