The best desserts in London with kids
Whether you’re refuelling after sightseeing or looking for something indulgently instagrammable, it’s never been easier to treat your sweet tooth, with a belt-busting array of desserts in London with kids
From a twist on classic ice cream, cupcakes and doughnuts, to bubble waffles, freakshakes and churros, the only dilemma is which of the best sweet treats in London with kids to try first.
I’ve picked out some of the most tempting dessert places across the capital. Wear your stretchiest clothes and don’t try these all at once!
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Humble Crumble
Located within the foodie hot spots of Borough Market and Old Spitalfields Market, Humble Crumble specialises in the traditional British dessert of – you guessed it – crumble!
The fresh artisanal fruit base – such as apple, strawberry, or rhubarb – is combined with a twice-baked shortbread crumble, then topped with pillowy torched meringue, clotted vanilla ice cream, or warm premium pure vanilla custard.
The end result? One of the prettiest, tastiest, and most nostalgic desserts in London that’s a hit with kids and adults alike. Get ready for love at first bite.
Chin Chin Labs
Walking into Chin Chin Labs in Camden or Soho feels a little like wandering into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Kids will be amazed by the huge vats of quick freezing liquid nitrogen that are used to create the gourmet ice cream.
And the ice cream flavours themselves are just as unusual as their scientific production method, with the likes of burnt butter caramel, tonka bean, and banana pudding.
While some of the unusual ice cream flavours may be a little much for less advanced palates, there are lots of other tasty dessert options too, including sticky toffee pudding sundae. Littles ones can pick from the brownie cookie sandwich, griddled cookie dough, waffle cup sundae, or indulgent hot chocolate.
For more of the best hot chocolate in London with kids, check out my top picks
Milk Train Cafe
This quirky ice cream parlour in Covent Garden is known for being home to the UK’s first candy floss ice cream cones.
The creamy soft serve ice cream is presented with a cloud of candy floss wrapped around the cone and all sorts of colourful toppings, creating a dreamy and picturesque dessert.
And for parents, don’t forget to pick up one of Milk Train’s seasonal range of ice cream pints inspired by top travel destinations around the world.
Soft Serve Society
For some of the most fun and vibrant dessert creations in the city, head to Soft Serve Society in Shoreditch Boxpark or Seven Dials Market.
The dessert bar’s soft serve ice cream cups and cones come in three main flavours – creamy vanilla, charcoal coconut, and bright green matcha – and can be jazzed up with your choice of marshmallow fluff, candyfloss, sauces, and all manner of toppings.
There are also delicious ice cream sundaes, warm waffles, chocolate brownies, giant cookies, freakshakes, bubble teas, and more to choose from.
The Knot Churros
The Knot Churros is a cute and quirky cafe located in the heart of South Kensington, serving up the delicious and indulgent Spanish specialty of churros.
There are plenty of different churros to choose from, including fresh cinnamon churros with warm chocolate dipping sauces, glazed churros with colourful toppings, and indulgent chilled churros served with cotton candy and soft serve ice cream.
The cafe even serves a fun churros afternoon tea that’s perfect to enjoy with the whole family. You’ll indulge in a variety of different churros and lots of other sweet treats for just £30pp.
For more things to do in South Kensington with kids, check out my top picks
Bubblewrap
Bubblewrap was London’s original bubble waffle shop, bringing the Hong Kong street snack all the way to the UK.
Hot crunchy bubble waffles are served with a scoop of smooth chilled ice cream to create the ultimate texture and taste sensation.
Kids can pick a premade flavour for their waffle or create their own by adding tasty toppings such as Nutella, Oreo, Salted Caramel, Matcha, and Strawberries.
As well as the original Chinatown shop, there are locations in Old Spitalfields Market and Westfield Stratford now too.
For more ideas of things to do round Leicester Square with kids, including Chinatown, check out my top picks
Biscuiteers
Famous for its striking black and white facade, Biscuiteers produces some of the most stunning hand-iced biscuits in all of London, if not the world.
From Paddington Bear and Mr Men/Little Miss characters, to a red London bus and the King’s Guards, there’s a variety of fun and intricately decorated biscuits to choose from.
Plus, the brand also offers fun foodie experiences for families at their Biscuit Icing Cafés in Notting Hill and Belgravia.
Their DIY icing sessions let you decorate your own biscuits using a variety of colourful icing and edible decorations, while the Little School of Biscuiteers teaches littles ones all the tips and tricks to become a biscuit icing pro.
Bake, Chinatown
For something a little different, head to Bake in Chinatown for some of the tastiest Asian-inspired desserts in London.
The bakery offers loads of exciting sweet treats and pastries from all across Asia, including countries like Malaysia, China, Japan, and Korea.
One of the best sellers is their famous Taiyaki, an unusual fished shaped pastry filled with custard, red bean paste, or Nutella (less traditional but certainly the biggest hit with kids!).
You can now even get a Taiyaki fish-shaped waffle cone served with a dollop of matcha soft serve ice cream – definitely don’t forget the camera for this one!
Hans & Gretel
Based on the Brothers Grimm’s famous tale of Hansel & Gretel, Camden Market’s Hans & Gretel is a magical fairy-tale inspired dessert cafe, entirely covered from floor to ceiling in candy canes, lollipops, cupcakes and colourful sweets galore.
There are also giant statues of Hansel and Gretel to greet you at the shop’s entrance and a makeshift candy house that kids can sit inside for photos.
Not only is the store itself a fun and quirky place to visit in London with younger children (but still a hit if you’re in Camden with teens), but its many indulgent desserts are sure to be a big hit with kids of all ages. You can choose from sweet Hungarian funnel cakes, bubble waffles, freakshakes, ice-cream, pick’n’mix and more.
Ruby Violet
Ruby Violet is a small, independent ice cream parlour located in Kings Cross, which was lovingly named after the owner’s grandmother.
The parlour is known for its delicious handmade ice creams, sorbets and frozen yoghurts, all made using locally sourced ingredients.
The ice cream flavours are constantly changing and evolving, so you’ll never know which ones you’ll get. But in the past, they have ranged from classics such as Madagascan vanilla, Belgian chocolate, and strawberry, to more innovative flavours like chocolate orange, Masala chai, rosemary and juniper berries, and brown toast and Seville orange marmalade.
The parlour also serves freshly baked cakes, pastries, and other sweet treats to go alongside their ice creams, as well as hot chocolate if it’s chilly.
Maxwell’s Bar & Grill
While not technically a dessert bar, Maxwell’s Bar & Grill in Covent Garden is a must-visit for families with a sweet tooth, thanks to its famous Freakshakes.
The American-style restaurant’s legendary Freakshakes are piled high with slices of cake, donuts, crushed chocolate, whipped cream, colourful toppings and more. They’re sure to have the entire family drooling before they even hit the table.
Plus keep an eye out for the special themed Freakshakes available throughout the year, such as the chocolate-lovers Easter Freakshake which is topped with an entire Easter egg, plus Halloween and Christmas-inspired creations.
Crumbs & Doilies
Crumbs & Doilies is a cute little bakery in Soho’s Kingly Court, known for its delicious cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and cakes.
The gooey New York-style cookies are the store’s best seller, while its cupcakes are famous for their beautiful decoration and unique flavours, such as salted caramel, red velvet, and biscoff rocky road.
But with a temptingly wide range of baked goods at the popular bakery, including plenty of vegan and gluten-free options, you’ll find something for everyone.
Cutter and Squidge
Most famous for their biskies – a cross between a cake and a biscuit – you won’t be short of sweet treats at Soho’s Cutter & Squidge.
Perfect if you’re all about the cakes but want more than an icing-covered cupcake, you can also choose between brownies, tray bakes and traditional cakes, with flavours inspired by everything from major events to seasonal festivals.
There are vegan and wheat-free options as well, not to mention afternoon tea (although the popular Potion Room is no more, there are constantly new pop-up offerings as well).
Bread Ahead
If you want to do more than just eat delicious desserts in London with kids, take a look at Bread Ahead, which runs baking courses as well as selling its delicious breads, doughnuts and other baked goodies.
Along with the original location at Borough Market, you can also find Bread Ahead at South Kensington, Vauxhall, near Sloane Square and Chelsea, as well as Wembley.
The doughnut workshop is suitable for all abilities (kids aged 6+ only), and last just two hours, with custard grenades to take away at the end!
Or just pick up a few treats with no effort involved: Bread Ahead has some of the most eye-catching flavour combinations and decorations of all London’s doughnuts including treats like honeycomb & salted caramel or rhubarb & custard.
If one donut simply isn’t enough, check out this indulgent donut walking tour of London which fits in four separate doughnut stops around Southwark, Borough Market and Bankside
Maître Choux
Maître Choux is the first and only choux pastry specialist patisserie in the world, now with three popular London locations; South Kensington, Kings Road, and Soho.
The elegant French-inspired patisserie serves luxurious eclairs and beautiful choux pastries, while the mini chouquettes bites are a great choice for sharing between the whole family.
Flavours range from simple chocolate and raspberry treats to more advanced flavours such as Paris–Brest and clementine and pecan nuts.
Crosstown Doughnuts
Despite Crosstown’s name, you can find more than just doughnuts here – there are cookies and ice cream on the menu too. But it’s the donuts which are the real temptation: anything from mango & vanilla to plum & cinnamon, plus traditional raspberry jam (and a whole lot more).
There are more than a dozen locations across London, including trucks at Battersea Power Station, London Bridge, Spitalfields and Canary Wharf as well as the permanent shops.
It’s also one of the stops on the donut tour of London.
Doughnut Time
With vegan and gluten-free options among the range of doughnuts at Doughnut Time, there’s an ever-changing selection of flavours so you can keep going back over and over without getting bored.
As well as simple but delicious The OG, a classic glazed doughnut, you’ll find a string of extravagant and quirky creations, all with fun names – the Gordon Jamsay takes its inspiration from a Jammie Dodger biscuit, while there’s also Bruno Mars, David Hasselhoff and Watermelon Sugar High to tempt.
There are around 10 stores and trucks across London, all with the eye-catching minty green facade, including locations ranging from Notting Hill to Soho, Bond Street and Covent Garden.
Doughnut Time is also based near Borough Market, where it’s another of the stops on the donut tour of London.
Skip these desserts in London with kids
Tempted by the following desserts in London with kids? Sadly these popular places have now closed:
- Yolkin – ice cream shop in Soho
- Yorica – free-from and vegan ice-cream in Soho
- Dominique Ansel Bakery – the inventor of the cronut, in Victoria
- Yaki Yaki – taiyaki in Covent Garden
Main image courtesy of Depositphotos, all others as credited
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Thank you, I have always wanted to know some good foodie places to take the kids! These look amaze.
There are some amazing places around – practically had a sugar rush researching it 🙂