Does London really have more shisha cafés than McDonald's?

In short: in March 2026 the BMJ (the British Medical Journal) said there are more shisha cafés in London than there are branches of McDonald's. It didn't say where that figure came from, so we looked at the numbers ourselves.

The shisha café count

According to the BMJ, there are almost 1,000 shisha cafés across the UK. Nobody publishes an official count for London alone, but a large share of them is in the capital.

The McDonald's count

McDonald's said in 2024 that it had around 1,435 restaurants in the UK. The most recent figures for London put the number at around 200.

So is it true?

For the claim to hold, London would need more than about 200 shisha cafés. With almost 1,000 across the UK, and Edgware Road alone famous for its shisha cafés, it's believable. But until someone publishes a proper London count, call it very likely, not proven.

Why London loves shisha

• It's social. A shisha café is somewhere to sit, talk and stay for hours, without the pressure of a bar.
• It's open late. Many cafés serve food, tea and mocktails well into the night.
• It's London. Communities from across the Middle East, Turkey, South Asia and North Africa brought their café culture with them, and the rest of London joined in.

Since 2007, smoking has been banned in enclosed public places in England, which is why London's shisha cafés serve shisha on open terraces and in outdoor areas.

Prefer your own sofa?

Plenty of people enjoy shisha at home too. Browse all our shishas, or start with a starter kit. Living in London? Many orders can be delivered the same day.

Shisha is for adults aged 18 and over.