The most popular bakeries in the UK and Europe
Nothing quite beats the smell of freshly baked bread as it lingers by the shopfront, or enjoying a delicious sweet from your favourite bakery spot on the weekend. With such an irresistible allure, it’s no wonder bakeries capture the hearts of so many on social media. But with so many friendly bakeries and varieties of baked treats, which are the ones that have found the most notoriety online?
To help you discover the most popular bakeries to visit, the team at idealo have looked at Instagram and TikTok data to reveal the most popular bakeries in the UK, as well as in Europe.
10 Most Popular Bakeries in the UK
- Bread Ahead Bakery, London
- Pollen Bakery, Manchester
- Hobz Bakery, Edinburgh
- Lannan, Edinburgh
- Knead Bakery, Cirencester, Tetbury and Elkstone
- e5 Bakehouse, London
- Pophams, London
- Haxby Bakehouse, London
- Lovingly Artisan, Kendal and Altrincham
- Sourdough Revolution, Lechlade
1. Bread Ahead Bakery, London
Bread Ahead Bakery is declared the UK’s most popular bakery. Based in multiple locations around London, the bakery boasts the highest number of Instagram posts under the hashtag breadaheadbakery (8,670). Additionally, it ranks second for TikTok views under the same hashtag (1,300,000).
Whether it’s Borough Market, Bromley, South Kensington, Wembley or Chelsea, bakery buffs around the world come to Bread Ahead venues to savour their delicious baked goods and learn from the Bread Ahead Bakery School. The brand has been so successful that they’ve even opened up two bakeries and bakery schools in the Middle East. The bakery schools offer beginner bakery courses, group bookings, e-learning opportunities, plenty of baking shops and even an online cooking school.
2. Pollen Bakery, Manchester
Pollen Bakery is the second in the list of the most popular bakeries in the UK, earning the highest number of TikTok views for #pollenbakery (1,900,000). Nestled comfortably under Manchester’s Piccadilly Station, this popular bakery specialises in sourdough and viennoiseries. Despite the relatively low number of Instagram posts under the same hashtag (2,635), the tucked-away bakery still manages to run out of pastries by noon during the week!
The Pollen bakers aren’t lying when they say the bakery “was born from a love of great food, fermentation & flavour.” They’re prepared to spend four days on the pastries, all to ensure a flavourful and delightful texture. The Pollen Bakery bread is completely made from sourdough, with varieties such as the 28-hour Sour or oat porridge. Their Viennoiseries also include classics, such as the croissant and the pain au chocolat.
3. Hobz Bakery, Edinburgh
Hobz Bakery follows in third with a total of 5,397 Instagram posts for #hobz and 124,500 TikTok views for #hobzbakery. With seasonal menus and charity bake sales, they also aim to stay involved with their community.
Hobz also adopts the natural and traditional preparation of their bread, baking the sourdough varieties. If that wasn’t enough to boost the Scottish bakery’s popularity, Hobz’s mouth-watering pastries can be enjoyed with a cup of coffee on the bustling Leith Walk.
4. Lannan, Edinburgh
The second Scottish bakery to top the list, Lannan Bakery in Edinburgh is one of the most hyped spots in the city. Opening in 2023, it has quickly become a popular location for sweet treat lovers with its hashtag on TikTok receiving over 150,000 views.
The bakery has been an overnight success, only opening in July, with queues regularly snaking round the block as eager customers flock to get a taste of its already iconic handmade pastries and delicious cakes.
5. Knead Bakery, Cirencester, Tetbury and Elkstone
Popular on TikTok, Knead Bakery comes in fifth place n the list of the most popular bakeries in the UK, receiving over 70,000 views whilst its hashtag kneadbakery on Instagram has over 3,500 posts. With establishments in Cirecenster, Tetbury and Elkstone, Knead Bakery serves a delicious assortment of sweet and savoury treats, including danishes, doughnuts and fresh bread.
