National Ice Cream Month is July! and there are few things that signal the arrival of summer quite like an ice cream. Whether you’re strolling through Soho, people-watching in Marylebone or escaping the heat in Canary Wharf, that first delicious scoop instantly transports you back to childhood. But London’s ice cream scene has grown up dramatically in recent years.
Forget a simple vanilla cone. This summer, London’s chefs, bakers and dessert innovators are turning ice cream into an art form. From croissants stuffed with soft serve to bold Stilton-flavoured creations high above the City skyline, National Ice Cream Month is the perfect excuse to indulge your sweet tooth and discover some of the capital’s most inventive frozen treats.
One of the most exciting trends sweeping London right now is the rise of Asian-inspired flavours. At Chop Chop inside the Hippodrome in Leicester Square, a collaboration with cult Filipino dessert brand Mamasons Dirty Ice Cream has introduced Londoners to Ube, the vibrant purple yam flavour that’s become a social media sensation. Alongside it sits Hojicha, a beautifully roasted Japanese tea flavour with a rich, nutty depth that feels sophisticated and refreshing all at once. For coffee lovers, their Espresso Melt takes things even further, with hot espresso poured over ice cream for a modern take on the affogato.
Ice creams are priced from £5.50, with the Espresso Melt costing £6.50.
If free ice cream sounds even sweeter, then Marylebone should be your next stop. Kitchen at Holmes has teamed up with Hackney Gelato for one of the summer’s most generous giveaways, handing out 500 complimentary scoops from its outdoor terrace. With flavours including pistachio and clotted cream with strawberry, it’s a reminder that sometimes the simplest flavours remain the most irresistible.
The giveaway takes place on 17 July from midday, while the terrace remains open throughout the summer.
For those who believe dessert should be an adventure, Sky Garden’s Fenchurch Restaurant is serving something truly unexpected. Chef Kerth Gumbs has transformed Colston Bassett Stilton into a luxurious ice cream, pairing it with mulled grapes, milk foam and apple and pecan cake. It sounds daring, but that’s exactly the point. The combination of sweet and savoury creates a dessert that’s memorable long after the final spoonful, all while enjoying one of London’s most spectacular views.
Priced at £14, it’s available throughout the summer.
Meanwhile, the humble croissant is getting a frozen makeover courtesy of French bakery favourite PAUL. Their buttery pastries are being filled with soft serve ice cream or vegan strawberry sorbet, creating what could be the ultimate hybrid dessert of the season. Available in vanilla, chocolate and salted caramel, it’s indulgent, slightly messy and completely Instagram-worthy — everything a summer treat should be.
Available from selected London stores for £5.
Japanese restaurant group Sticks’n’Sushi is proving that ice cream can be elegant too. Their Karameru ice cream sticks combine miso caramel, dark chocolate and hazelnut nougatine for a sophisticated dessert that feels worlds away from the traditional cone. The subtle umami notes from the miso create a flavour profile that is rich, balanced and utterly addictive.
Priced at £8.50 and available nationwide.
And if you’re sharing with someone special, Canary Wharf’s stylish new Songbird Restaurant may have created the most theatrical ice cream experience in London. Their signature Songbird Sundae arrives inside an elaborate birdcage filled with vanilla gelato, sauces and toppings, allowing guests to build their own dessert masterpiece. It’s playful, luxurious and exactly the kind of over-the-top experience that makes dining out fun.
The sharing dessert costs £20 for two people.
