London’s best cheeseboards

The first of these heady gastronomic wonderlands opened in Highbury way back in 1992 after the owner mistakenly brought a whole wheel of cheese back from a ski trip, and happily found her passion. You’ll now find three outposts across London, all of which are painted in an unmistakable deep green and decorated in a cosy yet sumptuous style. You can buy wedges to take home, or you can sit in and peruse the cheeseboard menu—a whole page is dedicated to the art. Choose between French and British boards, curate your own garnishes, add some charcuterie, and of course, select the perfect wine to pair it all with.

London institution Gordon’s claims to be the city’s oldest wine bar. While the masses tend to flock to this embankment spot when the mercury rises, its Dickensian decor and cool caverns make it a great place to cosy up and share a platter of cheese over a candlelit barrel. You can choose from a selection of around fifteen hard, soft or blue cheeses, which are all served with baked French bread, salted butter, chutney and quince jelly. You can ask for wine pairing recommendations too—after all, they are the experts!

If you’re not hugely confident about picking out a vintage, then Vagabond takes all of the dreaded snobbery out of wine. You can try whichever one you fancy by the glass, which you self-pour after simply tapping your contactless card. The sharing cheese plates are too tempting to pass up on (especially after your second or third sample)—think sharp cheddars and creamy French blues with onion chutney and tomato relish. You can even book a cheese and wine pairing masterclass, so you can recreate your favourite combinations at home and impress your date or your mates.

You don’t need to be waiting for a train to enjoy the romance of Searcys in St Pancras. In fact, it makes it a lot more enjoyable if you’re not restricted by such a departure. The 1920s decor transports diners to the golden age of travel, when trips were a treat, and thus toasted with champagne—Searcys boasts Europe’s longest champagne bar, so it would be rude not to… This semi al fresco spot, within view of Tracy Emin’s I Want My Time With You, is arguably more suited to chatting over a sharing board rather than a three course meal, so we recommend ordering the cheese board, which offers a selection of three artisan cheeses with quince jelly and frozen grapes. If you find yourself craving bubbles and cheese while in central London, pop in to The Champagne Bar at 116 Pall Mall by Searcys. This Grade I-listed converted wine cellar is still sort of a secret in the beating heart of the capital.

First opened in Covent Garden, you can now find fine artisanal French exports in Greenwich and Brixton too. The combination of brioche-y fizz and creamy, tangy cheese is an elite pairing, and nowhere nails it in London quite like Champagne + Fromage. In addition to offering Instagrammable spreads in bright, photogenic settings, you can also attend tastings and producer’s events, where you can learn all about specific makers and boost your foodie knowledge.

The details of this Victorian covered market are too marvellous to simply acknowledge while passing through. Happily, there’s a place inside where you can stop and sit for a while that is entirely dedicated to cheese. Cheese at Leadenhall features a cheesemongers, a restaurant, and a wine and port bar on the terrace. A date here really feels like a world, and maybe even a century, away from the bright lights and high rises of the city.