Best British Restaurants in the UK and Ireland

In total, there are 1015 award winning British restaurants in the UK and Ireland, based on the combined awards from the leading UK restaurant guides.

Were you expecting to see more British restaurants listed? Remember, at Leading Restaurants we only list restaurants holding awards from major food guides in the UK and Ireland; that's less than 3% of all restaurants here.

The best British restaurant in the UK and Ireland is Core by Clare Smyth in London (based on our unique combination of the leading UK restaurant guides) where head chefs Clare Smyth and Jonny Bone serve up award winning Modern British Cuisine. Core by Clare Smyth currently holds 3 Michelin Stars, 5 AA Rosettes, a ranking of 17th in UK in the Hardens Top 100 and a rating of Exceptional in the Good Food Guide.

There are currently 67 listed British Michelin Star restaurants in the UK and Ireland consisting of 3 restaurants holding 3 Michelin Stars, 4 restaurants holding 2 Michelin Stars and 60 restaurants holding 1 Michelin Star. There are also 35 restaurants holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand and 286 restaurants holding a standard Michelin Guide listing.

There are currently 817 listed AA Rosette British restaurants in the UK and Ireland consisting of 3 restaurants holding 5 AA Rosettes, 18 restaurants holding 4 AA Rosettes, 105 restaurants holding 3 AA Rosettes, 420 restaurants holding 2 AA Rosettes and 271 restaurants holding 1 AA Rosette.

The British restaurant scene, specifically those focusing on native cuisine, is a truly tasteful spectacle, deftly defying staid stereotypes about our island's culinary prowess. From the verdant expanses of rural England to the bustling, cosmopolitan streets of London, gastronomes are spoiled for choice with establishments that celebrate local ingredients and traditional recipes while presenting them in exciting, modern ways. Leading the charge in the high-end environment is undoubtedly the eponymous restaurant of the irrepressible Gordon Ramsay, a veritable titan of the British culinary landscape. At 'Restaurant Gordon Ramsay', based in Chelsea, his contemporaries dish up hearty yet intricate delicacies, truly encapsulating the spirit of our nation's food heritage. Similarly, Tom Kerridge's 'Hand & Flowers' in Marlow, the first pub to garner two Michelin stars, is equally worthy of acclaim – a testament to the brilliance of taking humble ingredients and elevating them into something quite extraordinary. Across the pond in Bray, Heston Blumenthal's 'The Fat Duck' leads the avant-garde through his whimsical, nostalgic yet undeniably British creations. These establishments, amongst many others, are shining lights, proudly championing British cuisine with their innovative menus and first-class ambience. The UK restaurant scene is a veritable feast of reinvented traditions, paying homage to the country's rich culinary heritage, while embracing the forward-thinking creativity that seeks to push boundaries and redefine our food culture.