Selling British food to the rest of the world has always been a bit of an uphill struggle. Thanks to a number of tropes and comedy stereotypes, the UK often gets tarred with a brush indicating that we’re only good for jellied eels, faggots, and offal. Anyone who has spent a bit of time in the British Isles will, of course, know that there’s a lot more on the menu, and our food stands shoulder to shoulder with anywhere else in the world.

Of course, a lot of what makes eating in the UK so wonderful is the diversity of other cuisines that are present in our towns and cities. The Indian food on offer in Manchester is as good as what you’d get in Mumbai, and years of migration from places like the Caribbean, Italy, China, Poland, and Pakistan has diversified the British Pallet. If you’re looking for UK neighbourhoods to try what’s on offer, here’s the foodie havens of the UK.

The Merchant City - Glasgow

Starting off in the North, Scotland’s biggest city has been a hub for food lovers since the city reinvented itself, following its successful bid to be the European City of Culture in 1990. In the city centre, you’ll find an area known as the Merchant City – a namesake from Glasgow’s past as a trading hub.

This part of town has many top class restaurants covering all kinds of cuisine. From Italian with Qua, to Indian at Koolba, or Scottish in The Pot Still, there’s something to suit all tastes and occasions here.

Covent Garden - London

Being the biggest city in the UK, and one of the largest cities in the world, it’s no surprise that London is on this list. But with such a big place, it can be difficult to drill down to a specific area that covers all the bases.

One place that stands head and shoulders above are the restaurants of Covent Garden. This historic part of the city centre attracts tourists from the world over, so expect to see restaurants catering for every taste. Internationally renowned names like the Ivy, Clos Maggoire, and Frenchie can all be found there.

Ancoats - Manchester

Like Glasgow, another city that has managed to put itself on the map through reinvention is the unofficial capital of the English north, Manchester. Thanks to urban redevelopment that has left the iconic character of the city intact, Manchester has fast become one of the most exciting cities in Europe to visit.

Its hottest food district takes the form of Ancoats; an area between the Northern Quarter and the Green Quarter, an area of the city that was relatively unloved until recently. Now the restaurateurs have moved in, and you can find the finest pizza from Rudy’s, Scandinavian inspired fish from Squid Ink, and even a Japanese style tea room in the form of Cha-ology.

Thanks to the restaurant revolution that is currently taking place in Britain’s towns and cities, we are able to enjoy some of the finest foods that the world has to offer. What menu will spark your interest?