London has more cheese shops than you have weekends, so a tight walking route is a smart way to eat well. This Taste London tour is built around cheese tastings at well-known cheesemongers, with time to ask questions as you walk.

I like that the group stays small (max 10), which usually means you’re not stuck listening to a lecture you can’t hear. I also like the mix of styles on offer, from creamy Stilton to warm, gooey Camembert, plus the fun local touch of drunken cheese paired with a glass of sparkling wine.

One thing to consider: it depends on good weather. If it’s canceled for poor conditions, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund, so keep an eye on plans if you’re visiting in storm season.

Key things to know before you go

• Max 10 people keeps the vibe conversational, not rushed.
• Mayfair to Little Italy to Covent Garden covers big food neighborhoods in one afternoon.
• Multiple tasting styles (Stilton, Camembert, and more) help you compare flavors, not just collect samples.
• Guide-led cheese education means you can ask how cheeses differ and how they’re made.
• Mobile ticket makes last-minute checks easier.
• 3:00 pm start fits nicely between a lunch and a dinner plan.

Why cheese tastings work especially well as a walking tour

London is huge, and “good food” can mean anything from hole-in-the-wall to a famous department store. The walking format matters because it turns a checklist into a route. You get to see neighborhood character while your tastings stay paced.

Also, cheese is one of those foods where context helps. Instead of eating cheese in a vacuum, you’re tasting with a guide who can explain what you’re noticing—texture, strength, and how aging changes the experience. It makes your palate sharper without turning the evening into a school class.

If you’re a foodie who likes learning while you eat, this kind of tour often delivers more than a sit-down meal. And if you’re just hungry, it’s still fun. You’ll sample plenty, walk off a bit of the indulgence, and leave with a better sense of what you actually love.

Price and value: what $63.90 buys you here

At $63.90 per person for about 2 hours, the value comes down to structure. You’re paying for a guided route, small-group attention, and tastings at multiple stops rather than one shop.

Two things push the price into “reasonable” territory:

• You’re not planning it yourself. The tour handles the sequence and timing, so you’re not bouncing between shops on a schedule that might not work.
• You get explanation time. Cheese can be confusing if you only know labels. The guide’s talk helps you connect what you taste to what’s happening with the cheese.

One more value point: because the group is capped at 10, you’re more likely to ask follow-up questions—like what makes Stilton different from other blue cheeses, or why Camembert hits the way it does when it’s warmed. Those conversations are hard to recreate when you’re wandering solo.

Stop 1 at W1J 9DZ: starting in front of the Statue of Diana

The tour starts in London W1J 9DZ, right in front of the Statue of Goddess Diana. It’s a clear, recognizable landmark start, and the itinerary gives you about 30 minutes at this first segment.

What you can expect here is mostly orientation and an early taste/intro moment (the tour is already framed as “cheese tasting and walking,” so don’t plan to arrive and immediately sprint to shops). This initial stop is also where you can get your bearings for the afternoon, especially if you’re pairing it with other sightseeing nearby.

Practical tip: arrive a few minutes early. With food tours, you want to be present when the guide starts the flow. If you wander in late, you can miss the start of the tasting rhythm.

Mayfair and Fortnum & Mason: cheese shopping in style

From the start point, the tour moves into Mayfair, launching at Fortnum & Mason. This segment is given about 1 hour, and it’s also where the tour notes you’ll walk toward Little Italy after.

Why this stop is worth your attention even before you taste: Fortnum & Mason is a landmark that signals “this is a serious food moment.” Even if you’re not into luxury shopping, it sets expectations for quality and makes the cheese tastings feel like part of a proper food crawl, not just a snack break.

Then comes the walk toward Little Italy and “some of the best” London cheesemongers. That matters because London’s food identity shifts street by street. You’re not just moving between stores; you’re moving between neighborhoods with different flavors and shopping habits. You’ll likely notice how cheesemonger culture fits into the wider street life.

Possible drawback here: one hour can feel like a lot if you’re someone who hates walking. The good news is that it’s a tasting tour, so the time shouldn’t feel like a pure stroll. Still, wear comfortable shoes and assume you’ll be on your feet longer than you think.

Covent Garden and Neal’s Yard Dairy: the airy reset

The last planned stop is Covent Garden, with a visit to Neal’s Yard Dairy for about 30 minutes. This is a nice ending shape: you start in Mayfair, widen into Little Italy, then land in Covent Garden where you can usually find plenty of “keep eating” options if you still have appetite.

Neal’s Yard Dairy is specifically called out, which usually means it’s a destination stop rather than a quick photo stop. The experience there is likely focused on letting you taste and compare—especially since the tour is built to include multiple cheese styles.

As your final tasting, this stop has two benefits:

• You’ll remember the earlier flavors when you compare them to what you taste here.
• You can wrap up with a cleaner plan for dinner. Covent Garden is easy to transition out of, whether you’re heading toward a show or back toward your hotel.

If you’re sensitive to strong cheese flavors, this end point is a double-edged sword. By the time you reach the last stop, you’ll have already tried more than one style. Bring water into your life (and your bag) and pace yourself.

What you’ll actually taste: Stilton, Camembert, and the playful pairings

The tour highlights a tasting lineup that mixes familiar British favorites with a couple of “you’ll remember that” moments:

• creamy Stilton
• warm, gooey Camembert
• drunken cheese paired with a glass of sparkling wine

That mix is clever because it gives you real comparisons. Blue cheese tends to be sharper and more intense; Camembert tends to feel rounder and more melting. When you taste them side by side (and not weeks apart), you start to learn what you like, not just what you’ve heard of.

The drunken cheese plus sparkling wine pairing is a special detail worth noting. It’s not just a random sample; it’s a pairing concept. You’ll get a sense of how alcohol changes the way you perceive salt, richness, and aromatics.

One practical note: the tour data says you should communicate any food restrictions like allergies or special diets. Cheese tours can’t always swap ingredients on the fly, so if you have restrictions, reach out early and be clear about what you need.

Small-group pacing: time to ask questions (and not yell across a table)

A max group size of 10 is one of the best parts of this format. When the group stays small, the guide can slow down for questions and tailor explanations to what you’re reacting to.

This matters because cheese tasting isn’t only about eating. It’s about noticing details you’d otherwise miss. For example, you might learn what affects a cheese’s texture—how it’s aged, how it’s handled, and why “blue” doesn’t taste the same across producers. You’re also more likely to ask things like:

• which cheeses are best for beginners
• how to tell mild from strong fast
• how to store cheese after you buy it

If you like food tours where you’re an active participant rather than a passive watcher, this tour matches that style.

Timing and logistics that affect comfort

The tour runs for about 2 hours and starts at 3:00 pm. It ends back at the meeting point, so you don’t have to solve the last-mile problem at the end when you’re full.

Because it’s near public transportation, it’s easier to combine with other plans. Still, the weather requirement is important. The experience notes it needs good weather, which means rain, wind, or messy conditions could change the day’s plan.

I’d plan around this like you would any walking tour:

• wear comfortable shoes
• bring a small water bottle
• keep a light layer ready even if the forecast looks good

Also, the tour uses a mobile ticket, which is great—just make sure your phone is charged. Food tours are the kind of activity where you don’t want to be stuck searching for paperwork.

Who should book this cheese walking tour

This is a good fit if you:

• want a guided cheese tasting route without spending your afternoon figuring out which places are worth it
• enjoy learning while you eat (especially if you like understanding how different cheeses behave)
• prefer a small-group experience with real question time
• are in London during a window where you can do a 2-hour afternoon plan

It might be a weaker fit if you:

• hate walking or get uncomfortable standing for extended stretches
• have very strict allergies or dietary needs and need guaranteed substitutions (the tour asks you to communicate restrictions, but the data doesn’t spell out menu swap options)
• plan a day tightly around other timed events, since weather can affect the schedule

If you’re traveling with kids, this could work depending on their cheese tolerance, but the data only says “most travelers can participate,” not that it’s kid-focused. For wine pairing, consider whether your group is comfortable with that element.

Final verdict: should you book Taste London’s cheese tour

With a 3.5 rating from 6 reviews, this isn’t a “perfect score” option—but it also doesn’t look like a total disaster, and the format has clear strengths. The biggest upsides are the small-group size and the way tastings are paired with explanation across multiple stops, from Fortnum & Mason’s Mayfair setting to Neal’s Yard Dairy in Covent Garden.

My advice: book it if you want a structured afternoon cheese plan and you’re okay with walking. Before you go, be extra organized about communication if you have dietary needs. And since one serious issue is documented—an apparent guide no-show with poor response afterward—I’d recommend you arrive early and keep the contact info handy in your phone the day of the tour, so you’re not stuck waiting blindly.

If your goal is genuine cheese learning plus neighborhood wandering, this tour matches it well.

FAQ

Where does the Taste London cheese tasting and walking tour start?

The tour starts in London at W1J 9DZ, in front of the Statue of Goddess Diana. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What is the tour duration?

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time listed is 3:00 pm.

How big is the group?

This experience has a maximum of 10 travelers.

What cheeses and pairings are included in the tasting?

The tour highlights samples including Stilton, Camembert, and a local item called drunken cheese paired with a glass of sparkling wine.

Do I need to tell the company about allergies or dietary restrictions?

Yes. The tour notes that guests need to communicate food restrictions such as allergies or special diets.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.