London Cheese Crawl & Walking Tour

London’s best cheese may be hiding in plain sight, behind grand department-store counters, old-school cheesemongers and a Soho Italian deli. This two-hour London cheese crawl links several of those food stops with tastings of truffle cheese, Stilton, drunk cheese, aged goat cheese and baked Camembert.

I like that the tasting fee is included, so the $63.98 price is clear from the start. I also like the playful format, with cheese trivia, a quiz and guides such as Jack, Nick, Perla and Bettina adding plenty of humor. The main caution is group size: the tour is advertised for no more than eight people, yet some departures have reportedly been much larger, which can mean smaller portions, waiting and a faster pace.

Key things to know before you book

• Five or more cheese styles: Expect strong variety, from blue Stilton and truffle cheese to wine-soaked cheeses, goat cheese and Camembert.
• A central London route: The walk connects St. James’s, Mayfair, Soho and Covent Garden, all useful areas to pair with sightseeing.
• Fortnum & Mason is an early highlight: You taste cheese at the famous department store’s food hall, including products from respected British makers.
• The guides make the difference: Jack, Nick, Monterey Jack, Perla and Bettina are praised for humor, facts and energy.
• Portions can depend on the group: Smaller groups appear to get a more generous spread than crowded departures.
• Come prepared for a walking food stop, not a sit-down meal: You may taste outside or wait while cheese is bought and cut.

What the $63.98 price really buys you

At $63.98 per person, this is not a cheap snack walk. It is also more than a simple guided stroll, since the fee covers the cheese tastings and the host’s time across several London neighborhoods.

The value depends on what you want. If you enjoy trying foods you would not choose on your own, the price is easier to justify. You get several kinds of cheese, a route through some of central London’s grandest streets, food trivia and recommendations for the rest of your trip.

The tastings are substantial enough to matter. One account describes five selections and roughly two servings per person at each stop, though another group found the portions sparse when the party was larger. That contrast is important. The advertised maximum is eight people, but some departures have reportedly included 12 or even 24. I would book with the smaller-group promise in mind, then confirm the actual group size if that matters to you.

You should also treat the tour as a tasting crawl rather than lunch. Even generous cheese portions may not replace a full meal, especially after two hours of walking. The upside is that you can continue sightseeing without feeling tied to a restaurant table.

Starting at St. James’s and the Diana fountain

The meeting point is the Constance Fund fountain of Diana in London SW1A 1RN. The tour starts at noon and returns to the same general meeting point at the end.

Beginning in St. James’s gives the walk a polished London setting right away. This is a useful area for a first-day orientation because the route then moves toward Mayfair, Soho and Covent Garden. You are not spending the afternoon on one short block. You are using cheese to connect several central districts.

The opening section is listed as about 30 minutes, though the full route is described as approximately two hours. The pace may vary by host and group. Bettina reportedly walked quickly when faced with a larger-than-usual party, while another account praised the pace as comfortable and easy. If you prefer a slow walk, tell the guide at the start.

Wear shoes you can walk in. The route is not described as difficult, but it includes multiple neighborhoods and stops. You may also spend time outdoors while the host collects or prepares tastings, so London weather matters.

Fortnum & Mason: truffle cheese in Mayfair

The first major food stop is Fortnum & Mason, the famous Mayfair department store. Its cheese counter gives the crawl a suitably grand opening, and it is a better use of a sightseeing stop than simply walking past the building.

Here you may taste truffle cheeses and Stilton. Truffle cheese gives you a rich, earthy flavor, while Stilton brings the classic British blue profile. The guide also connects Stilton with a cheesemonger that has occupied the same spot since the early 18th century, adding a bit of London food history to the tasting.

This stop has real appeal if you are curious about British cheese but do not know where to start. You can compare a flavored cheese with a traditional English blue, rather than sampling several versions of the same mild cheddar.

Crowds can change the feel of this stop. During busy periods, including Christmas, the food hall may be packed. One departure reportedly ended up tasting cheese in the street because there was little room inside. That does not erase the value of the stop, but it can make the presentation feel less polished than the setting suggests.

You should also allow time after the tour to return to Fortnum & Mason if you want to shop. The tasting gives you a reason to look more closely at the counters, but the tour itself may not leave much time for browsing.

Soho’s Italian connection at Lina Stores

The route continues to Lina Stores Soho Delicatessen, in the area described as one of the last remnants of London’s Little Italy. This is where the tour shifts from grand British food halls to a smaller Italian food setting.

The featured tasting is drunk cheese. Despite the name, this usually refers to cheese matured with wine or another drink, allowing the rind and flavor to take on a new character. The point here is comparison: after Stilton and truffle cheese, you get a style shaped by Italian food traditions and wine pairing.

This is one of the more useful stops for anyone who wants ideas beyond the standard British cheese board. The guide can explain how the cheese works with wine, and the tasting may give you a shopping tip for a later picnic or evening snack.

The connection with Little Italy also gives the walk a sense of place. You are not simply moving between anonymous tasting counters. You are using food to notice how London’s neighborhoods retain links to older immigrant communities and specialist shops.

The exact amount of time spent inside each business can vary. If the group is large, you may have less room to browse and more time waiting for portions to be cut. The best approach is to enjoy the tasting, listen for the recommendation, and return later if a particular cheese catches your attention.

The less glamorous grocery-store stop

A practical warning is needed here. Some departures have included Whole Foods as one of the tasting locations.

That will disappoint anyone expecting every stop to be an old London cheesemonger or an independent shop. If you have a Whole Foods near home, the setting may feel ordinary, even if the cheese selected there is unusual. One account called this the weakest part of the route for that reason.

Still, the stop is not automatically pointless. A grocery store can carry distinctive cheeses, and it may show you where to find good food during the rest of your London stay. The issue is expectation. Book this as a food-focused walk that can include modern retail, not as a carefully staged tour of only historic cheese shops.

The grocery stop also highlights why the guide matters. Jack, Nick and other hosts are praised for keeping the mood light with jokes and food facts. A less atmospheric location can work if the explanation and tasting are strong. It works less well if you are waiting outside while the host shops and cuts cheese.

Finishing near Covent Garden

The final part of the route brings you to Covent Garden, with the activity ending back at the meeting point. The supplied route information gives this section roughly 30 minutes, though the actual timing can run longer.

The listed final cheeses include matured goat cheese and baked Camembert. These give the tasting a softer, more rounded finish after the sharper blue cheese and wine-treated varieties. Baked Camembert is especially approachable if you are wary of strong cheeses, while matured goat cheese offers a tangier option with a distinct character.

Covent Garden is a handy place to finish because you can continue with shopping, theater plans or nearby sightseeing. Do not schedule a tight appointment immediately afterward, though. One person had to leave early to reach another part of London, and another account describes the tour as running long.

That timing issue may come from the number of stops, the size of the group or the time needed to purchase and portion the food. The listed duration is approximately two hours, not a guaranteed hard stop. I would leave at least some extra time afterward.

The hosts are central to the experience

This tour has a personality-led format. Jack, also called Monterey Jack in the playful comments, receives especially strong praise for his cheese knowledge, humor and ability to keep people involved. Nick is also described as entertaining and well informed, while Perla is praised for handling difficult crowds with good energy.

The cheese quiz is a smart addition. It gives you something to do besides eat and listen, and the tour has also used playful games such as identifying whether an item belongs at a service station or on a cheese board. Expect puns. If you dislike food jokes, this may test your patience. If you enjoy a relaxed guide who does not take the subject too seriously, it should fit.

The hosts also offer recommendations for the rest of your vacation. That can be valuable in London, where specialist food counters and regional products are easy to miss. Pay attention when the guide points out a cheese, shop or pairing you may want to seek out later.

The main variable is consistency. A good host can make a crowded stop feel worthwhile. A large group can also make it harder for the guide to give everyone equal attention. The smaller the departure, the better the format is likely to work.

Portion sizes, hygiene and comfort

The amount of cheese is not fixed in the information provided. Some groups received generous servings, while larger departures found the portions thinner. The difference may be simple mathematics: the more people sharing each selection, the less each person receives.

If you have a serious appetite, eat a light meal beforehand or plan food afterward. If the tasting is generous, you will have plenty to sample. If not, you will be glad you did not count on it as lunch.

Food handling is another point to consider. One account raised concerns about cheese being cut and handed out without visible hand washing. That is a specific complaint rather than a general finding, but it is worth noting if you have strict hygiene concerns or a sensitive stomach.

Tell the provider about allergies, intolerances or special dietary needs before the tour. The activity information specifically asks you to communicate food restrictions. Do not assume every cheese will suit a dairy-free, vegetarian or medically restricted diet without checking first.

Service animals are allowed, and the route is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but the activity involves walking and standing at food stops. Ask before booking if you need detailed information about step-free access or seating.

Weather, cancellation and planning your day

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather cancels it, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the noon start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows London local time.

The safest way to plan is to put this tour in the middle of a flexible day. Avoid placing a timed museum entry or train immediately afterward. Noon is a useful start for a relaxed London day, but the route may take longer than the approximate two-hour estimate.

The tour is booked an average of 41 days ahead, so popular dates may fill early. That does not mean you need to plan your whole vacation around cheese, but it is sensible to reserve ahead if you want a specific date.

Who will enjoy this cheese crawl most

I would recommend this walk to you if you like tasting unusual foods, enjoy learning through a guide and want to see several central London neighborhoods in one outing. It suits couples, friends and small groups looking for a light, social activity rather than a formal food class.

It is also a good fit for cheese fans who already know the basics. Truffle cheese, Stilton, drunk cheese, goat cheese and Camembert offer more variety than a standard pub cheese board.

Families may enjoy the quiz and jokes, but the format is not designed around children. Check dietary needs before booking. The tour is also less suitable if you need a guaranteed end time, dislike standing outdoors or expect every stop to be a historic independent shop.

The 90 percent recommendation rate and 4.6 rating suggest that most departures work well, but the lower scores point to two clear risks: crowd size and uneven presentation. I would prioritize a date that can stay within the advertised eight-person limit.

Should you book the London Cheese Crawl?

Book it if you want a cheerful, central London tasting walk with generous variety and a guide who can turn cheese facts into a lively afternoon. Jack, Nick, Perla and the other named hosts appear to bring much of the fun, and the quiz helps keep the two hours from feeling like a string of shop visits.

Skip it if you expect a seated meal, a slow gourmet tour or a route made only of historic cheese specialists. The Whole Foods stop may feel ordinary, large groups can reduce portions, and the walk may run past the stated two-hour estimate.

At $63.98, the tour offers fair value when the group is small and the tastings are generous. Before booking, confirm the group size if possible, share all food restrictions and leave a buffer after the scheduled finish. For a cheese lover who wants a tasty way to connect Mayfair, Soho and Covent Garden, those precautions make this a sensible pick.

FAQ

How much does the London Cheese Crawl cost?

The price is $63.98 per person. Cheese tastings are included, so you do not pay separate tasting fees.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours. You should allow extra time afterward because some departures have run longer.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 12:00 pm.

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is the Constance Fund fountain of Diana, London SW1A 1RN, UK.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Which cheeses are included?

The sample menu includes truffle cheeses, Stilton, drunk cheeses, matured goat cheese and baked Camembert.

Does the tour include a quiz?

Yes. The experience includes cheese trivia and a cheese-based quiz.

How many people can join the tour?

The stated maximum is eight travelers. Some past departures have reportedly been larger, so confirm the group size if that is important to you.

Can I tell the provider about food restrictions?

Yes. You need to communicate allergies, special diets or other food restrictions before the tour.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather or low participation cancels the activity, you are offered another date or a full refund.