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.
September events: Celebrate the golden age of beer in Kent
The Faversham Hop Festival is a unique family event that commemorates the golden days of hop-picking with two days of live music, dancing, great food and hops, hops, hops!
Location: Faversham, Kent
Love cheese, love Cheshire
Sample Cheshire’s signature food product at local cheese shops or splash out on a cheese and wine tasting evening.
Location: Nantwich, Cheshire
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
September events: Visit Yorkshire’s food capital this autumn
Visit Malton’s hub of artisan food production for a tasty treat of some of Yorkshire’s finest and freshest autumnal flavours.
Location: Malton, North Yorkshire
August events: Discover the English countryside with BBC Countryfile Live
Head to the spectacular grounds of Oxfordshire’s iconic World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace, for BBC Countryfile Live, which will be hosted from the 1 - 4 August.
Location: Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Enjoy street food beside the river in Exeter
Choose from an impressive line-up of different cuisines at this regular night market, set against the stunning backdrop of Exeter's historic quayside.
Location: Exeter, Devon
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 the World Pasty Championships at the Eden Project
What better way to celebrate St Piran’s Day, the National Day of Cornwall, than by chomping on a pasty or two at one of Cornwall’s most famous attractions.
Location: Eden Project, Cornwall
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
