Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme on the Strand is the doughnut brand's shop at the southern edge of Covent Garden, a few doors from Charing Cross station on one of central London's busiest thoroughfares. The brand has centred on its Original Glazed doughnut and coffee since 1937, and the Strand shop sells the full hand-finished range alongside freshly brewed coffee and iced drinks.

Doughnuts are hand-crafted and hand-finished fresh, with the Original Glazed as the signature and a rotating cast of filled, iced and limited-edition varieties around it. The shop takes click and collect orders for pick-up, and the wider business offers next-day delivery to most of the UK mainland. It handles larger and personalised orders too, from double dozens and doughnut bundles to towers and doughnuts for weddings, birthdays and office celebrations.

Doughnuts in Covent Garden, by the box or the single

Most people leave with a box, and the dozen box of Original Glazed is the standard order for a group. Iced lemonades and fruit coolers have joined the coffee list for summer, and seasonal collaborations bring themed doughnuts and packaging through the year. Payment is contactless or chip and pin only, as cash is no longer accepted in Krispy Kreme shops.

What to expect on a visit

Expect a counter built for speed, with a few seats for a short pause and steady footfall from commuters and theatre crowds. Google lists the shop as open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm on Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sunday. It is one of the bakeries and sweet shops in Covent Garden, and for something baked rather than fried, Bageriet on Rose Street sells Swedish cinnamon buns a short walk north.