An undercover fish and chips expert's top five 'chippies' in London

Stephen Peel of The Chippy Tour is on a mission to protect the nation's traditional fish and chip shops. He's rated 260, but we convinced him to choose just five of his favourites in London.

Stephen Peel has just returned from judging the 2026 English Fish and Chip Awards, where he ate 14 portions of fried fish in little more than an hour. But eating one battered fish after another is nothing new for Peel, creator of The Chippy Tour.

Since 2024, Peel and his wife Sue have rated more than 260 "chippies" (traditional fish and chips shops) across the UK, arriving unannounced – and sometimes sending in decoys to order – before reviewing their meals from their pickup truck.

"It's about supporting our chippies, finding hidden gems that get overlooked and discovering places with great stories to tell," says Peel.

It's a storied culinary tradition increasingly at risk – as of 2026, 7,210 fish and chip shops remain in the UK. "Twenty years ago, there was probably about 30,000," says Peel. "People's tastes have changed – young people have got used to having McDonald's and other things just a phone call away through Uber Eats. Fish [prices have] doubled since last year. It's sad to see people struggling. They're being pushed to diversify from traditional chippy fare into fried chicken, pizzas, kebabs."

Based in Cheshire, Peel regularly visits London, believing the capital to be "important" to the nation's chippy tradition. "Tourists often see it as the epicentre of our fish and chip culture... You only get one chance to make a first impression."

Visitors typically encounter fish and chips in London's gastropubs and restaurants, but the classic chippy experience is a no-frills takeaway: "There's something special about popping into a chip shop and coming out with a takeaway you can pick at on the move." Peel favours family-run, independent chippies, and appreciates that London's ever-changing demographics bring in delicious flavours from around the world. "They'll add those [international] seasonings to their batter and that makes a huge difference."

Here are Peel's top five London chippies.

Brockley's Rock [in Brockley, south-east London] is a family-owned chippy established in 2011 by the lovely Karoulla family, originally from Cyprus.

The shop used to be a Chinese takeaway, but has now become, in my opinion, an incredible London chippy, with an emphasis on sustainable seafood. Along with fish and chips, the shop offers several fish species. It also offers gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. They have pollock on there, they have bass. They have grilled fish on the menu. They'll try and get [fish] in that [doesn't come from] too far away.

[Their batter] is absolutely lovely; crispy, light, not greasy at all. But something else on the menu really stood out to me: their calamari with sweet chilli and ginger dip. It's absolutely to die for!

During the summer months, the shop supplies picnic blankets for customers to take to [Hilly Fields], the lovely park around the corner to enjoy their fish and chips. On the condition that they return the blankets, of course. It's a fabulous shop with fabulous people.

Marlow Fish Bar [in Anerley, South London] is a traditional, family-owned chippy said to have served its community since 1962. The family has Cypriot heritage, still reflected inside, along with a collection of Crystal Palace football memorabilia. It's a real old-fashioned chippy and they cook the fish to order in beef dripping (tallow).

Beef dripping, once the main cooking medium nationwide, is making a real comeback, though it may not suit every tourist because of religious or dietary preferences. But I've found that people will travel many miles to enjoy [beef-dripping] fish and chips. There's only two [beef-dripping] chippies that I know of in London. They actually even do halal beef dripping now. I think there's going to be more and more as people move away from seed oils.

For visitors who eat beef products, a beef-dripping chippy offers something different. Visitors can experience a bit of Britain's fish and chip heritage. The smell of the beef dripping when you walk up is unmistakable.

Fishcotheque [in Waterloo] is tucked beneath the railway bridge on Waterloo Road. The chippy dates to 1964 and offers a taste of tradition in a relaxed, nostalgic setting.

The menu includes cod, haddock, plaice, rock salmon and scampi, along with traditional favourites like pies and sometimes novelty things like deep-fried chocolate bars. There's also a dining area.

They also have saveloys (smoked pork sausages) [and] battered sausage. Saveloys are a big thing in the south of England. I think that's another thing that people should try when they're in London. [Visitors won't always] be familiar with some of the foods that we do in the chip shops besides fish and chips, like the saveloy and potato scallop (battered, deep-fried slice of potato).

Traditional chippies that have survived while things change around them will always have a place in my heart. The steel railway bridge almost above the chippy really sets a unique historic scene. Their fried fish is flaky, white – everything about it is just spot on.

Joseph's Fish & Chips is a family chip shop on Tower Bridge Road, within walking distance of some of London's famous attractions. Turan Tunc opened the shop in honour of his father, [who] ran kebab shops around London for more than 50 years. [They] source fresh fish from Peterhead in Scotland, an incredibly important fishing port. [Their] potatoes usually come from Cambridgeshire, while [Tunc's] wife creates delicious mushy peas and tartare sauce, as well as homemade pickled vegetables. A great feature is a giant map where visitors can place a pin to show where they are visiting from around the world.

Big portions are what this place is all about. Huge portions! But it's not cheap. You could probably split the meal between yourself and a partner. Nice thick chips and a nice light batter. It's more modern than any of the others that we've mentioned but that's not a problem – you can only have so much tradition. It's warm, welcoming, clean.

[Fishers in Fulham] has an extensive traditional menu including cod and haddock, along with rock salmon and skate when available. I go for cod there, as I often do in the south of England.

They serve mushy peas, curry sauce and even gravy – not usual for London. The mushy peas are quite special; thick, not over-seasoned, and not overdone with food colouring, like some. The chips are very thick yet cooked through perfectly. The cod is exactly what you want from a traditional chippy: light in colour with crispy peaks, not overly thick, and not soggy anywhere. [It's] brilliant white, with large flakes and a subtly sweet aroma, and there's plenty of it. They also offer halal sausage.

The shop has a great traditional feel and look, seating inside and out, with modern furnishings. They pride themselves on having a 'secret garden' for dining in warmer weather. [It's] one of the few that encourages customers to eat in.

You don't want to smell fish – battered fish doesn't smell like fish. You might get a bit of an aroma of the sea, but not fish. And you want it to be white, not yellow. When you break open that battered fish, you [don't want to find] that thick layer of goo inside that hasn't cooked. It's got to be crisp. And when you [get to] the fish, ideally a nice thick piece, you want it to fall apart. It's got to be very moist.

[The chips] are not skinny little fries. You get those at McDonald's – nobody wants to see them in a chippy. They've got to be thick, they've got to have a bit of a crispness to them. They've got to be able to cave in when you put a bit of pressure on.

BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.  

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