We’re all for a classic shish taouk, or a tahini-heavy beef shawarma—both of which you can get at this takeaway spot in Knightsbridge. But at Beit El Zaytoun On The Go, an offshoot of Beit El Zaytoun, one of our favourite Lebanese restaurants, you’re better going with the arguably more tasty subs like the Philly cheesesteak-inspired ‘Philadelphia’, or the cheese-drenched chicken fajita sub. It’s located right by Hyde Park so if the weather is looking good, it’s the ideal grab-and-go picnic.

The sandwiches at Chatsworth Bakehouse are only available to pre-order and sell out in under 60 seconds. It’s a faff but if you can get on board with the ruthless ordering system, this is an excellent sandwich. Thick, dimpled wedges of focaccia have golden, crispy crusts and hold weekly changing fillings. Previous sandwiches have included tuna with a creamy basil and garlic aioli, chilli artichokes, and tangy balsamic shallots.

A golden-fried schnitzel stands high on the podium in the pantheon of great sandwiches. And, if you’re after a handful, then a trip to Johnny Schnitzel is worth your while. The idyllic deli sits on a quiet corner between Islington and Clerkenwell, but nothing about these brutish focaccia sandwiches are particularly subtle. The bread is doughy and flecked with olives, the pounded meat crispy and tender, and a handful of mayo-slathered crunchy slaw the perfect foil for this KO of a sandwich.

In a world full of towering, TikTok-ready sandwiches and frankly weird cheese-injected fillings, there is something heartwarmingly straightforward about the sliced white or wholemeal triangle sandwiches from Paul Rothe. The Marylebone deli has been around since 1900 and one can only assume that workers have relied on it for buttery bacon baps and coronation chicken-smeared lunches ever since.

There must be science behind why canapé and slider-sized bites are often so satisfying. Maybe it’s because they’re two, maybe three mouthfuls, and they’re gone. But it also relies on them being as delicious and as flavourful as the menu from Shree Krishna Vada Pav. The Maharashtrian mini-chain, with locations in Hounslow, Ilford, and Harrow, specialises in deep-fried bits in doughy white bread baps, alongside whacks of chilli and coconut chutneys.

An ale-focused serving baps with half a pig in them sounds extremely ye olde England, but The Southampton Arms exists very much in the now. Aside from this little pub being both excellent and just five minutes from Hampstead Heath, it also serves one of the best sandwiches around. Its roast pork bap, complete with crackling and apple sauce, is a thing of tear-inducing, pint-soaking beauty.

Going to a pizza place and not ordering pizza is very wrong, unless you’re going to Theo’s and getting a panuozzo, in which case it’s very right. Both their Camberwell and Elephant and Castle locations offer a choice of delicious £5 panuozzi, which are basically sandwiches made out of pizza base, which is basically the smartest thing we’ve ever heard. Their take on a tuna melt is a go-to, or their sausage with provolone is also great. As is that chilli sauce on the table.

We’re not sure what exactly the secret is about this Notting Hill spot, but we don’t care when the sandwiches taste this good. This Japanese-influenced place has colourful walls, black booths, and a menu with 10 hefty sandwiches. They're aesthetically pleasing, perfectly formed blocks of Tokyo milk bread, with the perfect ratio of filling—whether that’s tuna mayo and lettuce, or the T.L.T (turkey, lettuce, tomato).

The chip butty from Norman’s is one of London’s lesser talked-about great side dishes. Beans on toast? Chippy butty on the side. Battered sausage with brown sauce? Throw in a butty while you’re at it. The bap is soft and crusty, the chips crunchy and fluffy—you can’t go wrong. The chicken escalope sarnie with melted red Leicester is also a must and, the simple things like a bacon sarnie or a hash-brown stuffed muffin aren’t just done right, but perfectly.

Catalyst’s menu switches up regularly but its magnificent sandwiches always remain. A classic bacon number wedged between doorstop slices of pain de mie bread is a ketchup-sodden breakfast of the traditionally British variety, with a little onion and dill relish thrown in as well. But there are other things too: a homemade take on a familiar fish filet sandwich, only this one features chunky goujons, a tangy homemade coleslaw, and a creamy slice of American cheese.