Lemon Doughnut London — Lemon Fantastico at Bombolone
The lemon curd doughnut with a meringue crown — and Italian lemons at the heart of it.
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Lemon Fantastico is Bombolone’s lemon doughnut — a Central London Italian brioche-style doughnut filled by hand with Tiptree lemon curd, made with Italian lemons, and finished with a meringue coating made in-house, fresh lemon zest and a chocolate ‘B’. Find us at 21 Whitcomb Street, two minutes from Trafalgar Square.
Best lemon doughnut in London
Lemon and Italy were made for each other. The lemon groves of Italy have been supplying the world’s best pastry kitchens for centuries. The bombolone — Italy’s original filled doughnut — was always going to end up with lemon inside it.
Sonia’s grandmother made lemon meringue pie. Properly — lemon curd, Italian lemons, meringue slightly burnt at the edges the way it should be. The kind of thing you think about for years afterwards. When Bombolone opened, it had to be on the menu. Not as a memory. As a doughnut.
Lemon Fantastico is that pie — in doughnut form. Tiptree lemon curd filled by hand, a meringue coating made in-house, fresh-grated lemon zest. Like nonna used to make.
Lemon meringue pie. In doughnut form. Like nonna used to make.
WHAT IS A LEMON DOUGHNUT?
A lemon doughnut is an Italian brioche-style doughnut filled with lemon curd and finished with a light coating. Lemon Fantastico is Bombolone’s version — Tiptree lemon curd filled by hand, a meringue coating made in-house, and fresh lemon zest grated over the top every morning.
- Filling — Tiptree lemon curd — made with Italian lemons
- Coating — Meringue coating — made in-house
- Decoration — Grated lemon zest · ‘B’ chocolate piece
- Sizes — Big doughnut — approx. 135g | Party-size — approx. 55g
- Dough — Italian brioche-style — light, soft, designed for filling
- Price — From £4.90
- Labels — Vegetarian | Halal
- Allergens — Contains: Gluten (Wheat), Eggs, Soy, Milk. May Contain: Gluten (Barley, Rye, Oats), Nuts, Lupin.
- Storage — Store in a cool, dry place. Best eaten on the day.
For full nutrition, allergen and ingredient information, see our allergen matrix
For UK food allergy guidance, see the Food Standards Agency
The one people come back for
“The lemon doughnuts were pure perfection.” We hear that a lot. Usually from someone who expected something sharp and one-dimensional — and got something bright, smooth and completely addictive instead.
Sometimes it’s followed by this:
“A zingy twist on sweetness — unforgettable.”
“Light, fresh, and generous with the filling.”
“Exactly what a lemon doughnut should taste like.”
“I went back for a second one on the same visit.”
One Lemon Fantastico explains all of it. That’s what makes Bombolone’s lemon doughnut in London different from anything you’ll find in a chain.
ORDER A BOX
That 3pm meeting? Sorted.
Sunshine at 3pm. The lightest way to fix a meeting.
A box with Lemon Fantastico is the one that surprises people. Not rich, not heavy — bright and sharp and impossible to stop at one. It disappears from the office faster than anything else on the table.
Order in under a minute online. Delivered to your office same day, subject to availability. Or collect from Whitcomb Street
Need it for the office today? Same-day and next-day options are often available — contact us and we’ll confirm.
Sending a gift? This is the one for people who think they don’t like doughnuts.
Most people expect doughnuts to be heavy and sweet. Lemon Fantastico is neither. A Bombolone box with this inside it is the gift that converts people. The kind of thing someone tries reluctantly and then asks where you got it.
If you’re unsure — this is the safe one for anyone who finds chocolate and caramel too much. It lands every time.
That first bite — the meringue gives way, the lemon hits, and everything else on the table becomes irrelevant.
Need something bigger? Doughnut towers and corporate orders available. Same and next-day options possible.
Planning something bigger? Corporate orders, event catering, and gifting enquiries welcome.
Leave it with us
WHY LEMON DOUGHNUTS?
Italy has always known what to do with a lemon. Italian pastry chefs have been using them for centuries. Lemon and dough, lemon and cream, lemon and sugar. The combination is as natural in Italy as the language.
Lemon Fantastico exists because of a lemon meringue pie. Sonia’s grandmother made it — tangy lemon curd, Italian lemons, meringue toasted just past golden. It’s the flavour that stayed. When the Bombolone menu was being built, bringing nonna’s lemon meringue pie to Whitcomb Street wasn’t optional. It was the point.
The lemon bomboloni has always existed. What Lemon Fantastico adds is something specifically British: lemon curd. The most British of condiments — made from eggs, butter, sugar and lemon — is not Italian in origin but Tiptree’s version uses Italian lemons, which makes it exactly the right filling for a doughnut made in the Italian tradition. The Italian doughnut. The British classic. Nonna’s recipe. On Whitcomb Street.
This is what an Italian lemon meringue doughnut in London should taste like. The lemon bomboloni, done properly.
Lemon meringue pie. In doughnut form.
Most don’t get this right.
What makes it special
It starts with the curd. Tiptree has been making preserves in Essex since 1885. Their lemon curd is made the traditional way — sugar, eggs, butter, Italian lemons. The result is a filling with a distinctively deep lemon flavour and a smooth, light texture. Not sharp and thin. Not sweet and synthetic. Properly lemony, properly
textured, properly generous.
Then the dough. Italian brioche-style — soft, airy, made to hold a wet filling without collapsing. Filled by hand, not by machine. The curd reaches the centre.
Then the meringue. We tested different coatings before arriving here. Nothing else worked — nothing balanced the sharpness of the lemon curd the way a proper meringue does. Made in-house every morning, applied while the doughnut is still warm. Soft, light, slightly burnt at the edges — the way a proper meringue should be. The way nonna’s was. Not a glaze. Not a sugar coating. The real thing.
Fresh lemon zest is grated over the top while the meringue is still setting. The ‘B’ chocolate piece finishes it.
If you’ve had a lemon doughnut in London before, this is where it changes. The lemon curd doughnut that finally tastes like lemon curd.
One bite and you’ll get it.
How it's made
Most doughnuts are made commercially — mixed by machine, filled by machine, finished by machine. Bombolone’s are not.
Made from scratch before London wakes up. Every morning, the dough is mixed from scratch. Each portion proved until it reaches the right texture, shaped by hand. No two identical. Fried at the right temperature until the crust holds.
The Tiptree lemon curd is filled by hand into the centre first. Then the meringue coating goes on — made in-house, applied while the doughnut is still warm so it sets properly. Fresh lemon zest is grated over the top. The ‘B’ chocolate piece finishes it.
Made every morning before we open. Gone when they’re gone.
Why people keep coming back
Our bakers start before sunrise every morning — not to reheat, but to begin from scratch.
The dough was refined over six months before the first doughnut was ever served.
The filling is Tiptree — one of Britain’s most respected preserve makers, using Italian lemons in a recipe unchanged for generations. The meringue is made in-house. Neither is a shortcut.
Within the first month of opening, Bombolone became the #1 ranked bakery in London on TripAdvisor. 5.0 stars. Over 120 verified reviews. Held ever since.
The lemon doughnut is the one that surprises people. They expect sharp. They get something far more considered.
Serena S “The lemon and raspberry doughnuts were amazing.”
Chiara A “Their lemon doughnuts were pure perfection.”
Frank D “If luxury was a taste, this would be it. Couldn’t stop myself and had two.”
Lucyna S “The most delicious doughnuts — light, fluffy and full of flavour.”
If you’re deciding between a classic lemon dessert in London and this — most people end up ordering both and knowing immediately.
If you’re looking for a lemon doughnut in London — or a lemon curd doughnut that actually tastes like the real thing — this is where people keep ending up.
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#1
Bakery in London
On Tripadvisor – Here’s What People Say
Every review below is from a real customer. No incentivised reviews. No paid placements. Just people who walked in off Whitcomb Street and wanted to tell someone about it.
BEST PAIRED WITH
Lemon and coffee is a classic Italian combination — a wedge of lemon on the side of an espresso is standard across Italy. Lemon Fantastico follows the same logic. Bombolone uses Moresso specialty beans from Brazil, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia, graded 80+ Arabica. A black Americano alongside it lets the lemon do all the talking. A flat white if you want something smoother. Either way, the brightness of the curd cuts through beautifully.
Birthday Boxes
Personalised birthday doughnut boxes, available for collection or delivery across Central London.
Order a birthday box
Corporate Doughnuts
Office treats, client gifts, branded doughnuts, and event catering for teams across Central London.
Enquire about corporate
Wedding Doughnuts
Bespoke doughnut towers and walls for London weddings and celebrations. Mixed flavours, custom display.
Plan your wedding doughnutsLa dolce vita, in every bite
WHERE TO FIND US
Bombolone is on Whitcomb Street in Central London — two minutes from Trafalgar Square, just behind the National Gallery. Walk-ins welcome. No booking required. Lemon Fantastico tends to sell out before the afternoon, so if you’re planning a visit, morning is the safer bet. Looking for a lemon doughnut near Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, or Leicester Square? Whitcomb Street is the answer. Whether it’s a lemon curd doughnut after the National Gallery, a light treat near Piccadilly, or a fresh pick-me-up from Covent Garden — a short walk from all three.
Address
21 Whitcomb St.
London WC2H 7HA
- 2 minutes walk from Trafalgar Square
- 3 minutes from the National Gallery
- 6 minutes from Covent Garden
- 4 minutes from Leicester Square
- 8 minutes from Piccadilly Circus
- 6 minutes walk from Charing Cross
Opening Hours
Mon – Fri:
9AM – 6PM
Sat:
10AM – 8PM
Sun:
10AM – 6PM
Lemon doughnut London — frequently asked questions
What is the Lemon Fantastico?
Lemon Fantastico is Bombolone’s lemon doughnut — an Italian brioche-style doughnut filled by hand with Tiptree lemon curd, made with Italian lemons. Finished with a meringue coating made in-house, fresh grated lemon zest and a chocolate ‘B’. Available big (135g) or party-size (55g). Vegetarian and Halal.
What does a lemon doughnut taste like?
Bright, sharp, and smooth — with a deep lemon flavour that doesn’t taste artificial. The meringue coating adds a soft, light exterior before the curd filling. It’s not heavy and it’s not one-dimensional. It tastes the way a really good lemon tart tastes, in a doughnut.
What is the lemon filling made from?
Tiptree lemon curd — made with sugar, eggs, butter and Italian lemons. Tiptree has been making preserves in Essex since 1885. Their curd has a distinctively deep lemon flavour with a smooth, light texture. Not the bright yellow synthetic version. The real thing.
Is Lemon Fantastico vegetarian and halal?
Yes to both. Lemon Fantastico is suitable for vegetarians and is Halal certified.
What is the meringue coating?
The meringue is made in-house every morning at Bombolone. It’s applied to the doughnut while still warm and sets soft and light — not hard and brittle. It’s what gives Lemon Fantastico its distinctive look and its unique texture in the first bite.
Are these the best lemon doughnuts in London?
Within the first month of opening, Bombolone became the #1 ranked bakery in London on TripAdvisor — 5.0 stars, over 120 reviews. The lemon doughnut is one of the most mentioned flavours. “Their lemon doughnuts were pure perfection” — Chiara A, London, March 2026. Come to Whitcomb Street and find out.
Are the doughnuts made fresh every day?
Yes. Every donut is made from scratch every morning before we open — never reheated. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Lemon Fantastico tends to sell out before the afternoon.
Where can I find a lemon doughnut in Central London?
Bombolone is at 21 Whitcomb Street, London WC2H 7HA — two minutes from Trafalgar Square, steps from the National Gallery. Open daily.
Is there a lemon curd doughnut near Trafalgar Square?
Yes. Bombolone is at 21 Whitcomb Street — two minutes from Trafalgar Square. Lemon Fantastico is one of the most popular flavours on the counter, so arriving in the morning gives you the best chance of finding it.
What makes Tiptree lemon curd different?
Tiptree — full name Wilkin & Sons — has been making preserves in Tiptree, Essex since 1885. Their lemon curd is made with Italian lemons, eggs, butter and sugar using a traditional recipe. It’s the brand you’ll find in quality hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants and serious kitchens. It’s what Lemon Fantastico is filled with.
What time does Bombolone open?
Bombolone is open Monday to Friday 9am–6pm, Saturday 10am–8pm, and Sunday 10am–6pm. Walk-ins are always welcome — no booking required. We’re at 21 Whitcomb Street, London WC2H 7HA, a two-minute walk from Trafalgar Square.
Come and try it
London has plenty of lemon doughnuts. Very few are filled with Tiptree lemon curd and finished with meringue made in-house. If you’re near Trafalgar Square, Whitcomb Street is two minutes away. If Lemon Fantastico is still on the counter when you arrive — try it. If it isn’t, come earlier next time.
Not a lemon person? That usually lasts one bite.
See all our doughnuts in London
Or try something different — our pistachio cream doughnut