Our guide to the best cake shops in London

Become Alice in Wonderland for the day with The Franklin’s whimsical, fairy tale-inspired afternoon tea set in a gorgeous tea room within a boutique hotel in Knightsbridge. Inspired by The Victoria and Albert Museum’s ‘Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser’ exhibition, there are plenty of sweet and savoury delights on offer, as well as tea and Champagne served in beautiful tableware and teacups fit for Alice herself. Cake lovers will rejoice as there are plenty of magical creations for you to sample, from extravagant cupcakes to dainty slices. This afternoon tea is a perfect day out for families as children are welcome, but it’s also a great place to come with friends to relive your favourite childhood fairy tale!

This pastel pink dream is arguably the cutest place on this list to come for cakes, cupcakes, afternoon tea and specialty coffee. Peggy Porschen is a hugely popular dessert shop in the heart of Chelsea on the King’s Road, instantly recognisable by its very Instagrammable floral-adorned aesthetic which carries through to the interior. On the cake menu, you’ll find classic cakes, layer cakes and cupcakes with mouth-watering flavours such as red velvet, salted caramel and popcorn and dark chocolate truffle. If you and your friends are all cake-lovers, you simply have to try out their ‘Cake Heaven’ tasting experience where you’ll get to sample a bit of everything from their patisserie counter!

Fancy tasting some of London’s most famous red velvet cupcakes? Well, grab a table at The Hummingbird Bakery and tuck in! Situated in the vibrant Portobello area of Notting Hill, this well-loved dessert spot is the perfect place to refuel after a spot of shopping at Portobello Market. The Hummingbird Bakery serves scrumptious cakes, barista coffees and a range of American-style baked goods in their Notting Hill branch, which has attracted famous fans such as Adele, Lady Gaga and even The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton!

Cakes, coffee, and incredible comfort food – what more could you want? Louie Louie has an in-house pastry chef whipping up some seriously good cake so if you’re partial to a delicious slice of gateau, make your way down to South London promptly! Louie Louie was once voted ‘The Best Coffee Place in London’ in 2018 by Time Out Magazine, so you can guarantee you’ll be getting an incredible cappuccino to go alongside your cake. And if you fancy making an evening of it, the night-time vibes at Louie Louie are unmatched, with weekend DJs and great happy hour deals on cocktails.

This popular spot in Fitzrovia serves up smokey and aromatic grilled plates and fresh salads with traditional flavours from the Middle East. The real star of the show though is their sweet menu, packed with deliciously fragrant desserts – including cakes which are to die for! Their signature dish is a feta and Greek thyme honey cheesecake, topped with almonds and blueberries and served on a kadaif base which is as beautiful as it is tasty. If you’re a chocolate fan, their chocolate terrazzo cake is made with sesame, almonds, pistachio and topped with marzipan sorbet which is equally rich and tasty. Cakes can be enjoyed with refreshing teas and infusions such as rose and cinnamon, fresh mint and Persian lemon and fennel, or if coffee’s more your thing, they do fabulous cardamom coffees, iced lattes and flat whites too.