London’s most photogenic (and delicious) ice cream parlours

Summer is well and truly underway in London, bringing with it balmy temperatures best soothed with a towering cone of ice cream. Sure, you’ll find soft-serve, gelato, sandwiches and sorbets scattered across the capital, but it’s the picture-worthy addresses with stylish interiors that elevate a sweet treat into something properly indulgent. From a seriously slick neighbourhood wine bar in De Beauvoir Town – think mirrored walls, a stainless-steel counter and a colourful ceiling mural – to a Soho spot with terrazzo floors, mouth-blown glass pendants and a blue exterior that wouldn’t look out of place on the Amalfi Coast, these are London’s most photogenic ice cream parlours and pop-ups to visit this summer.

10 London ice cream parlours to have on your radar

Gelupo, Soho 

Turn off Shaftesbury Avenue onto Soho’s Archer Street and you’ll be greeted with Gelupo’s striking rainbow awning. Masterminded by the team behind nearby Bocca di Lupo, this gelateria has London-born chef Jacob Kenedy to thank for its forward-thinking, flavour-filled creations. Try two scoops of the Sicilian pistachio or opt for the strawberry sherbet for a rush of sweetness. There’s a rotation of sorbets, including kiwi gin and elderflower, neatly organised on a letterboard menu alongside a drinks list with an exceptional limoncello. Expect terrazzo flooring, ice cream-inspired pendants and green leather banquettes for those looking to linger a little longer. The team love to experiment, from brioche ice cream sandwiches in winter to seasonal specials celebrating the fruits of the season – here’s hoping the mango and sticky rice makes a return this summer. gelupo.com

The Dreamery, Islington

Directly opposite its sibling wine bar and small-plates restaurant Goodbye Horses on De Beauvoir Town’s Elizabeth Avenue, hospitality heavyweights Alex Young and George de Vos’s The Dreamery is exactly what you’d want from an ice cream shop: a seasonally rotating menu paired with natural wines. Alongside classics such as mint chocolate chip and sticky toffee pudding, you’ll find inventive flavours including gingerbread, fig leaf, and blood orange with olive oil. The interiors are just as whimsical, with a kaleidoscope of colours and textures designed by architecture firm Studio Bates Rai. Think a stainless steel bar, pink cement-tiled floors and a statement ceiling showcasing a hand painted mural by British artist Lucy Stein depicting mystical, folklore-inspired motifs reflected in mirrored walls. dreamery.london

The Ice Cream Project, Chelsea

Each summer, celebrated designer Anya Hindmarch transforms a quiet corner of Chelsea into a bustling hotspot with her crowd-pleasing Ice Cream Project, which pays homage to the British pantry. The 2026 flavour line-up is bolder than ever, with 15 tongue-tingling options to try including Oxo Stock Cubes, Walker’s Shortbread, Lurpark Salted Butter and Green Giant Sweetcorn. While the pop-up is relatively simple in design, it’s delightfully satisfying, with floor-to-ceiling steel freezers stocked with colourful 500ml tubs featuring the original branding. The counter displays all the flavours available to enjoy on the spot, complete with sprinkles and wafers. Be sure to book a slot in advance to avoid disappointment – the pop-up runs until late August 2026. anyahindmarch.com/the-ice-cream-project

Chunk Provisions, Leyton

At Chunk Provisions, flavours are organised on a handwritten menu into ‘purists’ and ‘curious’ sections. All the classics (including a banging raspberry ripple) sit among the purists, while eyebrow-raising options land in the curious camp. Think chocolate peanut pretzel, banoffee pie and peach with condensed milk. The space has an industrial-chic feel with red pendant lights, a steel counter, bespoke wooden cabinet seating that doubles as storage, and colourful scoopers you’ll want to take home. Whether your go-to is a cone or cup, don’t skip the sandwiches – we’ve heard excellent things about the pecan brown butter cookies filled with your choice of gelato. chunkprovisions.com

La Gelatiera, Covent Garden

This multi-award-winning gelateria has three sites across London, but it’s their original outpost in the heart of Covent Garden we recommend visiting. Outside, chalkboard menus and streetside stalls offer a front-row view of the bustling West End, while inside blush-pink walls, steel seating and wooden touches create a soothing setting. Gelato is produced on site in small batches using traditional Italian techniques and natural ingredients, resulting in a mouthwatering line-up featuring salty caramel, roasted peanut butter, caramel and chocolate, and honey and rosemary with orange zest – all of which have earned awards. The vegan sorbets are just as impressive with the signature Sicilian pistachio a firm favourite, and the dark chocolate and chilli delighting those who prefer something fiery. lagelatiera.co.uk

Happy Endings, various locations

It’s always a good sign when your favourite restaurants stock the same ice cream. With more than 180 stockists across London and the UK – including Yard Sale Pizza, Dough Hands and Patty & Pickle – plus a fair few supermarkets, such as Notting Hill’s glitzy Supermarket of Dreams, Happy Endings is never too far away. Australian founder Terri Mercieca has built a cult following around fun, experimental ice creams that come in cones, cups to sandwiches. The sandwiches are the real showstoppers. Go for The Naughty One – a miso salt caramel parfait slotted between slices of chocolate Guinness cake with soy dulce de leche – or push the boat out and pick up The Favourite too, a delicious combination of bourbon biscuit, malt parfait and salty chocolate crumbs, dipped in milk chocolate. The best bit? You can get your hands on Happy Endings at 40ft Brewery in Walthamstow and Dalston all summer long. happyendingsldn.com

Gelateria Danieli, Richmond

Just around the corner from the stretch of the Thames recently designated as the UK’s first official open-water swimming spot – the south bank between Kingston and Teddington Lock –  Richmond is an ideal place to spend a sweltering summer’s day with its riverside restaurants and the independent Duck Pond Market all adding to the appeal. Tucked down Brewers Lane, which is conveniently a cone’s throw from Richmond Green, this old-school ice cream parlour has a nostalgic British charm. The interiors are pared-back, with wood-panelled walls, simple bistro seats spilling onto the pavement and a chalkboard menu revealing the specials. All ice cream is made on site, with flavours including cherry, honeycomb, salted caramel and a Kinder Bueno concoction worthy of an extra scoop. gelateriadanieli.com

3Bis Gelateria, Borough Market

Sandwiched between specialist coffee roasters Monmouth Coffee Company and Thai grill Kolae, 3Bis Gelateria makes small-batch ice creams throughout the day using organic milk and Italian produce. Often dishing out the same flavours as its founding branch in Rimini – think ricotta coffee with chestnut honey, stracciatella and mascarpone with fig – generous scoops are served in cone cups with a crumb-roasted edges and a wafer on top. Meanwhile, frozen yoghurt made with milk from neighbouring Neal’s Yard Dairy, as well as milkshakes and homemade tiramisu, invites those with a sweet tooth to spend an afternoon at one of the mosaic-tiled tables. You can also find 3Bis on Notting Hill’s Portobello Road. gelateria3bis.co.uk

Matter at Hand, Bloomsbury

Though it’s yet to have a permanent address, this artisan ice cream maker draws crowds each week at the Bloomsbury Farmers’ Market thanks to its mind-boggling flavours. We’re talking basil and lemon curd, brown butter-roasted sweetcorn, goat’s cheese and olive, and white peach with jasmine tea. Everything is beautifully presented, from the illustrated recyclable tubs to the perfectly crisp-yet-soft cones. Pick up your flavour of choice and photograph it against the backdrop of the market, where hand-crafted pasta from Pasta E Basta and jaw-stretching burgers courtesy of Salt & Smoke make for the perfect pre-ice cream stop. matter-at-hand.com

Festok, Marylebone 

This Lebanese cafe occupies a prime position on Marylebone’s Weymouth Street, right on the doorstep of Regent’s Park and its glorious Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens. Festok translates from Arabic as ‘pistachio’, which is the focus here. The standout dish is the mafroukeh, a traditional Lebanese dessert made from a sweet semolina and pistachio dough base, layered with clotted cream and topped with a generous scoop of pistachio ice cream. Alongside classic Middle Eastern flavours such as achta and rose, visitors can try experimental scoops of turmeric or date, or opt for the cooling mango, lemon or strawberry sorbets – all made from naturally-sourced ingredients. Arrive before the lunchtime rush to secure a pavement-side seat beneath its green pinstriped facade and snap your treat against the backdrop of the elegant Georgian townhouses. festok.london