Chocolate Tourism in the UK
LONDON, ENGLAND
A Passion for Chocolate Master Class
Location: The Capital HotelAddress: 22 Basil Street, London SW3 1AT, England
Type of experience: chocolate workshop
Details: High-level chocolate preparation class led by the Capital Hotel’s pastry chef, Andrew Gravett. The experience includes Afternoon Tea, giving participants a chance to sample some of the creations that they will later learn to prepare for themselves.
Chocolate Connoisseurs Tastings
Location: Charing Cross, LondonType of experience: chocolate tasting evenings
Details: The Chocolate Connoisseurs Club organises monthly public chocolate tasting evenings, open to anyone from novices to connoisseurs (advance booking required). The tasting experience includes a brief history of chocolate, guidance for the best tasting experience, and the opportunity to taste a range of fine chocolates. Private and corporate tasting events can also be organised by prior arrangement.
Chocolate Ecstasy Tours
Location: central LondonType of experience: chocolate walking tour
Details: Guided half- and full-day walking tours, focusing on chocolate-tasting opportunities in central London. The half-day tour is held regularly, at least once a month. The full day tour is organised periodically. Private group tours can be arranged, for groups of 12 or more, and the company also organises company events and hen parties.
External reviews: ChickLit | London a la Mode
Harrods Chocolate Bar
Location: inside Harrods, KnightsbridgeType of experience: specialist chocolate cafe
Details: Chocolate cafe serving a wide range of hot chocolates and hot toddy drinks, chocolate milkshakes, icecreams, signature chocolate dishes, chocolate fondues and other sweet delights.
External reviews: DooYoo | France to Go
Melt Chocolate Kitchen
Location: Notting HillAddress: 59 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2AA, England
Type of experience: chocolate-making viewing and shop
Details: Visitors to the Melt Chocolate shop have the opportunity to watch the chocolatiers at work in the kitchen, making fresh batches of chocolates. Children have the opportunity to have a hands-on experience in making chocolate, by prior arrangement.
My Chocolate Workshops
Address: Suite B1, 16-16a Baldwin Gardens, London EC1N 7RJ, EnglandType of experience: chocolate-making workshops
Details: Learn to make a variety of chocolates, including dark chocolate fudge and caramelised nut brittle, and indulge in a chocolate fondue with giant marshmallows. Workshops are held on a regular schedule (see website for details) and last 2.5 hours. Group and private bookings also available.
Rococo School of Chocolate
Address: 5 Motcomb Street, Belgravia, London SW1X 8JU, EnglandType of experience: chocolate-making workshops
Details: Rococo offers scheduled and private chocolate making classes at various ability levels, including one-to-one classes with a master chocolatier. They also offer a "Midnight Feast", combining chocolate with a stay in a 5-star hotel. All packages must be booked in advance.
William Curley Chocolate Workshop
Location: RichmondType of experience: chocolate-making workshops
Details: Hands-on chocolate making course for two people, including an introduction to chocolate, a tasting, and an opportunity to try chocolate tempering and to make caramels and chocolate bars.
SWANSEA, WALES
Michton Chocolate Factory
Address: Kingsway, Swansea West Industrial Park, Swansea SA5 4DL, WalesType of experience: chocolate factory visit
Details: Talk about chocolate, plus guided tour of the chocolate factory and tasting opportunities. Tours must be booked in advance.
External reviews: Trip Advisor
The Chocolate Academy
Location: Michton Chocolate Factory (see above)Type of experience: chocolate cooking workshops
Details: Range of chocolate cooking courses at various levels, including courses for children. Classes are generally held on Saturdays, though some may run on other days. Bespoke classes can be arranged for groups of 10+ by prior arrangement.
ELSEWHERE IN THE UK
Cadbury World
Location: Bourneville, near BirminghamType of experience: chocolate theme park
Details: Tour of a chocolate museum and factory. Visitors can discover the importance of chocolate to ancient cultures, learn the history of Cadbury, and find out how chocolate is made. Then it's off to the factory (only a small part, where some of the chocolate lines are wrapped, is open to visitors). There's a demonstration area with a chance to write your name in liquid chocolate, the original Coronation Street set sponsored by Cadbury, an interactive chocolate exhibition and much more. The self-described world's biggest Cadbury shop and the Cadbury cafe are also on site.
External reviews: Ciao | Ingrid in England
Choccywoccydoodah Bar du Chocolat
Location: BrightonType of experience: chocolate bar
Details: Decadent chocolate cakes, chocolate dipping pots, icecream sundaes, a chocolate lovers banquet, hot chocolates and other chocolate treats. The boudoir can be booked for intimate private parties (up to 10 people) featuring a feast of chocolate delights.
Chocolate Workshops
Location: London and BournemouthType of experience: chocolate-making workshops
Details: Chocolate Delight run weekly chocolate making workshops in London, and also in Bournemouth, on Saturdays. The workshops focus on making Belgian truffles with a selection of toppings, and are open to individuals and groups by prior arrangement.
Chocolate Connoisseur Evenings
Location: Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, ScotlandType of experience: chocolate tastings
Details: Coco Chocolate runs chocolate tasting evenings twice a month, combining learning (the process of chocolate making) with the chance to taste pure cocoa nibs and cocoa butter, together with chocolates from several different regions, accompanied by a glass of French wine.
John Bull Factory Tours
Location: near Bridlington, YorkshireType of experience: Confectionery factory visit
Details: Visitors can learn the history of the John Bull confectioners, watch rock and chocolate being produced, and even make a chocolate lolly or personalise a stick of rock (additional cost). A factory outlet shop and cafe are also on the premises.
Kennedys Fine Chocolates Coffee House and Factory Shop
Location: Orton, CumbriaType of experience: factory shop and cafe
Details: The cafe serves chocolate cake, hot chocolate and ice creams, light snacks and refreshments. Viewing windows in the cafe allow visitors to see the chocolate makers at work, and there's a short video introducing the various processes. The factory shop sells a very range of handmade chocolates.
Oban Chocolate Company Factory
Location: Oban, ScotlandType of experience: factory viewing and shop
Details: Oban make their chocolates by hand in a factory that is viewable from the cafe and the chocolate shop, with interpretive panels available to help explain the processes involved. The cafe serves hot chocolates and coffees, icecreams and milkshakes, chocolate mud cake and handmade chocolates.
Pemberton's Chocolate Farm
Location: Llanboidy, Carmarthenshire SA34 0EX, WalesType of experience: farm tour and chocolate experience
Details: Explore a model village with a chance to watch a short chocolate demonstration, watch a film about the history of cocoa through to the present day, and have a go at making your own chocolate. The Cocoa Bean Cafe serves hot chocolates, cakes, gateaux, biscuits and sandwiches. Several shops on-site sell chocolates, sweets and fudge.
Slattery's Patissier and Chocolatier
Location: ManchesterType of experience: chocolate cooking classes
Details: Practical, hands-on courses in chocolate work, sugar modelling and other chocolate-related skills. Courses are pitched at various skill levels, and run from a few hours to several days in length.
The Chocolate Boutique Hotel
Location: BournemouthType of experience: chocolate themed hotel
Details: The hotel is a 19th century Grade 2 listed building, themed on chocolate throughout. Guests are given a hotel-shaped chocolate on arrival, and on Fridays there's a chocolate fountain reception (guests can also order a private fountain for their room). The hotel holds regular Chocolate weekend breaks, cooking workshops and other chocolate-related events.
External reviews: The Sun | Trip Advisor
The Chocolate Cellar
Location: WirralType of experience: Chocolate making/tasting workshops
Details: The Chocolate Cellar offers full day workshops combining a chance to learn about chocolate tasting (and sample a selection of fine chocolates) with a class in making truffles and pralines, as well as how to temper and dip chocolate. The workshops are offered on an approximately monthly schedule; see website for details.
Walkers Chocolate Emporium
Location: DevonAddress: 6 High Street, Ilfracombe, Devon EX34 9DF, England
Type of experience: chocolate cafe, theatre of chocolate and museum
Details: The chocolate museum contains chocolate-themed memorabilia going back a hundred years, including adverts, posters, labels and real chocolate. Visitors can watch regular chocolate-making demonstrations in the chocolate theatre, and a short film about the chocolate-making process. There's also a lifesize Chocolate Man on display. The cafe is decorated with chocolate posters and has a large collection of chocolate history and chocolate cookery books, and serves over a dozen varieties of hot chocolate.