Autumn is the perfect time to indulge in some of the greatest foodie experiences across England.
Brighton Food Tours
Visitors to Brighton can experience the eclectic sights, stories and tastes of quirky, independent Brighton and uncover the unique makers and unsung heroes of Brighton’s indie food and drink scene. Cat & Angela started Brighton Food Tours to celebrate the city’s community of independent food and drink producers. Tours include the VIB Tour (Very Independent Brighton) with some of Brighton’s best independent food producers and street-food vendors and the Brighton Wine Rebellion Tour, a-fun walking wine tour of the city’s best independent hotspots and the Beer & Brew collaboration.
Exotic East End, London
An experience targeting all foodies is taking place around Brick Lane, home to food from over 40 nations and regions. It is not simply a ‘food tour’ but a journey around the world to understand and celebrate this multicultural area of one of the most cosmopolitan cities, followed by a fun Cockney Rhyming Slang Lesson. One of the highlights of the tour is the stop at the famous ‘Beigel Bake’ which offers hot salt beef with mustard, chopped herring or cream cheese and salmon fillings.
Leeds Food Tours
Discover the best independent pubs, restaurants and cafes and taste the best produce that Yorkshire has to offer on a food tour in this creative and vibrant city. Leeds Beer Tours have a fun and immersive guided tour experience, showcasing the city’s fantastic range of beer, Quirky Ales Brew School have a brewing workshop and Brewtown’s Leeds Brewery Tours offer a bus tour to visit three breweries.
Cadbury World Birmingham and York Chocolate Story, York
A world of chocolate delights can be uncovered in York at the Chocolate Story to learn the art of the chocolatier in the company of experts and enthusiasts. At Cadbury World the immersive experience shows how the confectionery is made and the origins of the cocoa bean. Visitors can play in chocolate rain and add their favourite treat to a delicious pot of hot chocolate. Great experiences for all chocoholics.
The Grand York Cookery School
Based in York’s finest hotel, The Grand York, The Cookery School offers a variety of courses focusing on a selection of International cuisines and speciality classes. The sessions are a fun experience, ideal for learning a little extra about fine cuisine for everyone from novice to aspiring chef. Cooking enthusiasts can learn how to bake British classics such as scones and crumpets or how to master a vegetarian Wellington. Visitors can explore the foodie city of York from the Shambles market and within the city walls during their stay.
Scranchester Tour, Manchester
Scranchester tours are named after the Northern England term ‘Scran’, a term used for food originally by the British Navy and now widespread. The tours are widely popular, and will take visitors on a multi-stop food tour of England’s greatest industrial city, revealing the food and drink stories of the city, and giving a tell all on the best places everyone loves to eat.
Savouring Bath Tour
Savouring Bath offers a range of walking tours to enjoy local delicacies and guilty pleasures in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath. Along the way participants can enjoy visits to contemporary tea-houses, expert cheese mongers, award-winning bakeries and many other foodie delights, as well as see the historic streets and sights of Bath. The local tour guides will share their experience of Bath’s foodie goodies along with some of the city’s hidden history and quirky tales.
Shellfish selections in Whitstable, Kent
The charming harbour town of Whitstable in Kent is world-famous for its oysters which, are at their best between September and April. Oyster shacks, seafood stalls and gourmet restaurants are dotted around the seaside town, and almost all of them revolve around this native delicacy. Wheelers Oyster Bar with an Instagram friendly exterior is a local institution and said to be the oldest seafood restaurant in the country. The Lobster Shack is another celebrated eatery, serving up home-brewed beer alongside their freshly caught oysters and…lobster.
Malton Food Tour, Yorkshire
Yorkshire’s foodie capital is just east of the Howardian Hills, with a reputation that has attracted over 26 new food and drink businesses in the last five years. The Talbot, part coaching inn, part boutique hotel who serve up hearty meals made from local produce also hosts lessons at the Malton Cookery School. The Malton Food Tour takes visitors on a tasting around the town to meet passionate artisan producers on Yorkshire’s number one food tour.
Artisan Bakehouse, Sussex
The award-winning Artisan Bakehouse offers a number of food workshops in the heart of the countryside within easy reach of Brighton. Led by a jovial and expert host with a wood fired oven and in a cottage workshop - this is a hands on experience making various breads from around the world and learning new skills. There are also chocolate masterclasses and autumn garland sessions. Visitors can come for the day or stay for a short break.
Fore/Adventure, Dorset
Foraging onboard a kayak allows visitors to access a whole range of bountiful coastal spots. Fore/Adventure’s Kayak, Fish, Forage and Feast Adventure travels along the gorgeous Dorset coastline, with its little islands and chalk stacks. Visitors will forage for edible seaweeds and sea vegetables, fish for mackerel and black bream and spend time picking cockles and pulling in crab pots. The day is rounded off with an unforgettable al fresco cookout made from the produce collected.
Wild Foodie Foraging Experience, Cotswolds
Burleigh Court offers a perfect base from which to forage seasonal plants, learn how to identify common edible fruits and flowers, all while being conscious of sustainability. Starting with a foraging walk led by an experienced professional forager, visitors will then enjoy the fruits of their labour at the celebratory Wild Foraging Lunch.
Triple A Food Tours, Newcastle
Engaging hosts take food tours around Newcastle’s culinary scene on foot to experience the best local, organic and sustainable food in the city. Tours offer a diverse range of dining styles, from street food to Michelin Guide restaurants and carefully selected eateries that offer the best produce the North has to offer in this stunning and dynamic city.
Daylesford Cookery School, Cotswolds
Inspired by what’s in season and growing on the farm, these cookery courses will refine culinary techniques in the heart of the natural beauty of the Cotswolds. Classes and events include Food and Wine tasting evenings, classes with guest chefs and quick and simple suppers sessions.
Pork Pie Experience, Melton Mowbray
Multi-award-winning Brockleby’s bakery hosts fun pie making sessions to replicate the world-famous Melton Mowbray pork pies, along with a tour of bakery to meet the expert makers. The Ultimate Experience includes a full three-hour pie making workshop from raw ingredients followed by a ploughman’s lunch or afternoon tea.
English Wine Tours and Experiences
English wine production is now turning heads on a global stage. There are vineyards dotted around England, from Cornwall to Yorkshire. Autumn is the perfect time to visit English wine country, as the grapes are harvested and the vineyards come alive. Seasonal experiences include a tasting at Balfour on the Husheath Estate, a slither down the slide and tasting at Simpsons Wine Estate, tastings and tours at Chapel Down in Kent and cheese making, tours and tastings and a hotel in the heart of the vines at Denbies in Surrey. Ashling Park in Sussex offer a host of events including tastings, tours, gin school, bee keeping, e-biking to explore the area and have lodges on site built by Will Hardie of TV’s ‘Amazing Spaces’. Alternatively there are guided tours with English Wine Tasting Tours from London for a day out from the capital with a private driver and expert guide.
Cracking Good Food, North West Foraging courses in a range of hand-picked locations in the north-west, including Hebden Bridge, Chorlton, Didsbury or Macclesfield. Forage for seasonal produce including berries and mushrooms in the autumn followed by a three course meal. Revenue raised by the courses goes to fund some of the cookery school’s community support projects.