Photo: ☺ Lee J Haywood / Flickr

Travelling Britain as a vegetarian is easy with the Vegetarian Visitor guide, as used by the British Tourist Authority. The guide is updated every year and advises vegetarians and vegans on where to eat and where to stay, including bed and breakfasts, guest houses and hotels. Vegetarian oriented pubs and restaurants are listed which makes it a handy guide for locals too. Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Sting and Kate Bush are famous British vegetarians.

Vegetarian tradition in Britain

Well known British vegetarians of old include Isaac Newton, George Bernard Shaw, HG Wells and John Lennon. The website for the Vegetarian Visitor Accommodation and Eating Out Guide states that the UK has a long tradition of vegetarian cooking.

‘The Vegetarian Society UK was formed over 160 years ago in 1847 in Ramsgate, Kent and The Vegan Society was born over 65 years ago, formed in London, November 1944. Britain has one of the world’s most diverse selection of vegetarian dishes available, from good old fashioned vegetarian pub grub such as a vegetable crumble (vegetable stew with crumbled pastry on top), Asian, Caribbean and Mexican through to London’s best gourmet raw botanical haute cuisine with marinated wild mushrooms, sundried tomato pesto with courgette tagliatelle, macadamia nut garlic and herb boursin cheese and fresh coconut and cashew nut ice cream.’

How the guide works

The 112 page guide lists establishments that cater for vegetarians in Britain according to their geographic location ‑ working from county to town and finally listing the relevant businesses by name in that particular area.

Visit the website for specific locations – you will see that restaurants, cafes and pubs have different codes, with an additional codes being issued for licensed eateries. There are further codes for vegan, vegetarian and Fairtrade supporters, amongst others.

The Vegetarian Visitor guide can be purchased at major bookstores, as well as at several Tourist Information Centres in the United Kingdom – otherwise you can purchase a copy via the Vegetarian Visitor website.

Tip: The guide also gives information on activity holidays, short breaks and courses which cater for vegetarian diets in England, Wales and Scotland.

Tags: eating healthily, vegan, vegetarian