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If you’re a Waffle House fan, you’ll know that there’s more to this side of the highway diner than just waffles, but waffles are a very important reason to travel to Waffle House.
Whether you’re new to the UK as an expat or just coming over for a visit, your inner Waffle House lover may be wondering if there’s a Waffle House in the UK or London.
As we’ll discuss below, Waffle House has a very particular association for many Americans, including myself, and that is as a great place to stop on a road trip!
After hours of driving, Waffle House offers American food served up quickly and in an Americana atmosphere that will make you want to keep the orders coming.
Whether or not Waffle House is a huge part of your life in American, I’m here to answer the question…
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“Is there a Waffle House in the UK or England or London?”
And the answer is no.
There isn’t a Waffle House in the UK or London, though there are a couple of similar options and even one restaurant with the same name which we’ll discuss more later!
Before waffles get too far on my mind that I can’t recover this article, I want to let you know about some other resources I’ve created to help anyone who is either visiting the UK for a short time or coming over for a longer visit as an expat.
Firstly, no matter your reason for being here, you need the best book on living in the UK for Americans ever written – the book is called “Girl Gone London: An American’s Guide to Surviving Life in the UK” and you should click here and check it out.
I also may have written it, so I’m biased.
But truly, if you’re coming to the UK as an expat, a study abroad student, or even a visitor, my guide to life in the UK contains both personal anecdotes and maybe too-honest experiences, as well as resources and advice on topics ranging from homesickness in the UK (or how not to rage book a flight to America like I did), driving in the UK, being a student in the UK, and more practical advice about bank accounts, buying houses, and more.
It’s truly a one stop shop for all of the weirdness and wonderfulness (is that a word?) that comes along with life in the UK, and also there is plenty of opportunity to laugh at me as I share all of my expat fails so there’s that.
I’ve also made sure to create other articles on topics that will interest visitors to the UK, including an important one on culture shock and adjusting to life in a foreign country, even if only for a week or so.
I’ve also got tips on how to use the London Underground without having everyone else hate you, the difference in UK money so you don’t stand at the checkout like an idiot, and some help on driving in the UK for Americans because, um, it’s pretty different.
- Culture Shock: The Things We Don’t Talk About
- An American Girl’s Guide to Surviving the London Underground
- Understanding UK Money: Pence, Not Cents!
- Driving in England as an American: An Apology to UK Drivers
Anyway, now on to what we all came here for: Waffle House.
If you’re heading to the UK and want to show off your love for all things Waffle House, don’t forget to get some Waffle House swag before you go!
History of Waffle House
Waffle House is an American chain that first opened in Georgia in 1955.
It became known as Waffle House because waffles were the most profitable and intriguing item on the menu.
Though it was designed to be as fast as fast food, having waffles in the main name helped to implicitly show customers that it was a sit-in restaurant as waffles don’t lend themselves well to being eaten while actually on the road (or I guess you could, but it would be very messy).
The brand franchised and spread out among the southeast.
Today there are over 2,000 locations across the US.
Most are still in the southeast, but there are some in Ohio and Arizona.
Over the years, Waffle House has been featured in media and pop culture and become part of the American lexicon to refer to somewhere you stop on a highway road trip.
Not only do you get the slightly greasy but still delicious diner experience, but diner lingo is also used so you can try to order your eggs, toast, and hashbrowns in a variety of fun ways like “scattered”, “chunked” or “all the way”.
Despite Waffle House’s popularity in the US, they have not expanded internationally to any other country, much less the UK.
There also doesn’t seem to be any plan of bringing Waffle House across the pond anytime in the short or near future, which means we’ll have to rely on the alternatives to Waffle House below!
Equivalent to Waffle House in the UK
Unfortunately there aren’t too many American breakfast food chains in the UK.
There’s no IHOP in the UK either, for instance.
But there are some places you can still go to get your American diner food.
The Waffle House
Okay, so it’s called THE Waffle House, not Waffle House, but there is a chain of 2 restaurants called The Waffle House located in Norwich and St. Alban’s.
As the name suggests, they specialize in waffles with all different types of savory and sweet topping options.
The atmosphere is much more upscale than the US Waffle House, and really the only way they are similar is that they sell waffles, but – take what you can get.
Ed’s Easy Diner
A popular UK chain of American style diners, Ed’s Easy Diner, is similar to Waffle House in its food offerings.
Like Waffle House, it does breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves up things like hashbrowns, pancakes, chicken & waffles, and eggs cooked how you like.
The interior of the chains are usually very well themed so you feel like you actually are in an American diner.
The only thing that gives it away might be the very British people walking by the window or the accents of the servers that aren’t QUITE as “down home” as you would expect at Waffle House, but it’s a great option!
Interested in other American chains and whether or not they’re in the UK?
Check out my guide to Target in the UK, Chili’s in the UK, Walmart in the UK and Olive Garden in the UK.
Read more in my full guide comparing UK and US stores and restaurants.
Coming to London Soon?
Hey! Since you’re here I’m assuming you’re intent on visiting this amazing city soon!
A great way to really immerse yourself in UK culture is see the sights with the help of a guided tour. I’ve picked out a few highly recommended ones below!
Tower of London Tour with Crown Jewels: One of the best things about having a Royal family is imagining you’ll be a part of it one day… and what better way than to imagine yourself in their jewels! Or at least stare dumbfoundedly.
Either way, this tour is a sure fire way to get dazzled by London.
Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise: London is built around the River Thames, and one could even say it’s the most important part of the whole city!
As such there’s no better, or relaxing for that matter, way to see the sights than from the view of the river itself! This tour takes you around the city and shows why all Londoners are really still rugged sea voyagers at heart, if maybe just a little more posh now.
Oxford, Stratford, and Cotswolds: Londoners would have you fooled, but there’s more to this beautiful nation than just what remains within the confines of London… shocker I know!! And if picturesque beauty is what you’re looking for I really recommend checking out the quaint and historical towns that scatter the outskirts. If nothing else, this tour will give you a break from commuting by the tube, and we all need that eventually.
Want to know more about US stores in the UK? Check this list out!
- Is there a Costco in London or the UK?
- Is there a Target in London or the UK?
- Is there a Shoe Carnival in London or the UK?
- Is there a Duane Reade in London or the UK?
- Is there a Books-a-Million in London or the UK?
- Is there a Giant in London or the UK?
- Is there a Justice store in London or in the UK?
- Is there a PacSun in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Barnes and Noble in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Pottery Barn in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Chase Bank in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Banana Republic in London or in the UK?
- Is there an Arby’s in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Children’s Place in London or in the UK?
- Is there a 7 Eleven in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Hot Topic in London or in the UK?
- Is there an Applebee’s in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Disney World in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Bath and Body Works in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Bank of America in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Panda Express in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Boston Market in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Sam’s Club in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Wawa in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Trader Joe’s in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Safeway in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Sears in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Wegman’s in London or in the UK?
- Is there a TJMaxx in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Kroger in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Little Ceasars in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Dick’s Sporting Good in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Panera Bread in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Cheesecake Factory in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Johnny Rocket’s in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Wells Fargo in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Chuck E Cheese in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Sonic in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Red Lobster in London or in the UK?
- Is there an IHOP in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Chili’s in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Goodwill in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Popeyes in London or in the UK?
- Is there an Old Navy in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Dillards in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Walgreens in London or in the UK?
- Is there a CVS in London or in the UK?
- Is there an Ulta in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Best Buy in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Kmart in London or in the UK?
- Is there a JCPenney in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Publix in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Marshalls in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Nordstrom in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Lowes in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Bed Bath and Beyond in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Taco Bell in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Dairy Queen in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Steak n Shake in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Hobby Lobby in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Sephora in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Macys in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Ross in London or in the UK?
- Is there an American Eagle in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Petsmart in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Michaels in London or in the UK?
- Is there an Olive Garden in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Chick Fil A in London or in the UK?
- Is there an Outback Steakhouse in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Chipotle in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Kohls in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Starbucks in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Home Depot in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Wendy’s in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Walmart in London or in the UK?
- Is there a Dollar Store in London or in the UK?
- Is there an In-N-Out Burger in London or in the UK?
Head to Bristol where you will find Cowbee; home of some of the best waffles in the UK. Most popular is the range of stuffed waffles, all topped with homemade gelato.