The Best Ice Cream and Gelato in London
London does not stop wanting ice cream when the heatwave ends. The best parlours keep churning through autumn and winter, and a scoop on a cold evening has its own appeal. Here are ten places worth the trip, from serious Italian gelato to soft serve eaten in a bakery garden.
The scoops people queue for
Gelateria Romeo & Giulietta, Stoke Newington
Time Out's 2026 ranking of London's ice cream put this gelateria at 137 Albion Road, N16 9JU, in first place. Its pick is the pistachio with ricotta and caramelised figs, and it also singles out a vegan dark chocolate sorbet with black cherry praline. Time Out's list is the place to start if you want to see how the top of the city's scene stacks up.
Gelupo, Soho
Second in the same Time Out list for the second year running, Gelupo sits at 7 Archer Street. It has been going since 2010 and is a Jacob Kennedy venture. Time Out recommends the ricotta and sour cherry, the mint stracciatella and the apricot sherbet. Specials have included liquorice, strawberry sherbet and rice pudding. Gelupo's own ordering page says the gelato is made fresh daily from seasonal produce, and that flavours sometimes run out, so go early if you have your heart set on one. It is open daily until late, but check the hours before you go. The Infatuation notes the curved booths at the back, where you can sip a negroni alongside your scoop.
Oddono's, South Kensington
The first Oddono's shop opened on Bute Street in 2004, and the original is at 14 Bute Street, SW7 3EX. It is a short walk from the Natural History Museum, which makes it a handy reward after the dinosaurs, and reviewers mention the air conditioning. The pistachio gets praise, there are vegan and no sugar added options, and it is open late into the evening. Prices sit in the lowest band on review sites, but check before you go.
Caliendo's, Kentish Town and Camden
Caliendo's sells gelato built around named ingredients, among them Bronte Pistachio DOP and Piedmont Hazelnut IGP. It has a counter in the Kentish Town and Camden area. Confirm opening times before making a special journey.
Gelato made in front of you
Gelateria 3Bis, Borough Market
At 4 Park Street, Borough Market's trader page says this gelateria uses British cow's milk and makes its batches daily in public view. Watching the work is half the pleasure, and it pairs neatly with a wander round the market. See the Borough Market trader page for the details.
La Gelatiera, Soho
An artisan gelato maker that has been running since 2011, La Gelatiera has plenty of vegan options. Great British Chefs once singled out a porcini mushroom, dark chocolate and Baileys flavour, which tells you something about its range.
Ice Cream Union, Pavilion Road, Chelsea
The Chelsea parlour at 166 Pavilion Road, SW1X 0AW, opened in 2019 and is close to Sloane Square station. There is no seating, so you eat at the counter, which suits a cone and a walk down the road. The brand's own site lists the parlour as open daily, and next day delivery in Zones 1 and 2 on weekdays. Opening times can change, so check before you go.
Soft serve
Soft & Swirly, London Fields
The Infatuation's soft serve guide places Soft & Swirly in the garden at E5 Bakehouse in London Fields. The flavours change weekly, with examples such as mint choc chip, salted black sesame and a strawberry and elderflower sorbet. It is a garden set up, so check it is trading on a cooler day.
Forza Wine, Peckham
The Infatuation calls the soft serve at Forza Wine the milkiest in London. It is served on the rooftop of the Bussey Building in Peckham. Rooftops tend to be seasonal, so check it is open before you head south.
For the curious
The Dreamery, De Beauvoir Town
On Elizabeth Avenue, opposite sister venue Goodbye Horses, The Dreamery pairs a seasonally rotating ice cream menu with natural wines. That is a more grown up way to finish an evening than most parlours manage.
Choosing well
- For the purist: Romeo & Giulietta or Gelupo.
- For a day out: Oddono's after the museums, or Gelateria 3Bis with a market wander.
- For soft serve: Soft & Swirly in the garden, or Forza Wine up on the roof.
- For something different: The Dreamery, or the vegan options at La Gelatiera.
Flavours rotate and some venues run out by evening, so treat any named scoop as a suggestion. Prices and hours change, so check before you go.
