As the old Chinese proverb states, ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’.
And that’s particularly true if you take that step into the Business Design Centre in Islington this summer, which is once more hosting the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival for two days of global food and drink culture condensed into one easily navigable space.
As always, it’s aiming to take all the legwork out of trekking the globe by bringing dishes, chefs and ingredients from basically everywhere on earth into one place. Over two days this July, all kinds of delicious and interesting world cuisines will be repped and available for you to try thanks to a small village of nearly 80 mouthwatering food stalls. But that’s not all.
Because as well as those stands, there’s also going to be a stage showcasing live cooking demos, book signings & talks from esteemed chefs, food critics, recipe book authors and industry commentators. This year’s headliners are restauranteur and preserved-lemon whisperer, Yotam Ottolenghi, Great British Menu host Andi Oliver, and they’ll be joined by the likes of Darjeeling Express founder Asma Khan, Kricket’s Karan Gokani, and José Pizarro, founder of José, Lolo and Pizarro.
There’s going to be an area set aside for masterclasses too, which has previously involved making “a tofu and seaweed charcoal burger”, brewing Jing Tea (the tea of choice for “more than 100 Michelin-starred restaurants”), and cooking some of Montenegro’s unusual local dishes.
After which, you can travel to the most exotic destination of all…
…home.
NOTE: The National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival takes place on 19th & 20th July 2025 in the Islington Business Design Centre. You can book tickets (general admission is £15), and find out more about what’s on, right HERE.
The National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival | Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, N1 0QH
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