Food and drink
A nation that invented afternoon tea to satisfy that long gap between lunch and dinner is clearly a nation obsessed with food. Fresh-from-the-sea fish ‘n’ chips and sizzling Baltis, vibrant street food and Michelin-starred establishments: you’ll find a treat to suit your tastes in England. Tuck into regional specialities, from pikelets to pork pies, stinky cheeses to sizzling sausages. Wash it all down with a carefully crafted real ale, cider, G&T or award-winning wine. England is also famed for its gastro pubs, buzzing food festivals and quirky celebrations of produce – asparagus festival or garlic fiesta, anyone? You’ll find the best food and drink in England.
October events: Enjoy local produce at Broadstairs Food Festival
Fresh, local, award-winning produce, live demonstrations and more in October. Simply delicious.
Location: Broadstairs, Kent
August events: Trout ‘n About Food Festival
Take your pick from hand-crafted jewellery to award-winning sausages at this gourmet event in the heart of the Test Valley.
Location: Test Valley, Hampshire
Calling all food lovers to Holmfirth Food and Drink Festival
A weekend of tasty treats, markets, live music and entertainment in Holmfirth.
Location: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
September events: Enjoy good food at Ludlow Food Festival
Take one historic town, an enviable food culture, passionate local chefs and food producers and you get the perfect recipe for Ludlow Food Festival.
Location: Ludlow, Shropshire
October events: Get merry on local brews at the Robin Hood Beer Festival
With its fine selection of beer and cider stalls, many of which offer local produce, Nottingham's Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival is a great place for drink connoisseurs.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
September events: Help yourself to the best food and drink in Aldeburgh
Fine food, local brews and idyllic seaside make the perfect ingredients for a tasty weekend away.
Location: Aldeburgh, Suffolk
August events: Eat, drink and be merry at the Newlyn Fish Festival
Celebrate the Cornish fishing community’s hard work and delicious produce at the Newlyn Fish Festival.
Location: Newlyn, Cornwall
August events: Oxford Foodies Festival
Feeling hungry? Eat and drink your way around one of the UK’s biggest food festivals.
Location: Oxford South Parks, Oxfordshire
May events: Tuck into a three day food festival in Exeter
Celebrate the best food and drink from the South West at this event in May.
Location: Exeter, Devon
Sample real ales at the Winter Ales Festival
Discover your favourite real ale at the Derby CAMRA Winter Ales Festival at the Derby Roundhouse from 20-23 February 2019.
Location: Derby, Derbyshire
May events: Learn from food experts at Salcombe Crab Festival
Love seafood? Salcombe’s delicious crab celebration should be right at the top of your things to do in Devon list.
Location: Salcombe, Devon
Tuck into these 2023 food festivals
Celebrate the great tastes and smells of the autumn's food festival season at one of these fabulous foodie locations.
Get a fix at the London Coffee Festival
Master your latte art and sample some of the best small batch and specialist coffee at the city’s annual Coffee Festival in March.
Location: Brick Lane, London