National Geographic Traveller (UK) has unveiled the full line-up of guest speakers and exhibitors for this year’s Food Festival, which returns to London’s Business Design Centre on 19-20 July 2025. The announcement coincides with the release of new reader research that shows a broad appetite for new tastes and experiences among the brand’s readership and the event’s audience. 

The survey revealed Italy (11.8%) as the dream culinary destination among readers of National Geographic Traveller (UK), closely followed by Japan (11.6%), with Thailand, India, Mexico and Vietnam also among the favourites. The reader research also showed Aperol spritz (6%) to be the most popular go-to summer drink, with Pimm’s (5%) hot on its heels and gin and tonic, cider, kombucha and negroni, mojito and hugo spritz cocktails also proving popular. Meanwhile, snails were overwhelmingly cited as the most frequently eaten food that readers considered ‘adventurous’. * 

The research underlines the key role National Geographic Traveller (UK) plays when it comes to introducing the travel-loving public to new things. Crucial to this, the brand’s flagship event offers visitors a chance to widen their outlook, broaden their palates and enjoy the flavours of the world through wine tutorials, tasting workshops, culinary masterclasses, live cooking demonstrations and interviews with acclaimed cookbook authors. 

The event — sponsored by Ecuador Tourism, Explore Louisiana, Visit The USA and LATAM Airlines — will bring together some of the most exciting names in modern gastronomy, with the festival’s Main Stage welcoming headliners Yotam Ottolenghi and Andi Oliver, and Speakers’ Corner showcasing the latest cookbooks from the likes of festival stalwarts Irina Georgescu and Tim Anderson. 

Tickets are priced at £25 per person, including booking fee, with special VIP Tickets available for £50. A limited number of additional tickets to the Wine & Spirits Theatre are available at the price of £10 per session, purchased in advance. Tickets are also still available for selected food photography workshops and tasting sessions (£6 each). 

For more information and for the booking link, visit: foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk   

Main Stage 

Hosted by author and presenter Ruby Bhogal, the Main Stage will feature demonstrations from some of the culinary world’s biggest names, including: 

• Chef and author Yotam Ottolenghi 
• TV presenter, chef and author Andi Oliver 
• Author and TV personalities Clodagh McKenna and Jeremy Pang 
• Restaurateur-chefs Asma Khan, José Pizarro and Karan Gokani 
• Chef and food writer Dina Macki 

Speakers’ Corner 

Host Farida Zeynalova welcome a stellar line-up of cookbook authors who’ll discuss their latest releases and the cuisines and experiences that inspired these works — visitors are invited to ask questions before being given the chance to purchase their favourite cookbook and get it signed. This year’s line-up includes: 

• Tim Anderson, speaking about his latest love letter to Japanese cuisine, Hokkaido 
• Jess and Jo Edun, talking about their acclaimed release The Flygerians Cookbook 
• Christina Soteriou, who’ll be discussing her latest book, Big Veg Energy 

Tasting sessions 

This year’s event sees an expansion of the popular tasting session series, with experts in their fields showcasing high-quality chocolate, Italian truffles, the best of British and French cheese, cocktails from Latin America and the Caribbean and the freshest coconuts. 

Masterclass Theatres 
For those wanting to broaden their repertoires, the two Masterclass Theatres, sponsored by Trip.com, will host live cooking demonstrations representing several cuisines from across the globe, including Ecuador, Louisiana, Georgia, Greece, Barbados, Indonesia, Antigua and Barbuda and Türkiye. 

Wine & Spirits Theatre 

This year’s Wine & Spirits Theatre will once again offer a global tasting tour, featuring tipples from destinations such as the Lisboa wine region, Greece, Czechia and Georgia, plus a special session on Japanese sake. 

Food photography 

Visitors to the event will get the opportunity to perfect their photography skills, by booking on to one of four new photography sessions hosted by regular contributors to the magazine, Charlie Richards, Karolina Wiercigroch, Giulia Verdinelli and Ben Pipe.  

Exhibition Hall 

Finally, the Main Hall will be packed with a wide range of exhibitors, from tourist boards to producers, who’ll be on hand to inspire visitors through demonstrations, samples and stories. Some of the planet’s best chefs will put a spin on classic dishes, with tourist boards on hand to tell you more about the culinary destinations that inspired them.  

General entry tickets include entry to the festival, with access to all interviews, Q&As, panel sessions and chef demonstrations. Additional tickets must be purchased for all tasting sessions (£6 each), photography sessions (£6) and the Wine and Spirits Theatre sessions (£10). 

National Geographic Traveller (UK) managing editor Glen Mutel says: “Whether it’s through our print magazine, digital offering or our award-winning newsletter, our readers come to us to for new experiences. This is the essence of our flagship event — to serve up something fresh, whether it’s a dish, ingredient, flavour, perspective or simply a new reason to travel. This year’s Food Festival has a fantastic line-up, one that packs a real punch, and I hope that, among the countless stages and stalls, each and every one of our attendees makes an exciting discovery. 

For the full line-up, and for the latest offers, book a ticket by visiting: foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk   

*The survey took in the views of 560 newsletter and social media subscribers of National Geographic Traveller (UK) 

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NOTES:   

The National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival will be held on the 19-20 July 2025 at London’s Business Design Centre. The festival, first launched in 2019, is a celebration of food and travel and adopts a zero food-waste policy. foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk     

National Geographic Traveller (UK) is published under licence by APL Media Limited, from National Geographic Partners LLC in Washington, D.C. The travel and lifestyle magazine launched in December 2010 and is packed full of you-are-there photography, authentic travel experiences and inspiring narratives. nationalgeographic.com/travel   

For more information about National Geographic, visit nationalgeographic.com, find us on the National Geographic app or visit us on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest and TikTok.   

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About APL Media 
APL Media is a multi-award-winning content marketing agency and publisher, producing high-quality print, digital, and live media across the travel and lifestyle sectors. Since 1997, it has published National Geographic Traveller (UK) under licence from National Geographic Partners LLC, supported by brand extensions including guides, events, and digital platforms. The portfolio also features Living360, a digital lifestyle brand covering wellness, travel, food, sustainability, and culture, distributed via national media and its own platform. APL Media delivers custom content, branded campaigns, editorial consultancy, and leading events such as the Travel Media Awards and Step Up. Its trade titles include Postcards and the ASTA Worldwide Destination Guide, with content also produced for national newspapers. 
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