Food and Travel: What Traditional English Foods to Try when Traveling in England

When traveling in England you should try at least one of the national foods even if you think you have already tasted it in your home country. traditional foods always taste better in their country of origin!

The one food to try when traveling in England is Fish and Chips. You can buy fish and chips from one of the many fish 'n' chip shops on most high streets. Look for a fish and chip shop which sells their food wrapped up in newspaper – that's the traditional way of serving English fish and chips – and look for a fish and chip shop where there are a lot of people. If a restaurant or fish and chip shop has no clientele there is probably a reason. Cover your chips in salt and malt vinegar and eat your English grub on a park bench or street corner, not sitting in a restaurant. While visiting England have a large pickled onion with your fish and chips, pickles are also well loved by Brits.

If you want to try traditional English food while traveling but are not a fish and chips person you could try Toad in the Hole which is basically sausages baked in a batter, and this is another traditional English meal. Another sausage meal in Britain is called Banners and Mash, bangers being sausages and mashed potatoes; this is usually served with meat gravy.

While traveling in England try a High Tea which consists of scones, sponge cakes, cream cakes and finger sandwiches, the most well known being cucumber sandwiches.

The most British drink, tea with milk, is drunk with High Tea. British scones can be part of an English High Tea or just ordered to accompany a cup of English tea. Top the scones with clotted cream and jam (jelly) and eat them fresh and hot. An English High Tea may be referred to as a cream tea on some menus.

A traditional English breakfast may be served in your hotel, if not you can find an English breakfast on many restaurant menus. The traditional English breakfast consists of fried eggs, bacon, toast and fried tomato this is washed down with tea and orange juice. Sometimes an English breakfast includes fried sausages. Another popular English breakfast is smoked kippers, which are Herring fish which are served grilled.

For a snack while traveling around England try Salt and vinegar crisps. Crisps are chips in a bag, the kind that you buy cold in a bag and not deep fried. Also try the delicious English Cadbury's chocolate, my favorite is nuts and raisins. On your trip to England you will find British sweets (candy) irresistible.

For a typical alcoholic drink in Britain you should try a dark ale or "Bitter" as well as Guinness beer. Many Brits like a Gin and Tonic as well.

If your travels bring you to England on a Sunday try the traditional English Sunday Lunch of roast beef, roast potatoes and vegetables. This may be served with Yorkshire pudding which is a batter baked in very hot fat.

You may want to try Black Pudding which is most popular in the North of England; it is like a sausage but is made with pig's blood and is also called a blood sausage.

A few of the most loved British pies include the pork pie, the steak and kidney pie, fisherman's pie (with fish filling), Cottage pie (mashed potato covering minced beef), Sheppard's pie (lamb filling) and my favorite the Cornish Pasty, which is filled with vegetables and meat and shaped like a half a circle. Most of these pies are served in restaurants as individual portions.

Britain produces some excellent cheeses and you should try a few at a farmer's market or at a dairy farm, there are cheeses produced in different areas of Britain each with their own distinct flavor. My favorite and the most typical British cheese is Cheddar.

If your travels in England require you to stop at a road side pub and you are looking for something relatively healthy to eat your best bet is a Ploughman's Lunch. A Ploughman's lunch includes a half a baguette, cheddar cheese, pickled onions, and salad.

When traveling to England make sure you get a taste of the true flavor of Britain by trying these traditional foods.