Best Sunday Roasts

A proper Sunday roast — roast meat, potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables and gravy — is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a Sunday afternoon in London, and pubs across the city compete hard to do it well.

What Makes a Good Roast

The classics to look for: a proper crisp-edged Yorkshire pudding (served with every roast, not just beef), roast potatoes with a crunchy outside and fluffy centre, and gravy made from the roasting tray rather than a jug of instant granules. Good pubs will also do a genuinely good vegetarian option — usually a nut roast or mushroom Wellington — rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Where to Look

Traditional pubs near Borough Market and in Hackney and South London have a strong reputation for doing roasts properly, but this is one of the few London meals where a "hidden gem" local pub can genuinely outdo a well-known one — asking locals or checking recent reviews for a specific area is often more reliable than a generic "best of" list.

Tips for Visiting

• Book ahead — good roasts routinely sell out by early afternoon, especially in winter.
• Sunday roasts are typically served from midday until around 6–8pm, not all day.
• Ask for a Yorkshire pudding even with a non-beef roast — most kitchens will happily add one.
• Arrive early (12–1pm) for the best chance of a table without a wait.