Each year, a portion of Regent's Park is transformed into a foodie's paradise. An aroma of barbecued meats waft through the air, mariachi music leads the way towards creamy guacamole, and every corner has a new vibrant spice, tangy sauce, or salty snack to take home and try. Since its 2004 debut at Somerset House, Taste of London has grown to become one of the most popular events in London's summer calendar. In their own words, it's "5 days of feasting", but for those who have never been, some scepticism remains. What can be found on the Taste of London menu? What Taste of London ticket is the best option? And most importantly, is it really worth the hype? We headed along this year to get a taste of the festival for ourselves.
Which Taste of London Tickets are the Best Option for You?
From Thursday to Sunday, the festival runs two daily sessions, one in the afternoon (12pm to 4pm) and one in the evening (5.30pm to 9.30pm). We opted for the Friday afternoon slot, arriving at around 12.30pm. To our delight, there were no queues in sight, just a fuss-free QR scan and we were in.
The Friday session has the unmistakeable buzz of the approaching weekend. Despite it being the afternoon, there was a general attitude of it being five o clock somewhere. So, regardless of whether you opt for the day or evening tickets, you need not worry about having a good time. If you can't decide between a time or day, there's always the All Sessions Entry Pass- a ticket that grants you access to as many sessions and as many days as you'd like during the festival.
Once you have your date and time in mind, it's a matter of choosing between the Taste Pass, the Tasting Ticket, or Taste VIP.
What's Included in the Ticket?
Taste of London ticket prices start at £24 for the Taste Pass. This is the most basic ticket, granting entry to the festival. For an extra £14 you can purchase the Tasting Ticket, which also includes two signature dishes. If you're making an occasion of it, you can always go for the Taste VIP, granting access to a VIP Lounge and including extra perks like a glass of champagne and two-three dishes.
We arrived with two Taste Passes and left with 4 tote bags, full to the brim of snacks and winnings. To confirm, £24 is most definitely good value for money. Not to mention, nearly every stall offers a sample of food or drink, so there's no fear of going hungry.
Our Taste of London Highlights
Some of this years highlights included Jolly Hog, a Taste Festival-regular offering samples of the juiciest sausages on the market (in our opinion). Gluten free and made with British Outdoor Bred pork, we couldn't resist paying a prolonged visit to their stand on more than one occasion.
Another favourite was the Holy Moly stand, marked by an energy-fuelled mariachi band. Not only does this stand serve as a great meeting point should you get lost, but the never-ending servings of corn tortillas and creamy, zesty guacamole makes it difficult to move on from it.
In a streak of luck, we won not one, but two full-sized tubs of Foraging Fox to take home. Made with all natural ingredients, we've been pairing the mango habanero and smoky chipotle salsas with our Blanco Nino Blue Corn chips (these got our seal of approval after a few taste tests at their stand, too).
For a substantial meal, we headed straight to Los Mochis, a fusion of Japanese and Mexican. We opted for the Spicy Salmon on Crispy Rice, salmon tartare and jalapeños served on a bed of golden-on-the-outside, wonderfully sticky-on-the-inside sushi rice. We also opted for the Trailer Park Chicken Taco, gluten-free, crispy fried chicken served with guacamole, jalapeño BBQ sauce, habanero gochujang, toasted sesame and parsnip crisp, costing £7 and £8 respectively.
Finally, the last stop on our day out ended up being a firm favourite. As you step into the Taste of Saudi Culture tent, there's an instant sense of calm amongst the chaos that surrounds it. Inside were chefs cooking traditional dishes, including a slow-cooked lamb that was quite possibly one of the most delectable meats we've ever had the pleasure of tasting. There was also a souk market where you can buy herbs, spices, games and gifts, and of course, a henna station, which we simply couldn't resist.
To conclude, Taste of London never fails to disappoint. With 36 Restaurants, 50 Chefs, and 150 Artisan Producers, each year is bigger and better than the last, and here at Food Network, we're eagerly anticipating June 2026.
