'I tried London's best ice cream parlour and it was so good I'll be travelling to Kentish Town again'

After months of grey, it seems London has finally earned a bit of sunshine. On a hot day, there is nothing better than getting a good old ice cream so I headed off to test the best ice cream parlour in London.

My ears still prick up when I hear an ice cream van, and I am also a simple man when it comes to my order. From the van, it's always a 99 Flake, despite them no longer being called a 99 Flake and no longer costing 99p.

From a parlour, I always choose chocolate. It's such a frequent occurrence that I fancy myself a bit of a chocolate ice cream connoisseur.

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Last year, Caliendo's Gelato in Kentish Town was voted 'UK Parlour of the Year 2023', making them not only the best in London, but the best in the country too. The shop's black-painted exterior is deceptively calm compared to the excitement of the flavours hidden within.

The Caliendo Family have been making gelato in North London since 1880. The gelato is made with organic milk and cream and is all made fresh on-site. They've only been at their current site since 2019, but are already a high street favourite.

The day of my visit was hot and humid, but not sunny. I should count myself lucky for that, because the man serving me in the shop tells me that when there is the smallest amount of sun, the shop is inundated with customers.

There is a solid selection of ice creams to choose from; all the usual customers are present, with a few more leftfield picks too. Nothing could take my eyes off the godly-looking Belgian Milk Chocolate at the front though - I spotted it from a mile off and was transfixed at first glance.

I got a scoop in a cone for £4.50, and while not cheap, the portion was hefty. I left the shop with the aim of enjoying my treat on a bench, but the ice cream was so good it was gone before I made it to my destination.

The chocolate's depth far exceeded a basic chocolate bar, with the perfect amount of sweetness and flavour. The gelato itself was creamy and soft, much lighter than a traditional ice cream.

Each lick transported me to a cold, chocolatey heaven where my mind did not want to leave. I don't even live that close to Kentish Town, however, Caliendo's Gelato has a new regular in me.

You can find Caliendo's Gelato at 182 Kentish Town Road, NW5 2AE, and visit their website for more info.

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