Where To Find the Best Full English In London

We love a fancy brunch as much as the next person, but sometimes there’s nothing better than a good old fry up. Whether it’s the full monty of crispy bacon, sausages, beans, hash browns and toast or a veggie version featuring mushrooms, fried eggs and tomatoes, you can’t beat a Full English – especially if you’re nursing a hangover. The classic English breakfast is one of the longest standing national dishes, dating all the way back to the 1300s, and it’s certainly not going anywhere anytime soon. You’ll find the dish on menus of hotels and restaurants across the country – but some do it better than others. Here’s where to find the best Full English in London, from old-school British cafes to upmarket dining rooms.

London’s Superior Fry-Ups

• The Breakfast Club
• The Wolseley
• Heart of Balham
• Riding House Cafe
• Regency Cafe
• E Pellicci
• Duck & Waffle

The Breakfast Club, Multiple Locations

Long before we were spending our Saturday mornings eating avo-on-toast in chic cafes, The Breakfast Club opened its doors in Soho: a no-frills cafe serving hearty brunches. Nowadays you’ll find branches all over the capital in places like Angel and Hoxton, all serving home-cooked comfort food with a focus on – you guessed it – breakfast. An extensive menu offers everything from American pancakes to fried chicken French toast, but the real highlight is The Full Monty, a breakfast feast of bacon, sausages, crispy potatoes, portobello mushrooms, black pudding, eggs and toast. Be warned: this may lead to a food coma, but it will be worth it.

Multiple locations, thebreakfastclubcafes.com

The Wolseley, Piccadilly

Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day at The Wolseley, one of London’s most iconic restaurants which has stood proudly on Piccadilly since the early 2000s. The brainchild of culinary duo Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, the restaurant oozes British elegance, and its food follows suit – so naturally the Full English here is a classy affair. Order The English and you’ll enjoy a choice of fried, poached or scrambled eggs alongside bacon, sausage, baked beans, tomato, black pudding and toast. 

160 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9EB, thewolseley.com

Heart of Balham

Balham is a mecca of brunch spots, but one of the longest standing is Heart of Balham, or HOB, perched on the corner of the high road. It’s run by a Moroccan family who take inspiration from the cuisines of North Africa and the Middle East – yet the breakfast menu includes a Full English done right. The HOB Breakfast is a feast of scrambled eggs on sourdough, beef sausages, bacon and grilled tomatoes, with seasoned potatoes and mixed herbs adding an exotic twist – with a halal option also on offer. 

113 Balham High Rd, London SW12 9AP, heartofbalham.com

Riding House Cafe, Multiple Locations

With three outposts across the capital, including the latest in Bloomsbury, the Riding House Cafés are renowned for their breakfast offerings. On weekends Londoners flock there for leisurely brunches with friends, with a large all-day menu that includes contemporary fare like sweet potato fritters and turmeric yoghurt, and smoked Cajun pepper stew with sourdough and okra. But if you fancy keeping it simple, go for the Full & Proper Breakfast, a hearty dish made up of smoked streaky bacon, Old Spot sausages, black pudding, BBQ beans, confit tomatoes and toast. Pair with a House Mary for the ultimate hangover cure.

Multiple locations, riding.house

Regency Cafe, Westminster

You might have spotted The Regency Cafe on screen: the Westminster stalwart has featured in numerous BBC shows, plus films such as Layer Cake and Pride. Opened in 1946 on Regency Street, it’s one of London’s most famous greasy spoon cafes, and though it may look unassuming, the hotspot is often credited with cooking up the best Full English in London. Perfect if you’re picky about your fry-up, it allows you to build your own breakfast, with the menu offering all the usual suspects. Alternatively, go for the set breakfast, which comes with bacon, a sausage, an egg, beans or tomatoes, and bread or toast – and all for under £7.

17-19 Regency St, London SW1P 4BY, regencycafe.has.restaurant

E. Pellicci, Bethnal Green

Run by an Italian family, East London favourite E. Pellici has been serving locals for over a century. Opened by the Pellicci family back in 1900, the old-school cafe is renowned for its friendly, eclectic East End atmosphere – the tiny space fits just 33 diners on seven tables, and is perennially full. You can tell the walls here hold years of history: the Kray twins were regulars back in the day, and more recently the likes of David Schwimmer and Gemma Collins have been spotted there. Despite its Italian heritage, Pellicci’s is famed for its Full English, which features Cumberland sausage, bacon, mushrooms, beans and tomatoes (with the option to go even meatier or make it veggie). 

332 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 0AG, epellicci.co.uk

Steven Joyce

Duck & Waffle, the City

Fancy a fry-up with a view? Whizz up to the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate, where you’ll find one of London’s highest restaurants, Duck & Waffle. It’s famous not only for its magnificent vistas, but also for being open 24 hours a day. Alongside the titular dish, the menu includes a refined Full English featuring two eggs any style, dry cured bacon, roasted tomato, field mushrooms, hash browns, sausage and a cheese scone. One for the decadent fry-up fans.

110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY, duckandwaffle.com