England · DESSERT TOURS
This is the shortlist you would hand a friend flying in: 7 dessert tours that earn the money, each with its price, its verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Join a private guide such as Jennifer, Hazel, or Natasha for a three-hour chocolate walk through Soho and Mayfair. Expect tastings at several chocolate shops, a hot chocolate and pastry at Sketch, stories about chocolate-making, and local history as you walk toward Oxford Circus. The tour runs in all weather and suits small groups.
“The tour was great! Our guide had historical stories and definitely entertained and educated”
At York Cocoa Works on Castlegate, you learn how chocolate is made, taste single-origin chocolate, temper your own batch, and add flavours and toppings before wrapping your bar to take home. The workshop lasts about 1 hour 15 minutes, welcomes beginners, and suits families with older children, couples, and small groups.
“Interesting; well managed and good fun. Very helpful and friendly young lady led the class of beginners. Great activity!”
Spend about two and a half hours walking from Soho to Covent Garden, tasting more than 20 ice cream varieties with a guide. The group is limited to eight people or fewer, and all tastings plus bottled water are included. It is a private English-language experience, with the guide helping you find your way at the finish.
“We had a great tour guide with our family friends consisting of two tween girls. She knew alot of cool facts that we were surprised that our kids actually remembered !Learned a lot and tasted20 +flavors . Definitely would recommend .”
At Melt Chocolates on Ledbury Road, a chocolatier guides you through cacao origins, chocolate percentages, and the bean-to-bar process. You taste several styles, then make three 45-gram dark chocolate bars with your own flavors and decorations. Classes run about 90 minutes and hold no more than eight people.
“My family and I loved this experience. It was set in a great chocolate shop in charming Notting Hill. The instructor was extremely knowledgeable about cocoa beans from around the world and walked us through the entire process from harvesting the bean to pouring out delicious chocolate into moulds. I learned a TON about different chocolate and got to sample chocolate of different compositions and flavors from around the world. Watching my daughter make chocolate and leave so happy made this experience worth it. We had an awesome time and would definitely do this again.”
Spend about three hours at Melt Chocolates in Notting Hill with a small group of up to six. Melt’s chefs guide you from cracking cocoa beans to grinding, tasting, tempering, and molding chocolate. You’ll also make ganache, praline, a dozen bonbons, and two dark chocolate bars to take home.
“AMAZING!!! Everything was perfect. Do not miss out. We ended up with more amazing chocolate than I could have imagined. They were perfect gifts. Do not hesitate to book.”
Spend about two hours walking Brighton with a local guide, stopping for five chocolate tastings such as macarons, cake, pralines, ice cream, and pain au chocolat. The route may pass through North Laine, the Lanes, Kemptown, or Hove, with landmarks including Brighton Pavilion and Brighton Dome. Sophie is one guide named in the tour’s feedback.
“Fantastic tour - Sophie was an excellent guide and showed us six different stops. Each stop offered a very different product and we had a lovely range of chocolate throughout the trip. Sophie was friendly and informative and took plenty of pictures throughout the tour. I would highly recommend!”
Meet at Green Park at 12:30 pm for a three-hour chocolate walk led by a specialist guide, often Paul, a former cocoa and coffee trader. Visit Charbonnel Et Walker, Prestat, Paul A Young, and Rococo Chelsea, tasting chocolates while learning how cocoa becomes a finished treat. The tour ends at Seven Dials.
“It was a nice tour. A short introduction of history in the start. After that we mostly visited shops (actually 4 to be exact) and tasted samples from the counter. But you also couldn't choose the samples, it was more random. I don't think it's fair Read more”
Start from a city, a castle or a pair of boots.
