Paxton & Whitfield

Wonderful cheeses, a very posh shop, and a lovely place to pick up some items for wine and cheese with friends and family.

Amazing selection of cheeses with very knowledgable cheese specialists. It smelt heavenly! With a lot of help, we were able to find the perfect cheeses to bring to a wine and cheese night that had a specific brief.

ohhhh the smell of ripe cheese and the lovely display of huge cheese wheels nearly brings a tear to my eye.
this shop is one that is rather posh. The selection is not super large, but just the right size. All of it is top quality. My favourite: the brie with truffle in the middle. Divine.

My bf was in London on a business trip this past week, and was given the lone task of bringing back some of the UK’s finest cheeses (for me). He (and Paxton & Whitfield) did not disappoint! Opening promptly at 9:30am (with only 15 minutes to spare before his car service to Heathrow), they helped him with a selection that would showcase the diversity of UK cheeses and would also travel well. They were generous enough to provide extra wrapping to ensure that the cheese would make it to San Francisco in good condition, and detailed labels for future reference.
My only disappointment is that I could not be there in person to experience Paxton & Whitfield, in all its cheesy glory.

I first came to Paxton & Whitfield on a quest: to pick up a small wheel of the Gaugry Époisses – a cheese banned from import in the US because it is raw and aged for less than 60 days. Not only did I find it, but I also found a lovely selection of unique imported cheeses. I was definitely overcome with that kid in a candy shop feeling, but I maintained my wits knowing that I could always come back. The staff is equally lovely and helpful in allowing you to sample and make your selections. Overall, a great shop for a cheese lover to visit!

If you like cheese, then you need to be very, very careful coming here. You will find it impossible to choose, so you will simply buy many good cheeses. This is an amazing cheesemonger and there isn’t a bad cheese in the place. They’re attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. In addition to having a wonderful array of delicious cheeses, they’ve got fine wines, accessories, sauces, and even fresh sandwiches (using their cheeses, of course).
I duck in and grab something – anything – and love it every time. You can get unpasteurised cheeses here, which Americans don’t get very much. You can also find brilliant artisanal cheeses where you can learn all about who supplied the milk, who made the cheese, where it comes from, etc. You can practically learn the goats’ names.
If you’re in the Piccadilly Circus /​Jermyn Street area, this is absolutely worth stopping in.

This is the place to come for cheese. They have cheese from all over the UK and they were also selling an award winning cheese from the USA. Why it is located on Jerymn Street with all the famous tailors for clothing and shoes seems odd. They sell sandwiches, condiments, and other goods such as shopping bags, mugs and all things related to cheese. The staff was quite friendly and the shop really feels more like something you would find in the English countryside. I just wish I could bring all that cheese back to the USA.

One of the reasons I love living in London is that in a city of this size in a constant state of evolution, there’s always something new to discover
Somtimes, it’s a new food fad like the new crop of specialist ramen restaurants but sometimes, it’s an olden gem waiting to be unearthed
Jermyn Street is famous for clothing — for gents wanting good quality shirts and ties, this is your street. Being umm couture-​challenged, I hadn’t really explored this area despite it being in the heart of the West End, where I do hang out a lot
However, with the ever burgeoning Christmas shopping crowds, I decided to use Jermyn Street as a bypass to the overcrowded Piccadilly and found Paxton & Whitfield totally by accident
I am a big cheesehead and one of my haunts for cheese has been Fortnum & Mason. Well, within 100 yards of Fortnum & Mason, Paxton & Whitfield provide an even bigger range. To my shame as a London foodie, they’ve been around since 1797 and I’ve only just found them
Inside, you’ll find a literal treasure trove of anything and everything cheesy. A wide range of cheeses from around the globe grouped sensibly by type and strength to help you select. The very knowledgeable staff are super helpful and will offer tastings of anything you’d like to try
There are also condiments (mmm quince jelly) and biscuits to enjoy with your cheese on sale. In the back, you’ll find books, cheese knives and platters and cheese-​inspired kitchenwear and kitchenware. At this time of year, there are many products here which would make a fine gift if you know a friend who loves cheese
I was also interested to see that they have cheesemakers coming into the shop to tell customers more about their porducts although I haven’t yet made it to one of these occasions
One of my new favourite shops in London!

Paxton & Whitfield was born in 1742.
Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743.
If only they had met in childhood, he might have instead written, «The Declaration of Why We Love Being British.»
There are arguably cooler-​looking shops or places with a larger variety. But if you love cheese, you simply have to visit. It’s one of the Grand Slam venues if this were tennis or any of the courses on the British Open. Declaring one better than another is like choosing a favorite child.
But really, what else is there to say? P&W has a great assortment of cheese from all over the UK and Europe. They are happy to give you advice and happy to give you a sample. And they are also happy if you only want to spend 3 quid because you are heading out for a night on the town and don’t want a wheel of «stinky bishop» in your coat pocket.
In fact they are too damn happy and nice in this store. One of the workers was even humming a pleasant song.
They also sell cheese-​related hardware and some other foodstuff, but it’s mostly cheese. If you live in the UK, grab something to take home. If visiting form abroad, grab some cheese and take it to a park, square or your abode. One of your best meals will be nothing more than some fruit, some fromage and something to spread it on.
Like Martha Jefferson.
If only certain paths had crossed we might have seen written: «We hold these truths to be self-​evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of really, really good Cheese.»

For me it is all about the Stilton !!! Perfect

There was a French guy in here buying cheese when I popped in.
Surely that means this cheese shop is totally legit.

Such a lovely little cheese shop. Hard to beleve it has been there sooooo incredibly long (well in America, anything over 100 years old qualifies as antiquity). A charming place recommended by an old friend I was visiting in Chelsea at the time. A great selection of wonderful cheeses for sure!
–Anhtony

A fantastic cheese shop. A huge range from around the world is piled high on the counter in front of a knowledgable staff. They also sell salami, pies etc and there’s a port shop in the back. Not to be missed.

I salivate when I think about this place. Its a cheese lovers dream. Opened in 1797, bring in this particular location for over 100 year alone, its no surprise they are arguably the best cheese shop in London. You walk in the door and the smell of hundreds of various types of cheeses hits you. Unsure what you are looking for, the amazingly educated and helpful staff are there with samples and suggestions to guide you along. Aside from cheese a great selection of all things cheese. books, knives, boards, crackers, jams, etc. When I die and go to cheese heaven, I imagine it to look much like Paxton & Whitfield.

If you’re anything close to the kind of cheese freak that I am, then I suggest you pop your head around the door of Paxton & Whitfield. These self-​professed ‘cheese mongers’ leave no truckle unturned. Not only do they sell cheeses from Lancashire to Mont d’Or, but they also make specialty ‘cakes’ of cheese and their own preserves too.
Everything here comes with a rather reasonable price tag, despite the regal appearance of the shop itself. Try the Black Cherry Confit for £3.50, a wheel of Yord Crumbly for £6 and of course some of Paxton’s Vintage Port at £23. Right now they’re delivering hampers, so get those orders in! If it’s good enough for Richard and Judy, it’s good enough for me.

It’s unlikely you’ll need to ask for directions to find this shop — when you’re in the vicinity, your nose is likely to do the guiding. The window displays are appetising and once inside you won’t be disappointed. The staff are understatedly helpful and knowledgeable, happy to provide tastes of (and guidance on) cheeses that interest you.
As the king of British cheese emporia, it’s unsurprising that Montgomery’s Cheddar is their best seller (a mature variant, it’s almost Parmesan-​like in appearance and texture). Francophiles will find that their Brillat Savarin is a (triple) creamy-​rich delight.
A true pleasure to shop in and to explore, it’s a great place to come to buy a special edible gift for gourmet traditionalists. Some of the non-​edible offerings are equally as alluring (beautiful olive-​wood cheese boards, for example). Don’t expect bargains here, it’s a store with quality at its heart and running right through to the core but for a superior savoury treat or special occasion indulgence it’s hard to beat.

Just to add to the previous review, they also sell wines and liquors (Sloe Gin for starters), oatcakes of various flavours (the celery and seasalt are delicious) and various kitchen equipment as well as much much more. A great shop to mooch around in!

Cheese, cheese, cheese! The smell alone outside this shop leaves no doubt as to the treasure inside. Hundreds uppon hundreds of weird and wonderful cheeses from around the world (as well as the more familiar specimens) can be found in this lovely traditional shop. Whether in advance of a fancy dinner party, or for something to nibble as you wander down Jermyn Street, there will be something for everyone (so long as they like cheese) in this shop.