The craze for these oversized uber-milkshakes might have slowed down since first becoming a thing, but that’s not to say they aren’t still popular. Pimped with anything from cookies and cream to chocolate bars, fruits and/or fat wedges of cake, these calorific beauties make for very likeable Instagram posts and tend to taste pretty darn good too.
Yes, we’re totally on board with living a healthy lifestyle, and no, these don’t conform to that lifestyle in any way, shape or form; but everyone needs to indulge from time to time, and sometimes that indulgence has to take the form of a giant milkshake overflowing with sauce and sporting sugary accessories. So, that said, here’s our round-up of the best freakshakes in London. Get ready to drool.
Maxwell’s Bar & Grill
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What: Freakshake From Mars
Why: We’re at a loss as to what could possibly top a milkshake turbo-charged with chocolate, caramel, whipped cream, caramel bits and crushed Mars bars (probably nothing, to be honest). A sugar fiend’s dream in a glass, Maxwell's Bar and Grill's overflowing dessert drinks are worth every darn calorie, though you might need a little sit-down in nearby Covent Garden Piazza before braving the crowded tube after indulging in one. There are also salted caramel donut and Oreo cookie varieties.
Where: 34 King Street, London, WC2E 8JD
How much? £8.95
Gordon Ramsay restaurants
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What: Chocolate Oreo Sharing Dessert
Why: A freakshake in all but name, this beautiful mess of Oreo cookies, chocolate ice cream and chocolate sauce is worthy of Willy Wonka. It’s billed as a ‘sharing dessert’ but how you’d go about splitting it is a mystery. All right, it’s not a mystery, we just think it looks too good to share. For those who prefer non-chocolate desserts, there’s also a sticky toffee sharer, packed with banana and cereal milk ice cream, sticky toffee pudding chunks, and drizzled with sticky toffee sauce; and a summer berry Eton Mess sharing dessert bursting with mixed berries and crushed meringue.
Where: Bread Street Kitchen, Heddon Street Kitchen, The Narrow, York & Albany.
How much? £12
Hard Rock Café
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What: Strawberry Cheesecake Boozy Milkshake
Why: Okay, so this isn’t a freakshake per se, but it’s still a pimped up milkshake thanks to the Absolut vanilla vodka cheekily blended in with the vanilla ice cream, strawberry cheesecake flavouring, white chocolate whipped cream and frosted animal crackers, so we’re going with it. Enjoy during, after or instead of a bulging burger with fries at one of Hard Rock Café’s banging restaurants.
Where: Criterion Building, 225-229 Piccadilly London W1J 9HR
How much? £9.95
Miki’s Paradise
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What: Naughty Naughty
Why: Aptly named, this beast of a freakshake comes with all the hazelnutty goodness – Nutella, Kinder Bueno, Ferrero Rocher – as well as chocolate sauce, ice cream, pretzels and whipped cream. It’s hard to know how to actually eat (drink?) it, but once you’ve got one in front of you, we’re sure you’ll find a way pretty quickly. Incredible to behold, both on Instagram and IRL, and even better to eat, this one’s a must for any sweet-toothed individual on a mission to try London’s best freakshakes.
Where: 221A Holloway Rd, London N7 8HG
How much? £9.50
If you find freakshakes a bit overwhelming, check out our tamer best ice cream in London feature instead.