Flippin’ heck! It’s that time of year again. Shrove Tuesday falls on 17 February 2026. Here are some of the best Pancake Day 2026 events we’ve spotted around London this year.
Where to eat pancakes in London
First things first. Pancakes are for life, not just for Pancake Day, so whether you like yours stacked with fruit or smothered with Nutella, take a look at the best places to eat pancakes in London, year round. Bear in mind that crepe-centric restaurants are likely to be busy on Pancake Day itself, and may be offering limited or special menus rather than their usual selection.
Pancake Day 2026 race at Leadenhall Market
The Leadenhall Market pancake race is much of a Shrove Tuesday staple as lemon and sugar, with local workers and visitors going head-to-head on a 20-metre cobbled course, flipping their pancake as they go. It’s free to enter, with up to four people per team, and you’ll need to register in advance. Bowlers are very much encouraged as a hat tip to the market’s City location, and the winning team will have their name inscribed on the legendary golden frying pan trophy (and earn a £50 bar tab, plus a Lamb Tavern hamper to take home).
The chef at The Lamb Tavern, which organises the whole shebang (and proudly displays the trophy for the rest of the year), will be cooking up pancakes for anyone who wants a taste. The event begins at 12.30pm, but arrive from 11am on 17 February 2026 to reserve a prime viewing spot.
Inter-Livery Pancake Race at Guildhall Yard
Every Shrove Tuesday, members of City Livery Companies — plus City workers, Guildhall employees and others — split into teams, don colourful chef’s hats and race around Guildhall Yard, for the Inter-Livery Pancake Race aka the Poulters’ Pancake Race (well, they’re the folks with the eggs). Naturally, the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers provides and fires the starting pistol, and the Clockmakers time the race. And in case you thought we were making this all up, the Fruiterers provide the lemons to go on the pancakes (available to buy from stalls at the event). Because of course.
The winning team gets a commemorative frying pan, and money raised is donated to the Lord Mayor’s Charity. It’s made all the more fun/ridiculous because many participants are in their ceremonial robes, lending proceedings a Harry-Potter-teachers-race vibe. It’s due to start at 12pm on 17 February 2026.
Greenwich Market Pancake Day race
A Pearly Queen is the host of the Greenwich Market Pancake Day race, which raises money for the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice. Book your spot to take part and flip your way around the market using reusable pancakes (we had no idea such a thing existed either, but apparently it means less mess to clean up afterwards). The first 50 people to register will receive a medal on the day. Otherwise, turn up 12pm-2pm to cheer the participants on.
Bankside Pancake Day race near Borough
Anyone working around Bankside is invited to get a team together to take part in the Better Bankside Pancake Day race at Marlborough Sports Garden (just off Borough High Street). It’s £25 per team of four, with money raised going to local charity Blackfriars Settlement.
Anyone can watch the race, and cheer on teams while making full use of the on-site pancake van. Takes place 12pm-2pm on 17 February 2026.
Special Pancake Day 2026 menus in London
In addition to the above events, restaurants and cafes in London are special menus/dishes on Pancake Day. They include:
🥞 24-hour restaurant Polo Bar does a decent line in pancakes any day of the year. But head there on 17 February 2026 for an indulgent limited-edition menu of Pancake Day specials, including spicy full English pancakes, sticky toffee pudding pancakes and chocolate lava pancakes. One diner will win free pancakes for a year — just order Polo Bar’s Pancake Tower Challenge (12 fluffy pancakes with toppings like seasonal berries, cookies and cream, or banoffee and Biscoff), to be entered into the draw.
🥞 American restaurant Christopher’s, in Covent Garden, offers a week-long Pancake Day menu. Between Monday 16-Friday 20 February 2026, it’s serving stacks, inspired by its own signature dessert dishes, including chocolate French toast, apple crumble, matcha soft serve and truffle. Upgrade your Pancake Day experience by pairing your stack with a Biscoff martini or the non-alcoholic no-spresso martini.
🥞 Marylebone bakery and deli Boxcar Bread & Wine launches a new menu item on Pancake Day: a rhubarb and custard pancake stack with a molten custard and rhubarb purée baked into the centre. They’re topped with rhubarb-rippled Chantilly cream, roasted rhubarb and grated tonka bean — and they’re suitable for gluten-free diners! Available from 17 February onwards.
🥞 Pancake Day and Chinese New Year combine at Crepes + Coffee, a coffee shop located on a narrowboat in Wembley. It’s launching a limited-edition jianbing crepe, with eggs, spring onions, coriander, hoisin sauce — and a choice of beef brisket or pork belly. Its usual sweet and savoury crepes, including salted caramel, chocolate & banana, and ham & cheese are available too.
🥞 On Pancake Day, The Table Southwark and The Table Battersea are flipping four globally-diverse pancakes: South Indian uthappam, made with fermented rice and lentils, and topped with tomato, coconut, ginger, mint and coriander; fig & mascarpone (from Italy); chicken katsu pancakes (Japan); and Romanian-style
oven-baked pancakes filled with cottage cheese, poached cherries, warm custard and sour cream.