Here’s a smorgasbord of 35 Scandinavian places in London where you can experience Scandi culture, Nordic design, delicious pastries and hidden historical gems where the Vikings left their mark in the city.
Types of Scandinavian places in London (jump to section):
Scandinavian grocery stores in London
Planning an evening full of Hygge with Scandinavian comfort food, followed by a Nordic crime drama? Here’s a selection of stores in London selling Scandi goodies from Norwegian brown cheese to Swedish meatballs. While we recommend the two independent stores ScandiKitchen and TotallySwedish, Ikea and Ocado, are also worth checking out. Here are our best tips to get your Scandi fix in London!
ScandiKitchen
Great for: Broad selection of specialities from all the Nordic countries, such as Norwegian brown cheese.
Founded in 2006, the combined cafe and grocery store ScandiKitchen has become an institution for Scandinavians in London, stocking many essential groceries from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. In addition, you’ll find specialities like Swedish herring in different flavours, several types of Norwegian brown cheese and a huge selection of sweets from all the Nordic countries.
You can order online or visit the store just off Oxford Circus. The cafe is a great place for a quick bite; try one of the delicious rye bread sandwiches with herring or go for a traditional Scandi cinnamon bun.
Address: 61 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7PP London
TotallySwedish
Great for: Huge selection of Swedish specialities
TotallySwedish was founded in 2006 and can boast of more than 1000 Swedish food and drink products in addition to gift items and books. While ScandiKitchen has a broader range of products from all the Nordic countries, TotallySwedish is, to no surprise, specialized in Swedish groceries.
You’ll find lots of grocery products that are common across all the Nordic countries. So even if the brand is Swedish, you’re likely to find very similar variants in Norway, Denmark and Finland.
TotallySwedish is a bit more expensive than Ikea for the most typical Swedish products like Kalles Kaviar. Still, they have a huge selection of products that you won’t find anywhere else in the UK.
Addresses (two stores in London): 32 Crawford Street, W1H 1LS AND 66 Barnes High Street, SW13 9LD
Ikea’s Food Market
Great for: Making an affordable Scandi style dinner at home.
You’ll find everything you need to serve a classic Swedish meatballs dinner at home with mashed potatoes, gravy, and lingonberry jam in the Swedish Food Market. If you don’t want meat, you also find alternatives with chicken meatballs or veggie balls.
In addition, there’s a good selection of Swedish seafood and drinks, candy and snacks. In terms of pricing, many of the groceries are Ikea branded and hard to compare with other stores. Still, you’ll generally find that Ikea is a tad cheaper than ScandiKitchen and Ocado when it comes to classics like Ahlgrens bilar and Marabou chocolate.
Web: https://ikea.com
Ocado’s Scandinavian Store (online)
Great for: A big selection of Swedish cider and some other Scandi essentials.
Head over to Ocado’s World Foods section, and you’ll discover 100+ Scandi products like Norwegian design water Voss. Ocado has a really good selection of different types of Rekorderlig and Kopparberg cider and Arla dairy products, but overall less to choose from than ScandiKitchen. You’ll also find foods like Kalles Kaviar and several types of crispbread, but we usually find ScandiKitchen to be cheaper.
Web: https://ocado.com
Other places to look for Scandinavian foods in London:
Waitrose: In Waitrose, you’ll find a big selection of Swedish cider from Kopparberg and Rekorderlig, as well as different types of Absolut vodka flavours. Here you’ll also find the Norwegian cheese Jarlsberg. In the fresh fish counter, you’ll typically find several types of fish from Norway, like cod and salmon fillets.
Tesco: In Tesco, you can get Skyr yoghurt from Arla in different flavours and Swedish style meatballs. You can get Swedish style pickled gherkins in the Polish section, and you’ll find Page Cinnamon Gifflar in the bakery section. Tesco also stocks Norwegian salmon fillets as well as smoked salmon as well as Lurpak butter from Denmark.
Lidl: While Lidl doesn’t have a Scandinavian section as such, you’ll find several products very similar to what you’ll find in Scandinavian grocery stores. This includes several seafood options like gravadlax, herring and salmon sourced from the Norwegian Sea, and dairy products like skyr and kefir.
Harrods Food Hall: If you’re looking for high ticket items like Norwegian brown cheese and Jarlsberg cheese, head to Knightsbridge, and you’ll likely find it.
Hansen & Lydersen: Norwegian artisan smokehouse in London. If you’re lucky, you can find them in Maltby Street Market or order a King Olav or Queen Maud fillet from their website. https://hansen-lydersen.com/
Scandinavian Bakeries in London
Dark, crusty bread, indulgent buns and black filter coffee are some of the classics you’ll find when following the sweet smell of a Scandinavian bakery in London. With the Scandi-wave in recent years, you’ll find a cracking selection of cinnamon buns available all over the city, as well as other treats like delicious Swedish cardamon buns and Norwegian skoleboller. Here’s a selection of London’s best Scandinavian bakeries:
Nordic Bakery
Great for: Heavenly cinnamon rolls and Norwegian Skoleboller
Arguably serving the best cinnamon buns in town, they are big, chewy and crusty on the outside while almost doughy inside with layers upon layers filled with sugar and cinnamon. Here you’ll also find our kids’ favourite buns, the delicious Norwegian Skoleboller or “school buns” topped with vanilla custard and coconut flakes.
The menu has been thoughtfully put together with elements from several Nordic countries, including Finland (look for the Karelian Pie). Suppose you feel healthy; there are plenty of choices like dark rye bread sandwiches with herring or salmon. Located at a quiet square next to Picadilly Circus, a well-designed small cafe in a typical Scandinavian minimalistic layout.
Address: 14A Golden Square, W1F 9JG London
Ole & Steen
Great for: Wonderful Danish pastries and good coffee in a minimalist Nordic setting
Founders Ole Kristoffersen and Steen Skallebaek have over 50 outlets back home in Denmark, so they had a solid foundation before introducing their premium bakery concept to Londoners. Their London bakeries are designed in the same dark minimalist Nordic style as in Denmark, making you feel like stepping into a Scandinavian crime-noir drama.
On the healthy side, you’ll find a large selection of delicious Danish rye bread sandwiches with toppings such as smoked salmon and free-range chicken. From their menu of indulgent pastries, we recommend trying the classic Danish WienerbrĂžd (Spandauer) topped with custard and icing sugar.
Fabrique
Great for: Delicious rye bread in all shapes and forms
Fabrique is a stone oven bakery chain from Sweden famous for its fresh, natural ingredients and traditional methods of making artisanal pastries and sourdough bread. With several stores in London, they have been expanding rapidly across the city with their delicious crusty rolls and bread menu. Here you’ll find healthy but tasty rye bread in all shapes and forms, from baguettes to levains.
Bageriet
Great for: Classic Swedish pastries and cakes
This Swedish bakery is a hidden gem tucked away in a small side street in bustling Covent Garden. Bageriet has an impressive selection of Swedish classics tempting punters passing by, like the delicious Princess Cake and Semlor. They also have excellent strong filter coffee. With only a few tables, don’t bet on finding a free seat at this small but popular Scandinavian hangout in West End.
Address: 24 Rose St, London WC2E 9EA
The Bread Station
Great for: Superb organic sourdough bread
The Bread Station is all about traditional Danish baking principles of natural bread, using natural fermentation for superior organic bread. Michelin Star Chef Christoffer Hruskova teamed up with Danish baking master Per Brun to bring the best of Scandinavian baking to London. The Bread Station has a proven Danish formula that has been perfected for over 10 years producing high quality, organic, wholegrain sourdough bread.
Address: 373 Helmsley Pl, London E8 3SB
Honorary Mention: The Norwegian Church
Great for: Authentic Scandinavian style waffles
The Norwegian Church abroad or the Seaman’s Mission (“SjĂžmannskirken”) is famous among Norwegians for making the world’s best Scandinavian waffles which they sell at special events like the Scandinavian spring market in Rotherhithe.
Head over to their webpage and check for the next event taking place for a chance to taste their delicious waffles or try to make them at home following their magic waffle recipe (in Norwegian). Tip: Try waffles with Norwegian brown cheese or alternatively strawberry jam with sour cream.
Restaurants, bars and pubs
Aquavit
Great for: A smÞrgÄsbord of Scandinavian deliciousness
Classic Scandi dishes served in style – smĂžrgĂ„sbord, meatballs, herring plus plenty of modern variants eg lobster hollandaise. The food is full of Nordic flavours like dill and elderflower and the wooden interior makes for a warm atmosphere.
Web: http://aquavitrestaurants.com/
Address: 1 St James’s Market, Carlton St, St. James’s, London SW1Y 4QQ
The Harcourt
Great for: Flavoursome gravadlax and cold Swedish cider
The Harcourt in Marylebone has been central to Swedes in London for decades, located close to the Swedish Church and the Swedish Embassy. More restaurant than a pub, the current chef, Finnish Kimmo Makkonen has created a modern European menu including Nordic classics like gravadlax.
Address: 32 Harcourt St, London W1H 4HX
Ekte.
Great for: Herring and rye bread – Scandinavian superfood!
Ekte translates to “Real” in Norwegian and is a Scandinavian restaurant located in Bloomberg Arcade. Enjoy classic Danish rye bread SmĂžrrebrĂžd with toppings like herring and smoked salmon. And don’t forget to try one of the many aquavit types from Norway, Sweden or Denmark!
Address: 2-8 Bloomberg Arcade, London EC4N 8AR
BlÄbÀr
Great for: Scandinavian shopping with a cinnamon bun in hand
BlÄbÀr in Putney is a Scandinavian café and design shop selling a mix of textiles, furniture, gifts and accessories from up and coming Nordic designers. Try one of their classic Swedish cinnamon buns, or go for something healthy like the salmon salad with beetroot hummus.
Address: 3A Lacy Rd, London SW15 1NH
Scandinavian Shops in London
Scandinavian shops are popping up all the time these days, riding on a wave of popularity for the Scandi-trend. Whether walking down Regent’s Street or in Westfield shopping centre, you’ll find a wide selection of Swedish and Danish stores often playing on a similar concept of functional and simple products in combination with great design and affordable prices. While mass-market retailers like H&M and Ikea did a lot of the groundwork opening the world’s eyes to Scandinavian design, many of the recent Scandi-shops in London are more upmarket with a focus on sustainability and use of high-quality materials.
Tiger
Great for: Fun stuff for happy moments
The combination of simple but stylish design, low prices and strange Danish product names make Tiger different and fun compared to the traditional pound shops. In Tiger, you’ll find miscellaneous items like toys, sweets, stationery, costumes and home decorations – and it’s all cheap and cheerful!
In Scandinavia, this is the store where you take your kids when the holiday starts to get a few fun things without breaking the budget. A lot of what they sell is quite good for encouraging kids to play together, solving and building things. This is our 7-year-old daughter’s favourite store in London, and we usually end up with a few bags of Scandinavian sweets as well.
Ikea
Great for: Affordable Scandinavian style furniture
No further introductions are needed. Ikea is simply the best place to go for affordable, well-designed furniture and is yet another example of a Swedish brand successfully scaling up to become a global superbrand. The winning formula of combining stylish, functional design made affordable through mass-production, and DIY packaging has proven a winning concept across the globe.
While I remember their functional but boring looking pine wood furniture while growing up in Norway, Ikea is attracting young talented designers who reinvent Nordic furniture design on a global stage.
While we are great fans of Ikea products in general, we’d like to point out that visiting an Ikea store as a family can quickly turn into a nightmare. Even a stoic Norwegian struggles to keep his cool when realising there is no shortcut to the exit, and he has to drag his screaming kids through an endless amount of showrooms.
Until you finally reach the Ikea restaurant completely exhausted and end up feeding the whole family with meatballs to calm your nerves for a few minutes. There’s no such thing as a quick trip to Ikea!
Polarn O. Pyret
Great for: Classic and durable Scandinavian kidswear for all types of weather
One step up on the ladder compared to H&M and Lindex, Polarn is more of a premium Scandinavian kidswear store. While Ikea started as the go-to furniture store for the Swedish middle-class, Polarn O. Pyret started making affordable kids clothes in classic design to fit the average Swedish child.
Polarn started producing their unisex stripy clothes already in the 1970s, which is still going strong as one of their best selling designs! Ever wondered how Scandinavian kids can play outside for hours in freezing conditions? Check out Polarn’s waterproof winter overalls, perfect for any weather.
The Moomin Shop
The Moomins from Finland have captivated Scandinavian kids for decades, and it’s great to see their popularity increasing in the rest of the world. On the surface of things, the Moominworld looks like a peaceful place where everyone is kind to each other, and nothing bad ever happens. But just like in a Scandinavian noir crime drama, dangers are lurking behind every corner in the form of strange creatures and natural disasters.
Between all the different books we’ve read for our children, the scary-looking “Gorke” figure is probably the character they’ve been most scared of. Until they understood that Gorke is quite kind under her ghostly surface, sadly, she is misunderstood because of her frightening appearance and struggles to find friends. There’s always a life lesson to be learned from the Moomins!
Lindex
Lindex is another example of a clothing store that started as a popular choice for the average Scandinavian middle-class family, now turned into a modern “superbrand” retailer. Lindex was founded in Sweden in the 1950s, slowly growing within the Nordic region, mainly focused on lingerie before expanding with a wider assortment. While H&M feels all over the place when it comes to styles, Lindex is more consistent with patterns and colours in line with its Scandinavian origin.
Lindex also has a firm focus on sustainability through their supply chain, and a large proportion of their clothes are made out of organic cotton. H&M and Lindex are often grouped in the “cheap and cheerful” category (from a Scandinavian perspective).
Still, it feels like Lindex is gradually becoming more of a premium brand compared to H&M. It’s really interesting to see how Scandinavian brands, once considered bland and boringly middle-class, have reinvented themselves. Lesson to be learned for M&S’s clothing department?
H&M
The best known Swedish clothes store on the high street, H&M has expanded incredibly fast across the globe, finding a winning formula when it comes to balancing quality, price and fashion while remaining true to their Nordic origins. While H&M has become more playful with new designs in recent years, their clothes are still largely made to please the masses.
As the go-to store for the Scandinavian middle-class when it comes to basics clothes like t-shirts, socks and underwear, the store is also very much seen as marmite, loved by many for their low prices and great value, while for others just boringly average and predictable.
Web: https://hm.com/
Arket
Meaning “sheet of paper” in Swedish, H&M Group’s Arket range of premium clothing stores has gone all-in maximizing the Nordic concept of minimalism. Arket ticks many boxes when it comes to areas like sustainability and the use of organic and recycled materials, creating a modern brand with a reduced footprint on the environment.
Creating a brand almost the polar opposite of their flagship “fast fashion” brand H&M, the Swedish masterminds are on the path to creating yet another global Scandinavian superbrand.
Skandium
Skandium is the place to go for iconic Nordic brands like Iittala, Marimekko, Royal Copenhagen, Hay, Gubi and Carl Hansen, featuring furniture, lighting, and different types of homeware and lifestyle products.
In addition, you’ll find some great pieces to create relaxing spaces for quality time with new friends and favourite family members. So if you’re planning to create a stylish hygge home in London, Skandium is a great place to start!
Scandinavian historical spots in London
Let’s be honest: The first Vikings arriving in Britain were probably just as violent and scary as the stories from Lindisfarne describe them. But it did not take long until an extensive exchange of culture and trade developed, lasting until modern times. So if you thought the recent Scandi-trend was the first time Scandinavians made their mark on London, you should check out some of these historical spots:
The Norwegian Church in London
Best for: Scandinavian Christmas Market
There have been churches in London with connections to Norway ever since the Viking age. The current official Norwegian church is located in South East London, which is no coincidence; the Rotherhithe docks used to be the centre of the extensive timber trade between Scandinavia and Britain, which you can still see evidence of today in place names like Norway Docks, Finland Street and Sweden Gate.
Despite its small size, Norway also had one of the largest merchant fleets in the world transporting goods between Britain and the rest of the world, which meant a constant flow of Norwegian seamen arriving at the Rotherhithe docks. During world war two, the church also played a vital role for Norwegians fighting the nazis from abroad and was frequently visited by the Norwegian royal family in exile.
We highly recommend visiting one of the Scandinavian markets taking place in and around the church during Christmas and spring. On the 17th of May, Norway’s national day, the Norwegian community gathers in nearby Southwark Park to celebrate.
Address: 1 St. Olav Square, Albion St, London SE16 7JB
The Swedish Church in London
Best for: Sankta Lucia Christmas Concerts
Sweden’s official church in London was built in 1920 and is called Ulrika Eleonora. Located in Marylebone, the church is near the Swedish embassy and other Swedish spots like TotallySwedish and The Harcourt. The church also has a cafe and is organising events like the Swedish Christmas Market and the popular Lucia carols.
Address: 6 Harcourt St, London W1H 4AG
The Danish Church in London
Great for: The Danish fair
The Danish Church is beautifully located in Regent’s Park in Central London. Like the other Nordic churches in London, the Danish church is a home away from home for Danes living in the UK. The church offers Danish lessons and a range of social activities like a parenting group, a book club and a bridge club. If you would like to visit the church, the annual Danish fair is a highlight with children’s activities in the church garden and food stalls selling drinks, hotdogs and Danish open sandwiches.
Address: 4 St Katharine’s Precinct, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4HH
The Finnish Church in London
Great for: Private sauna sessions
The Finnish Church in London is located in the same street as the Norwegian church in Rotherhithe in South East London. In addition to the regular church services, there is also a cafe where you can get classic Finnish treats like Cinnamon buns and Karelian pies. In the Finnish gift shop located inside the church building, you’ll find a large selection of Finnish sweets, chocolate, mustard, rye bread, baking ingredients, porridge flakes and coffee. You can even book a private sauna session organised by the church!
Address: 33 Albion Street, London SE16 7HZ
Web: https://lontoo.merimieskirkko.fi/the-finnish-church-in-london/
St Olave Hart Street
Great for: Medieval historic connections to Scandinavia
While as many as five medieval churches were erected in London in honour of the Norwegian patron saint St Olave, St Olave Hart Street in the City of London is the only Olave church that survived through the Great Fire, Victorian redevelopment and the Blitz. Famous for being the favourite church of Samuel Pepys, King Haakon of Norway used to worship here during ww2, and the church continues to nurture its link to Norway. While the official Norwegian church is located in Southwark (see above), this is a Church of England church.
Who was St Olave?
Olaf Haraldsson (later King Olaf II of Norway and St Olave after his death) started his career as a Viking chieftain raiding England. According to the Icelandic Saga, he also helped the English against the Danes at the Battle of London Bridge. After his endeavours in England, Olaf was later crowned King of Norway and forcefully sped up the christening of the country. He was declared a martyr after his death and became an important saint in medieval Europe.
Address: 8 Hart St, London EC3R 7NB
St Clement Danes Church
On Strand (Norse for beach), the Vikings pulled up their longships, forming a permanent community nearby Aldwych. This was when the Danes ruled in London, and an extensive trade developed between Scandinavia and England. St Clement is the patron saint of mariners, important for the seafaring Vikings.
The beautiful City of London church you see today was originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren but was destroyed during the Blitz and rebuilt after the ww2. Today St. Clement Danes is the official church of RAF under the Church of England.
Address: St Clement Danes Church, London WC2R 1DH
St Magnus the Martyr 
St Magnus was from the Orkney Islands where he ruled as an Earl, becoming a saint after being murdered by his cousin in a power struggle. The Orkneys were part of Norway for more than 600 years, and St Magnus was related to Norwegian royalty, hence the Scandinavian connection.
While the Orcadians remain proud of their Nordic heritage to this day, St Magnus-the-Martyr is still one of the most impressive churches in the City of London with its tall spire and key position next to London Bridge.
Address: Lower Thames St, London EC3R 6DN
St Olave’s House
While St Olave’s Church on the south side of London Bridge was demolished in the 1920s, you’ll still be able to see a plaque dedicated to the patron saint of Norway on the corner of the art deco building Olaf House, now part of London Bridge Hospital on the south bank.
Southwark St Olave also used to be the name of the parish around the Shard and London Bridge as well as other institutions in Southwark like St Olave Grammar School for boys.
Address: 27 Tooley Street
Surrey Docks, Rotherhithe
Surrey Commercial Docks on the Rotherhithe peninsula in Southwark became the centre for timber trade between England and Scandinavia from the 18th century lasting all the way until the 1960s.
Walking through the area you’ll quickly notice its Nordic heritage with place names like Norway Gate, Swedish Quay, Finland Street and Queen of Denmark Court. Many of the new developments in the area have also been influenced by Nordic architecture.
Interesting things to see around the former docks include the marina with its colourful narrowboats, Russia Dock Woodland, Surrey Docks Farm, Southwark Park and the Norwegian Church.
Tube: Canada Water or Surrey Quays (Overground)
The Lewis Chessmen
The Lewis Chessmen collection is one of the most popular exhibitions at the British Museum, consisting of a group of 12th-century chess pieces. The chessmen were carved out of walrus ivory in Trondheim, Norway and were found in Scotland in 1831. The area of Scotland where the treasure was found used to be part of the Kingdom of Norway during medieval times, and Trondheim was the capital and centre of trade and handicraft. A smaller part of the collection can also be seen at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Address: British Museum, Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG
Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree
In gratitude for Britain’s support to Norway during world war two, the city of Oslo ships a Norway spruce to London every year. The lighting ceremony of the Christmas tree on Trafalgar Square is attended by dignitaries like the Norwegian ambassador and the major of Westminster. It is a popular free event leading up to Christmas in London. The famous Christmas tree is also the most ridiculed tree in London, with Brits describing it as a “gherkin draped in lights” and a “cucumber”.
Norway House
Located just off Trafalgar Square, you’ll find a building called Norway House with a tall golden Viking statue above the entrance. Of course, the king is St Olav, who helped the English drive out the Danes from London by tearing down London Bridge. The building has been used as the Norwegian chamber of commerce, the Norwegian Club in London. It also played a vital role during the second world used by Norwegians in exile.
Address: 21-24 Cockspur St, St. James’s, London SW1Y 5BN
The Viking Tombstone
You’ll find a remarkable Viking-age tombstone with runic inscriptions in the medieval section of the Museum of Lonon. The tombstone was found in the old graveyard of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. It depicted dragons and beasts carved in the “Ringerike” style named after the area of Norway where this type of pagan decorations was most commonly used.
The tombstone dates from a time when London was ruled by the Canute the great, at a time when numerous Danish and Norwegian merchants settled permanently in the city. While Canute himself was a Christian, it is believed that he also allowed worshippers of the old Norse religion in this kingdom.
Address: Museum of London, 150 London Wall, Barbican, London EC2Y 5HN
The Norwegian War Memorial
You’ll find the Norwegian War Memorial in Hyde Park, represented by a simple granite boulder from Norway.
During the Nazi’s occupation of Norway, the Norwegian government organised the merchant fleet under a single organisation called Nortraship headquartered in London. Norway was one of the largest shipping nations globally, and the fleet consisted of some 1,000 ships making a great contribution on the allied side transporting war materials and supplies. More than 4000 Norwegian seamen lost their lives during world war two.
On the front is engraved: “This stone was erected by the Royal Norwegian Navy and the Norwegian Merchant Fleet in the year 1978. We thank the British people for their friendship and hospitality during the Second World War. You gave us a safe haven in our common struggle for freedom and peace.”
The backside reads: “This boulder was brought here from Norway where it was worn and shaped for thousands of years by forces of nature, frost, running water, rock, sand and ice until it obtained its present shape.”
Web: Royal Parks
FAQ Scandinavian places in London
Where do Norwegians live in London?
Wimbledon is the area of London most popular with Norwegian expats. In this area, you’ll find the Norwegian School in London as well as a Norwegian nursery.
Is there a Scandinavian area of London?
Historically, the docks around Rotherhithe is the area of London with the most connections to Scandinavia. Walking through the area today you’ll find plenty of Nordic place names as well as the Norwegian and Finnish seamen’s churches.
Is there a Swedish area of London?
In the area around Marylebone in Central London, you’ll find several Swedish organisations like the embassy, the chamber of commerce, and the Swedish church in London. In his area you’ll also find several Nordic-inspired restaurants and shops.
Is there a Danish area of London?
There’s no distinct Danish area of London today. However going back to medieval times when England was ruled by Danish kings, the parish around St Clement Danes Church is believed to be an area of London where many Danes settled permanently.
Why are Swedish brands so successful?
The Swedes’ preference for understated quality and timeless design has been described as rooted in the Swedish middle-class concept of “lagom” meaning “just enough”. Swedish products are often based on a combination of simplicity, great design and affordability which gives the products a universal appeal among consumers worldwide.
Did the Vikings visit London?
Yes, England north of the Thames (including London) was ruled by Danish kings for decades, with many Scandinavians settling permanently in London as traders and elsewhere in England as farmers. Archaeological discoveries made of the Vikings in London include battleaxes, drinking horns, jewellery, buckles and tombstones.
Where can I buy Scandinavian groceries in London?
ScandiKitchen and TotallySwedish are the two stores with the biggest selection of Scandinavian groceries in London. You can visit their high street stores in Central London or check out their online shops. Other options include Ikea’s Swedish Food Market as well as Ocado’s Scandinavian section.
Where can I buy Scandinavian clothes in London?
Some of the most popular stores include H&M, Lindex, Polarn O. Pyret, COS, Arket, Tiger of Sweden and Filippa K. You’ll find Scandinavian stores in popular shopping streets around Central London like Regent’s Street, Oxford Street and Kensington High Street.
Where can I buy the best cinnamon buns in London?
Head to one of the many Scandinavian bakeries in London, such as Nordic Bakery, Danish bakery chain Ole & Steen or Swedish chain Fabrique.
Which waffles are the best in the world?
The Norwegian seamen’s mission abroad claims to make the world’s best Norwegian waffles. Using a few “secret” ingredients like buttermilk and natron, their waffles have been described as slightly crispy on the outside while remaining deliciously soft inside… You can find the recipe here.
Did we miss any Scandinavian places in London? What’s your favourite Scandinavian spot? Let us know in the comments!
2 comments
You’ve missed out the Danish KFUK in Hampstead – for many years the centre of social activities for young Danes coming to London to study or to work as Au Pairs. KFUK had an established Au Pair service for many decades until Brexit made it impossible for Danish citizens to work in the UK.
The building has a cafe open to outsiders and runs regular events, including a Christmas Market where traditional Danish goodies are on sale and where many Danish families come as an annual tradition. It is located in Maresfield Gardens, about 10 minutes walk from Finchley Road tube station.
Thanks a lot for that additional info, much appreciated đ Tusen Takk!