International Culinary Colleges in London, England

British traditional cuisine may be better known for having quirky, silly names like “bangers and mash” and “bubble and squeak” than for making your mouth water in anticipation of delicate combinations of savory flavors. This does not mean, however, that the United Kingdom is bereft of fine food. With a great influx of immigrants from all over the world in recent decades, London has become a major hub for international foods and specialties such as Indian, Moroccan, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern, French, and seafood.

Culinary Training

Culinary schools in London offer degree and certificate programs for novices starting out on their career and professionals seeking specialty training. No matter what the program, students typically must complete in-class and practical instruction focusing on food preparation, menu planning, proper utensil usage, cooking techniques, pastry and desserts, and wine. Each school has its own specialty classes on various facets of culinary practice, which may help applicants decide which school suits their goals and needs best. Certificate programs last from a few weeks to a few months, while diploma programs can last up to one year. An internship may also be required for students to gain practical, hands-on experience in a professional setting.

Leith’s School of Food and Wine provides professional training in a casual, contemporary environment. Professional Courses are available for future chefs and kitchen managers looking to make a career in the food industry. Trained professional chefs teach students basic and advanced techniques for preparing food in the classroom and the kitchen lab. Shorter Enthusiast courses are also taught by trained professionals, and are for beginners and those with a hobbyist interest in cooking. Specialist classes are also offered in Healthy Eating, Knife Skills, and Cheese Tasting, among plenty of others.

For a culinary education specific to the French culinary tradition, Le Cordon Bleu London offers diplomas and certificates in cuisine and patisserie, and continuing education in specialties ranging from French pastries, breads, and chocolates. Certificate and Diploma courses take up to one year to complete, while one day to four week short courses and demonstrations are offered as well.

Unique to Le Cordon Bleu London is the Superior Programme course in which students host a Student Event dinner. Students are responsible for planning and executing a five-course dinner. In this project, students will get a taste of working in a professional environment on a deadline, with a team, producing large quantities of food on a budget.

For Specific Tastes

Students with more specific interests in the culinary world may enroll in the London South Bank University’s National Bakery School. As the oldest bakery school in the world, it has quite a reputation in the international culinary community. Full-time students can earn a two-year Foundation Degree in Baking Technology and Management by completing classes in bread science, bakery management, leadership, finance, and technology of flour confectionary. A one-year Diploma in Craft Studies requires classes in food preparation, dough production, and cake decorating. Part-time certificates require 300 hours of class time in either food manufacturing, creative techniques, or hospitality services. Graduates of this school frequently go on to become heads of bakeries around the world.

Campus-based Colleges

Leith’s School of Food and Wine Limited
16-20 Wendell Road
London W12 9RT
+44 20 8749 6400
leiths.com
Food & Wine
BAC Accredited

Le Cordon Bleu London
114 Marylebone Lane
London, W1U 2HH
+44 20 7935 3503
cordonbleu.edu/london/
Culinary Arts
Pastry
Wine
BAC Accredited

London South Bank University, National Bakery School
90 London Road
London SE1 6LN
+44 20 7815 6100
lsbu.ac.uk
Baking
Recognised Body, UK Accreditation

Chef Academy London
 17 Hanover Square, Mayfair
London – W1S 1BN
+44 (0) 203 857 4790
chefacademyoflondon.com
Hospitality Management & Advanced Food Science
Advanced Professional Chef Course
Michelin Star Chef Course
Professional Chef Course
Professional Chef Course – Italian Cuisine
Profession Patisserie & Confectionary Course

Tante Marie Culinary Academy
57-61 Commercial Way, Woking
Surrey GU21 6HN
+44 (0)1483 726957
tantemarie.co.uk
Professional, Gap Year & Lifestyle courses available
accredited by The British Accreditation Council for Further and Higher Education

Online-based programs

The Art Institutes of Pittsburgh – Online Division
www.aionline.edu/
Hotel and Restaurant Management
MSCHE Accredited

Johnson and Wales University
www.jwu.edu/campus.aspx?id=25934
Baking & Pastry Arts and Food Service Management
Culinary Arts & Food Service Management
NEASC Accredited

Penn Foster Career School
www.pennfoster.edu/
Hotel and Restaurant Management
DETC & CHEA Accredited

Sullivan College
www.sullivan.edu/
Beverage Management
CCSACS & ACF Accredited