Fish and chips across Britain: where to eat and what to order

Birmingham's chippy scene is mostly suburban and built for takeaway: counter shops and delivery menus rather than sit-in rooms. Here is how to choose between them, what to say at the counter, and what a typical order costs.

Brighton splits fish and chips into two meals: a sit-down plate at Bardsley's, a seafront tray of vegan tofish at The No Catch Co., or a takeaway eaten on the beach. Here is what each is good for, how to order mushy peas and scraps, and why seafront pitches cost more.

Canterbury is small enough that fish and chips comes down to one decision: join the queue at the city-centre chippy or take the takeaway route and eat by the river. Here is what each option asks of you, what to order, and when to go.

Chester keeps fish and chips simple: one chip shop in the city centre and a couple of proper neighbourhood chippies over in Hoole. This guide weighs sit-in against takeaway, walks you through the ordering vocabulary and points you to the river when you'd rather eat outside.

Dover is a port town, so fish and chips here is mostly takeaway done properly. Here are the three chippies worth planning around, where they sit relative to the port and station, what to order and how to judge the bill before you commit.

Keswick's chippy choice comes down to two names: The Old Keswickian on Market Square for a town-centre takeaway or an upstairs sit-in meal, and The Kingfisher, which reviewers rate for freshly cooked fish and a gluten-free option. Here is how to choose between them, and how to order once you are through the door.

Leeds does fish and chips in two very different moods: the collection-only chippy where you eat out of paper, and the sit-in fish restaurant where you order at a table. This guide separates the two, names Original Fisheries in Bramley as the benchmark takeaway, and translates the ordering vocabulary so you get mushy peas, scraps and curry sauce right first time.

A short, practical guide to fish and chips in Liverpool: Portland's in the L8 end of the city, delivery-friendly chippies, sit-in versus takeaway, what to order and how to avoid a soggy journey home.

Newcastle's best batter is often a short ride from the city centre: a Longbenton chippy with a regional award, a grand sit-in room at Whitley Bay, beachfront names at Tynemouth and family portions further down the coast. Here is which one to pick for a quick tea, a Sunday sit-in or a drive out.

Nottingham's chippy tea comes down to two choices: sit in or take away, and lunch or early evening. Here are the fish restaurants and takeaways worth your money, what to order, and how to feed four without overspending.

Two solid options for fish and chips in Stratford-upon-Avon: The Chip Shed on Bridge Street and The Rose & Crown on Sheep Street. Here is how to choose between them, what to order, and where each sits in the centre.

Pick Whitby's fish and chips by what you want from the trip: a harbour-view sit-in at Quayside, crinkle-cut tradition at Royal Fisheries, a fast takeaway from Fish Box or a no-fuss classic at Mister Chips. Every venue here is named with its street, so you can place it in town before you queue.

Whitby fish and chips means two names more than any others: the Magpie Café on Pier Road and Trenchers on New Quay Road. Here is how to choose between sit-in and takeaway, what to order, and which queues you can plan around.

Fish and chips in York splits three ways: a sit-in plate, a pub supper with a pint, or a paper-wrapped takeaway eaten on the move. This guide names the venues worth your dinner, explains haddock versus cod and the chip-shop vocabulary that trips up visitors, and sets out when to go to dodge the tea-time rush.

Where to get a fish supper in Derry: takeaway counters at Shanty and Bridies, the sit-in option at Walled City Brewery, and how to order scraps, mushy peas and curry sauce without baffling the counter staff.

Fish and chips in Fort William comes down to one High Street counter worth planning around: Macari's at 90 High Street. Here is how to use it well, from collection times and the Wednesday closure to what to order alongside a fish supper and how to feed a group after a day on the hill.

Inverness splits its fish and chips two ways: a wrapped supper from a takeaway chippy, or a sit-down fish dinner on the River Ness. Here is how to choose between them, what to order, and why Friday evening needs a plan.

Kirkwall's chippy answer is The Happy Haddock on Junction Road, with collection or delivery. For a sit-down haddock supper you head to The Ferry Inn in Stromness, or make a longer trip to The Murray Arms at St Margaret's Hope for the full Orkney catch.

Oban is a working harbour town, and that is the whole argument for eating fish and chips here. This guide covers the George Street chippy worth queuing for, how to choose between sitting in and taking away, what to order in British chippy terms, and how to time it around the ferries.

Stirling has a short list of chippies rather than a long one, so the real choice is between a takeaway fish supper and sit-down fish and chips in a pub. Here is where each option sits, what to order and how the cost compares.

Ullapool's fish suppers come two ways: a sit-in plate at The Seaforth with harbour views, or a takeaway box from The Seafood Shack, cooked from locally landed catch. Here is where each one is, how ordering works, and which to pick for your evening.

Fish and chips is Britain's national takeaway, and ordering it well is a skill. This guide covers cod versus haddock, what makes good batter and chips, the supporting cast from mushy peas to scraps, portion tactics and how to judge a chippy before you commit.