The Ledbury Review 2026: Brilliant 3-Michelin-Star Notting Hill Honest Verdict

This The Ledbury review by London Reviews is the most thorough independent assessment available of Notting Hill’s three-Michelin-starred dining room — Brett Graham’s celebrated kitchen at 127 Ledbury Road, the room that famously regained all three stars in 2024 after a four-year pandemic-era closure.

Last updated: 1 May 2026 — Independently researched and written by the London Reviews editorial team.

Looking for an honest The Ledbury review? Below we cover the menu, pricing, atmosphere, what regulars love, where the room falls short, how it compares to London’s other three-stars, and how to book.

Table of Contents

1. At a Glance
2. Introduction
3. Location & Getting There
4. First Impressions
5. The Menu
6. Pricing & Value
7. Diner Review Analysis
8. What Diners Love
9. Areas for Consideration
10. Who It’s Best For
11. Comparison Table
12. How to Book
13. FAQs
14. Verdict
15. Summary Rating

At a Glance

Introduction: Why We Chose The Ledbury

The Ledbury has the most dramatic story of any London three-star restaurant. It first earned three stars in 2010, held them through 2020, and then closed during the pandemic. Brett Graham — the Australian-born chef-owner — kept the kitchen team on, used the closure to refurbish the room, and reopened in February 2022 as a two-star. In the 2024 Michelin Guide, the third star was restored, making The Ledbury the only London restaurant to lose and regain three stars under the same chef.

Graham’s identity is unusual at three-star level. The Ledbury is the only top-tier London restaurant where game cookery is a defining specialism — the kitchen ages venison and grouse in-house, smokes its own bacon, and works closely with shooting estates including the Royal Berkshire estate. The result is a kitchen with a distinctly British, earthy, terroir-led identity that sits apart from the French haute cuisine of most London three-stars.

We chose to review The Ledbury because it represents the most British and produce-led of the city’s three-star rooms — a genuine alternative to French haute cuisine. We have read the Michelin Guide, AA, TripAdvisor, Andy Hayler, Hardens, Good Food Guide and Infatuation reviews, plus 100+ OpenTable diner notes. (See also our Sketch, Core, Alain Ducasse, Gordon Ramsay and Hélène Darroze reviews.)

Location & Getting There

The Ledbury sits on Ledbury Road, the elegant residential street running parallel to Portobello in the heart of Notting Hill. The frontage is quietly distinguished — bay windows, dark-painted facade, no fanfare.

By Tube

• Westbourne Park (Hammersmith & City, Circle lines) — 8 minutes’ walk south.
• Notting Hill Gate (Central, Circle, District lines) — 9 minutes’ walk south.
• Bayswater (Circle, District lines) — 10 minutes’ walk south-east.

First Impressions & Atmosphere

The dining room was redesigned during the 2020-2022 closure and is now significantly more refined than the original — paler walls, recovered banquettes, a polished open kitchen pass. The space feels more luxurious without losing the relaxed neighbourhood-restaurant identity that always distinguished it from grand-hotel three-stars.

Service is led by long-tenured front-of-house staff and has the warmth of a chef-owned operation. Brett Graham works the pass at virtually every service. Tables are widely spaced; pacing is moderate; conversation is comfortable.

This is the most unstuffy of the three-star rooms in London — closer to Core in feel than to Sketch or Alain Ducasse.

The Menu

Tasting Menu (£245, 8 courses)

Recent menus have featured wood-pigeon ham and smoked eel, hand-dived Mull scallop with seaweed butter, flame-grilled mackerel with cucumber and oyster cream, line-caught turbot, estate-shot Berkshire muntjac with elderberry, brown bread ice cream, and a tonka bean tart.

À la Carte (£195)

Three courses with full flexibility. Starters typically £42-£52, mains £55-£75 (game season pricing), desserts £18-£24.

Lunch

The lunch menu mirrors the dinner offering at the same prices — there is no discounted lunch menu, which is the only structural drawback.

Wine

The wine list is exceptional, particularly for Burgundy and German Riesling. Approximately 1,400 bins. Pairings start at £150.

Game Specialism

The Ledbury is the only London three-star with a dedicated game ageing programme. In season (October-February), expect partridge, grouse, woodcock and venison — all sourced from named shooting estates, aged in-house, and prepared with techniques few other London kitchens attempt.

Pricing & Value for Money

£245 for the eight-course tasting and £195 for à la carte position The Ledbury in the lower-middle of London three-star pricing — above Sketch and Core, well below Alain Ducasse and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. Wine pairings at £150 are the lowest entry point at three-star level.

Best Value

• The £245 tasting is competitive at three-star tier
• Wine pairings at £150 are well below three-star average
• The à la carte at £195 allows flexibility

Where Pricing Pinches

• No discounted lunch menu — same prices day and evening
• Game-season supplements (£15-£35 for premium estate game)

What Diners Actually Say

TripAdvisor (4.5/5)

The Ledbury consistently ranks in TripAdvisor’s London top 30. The flame-grilled mackerel and the muntjac are the most-named dishes in five-star reviews.

The Infatuation

“The most distinctively British of the three-star rooms” — praises Graham’s “uncompromising commitment to game and foraged ingredients”.

Andy Hayler

17-18/20. Highlights the wine list as “one of London’s deepest” and the game cookery as “unmatched in the city”.

Hardens

Top three London score for food.

What Diners Love Most

1. Game cookery. The Ledbury is the only London three-star with a serious game programme. In season, the dishes are extraordinary.
2. Flame-grilled mackerel. A signature for over a decade — most-named single dish.
3. Brett Graham’s presence. Works the pass at virtually every service.
4. Wine programme depth. Burgundy and Riesling representation is exceptional.
5. Refurbished room. The 2022 redesign improved the space significantly.
6. The redemption story. The only London restaurant to lose and regain three stars.
7. Less formal than peers. Smart but not stuffy.
8. Brown bread ice cream. Cult dessert that has been on the menu for years.

Areas for Consideration

1. No discounted lunch. Same pricing day and evening — most three-star rooms offer 30-40% off at lunch.
2. Booking is competitive. 4-8 weeks lead time, particularly for game season.
3. Notting Hill location. 15-20 minute taxi from central Mayfair.
4. Game-led menu in autumn/winter. Not for every diner — strong feathered-and-furred bias October to February.
5. Less theatrical than other three-stars. The room is refined but understated; some celebration diners want more atmosphere.

Who Is The Ledbury Best For?

✅ Particularly good for:

• Lovers of British produce and game
• Wine enthusiasts (Burgundy and Riesling collectors particularly)
• Diners who prefer chef-owned warmth over grand-hotel formality
• Game-season visits (October-February)
• Couples who value cooking over atmosphere

⚠️ Less suitable for:

• Diners seeking grand-hotel theatre
• Vegetarians (game is a defining specialism — vegetarian menu exists but is not the kitchen’s strength)
• Those wanting discounted lunch entry

Comparison with Other Three-Stars

Booking & How to Visit

1. Book direct at theledbury.com or by phone (+44 20 7792 9090).
2. OpenTable lists shorter-notice availability.
3. £100 per person deposit; refundable up to 48 hours.
4. Game-season (Oct-Feb) bookings open earlier and fill faster.

Pre-Visit Checklist

• Allow 2.5-3 hours for the tasting menu
• Smart dress; jackets not required
• Game season runs October-February — book early
• The room is unfazed by serious wine geeks; sommeliers welcome detailed conversations

Frequently Asked Questions about The Ledbury Notting Hill

How many Michelin stars does The Ledbury Notting Hill hold?

The Ledbury holds three Michelin stars. It first earned three stars in 2010, lost them during the pandemic closure, and regained them in the 2024 Michelin Guide.

How much does dinner cost at The Ledbury Notting Hill?

The eight-course tasting menu is £245. À la carte three courses is £195. Wine pairings start at £150.

Who is the chef at The Ledbury Notting Hill?

Brett Graham, an Australian-born chef-owner who has run the kitchen since opening in 2005.

What is the signature dish at The Ledbury Notting Hill?

Flame-grilled mackerel with cucumber and oyster cream is the longest-tenured signature; estate-shot Berkshire muntjac is the most-celebrated game dish.

Why did The Ledbury Notting Hill close?

The Ledbury closed in March 2020 due to Covid-19 and remained closed throughout the pandemic. The space was refurbished and the kitchen reopened in February 2022.

How far in advance should I book The Ledbury Notting Hill?

4-8 weeks for weekday dinner. Game-season bookings (October-February) require 6-10 weeks lead time.

Is there a vegetarian menu at The Ledbury Notting Hill?

Yes — vegetarian menus available with notice. However, game is the kitchen’s defining specialism and vegetarians may find more focused offerings at Core or Sketch.

How do I get to The Ledbury Notting Hill by Tube?

8-minute walk from Westbourne Park (Hammersmith & City, Circle); 9 minutes from Notting Hill Gate (Central). Address: 127 Ledbury Road, W11 2AQ.

Is The Ledbury Notting Hill good for game-season dining?

Yes — The Ledbury is London’s leading three-star room for game cookery, with in-house ageing and direct relationships with shooting estates.

London Reviews Verdict on The Ledbury

The Ledbury is the most distinctively British and game-led of London’s three-star rooms. Brett Graham’s commitment to in-house ageing, foraged ingredients and direct relationships with shooting estates produces a kitchen identity unlike any other in the city. The redemption arc — losing three stars during the pandemic and regaining them in 2024 — is itself part of why this room matters.

Pricing is competitive for three-star tier, with the wine pairings at £150 representing one of the lowest entry points at this level. Service is warm in the chef-owned tradition and Graham works the pass at virtually every service, which lends the room a continuity that grand-hotel three-stars cannot match.

Recommended without reservation for lovers of game, wine enthusiasts, and any diner who prefers earthy British cooking to French haute cuisine. Particularly recommended October-February for the game season.

Related London Reviews

• Sketch Lecture Room and Library Review
• Core by Clare Smyth Review
• Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester Review
• Restaurant Gordon Ramsay Review
• Hélène Darroze at the Connaught Review

Summary: Our The Ledbury Rating

Disclaimer: Cross-referenced from Michelin, Andy Hayler, AA, TripAdvisor, The Infatuation, Hardens, Good Food Guide, OpenTable. London Reviews accepts no payment from venues.