From ice cream sandwiches to deep fried scoops, flavours full of nostalgia – Maltesers, cornflakes – to modern sundaes, London’s best ice creams aren’t made the traditional Italian way but are utterly creative instead.
Macaron ice cream sandwich: Yolkin
Blueberry cheesecake ice cream sandwiched between two massive macarons – crunchy on the outside, wonderfully chewy inside – and a coating of generously sized biscuit crumbs to finish.
24 Rupert St, London W1D 6DQ
Malteser ice cream: Udderlicious
Birthday cake ice cream as sweet as batter or a scoop of malt ice cream with crushed Maltesers, the flavours at Udderlicious change every month but you can vote for your favourites online.
24 Earlham St, London WC2H 9LN or 187 Upper St, London N1 1RQ
Deep fried ice cream: T’s Fried Scoop
Vanilla ice cream wrapped in dough with an extra coating of cornflakes – deep fried, ultra crispy – and caramel sauce, it’s warm around the outside yet completely dense and cold underneath.
91 Brick Ln, London E1 6QL (Saturday) or High St, London E17 7JY (Sunday)
Ube ice cream: Mamasons Dirty Ice Cream
Ube ice cream with a bright purple colour and subtly sweet, slightly earthy flavour, you can enjoy it in a Filipino milk bun – toasted and dusted in sugar – or on a slice of coconut pie.
32 Newport Ct, London WC2H 7PQ or 91 Kentish Town Rd, London NW1 8NY
Dulce de leche ice cream: Ice Cream Union
Sweet, creamy, deliciously rich dulce de leche ice cream from a parlour that supplies London’s top restaurants, it’s smooth as silk and so strong in flavour.
166 Pavilion Rd, London SW1X 0AW
Sticky toffee pudding sundae: Chin Chin Ice Cream
Lightly spiced, super spongy date cake with hot caramel sauce, a scoop of Tonka Bean ice cream – similar to vanilla but less sweetness and more spice – and a white chocolate shard on top.
54 Greek St, London W1D 3DS or 49-50 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF
The Malty One: Happy Endings
Two crispy oatmeal biscuits with malted milk ice cream, feather-light malt biscuit crumbs plus a milk chocolate dip, it’s sweet and salty, nostalgic – like a bowl of cornflakes in ice cream form – yet brilliantly imaginative all the way round.
Restaurants and shops across London
Tiramisu sundae: Chin Chin Ice Cream
Coffee ice cream on a thick, espresso-drenched cookie – fudgy and moist like a brownie, not at all crunchy – and a cloud of whipped mascarpone, it’s dark and incredibly rich.
54 Greek St, London W1D 3DS or 49-50 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF
Damson ice cream: Ruby Violet
Sour cream with a ripple of damson jam – a small, purple-ish, plum-like fruit, which is too sour and tart to eat raw – or countless other lesser-known ingredients, the imaginative ice creams from Ruby Violet change every week.
3 Wharf Road, London N1C 4BZ or 118 Fortess Rd, London NW5 2HL
Balham Beach Bonanza: Jefferson’s
Two scoops of salted caramel ice cream covered in popcorn, pretzels and caramel, Jefferson’s signature cone is a perfect blend of contrast – sweet, salty, creamy and crunchy – but you can also create your own from scratch.
191B Balham High Rd, London SW12 9BE
Mochi ice cream: Little Moons
Bite-sized ice cream encased in rice cake – soft, sticky, super chewy – with flavours ranging from passionfruit mango to yuzu lemon, these mini morsels are dense and fudgy like chocolate truffles.
Selfridges, 400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB
Like this guide to London’s best ice cream? You might also be interested in London’s best gelato – stay tuned for a soft serve guide coming soon.
