World Baking Day: The best cake shops in London to treat yourself

What better day than World Baking Day to treat yourself with a well earned cake or undeniably delicious butter-rich pastry treat? It may be satisfying to complete your own culinary creation but there is nothing quite as beautiful as a delicately presented cake, luxuriously filled with cream, layered in chocolate or simply dusted in feather light icing sugar.

It is an extravagance that shouldn't perhaps be indulged in daily, but with so many incredible offerings in London it would be rude to ignore the offerings of baked goods around us all the time.

Take your pick from some of the most luxurious cake shops and bakeries in town:

Cocomaya - 12 Connaught Street, W2 2AF

A wonderland of baked artisan delicacies from chocolate covered choux pastry to indulgent truffles. There is a huge range to pick from so go hungry.

La Pâtisserie des Rêves – 43 Marylebone High St, W1U 5HE

An inherited treasure from France with incredible Parisian delights created by Philippe Conticini that come with a hefty price tag but are worth every bite.

The Hardihood – Stocked across London

This is a beat of a cheat being a raw bakery, but for those looking to indulge guilt free, Hardihood is your new best friend with delicious goodies made from all manner of natural healthy ingredients from cashew to coconuts.

Café Royal – 68 Regent Street, W1B 4DY

The only café fronting London's bustling Regent Street, Hotel Café Royal's cafe is the newest adventure for the hotel once favoured by Oscar Wilde. If you can look past the opulent interior, the cakes are a work of art, but definitely still worth eating.

Laduree – Stores across London

Another overseas treat from France, Laduree is synonymous with macaron and they certainly know how to do them. The lightest patisserie treats in the sweetest of candy colours you could easily make your way through a box, although the price may put you off a little. It is a treat worth having in moderation.

Marc Patisserie – Selfridges & Co, 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB

Exclusive to Selfridges, Marc Patisserie's glistening desserts are technicolour works of genius and are as bursting in flavour as they are in style. Make sure you try the eclairs that are a dream come true.