As somebody who rewards themselves with a sweet treat or a pastry for completing, quite literally, any task; I’m pretty invested in the country’s bakery scene – both emotionally and financially. And so the annual Baker’s Dozen list is a fairly exciting event in my calendar. If you’ve not heard of it before, the Baker’s Dozen is a yearly list that reveals the best and tastiest artisan bakeries in the country.
Some of Britain’s biggest baking-buffs were carefully selected by British Baker (the leading source of information in the baking industry) to put their two pence in – from suppliers and lecturers to consultants and (of course) bakers. Together they sifted through Britain’s bakeries like flour, to decide on the 13 very best artisan bakeries in the country. And the results are finally in, folks – and out of the 13 bakeries on the list, three of them are in London. Not too shabby, hey?
Triumphantly climbing six places from its position in the Baker’s Dozen last year, Aroma managed to bag itself fifth place on the 2025 list. If you’re anywhere near as addicted to social media as I am to spending my money on expensive pastries, then you’ll have heard of this place. Co-founded by French pastry chef, Alix André and Singaporean restaurateur, Ellen Chew; Arôme seamlessly blends age-old French patisserie techniques with Asian-inspired flavours. And the result is pretty darn sensational.
With two popular locations across the capital, Arôme bakes their fresh, seasonal, and outrageously delicious products in-house everyday. They offer a mouth-watering selection of both sweet and savoury pastries, from the humble croissant to the Miso Bacon Escargot. And it certainly comes as no surprise to us that they’ve been hailed one of the best bakeries in the country.
You’ll find Arôme at 9 Mercer Street, WC2H 9QJ and 27 Duke Street, W1U 1LE.
If your sweet tooth is in need of some satisfaction, there really is only one dough-rection you should be heading in: Bread Ahead. Having become a rather big name on London’s bakery scene, getting your hands on some of Bread Ahead’s baked goods is no mean feat. They’ve got five locations across the capital, each of which draws quite the crowd – and their deep-filled and oh-so decadent doughnuts are always the first things to be snapped up.
Doughnuts aside, Bread Ahead serves up a whole host of delicious baked goods, from bagels and baguettes to brownies and buns – and their sourdough is a particular speciality. Beloved across the capital, it’s easy to see how this top tier bakery managed to nab itself a comfy spot on this year’s Baker’s Dozen.
Fortitude Bakehouse
Credit: @fortitudebakehouse via Instagram
Occupying the final spot on the Baker’s Dozen is Fortitude Bakehouse. Renowned for its 11am beignets that regularly have Londoners queueing around the block; the much-loved bakery is tucked away down a charming Bloomsbury mews – and looks like it’s been plucked straight from the scene of a rom-com.
Boasting some of the capital’s best-looking and best-tasting baked goods, Fortitude Bakehouse serves up a huge variety of sweet, savoury, and downright sensational bakery items. And if you manage to nab a table inside, you can even get a sneak peek of the bakers in action.
The official Baker’s Dozen 2025
- Lovingly Artisan, Cumbria and Manchester
- Northern Rye, South Shields
- Lannan, Edinburgh
- Pollen, Manchester
- Aroma, London
- Bread Source, Norfolk
- Levain & Cherry, Birmingham
- Farro, Bristol
- Pettigrew Bakeries, Cardiff
- Gorse, Cornwall
- Haxby Bakehouse, York
- Bread Ahead, London
- Fortitude Bakehouse, London
British Baker editor, Amy Northsaid: “Each of the 13 bakeries on the list has been recognised by industry experts and their peers as a beacon of dedication, passion, and skill, as demonstrated through lovingly handcrafted products and by the people who make them.”
So, what are you waiting for, Londoners? Grab your very stretchiest trousers and have a dough-lightful time.
