Paxton and Whitfield, London’s oldest cheese shop, had humble beginnings. The operation first began in 1747 when Stephen Cullum set up a modest cheese stall in Aldwych Market. The stall traded successfully for fifty years before undergoing a major expansion in 1797.
Cullum took on two partners, Paxton and Whitfield, and the company continued to scale up its offerings to local Londoners. After operating out of various locations in the capital, the cheesemongers moved into their current historic storefront in 1896.
Serving the royals
As the shop’s profile rose throughout the nineteenth century, it caught the attention of the royal household. Paxton and Whitfield were officially appointed as the cheesemongers to Queen Victoria, receiving their first Royal Warrant in 1850.
The business has maintained this elite status, holding consecutive Royal Warrants for every British monarch since that time. Today, the cheese shop proudly holds the official Royal Warrant to King Charles.
While the royal connection highlights the shop’s prestigious heritage, its daily retail operation caters to the general public. The storefront counter typically displays around 100 distinct types of cheese at any given moment, ranging from local country cheeses to imported European wheels.
A strong variety of cheeses
The sheer volume of cheese moving through the historic business is substantial. Demand reaches its peak during the festive season, with the company selling six tonnes of Stilton over the Christmas period. Traditional British varieties drive significant year-round sales, with the business shifting approximately 10,000 kilos of Cheddar across its operations a year.
Other cheeses on the menu include imported French Brie that’s carefully sliced in half and generously stuffed with a rich mixture of Brillat-Savarin—a decadent triple-cream cheese—and fresh Italian truffles. The handmade Truffle Brie creation will set you back around £72 a kilo.
While the London storefront remains the historic heart of the operation, the company has expanded by opening three additional shops across the country. Together, these locations maintain a nearly 300-year continuous trade.
