21 Traditional English Drinks To Try For A Real Taste Of The UK

Planning a trip to the UK and looking for some typically English drinks to try during your visit? This guide features a selection of the most traditional British drinks – the most popular alcohol-free and alcoholic drinks in the UK, with local tips for how they are typically served and where to try them.

The diverse culture, geography, and history of the United Kingdom have created a wide variety of British drinks for visitors to try! I was born and raised in the British Isles, so I’ve tried all these English drinks over the years!

Good to know: We start with the most popular English soft drinks. Further below, at the end of the article, you’ll find all the best English alcoholic drinks and cocktails. Let’s take a look!

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Best non-alcoholic English drinks

Alcohol-free English drinks – also known as soft drinks – are widely available in the United Kingdom. There are plenty of traditional English drinks, from traditional favourites like Dandelion and Burdock to the quintessentially English tea.

Good to know: Sodas may taste different in the UK for international visitors, thanks to the 2018 ‘sugar tax’ introduced to combat childhood obesity in the UK.

English tea

Tea has been integral to British culture since it was first imported from China in the 17th century. Today, the most popular teas in the UK are made from black tea leaves; however, green tea and herbal teas are increasingly available.

English breakfast tea is a favourite around British breakfast tables. It’s still among the most popular English breakfast drinks, alongside apple and orange juice.

But times are changing, and while 59% of Brits still love their tea, 63% of British consumers now say they regularly drink coffee.

Good to know: To make tea, pour boiling hot water over a tea bage or loose tea leaves and leave it steep (brew) to the desired strength before serving.

English afternoon tea served with scones, sandwiches, and dainty cakes, is an unmissable ritual for many visitors. In London, you can take an afternoon tea bus tour, or – even better – this 5-star rated Royal tour, with posh afternoon tea in a luxury London hotel (highly recommended).

English drinks — Traditional English Tea © GreyGlobetrotters

Milkshake

Did you know today’s much-loved ‘milkshakes’ originated in 19th-century Victorian Britain as a tasty health tonic?

The term ‘milkshake’ was first used in 1885 for a drink made with milk, eggs, whiskey, or other spirits! Today, (alcohol-free) milkshakes are widely available across the United Kingdom.

TIP: The Italian ice cream milkshakes at tiny little Brio Cafe in Harrogate, Yorkshire, are some of the best in the UK!

Image of popular English drinks strawberry milkshakes in tall glasses, with straws and sprigs of fresh mint — Strawberry milkshakes. ©Vitalina Rybakova/Adobe

Posset (Eggnog)

Most culinary historians agree that eggnog originated from an early medieval British drink – Posset. This was made with hot milk curdled with wine or ale and flavoured with spices.

Good to know: Posset was a popular cold and flu remedy in Medieval Britain. It sounds much tastier than today’s pharmaceutical remedies!

Glass filled with creamy white drink and chocolate flake — Posset/Eggnog Ⓒ Brent Hofacker/Adobe

Horlicks

Horlicks is one of the most comforting English drinks – enjoyed by generations of Brits as a bedtime drink – an alternative to hot cocoa. It was created in the late 19th century by British-born brothers William and James Horlick as a ‘food drink’.

Good to know: To serve, mix the powder for your malt-based drinks with hot milk or water, stirring until smooth and creamy, then sit back and relax 🙂

Bovril

This thick beef extract paste was created in the 19th century. It’s one of the favourite winter drinks of soldiers, sports fans, and anyone seeking a quick, satisfying way to stave off the cold or to get through a long night shift!

Good to know: One teaspoon of Bovril transforms hot water into a satisfying broth that provides warmth and comfort, especially during cold winters.

Squash

Squash is the most consumed cold drink in the UK, with orange and blackcurrant the most popular flavours.

Good to know: A half-and-half combination of orange and blackcurrant squash – often known as ‘jungle juice’ – is a real hit with British kids.

Ribena is a market-leading blackcurrant squash brand. EElderflower cordial’s delicate, floral notes and crisp, refreshing taste is a more refined option.

Good to know: If you’re looking for a premium cordial, Belvoir Farms cordials are delicious, with no artificial preservatives, flavourings, colourings or sweeteners.

TIP: To serve squash or a cordial, mix a small amount of the concentrate with water to taste.

Bottles of orange squash and blackcurrant squash - favourite English drinks — Orange and Blackcurrant Squash Ⓒ Grey Globetrotters

Vimto

Lurid purple Vimto is one of the most quintessentially English drinks. John Noel Nichols launched this secret blend of grapes, raspberries, blackcurrants, and herbs in Manchester in 1908.

While traditionally served chilled, Vimto makes a warming hot drink on chilly days.

Fun fact: The fact that the name Vimto is an anagram of vomit has not been lost on generations of Brits 🙂

Ginger Ale & Ginger Beer

Ginger ale and ginger beer are zesty, spicy, ginger-flavoured English drinks that originated in the 18th century. Ginger beer is available in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions. In contrast, ginger ale is a non-alcoholic, carbonated soft drink.

Dandelion and Burdock

In the Middle Ages, a drink of Dandelion and Burdock was thought to offer health benefits. This deep, dark brown, old-fashioned British beverage provides a complex, slightly bitter, and subtly sweet refreshment traditionally served chilled.

Glass bottle with a small amount of brown liquid and a glass of a brown coloured drink — Dandelion and Burdock Ⓒ Lee Haywood, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Lucozade

Lucozade is a vibrant, orange-coloured drink known for its glucose-rich formula, offering a sweet, effervescent taste.

It was developed in 1927 by chemist William Walker Hunter in Newcastle, England, as a recovery aid for the sick, but it has become insanely popular for its ability to provide a quick energy boost.

Alcoholic English drinks

If you fancy trying out traditional alcoholic drinks while visiting the UK, you will be spoiled for choice!

TIP: The legal age for drinking alcohol in the UK is 18, and you’ll likely be asked for proof of age if you’re lucky enough to look under 21.

Real Ale & Craft Beers

Traditional British real ale and craft beers are part of the UK’s rich brewing heritage. Their popularity dates back to medieval times when ale was a daily staple – largely because the water was unsafe to drink then!

Real ale, which is naturally fermented in a cask, offers the depth of flavour and smooth, unfiltered texture that British beer lovers cherish.

More recently, craft beers produced by small, independent breweries have brought innovative brewing techniques and diverse flavour profiles.

Good to know: Don’t expect British real ales and craft beers to be served chilled! Serving them at around 12-14°C (54-57°F) is the best way to bring out their complex aromas and flavours.

Pimm’s No.1 Cup

In 1840, James Pimm blended his famous No. 1 Cup – a secret recipe of gin, herbs and liqueur – as an aid for digesting oysters in his London Oyster bar.

Today, a fruit-packed Pimm’s is essential to the British summer – especially for BBQs and at Wimbledon!

two highball glasses filled with Pimms and lemonade and garnished with citrus fruit and strawberries at a picnoc

Baileys Irish Cream

Silky smooth Baileys Irish Cream is synonymous with the festive season in the UK and 180 countries worldwide. It’s simply not Christmas without Baileys!

Fun fact: While Baileys is called ‘Irish Cream’, this more-ish liqueur was actually invented in London – albeit for an Irish firm! However, it is manufactured in Dublin, Ireland and Mallusk, Northern Ireland.

A perfect blend of Irish whiskey and cream, with a hint of cocoa and vanilla, Baileys is a smooth, velvety drink with a rich, creamy texture and a light caramel colour.

Good to know: Baileys is delicious when served straight, on the rocks or in coffee. It also makes the most indulgent cheesecakes.

Irish cream liqueur over ice — Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur Ⓒ Mizina/Adobe

Cider

Cider is one of the oldest English drinks. Its origins stretch back to Roman Britain with the development of the country’s first apple orchards.

A fermented apple beverage, cider comes in various colours, from the palest golden hues to deep amber. It can be sweet or dry, still or sparkling.

TIP: Cider is particularly popular during the UK’s warmer months, at summer festivals and outdoor gatherings. It’s also enjoyed in cosy pubs and during autumn harvest celebrations.

Traditionally served chilled, you can drink cider straight from the bottle, in a pint glass, or warmed with spices during colder weather.

cider in a pint glass — English Cider Ⓒ Brent Hofacker/Adobe

Vesper Martini

British author Ian Fleming invented the sophisticated Vesper Martini in his 1953 James Bond novel, Casino Royale, naming it after the fictional double agent Vesper Lynd.

Good to know: The recipe for a Vesper Martini combines three parts (3 fl oz) gin, one part British vodka, and half a part Lillet Blanc aperitif, shaken until ice-cold and served in a deep v-shaped cocktail glass, garnished with a thin slice of lemon peel.

Fun fact: 60+ popular cocktails were invented in the United Kingdom!

classic Vesper Martini in a v shaped glass — Vesper Martini Ⓒ Fernanda Flugel/Adobe

Mead

Mead – also known as the “drink of the gods” or “honey wine” – is a traditional British beverage with ancient origins. And it’s having a real renaissance in popularity!

Made from fermented honey, water, and often various fruits, spices, grains, and hops, mead comes in diverse flavours, from sweet to dry. It’s delicious chilled, at room temperature, or warmed.

TIP: One of the best places to try mead is in the medieval city of York – at the incredible week-long Jorvik Viking Festival each February.

Wine glasses filled with mead besides a pot of honey — Glasses of mead and honey Ⓒ Brent Hofacker/Adobe

Gin and Tonic

Gin and tonic is as British as it gets. Originating during the British colonial era in 19th century India, British officers combined London dry gin with tonic water containing quinine as a remedy for malaria.

Typically garnished with a wedge of lime, it is a refreshing summer beverage and a simple but sophisticated cocktail option.

Good to know: The perfect gin and tonic has one part gin to three parts tonic water. This brings out the best of the gin’s botanicals without drowning it in tonic!

gift basket of English drinks including gins — Whittaker’s Gin gift basket Ⓒ Grey Globetrotters

English Wine

England might not be the first country you think of as a wine producer, but English wine is excellent! In 2022, over 900 vineyards produced more than 12 million bottles of wine.

While still a minnow compared to the giant wine-producing countries, British wines won 143 medals at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards, and the UK area is expanding more rapidly than in any of the world’s top 25 wine-producing countries!

So don’t reject British wine when you visit the UK – it’s really rather special and English sparkling wine is particularly good.

being a tourist at home visiting the Heart of Yorkshire Vineyard in North Yorkshire — Heart of Yorkshire Vineyard Ⓒ Grey Globetrotters

Apple Brandy

Apple brandy comes from England’s cider-producing southern counties of Somerset and Herefordshire. This amber-hued beverage is crafted from the distillation of fermented apple cider, resulting in a rich, smooth drink with complex flavours of ripe apples, oak, and subtle spices.

Traditionally enjoyed as an after-dinner digestif, apple brandy is also popular during festive occasions and colder months, providing a warming, aromatic experience.

Good to know: Apple brandy is best poured neat into a snifter glass to enhance its aromatic qualities. It’s also perfect for cocktails.

Glass of apple brandy with red apples and a knife — Apple Brandy Ⓒ Andrey Cherkasov/Adobe

Perry

Perry or pear cider is a traditional British alcoholic beverage made from fermented pears in the southern counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and parts of South Wales.

Good to know: Perry is also produced in Normandy and Anjou in France, in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Glasses of perry or pear cider on a wooden table in a garden — Perry or Pear Cider Ⓒ Dasha Petrenko/Adobe

Black Velvet

After Price Albert, Queen Victoria’s Prince Consort, died in 1861, a bartender at Brooks’s Club in London created the distinctive Black Velvet cocktail.

Blending Guinness and champagne, the Black Velvet cocktail symbolises the black armbands mourners wear.” Today, Black Velvet is enjoyed on various occasions and is no longer exclusive to periods of mourning.

Good to know: A ‘Poor Man’s Black Velvet’ is made with cider or perry instead of champagne.

Black drink with a fizzy champagne top — Black Velvet cocktail Ⓒ Brent Hofacker/Adobe

So, this is our list of the very best British drinks. I hope you’re inspired to try some traditional English drinks when visiting the UK.

As you can see, truly delicious English drinks are varied and well worth taking time to taste. So next time you see Perry, Pimm’s, or Posset on the menu, I recommend trying it.

More tips for your trip to the UK: