If fresh and fruity is your preference, look no further than The Real Fruit Ice Cream Co, a Kiwi-inspired pop-up making super-creamy soft serve from, you guessed it, real fruit. 

The concept is simple: pick your base (vanilla ice cream, vegan vanilla ice cream or strawberry frozen yoghurt), select your frozen fruit (strawberries, mixed berries, banana or a mix of two), choose a cup or cone and top with sprinkles, glitter, gummy bears, Biscoff spread or biscuit crumbs.

Currently taking up residence at Market Halls in Canary Wharf, keep an eye on its Instagram to find out where they’ll be popping up next.

25 N Colonnade, London E14 5HD

Perelló olives. Kikkoman soy sauce. Sarason’s malt vinegar. Branston’s piccalilli. We’re not reeling off the usual store cupboard staples, but rather a host of very interesting ice cream flavours.

From 7 June to 18 August, The Ice Cream Project will return to Anya Hindmarch’s The Village on Pont Street for the third year running. 

If your tastes are less exotic, the likes of Sun-Pat crunchy peanut butter, Bird’s Custard Powder and Jaffa Cakes might be more appealing. Nonetheless, it’s an experience not to be missed.

You can even try a blind-tasting tea: grab a friend and try to guess and score the 15 ice cream flavours presented to you while you cleanse your palettes with shortbread and lemonade.

11A Pont St, London SW1X 9EH

The iconic Italian gelato doesn’t get more authentic than what they’re scooping over at Badiani 1932. With flavours ranging from stracciatella to their signature ‘buontalenti’, a decadent creation of cream, sugar and eggs, there’s no shortage of choice.

If you’re planning to spend a sunny day on the Heath anytime soon, its newest home on Hampstead High Street is a must-visit. 

Pistachio lovers: the viral pistachio gelato croissant tastes just as good as it sounds: a flaky, buttery croissant stuffed with creamy gelato and topped with lashings of homemade pistachio sauce and crunchy pistachios.

Don’t eat dairy? The 100% vegan dark chocolate sorbet made with Venezuelan dark chocolate is a solid scoop.

55 S End Rd, London NW3 2QB

What started as a humble truffle stall in Spitalfields and Borough markets blossomed into the first African cocoa house to grace Brick Lane and a four-storey flagship in Greenwich.

And while its legendary hot chocolate has been taking the internet by storm, the offering in its Greenwich ice cream parlour is equally tantalising.

From black vanilla to chocolate red velvet, a scoop of something sweet here is sure to hit the spot. Plus, this brand is independent and female-owned. A win-win in our books.

21 Nelson Rd., London SE10 9JB

If you’re dreaming of escaping to warmer shores but your budget is more Southend than Sorrento, the pretty, pastel interiors of Gelupo are guaranteed to lift your spirits.

Coined by the chef patron of Italian restaurant Bocca di Lupo and gumbo connoisseur Plaquemine Lock, the curated line-up of flavours includes yuzu sherbet, blackberry ripple yoghurt gelato, and kiwi gin and elderflower.

Vegans with a penchant for decadence, rejoice. You won’t need to stick with fruity iterations when bitter chocolate, almond and espresso granita are the dairy-free alternatives on the menu. 

7 Archer St, London W1D 7AU

Assuage your ice cream cravings at Europe’s first liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour. The team over at Chin Chin Labs has been hand-churning its ice cream with liquid nitrogen since its inception in Camden Market in 2010 and has opened up a store on Soho’s Greek Street and bagged a summer food truck residency at Selfridge’s Food Hall.

You’ve got it on good authority that the banana miso with bee pollen honeycomb and grilled white chocolate is a winner but if you want to play it safe, the tiramisu sundae is their latest viral creation.

Really want to branch out? Its golden vanilla ice cream with caviar is a must-try.

49-50 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF

This hot-spot has featured in many a foodie creator’s round up and it’s not hard to see why.

Located on Pavillion Road on the outskirts of Sloane Square, Parlour by Ice Cream Union is serving up ice cream and sorbet made from the finest ingredients.

Whether making its own nut pastes that shine through in flavours like hazelnut and pistachio or sourcing the freshest milk for its fior di latte, a real dedication to quality is at the core of its mission. 

Bestsellers include banana split, blackcurrant sorbet and cornflake, but keep an eye out for the limited-edition summer flavours. Aperol spritz or Pimm’s sorbet, anybody?

166 Pavilion Rd, London SW1X 0AW

Caliendo’s is where you head when you want artisan Italian gelato without the queues and crowds.

Unassumingly nestled on Kentish Town Road, this spot won the UK Parlour of the Year 2023, so it’s the perfect place to catch up with a friend over a generous scoop (or two) of gelato.

Caliendo’s often collaborates with London Nootropics to create exciting new flavours (mushroom coffee cordyceps ginseng was on the menu this June), so don’t let the quaint exterior fool you into thinking its selection is basic.

If you need some inspiration, the sea salt caramel brownie and cardamon bun would be at the top of our list.

182 Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2AE

With a moniker that tells us exactly what to expect, this pop-up is firmly on our radar for summer ice cream escapades.

You might have come across the brand at Borough Market in 2022, when they successfully teamed up with Sri Lankan restaurant Rambutan for the summer, but if this is your first time hearing about it, allow us to tell you what to expect.

With a rotating roster of flavours centred around the availability of seasonal produce, salted black sesame; lemon, honey and cardamom, and malted vanilla soft serve are just some of the creations you can treat yourselves to.

For soft serve and scoops: 211 Victoria Park Rd, London E9 7JN

For scoops and tubs: 267 New North Rd, London N1 7AA