Fergusbrandon

As we all know, London has a colourful and diverse history which can be seen in its famous landmarks, such as the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and St Pauls Cathedral. With these historical gems that span centuries, there is probably little surprise that London is home to some of the oldest eateries in the world with some still open today for you to enjoy. This guide will span over 200 years, allowing you to take your tastebuds of a culinary journey to experience an array of quintessentially British food. If you are a history lover who is also a foodie at heart, this guide will be everything you want and more.

Wiltons

Wiltons has a long history with its street stall first setting up in 1742. George William Wilton began his business in Haymarket, selling fresh cockles, shrimps and oysters on his stall and then progressed to a fishmonger shop in Trafalgar Square at the turn of the 19th century. The very first Wiltons restaurant opened its doors 1840 on Ryder Street, situated near Park Grand Paddington Court accommodation, and, since then, it has moved and can now be found on Jermyn Street where is still serves food that would make George William Wilton proud.

Simpson’s Tavern

Simpson’s Tavern is deemed to be London’s first ever chophouse and opened to locals in 1757 and has been serving good, wholesome British food ever since. A chophouse is an old British tradition that served a fine selection of meats and ale for hundreds of years. Thomas Simpson founded the tavern after the destruction of his first restaurant and his ‘Original Fish Dinner’ became famous throughout the city, so much so that the price was kept at the same price of 2/- until the first part of the 1900’s. Tradition meant, and still means, so much to Simpson’s Tavern that ladies were not permitted to enter until 1916, up until then it was a gentleman’s club. Today, anyone and everyone is welcome to the tavern so jump on the tube near the Paddington Court Executive and head to the City of London to dine on a hearty meal and a good old-fashioned pint in the capital’s original chophouse.

Rules

The oldest restaurant in the city is based a short walk away from the hotel near Hyde Park. Rules was born in 1798 and has been known ever since for its game dishes. It has welcomed many through its doors over the centuries and has been enjoyed by the likes of Charles Dickens and Charlie Chaplin, and, during the Second World War, it was very popular due to its selection of rabbit, grouse and pheasant which was a luxury for the city’s inhabitants during rations. The best time to visit is from the 12th of August, when the game season begins, but make sure you get there early to get a seat.

Simpsons-in-the-Strand

Simpsons-in-the-Strand began its life as a coffee house and smoking room before developing a reputation for the best English food in the city in the mid 19th century. It has had an impressive clientele in its day with Charles Dickens, P.G. Wodehouse, Vincent Van Gogh and George Bernard Shaw all being regular visitors. Simpsons-in-the-Strand has a unique historical connection to the game of chess as it was the place to come if you wanted to enjoy a game; the waiters still serve dishes on silver trolleys that glide between tables, an act that ensured that no game was disturbed and, even though the game is no longer played here, the trolley tradition lives on.

Gordon’s Wine Bar

If you are looking for an experience as well as delicious food and wines, then Gordon’s Wine Bar is the place to visit. It is well known by Londoners and tourists alike due to its historical connections with Samuel Pepys, the diarist who recorded major events such as the Great Fire of London in 1666. It opened in 1890 making it the oldest wine bar in the world and is set in the vaults of the Georgian houses with electricity only running in certain parts of the bar. The vaults themselves, where the vats and barrels used to be stored, will transport you to the earlier days of the bar with rickety wooden tables and chairs that are lit by candlelight. The walls are littered with its history and the small bar is stocked with a grand selection of wines; whether you enjoy white, rose or red, Gordon’s will have something for you. The food is a simple but delicious buffet with an array of fresh breads, rolls, meats, pies salad and cheese; you can create your own board and a standard board of cheese, ham and bread will cost around £12. If you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy a great tasting wine while being submerged in history, Gordon’s Wine Bar is simply it.

Veeraswamy

An Indian has become one of British publics most favourite cuisines and it is quite surprising to learn that the very first Indian restaurant in Britain was in the form of Veeraswamy in 1926. The youngest of the group, it possibly has the grandest history; it was opened 90 years by a man whose grandfather was an English general and his grandmother was an Indian princess. Veeraswamy quickly became the place to go and be seen, especially by the elite, mainly due to its exotic dishes and prime spot looking over Regent Street. In 2016, Indian restaurants are all over the city but Veeraswamy is still the best with its fine selection of dishes and its fascinating history.