7 Iconic British Foods Named After Places Every Foodie Should Try

1. Cheddar Cheese

Probably the most well-known of cheeses named after places across the world, Cheddar type cheese is now produced in hundreds of countries. It was actually first produced in a little village in Somerset in the South West of England. Visitors wanting to taste this iconic British food not only get to try tasty authentic cheese, but can also be awed by the village’s dramatic setting in Cheddar Gorge, the largest gorge in England. Cheddar is a major tourist destination and a prime example of famous English food names tied to a specific location. While enjoying cheese in Somerset, food lovers might also look forward to trying hearty regional dishes like Lancashire Hotpot further north.

2. Eccles Cake

You’ve probably heard of an Eccles Cake, one of the classic desserts named after places in the UK. It is a round flaky pastry case filled with spiced currants and dusted with sugar. It was first sold commercially in the Lancashire (North England) town of Eccles in 1793. It’s actually fairly simple in structure, as is the eponymous town, and unlike some other regional British foods, it does not enjoy Protected Geographical Status. This is probably because many other world cuisines feature very similar pastry items. If you like sweet treats, it ranks alongside confectionery like Pontefract Cakes as part of northern England’s traditional food heritage.

3. Cornish Pasty

Of all the foods made in Britain, the Cornish Pasty is probably the one with the best story. The pasty is a hearty pastry case filled with meat and root vegetables – usually beef, potatoes, and swede (rutabaga). The traditional shape is a semi-circle closed by a distinctive crimped edge. According to the Cornish Pasty Association, the large crimp was designed for Cornish tin miners to hold the pasty by, avoiding getting their coal-dusted hands on the edible pie. They’d eat the pasty and discard the coal-covered crust. Historically, documents reveal that some pasties were a main meal and dessert in one: meat and vegetables at one end, and fruit at the other, separated by a pastry barrier (a concept also claimed by Bedfordshire as a ‘Clanger’). Cornwall is one of England’s most gorgeous counties, making it the best place to eat this famous British food.

4. Pontefract Cakes

Now, you know we Brits can be a bit eccentric with our food names, so don’t be surprised to find out this British food is not actually a baked cake at all. Pontefract cakes are in fact small, embossed discs of liquorice with a fascinating history among funny British food names. They are generally 2cm in diameter and 4mm thick. This yummy black confectionery is named for the town of Pontefract in Yorkshire, North England, where liquorice was originally cultivated and processed. If you are planning to visit Pontefract, you’ll be in a prime region to access the stunning Yorkshire moors and vibrant cities like Leeds and Harrogate.

5. Arbroath Smokie

The name of this British food doesn’t really give much of a clue as to what it is, making it one of the more unusual British food names for visitors. Arbroath is a charming small town on the east coast of Scotland, and a Smokie is a pair of salted, smoke-cured haddock cooked over hardwood fires. As noted by VisitScotland, the Arbroath Smokie enjoys Protected Geographical Status, and today roughly 15 family-run firms still produce the fish using traditional wood-smoking methods similar to those used in Scandinavia. Arbroath makes a fantastic coastal base from which to explore the Scottish North Sea Coast, visiting historic towns such as Dundee, Aberdeen, and St. Andrews.

6. Lancashire Hotpot

A mainstay on pub menus across the length and breadth of Britain, Lancashire hotpot is a classic slow-cooked dish of lamb (or mutton) and onions in rich gravy, topped with neatly sliced potatoes baked in the oven until crispy. This British food is such a national staple that it even features in the 24-hour ration packs used by the British Army. Hotpot originated in the northern county of Lancashire during the Industrial Revolution as a convenient meal for mill workers. If you’re planning to eat the authentic version, head to Lancashire and visit Manchester along with its clutch of historical mill towns. It pairs wonderfully as a savory counterpoint if you’ve already sampled a Cornish Pasty on your travels.

7. Welsh Rarebit

Another food made in Britain where the name leaves you wondering exactly what it is, Welsh Rarebit is, to all intents and purposes, rich seasoned cheese sauce baked on toasted bread. The name is known to have started as ‘Welsh Rabbit’ (origin recorded around 1725) from times when the people of Wales faced economic hardship. In England, rabbit was seen as a poor man’s meat, and as impoverished Welsh families couldn’t afford meat, they substituted savory melted cheese. Visit Wales not only to eat Rarebit made with authentic regional Cheddar cheese or local Caerphilly cheese, but also to enjoy a fabulous country filled with ancient castles, majestic mountains, and stunning coastlines.

These 7 delicious items are just a sample of UK places with food names. Many other famous regional British foods are named after their hometowns and counties, including:

We hope this list inspires you to discover these regional specialties in person when traveling to the historic British towns that bear their names.