Cooking & Baking Classes in London

I'm on a mission to try all the cooking and baking classes in London (and surrounding areas that are easy to get to by train!)

Jump to:

• Jamie Oliver Cooking School
• La Cucina Caldesi
• Pasta Making at Petersham
• Chocolate Making in Shoreditch
• Le Cordon Bleu
• Leiths Cooking
• Bread Ahead: most value for money baking class in London
• E5
• Dusty Knuckle

• Good for a fun night with a friend or partner. (You make the dish in pairs.)
• Not for people who want a serious, intensive cooking class.

La Cucina Caldesi

• Good for people who want an enjoyable Italian cooking class.

Note that you do not make the dish on your own- they are made as a group.

Pasta Making at Petersham

This was the most value-for-money cooking class! We were given a complete set of supplies so that we could go home, make, and cook our own pasta- it really felt like they were invested in our applying what we had learnt.

We all make our own pasta, which are then gathered together and cooked by the teacher. (To be honest, I'd prefer if they didn't do this as some people aren't too hygienic- some didn't wash their hands before rolling the pasta!!)

Would LOVE to go again! I wasn't a big fan of Petersham before this but the class totally converted me!

Update: unfortunately the Covent Garden branch has since closed but they also run the classes at Richmond. I did a weekend trip there and stayed at Bingham Riverhouse (click through for a review of my stay.)

Chocolate Making in Shoreditch

I appreciate how high their hygiene standards are- I got a flu before the class and emailed them. Some class providers just go too bad, we won't refund you, but they arranged for me to attend another class, no questions asked!

The class was also good fun- there were quite a few of us, but we all make our own chocolates. It's good fun designing them!

I took 2 cooking classes at Cordon Bleu. (But have not made any of the recipes!)

They're probably the priciest on this list- but the standard of teaching is pretty high.

A more serious class, however you have to be OK with a lot of condescension from the teachers. For example, you will be asked "Do you know what a Michelin-star restaurant is?" in a VERY snooty tone.

Nonetheless, I would go back as the teachers have the experience to back up their arrogance.

• Did 2 courses here.

Meant to be a serious class too, but MUCH more fun than Le Cordon Bleu. (Still Instagram friends with some of the students on my course 6 years ago.)

To be honest, the Leith's instructor wasn't quite as experienced as the one at Le Cordon Bleu. For example, she overcooked our chicken thighs, which are harder to overcook (than chicken breasts!)

• Has the widest range of baking classes
• Runs amazing promotions on the classes- I do believe they're the cheapest London based baking classes (that I've found at least)
• Has several locations in London, but Borough Market is the original. ( I recommend the Chelsea location as it's a smaller class than Borough Market- 4 people versus 12- the cost is a tad higher though.)
• You get drinks and bakes at the beginning and in the middle of class.
• Nice and fun teachers who are very patient with my 101 questions.

I've taken 10 classes here. Used to be VERY, very good but seems to have a little of lost its soul after expanding. (Still good fun though.)

For example, I had to email several times for the recipes after one course. Finally got the recipes a month or so after the class- but they weren't the recipes we made in the course!? It took more emails and another 2 weeks to get the right recipes (which was honestly more stress than I needed.) However, this was about 2 years ago- since then, I've taken about 5 more classes and there was no issue so maybe that was teething pains at the new outlet.

The recipes are OK- I like that they're simple enough to be made at home but, honestly, don't all taste great. (The dough balls, for example, didn't taste as good as I had expected. I think they maybe need to be smaller and made with more garlic. In addition, just based on the Japanese bread class, I'd also say that the non-English bakes aren't the most authentic. The melon pan bread we made here wasn't the best either- I have a MUCH better recipe from a class in Singapore that I took.)

They do very kindly give you a box of donuts after class though!

E5

Great sense of community and very detailed recipe notes. Plus, I LOVE how the sourdough class starts at 11 am!

For the sourdough class, you make 4 breads:

• 1 loaf of rye bread (SO easy)
• 4 sourdough bagels (Used to be 6)
• sourdough ciabatta
• 1 country loaf (taken home to bake- ideally you need a pot with lid, as well as a scorer)

You're given a tote bag (nice, because the breads are quite heavy for a paper bag), your scraper, and 10% off items in the shop. (The sourdough ends when the cafe closes though, so I suggest going earlier if you want to get stuff.)

Lunch is provided- beans and pasta followed by sweet bakes (nice.) You are also given bread and drinks when you arrive.

2 teachers, 10 students, nice and friendly and knowledgeable.

Besides sourdough baking classes, they also do fermentation and pierogi etc. Prices are on the higher side, especially when you compare it with Bread Ahead.

Dusty Knuckle

Another wonderful baking class.

I took 2 classes here and, 6 years later, am still in contact with one of the ladies from the class. The all-day class serves a delicious lunch!

Any questions about baking and cooking classes in the UK? Let me know in the comments!