Ask any proper Londoner where their go-to for all things sweet treats is and they'll likely point you towards Flor, where head chef Helen Evans is the baking brains behind the likes of brown-butter cakes, tea-soaked-currant buns and flaky almond croissants. It's Flor's signature sourdough loaf, however - made from an organic wheat-blend dough - that really seals the deal. The fragrant Flor Bakery at Spa Terminus is our new favourite Bermondsey address.

You know just how much we love a good slice of history, so it shouldn't come as a huge shock that we're fans of just about everything Dunns Bakery does. Tucked down an unassuming street in north London's Crouch End, this family-run affair has been a firm local favourite since Robert Freeman launched the business back in 1820. Currently in the hands of sixth-generation-baker Lewis Freeman, menu highlights include sausage rolls, vegan cinnamon buns and buttery brioche rolls. Insider tip: this place also has a catering service and will whip up any sort of cake you like for a special occasion.

Situated slap bang in the middle of Soho, this quaint, family-run French patisserie rustles up a tasty range of sweet and savoury bakes. You'll likely smell it before you see it, but if in doubt, hunt down the navy-blue facade with a glass front showcasing baskets brimming with delights. Our order? A cookie croissant to eat in the park. Not in central London? Get your fix at the other Comptoir Gourmand stores, in Bermondsey and Borough.

Have you ever seen food so beautifully presented you almost feel guilty eating it? If so, we're assuming you've had the pleasure of visiting Pophams Bakery. When it first opened, in 2017, this artisanal bakery's laminated pastries and cheese-stuffed croissants sent the nation into a spin. Since then, it has opened two new outposts in Hackney. We're swinging by the Richmond Road shop, partly for its close proximity to the London Fields lido, but largely for the in-house pasta restaurant.

Make the pilgrimage to this American-inspired bakery on Wilton Way for a wedge of its irresistible ginger molasses cake and a box of seasonal cupcakes with limited-edition buttercream toppings (the salted caramel is beyond good).

Looking for a knockout breakfast? Swing by Pavilion Bakery, at the south end of Broadway Market, to snag a loaf of wheat-free rye bread and a bag of buttery croissants. With no seats inside, it's a grab-and-go affair. If you're looking for somewhere to linger, visit the sit-down version at the Pavilion Café in Victoria Park.

Bypass the ground-floor dining room and head downstairs to the artisan bakery, which specialises in dairy- and gluten-free breads, baguettes, cakes, pastries and viennoiserie. Sebastien Chiono, the head baker at the Arts Club in Mayfair, is the man in charge: he and his baking team are known for whipping up some of the best bespoke cakes in W1.

Get your matcha (and cake) fix at Kova Patisserie, an Asian bakery that specialises in handmade sweet treats with a Japanese twist. Its colourful mille crepe cakes (composed of multiple layers of French crepe with light custard filling in between) is positively scrumptious, and the strawberry shortcake and roll cakes are pretty amazing, too.

Covent Garden's Balthazar Boulangerie flaunts chic Parisian interiors: think gold-brushed walls and mosaiced floors. The wide array of bread scores an A+ for us, though it's the array of delicate pastries that tends to attract crowds of window shoppers. The apple-and-hazelnut galette is out of this world.

Tucked away in a charming little courtyard behind Columbia Road, Lily Vanilli only opens on Sundays, in line with the neighbourhood's famous flower market. You'll spot the queue outside first, with Londoners prepared to wait for the line-up of goodies found inside. Overwhelmed by the choice? When in doubt, order a slice of the grapefruit and polenta cake.

Pastry chef Joakim Prat's South Kensington bakery presents a smorgasbord of choice, including an incredible riff on the humble éclair. Opt for the delicately designed lemon-meringue option or the decadent hazelnut-and-milk-chocolate one, finished with a sprinkling of gold dust.

Created by Rose Carrarini and her husband Jean-Charles, Dover Street Market's Rose Bakery places its focus on organic ingredients, with a beautiful cake counter filled with an assortment of bakes, biscuits and tarts, all made from scratch. Order the carrot cake - it's the stuff of local legend.

Head to Dalston's Dusty Knuckle for an extravaganza of sandwiches, loaves and pastries. In the morning, sample freshly baked focaccia topped with an egg and pickled chilli; at lunchtime, go for soup with a savoury pastry - our favourite is the spinach and feta with dates and hazelnuts. If you fancy learning the secret to a brilliant loaf, book into the bakery school to learn how to knead, prove and shape the perfect dough.