Food hygiene certificate in London
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Short answer
London has 33 local councils that inspect food businesses: the 32 boroughs and the City of London. Our Level 2 food hygiene course is online, so it works anywhere in London, for £12 per person. Food handlers do not have to hold a food hygiene certificate.[1] The food business must make sure its food handlers are supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene in line with their work.[2]
Which council inspects food businesses in London?
The council for the area where the premises are. These are the 33 councils in London, with the number of food businesses each one has in the FSA's open data:[7]
| Authority | Food businesses listed |
|---|---|
| Barking and Dagenham | 1,469 |
| Barnet | 2,835 |
| Bexley | 1,782 |
| Brent | 2,502 |
| Bromley | 2,494 |
| Camden | 4,293 |
| City of London Corporation | 1,853 |
| Croydon | 3,122 |
| Ealing | 3,842 |
| Enfield | 2,431 |
| Greenwich | 2,363 |
| Hackney | 2,339 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 2,011 |
| Haringey | 1,949 |
| Harrow | 1,903 |
| Havering | 2,006 |
| Hillingdon | 2,267 |
| Hounslow | 2,353 |
| Islington | 2,634 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 2,014 |
| Kingston-Upon-Thames | 1,438 |
| Lambeth | 2,690 |
| Lewisham | 2,485 |
| Merton | 1,603 |
| Newham | 2,670 |
| Redbridge | 2,224 |
| Richmond-Upon-Thames | 1,613 |
| Southwark | 3,324 |
| Sutton | 1,334 |
| Tower Hamlets | 3,178 |
| Waltham Forest | 1,972 |
| Wandsworth | 2,934 |
| Westminster | 5,762 |
- For example, Camden Council asks new businesses to register at least 28 days before opening, using the national online registration service, with the council for the area where they trade.[3]
Which food hygiene rating applies in London?
England uses the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, which councils run with the FSA and which rates each business from 0 (urgent improvement is required) to 5 (very good).[4][5] Displaying the rating sticker is voluntary in England, though businesses are encouraged to do so.[4]
How do you register a new food business in London?
Food businesses must register with their local council at least 28 days before trading or before food operations start, including when they take over an existing business.[6]
What does the course cover for England?
The UK version of the course covers the law in England, the 0 to 5 hygiene rating and Safer Food Better Business, the FSA's food safety pack for small businesses.
£12 per person (£10 + VAT per person), with team packs from £95 + VAT for 10 learners. The certificate confirms completion of training; it is not a regulated qualification.
See all UK locations or read the UK training guide.
Sources
- Running a food business: Staff training, illness and hygiene (GOV.UK, updated 30 January 2025)
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter XII (Training) (legislation.gov.uk, revised version, last amended 31 December 2020)
- Register a food business - Camden Council (Camden Council, checked 21 October 2026)
- Food hygiene rating scheme (Food Standards Agency, no date shown)
- Food hygiene rating scheme (GOV.UK, no date shown)
- Register a food business (Food Standards Agency, no date shown)
- Food hygiene rating scheme open data (Food Standards Agency, data file dated 21 October 2026)
Train your staff in 2–3 hours
Our Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2 course has seven short modules, a final exam and an instant certificate with QR verification.