Cafes & Coffee Shops in the UK

Finding a good cafe or coffee shop in the UK

A good cafe is one of the small pleasures of living somewhere, and most towns have one that locals quietly consider theirs. The chains are everywhere and reliable, but the independents are where the character is: a roaster who cares about the beans, a breakfast that is worth getting up for, a cake counter baked that morning, a corner table that has become someone's office. People search for a cafe near them more than almost anything else on the high street, and what they want to know is simple: is it open, is it good, and will they let me in with the dog.

The word covers a lot. Traditional cafes and greasy spoons doing breakfasts and lunches all day; speciality coffee shops with a serious espresso machine and single-origin filter; tea rooms with scones and a view; farm and garden-centre cafes; bakery cafes; and the growing number of places that are a coffee shop by day and a wine bar by evening. Opening hours vary as widely as the menus, and the difference between a cafe that shuts at three and one that serves until six matters on a Sunday afternoon.

For cafe owners, the listing is a way to answer those questions before someone walks past you to the chain. The listings here show each cafe's reviews, opening hours, contact details and who is open now, so you can compare what is nearby, where the locals go, and who will have a table and a decent coffee at four o'clock.

What to look for in a cafe

Coffee and tea: specialty coffee shops with their own or a local roaster's beans, oat and other milks as standard, and loose-leaf tea; traditional cafes where a mug of tea and a bacon roll are the point.

Food: all-day breakfasts and brunch, lunches, sandwiches and soups, home baking and cakes, afternoon tea, and children's options; more cafes now cover vegan and gluten-free properly.

The room: space to work with Wi-Fi and sockets, outdoor seating, dog-friendly tables, pushchair space and step-free access, and how easy it is to park.

Hours: early openers for commuters, late closers for a Sunday afternoon, and cafes that turn into something else in the evening.

Before you go

• Check the opening hours and whether the kitchen stops before the doors close; the listing shows who is open now.
• If you are bringing a dog, working on a laptop or arriving with a group, look at recent reviews or ring; policies vary and small cafes fill up.
• For allergies and dietary needs, ask; cafes must give allergen information and most bake with alternatives in mind now.
• Look up the food hygiene rating if you are unsure about somewhere new; a 5 is common.
• For a weekend brunch somewhere popular, expect a queue or ask whether they take bookings.
• Read the last few months of reviews; a change of owner shows up quickly in a cafe.

What cafes cost in the UK

As a rough guide, a flat white or latte costs somewhere between £3 and £4.50 depending on the town, a tea £2 to £3, a cooked breakfast £8 to £14, and a lunch of a sandwich or soup with a drink £8 to £15. Specialty coffee shops in cities sit at the top of those ranges; traditional cafes and tea rooms towards the bottom.

Independents are rarely dearer than the chains for coffee and often better value for food. Many offer loyalty cards, and bringing your own cup earns a discount in most.