Everyone has childhood memories of licking a sticky ice lolly, whether on a family trip to the beach, in your kitchen or in the back seat of the car over the school holidays. Big supermarkets like Tesco, Asda and Waitrose stock all of Britain's most popular lollipops, such as the nostalgic 1960s classic Fab, timeless treats like Twister and the nation's favourite chocolate treat, Magnum.
We've written a buying guide to help you find the yummiest fruit lollies, keep track of the recommended daily sugar intake and understand how many calories are in each option. We've ranked the best ice lollies in the UK, based on their price, flavour and nutritional value, to help you select the best one – although it may still be tricky as they're all lip-smackingly good!
Quick List - Top Ice Lollies
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For lovers of luxurious treats, a proper dairy ice cream coated in a layer of chocolate totally counts as a lollipop. These can be enjoyed as a decadent dessert and feel filling, creamy and delicious. Often flavoured with vanilla, dark or white chocolate and nuts, they suit a movie night as much as a day out along the English coast.
While us Brits love these creamy, chocolatey lollies, they are by nature much higher in fat and calories than those made from fruit juice. They're also a no-go if you're avoiding dairy, though there are more and more dairy-free options nowadays, including Magnum's vegan alternative.
We've ranked the best vegan ice creams for those avoiding dairy
If you're after a dairy-free option that's lower in calories and fat, choose a fruity lolly. These are sharp and tangy, thirst-quenching and often contain a small number of vitamins from the fruit juice! If made from pure fruit juice, they can even serve as one of your five a day – always a good trick to get fussy children consuming fruit.
On the whole, this type of ice lolly costs less than their creamy, chocolate counterparts and while they're still high in sugar, they often contain zero fat so can be a good option for those wanting to reduce their fat intake.
Take a look at these low-calorie ice creams if you want a healthier frozen dessert
For those who simply won't be made to choose between chocolatey and fruity treats, go for one that combines the two. These multi-functional snacks provide the juicy joy of, say, a strawberry ice lolly, with a layer of sweet, creamy chocolate and perhaps even a dash of sugary sprinkles for good measure.
This type of lolly doesn't win health points the way a fruit juice lolly might, so should be enjoyed as a treat much like a tub of indulgent ice cream. Retro ice lollies like the timeless classic Fab feature a mix of chocolate and fruit, so you may also find that these yummy snacks stir up happy childhood memories.
We don't want to be too much of a downer while you're happily searching for the best ice lollies in the nation, but we must gently remind you to keep in mind daily sugar allowances for adults and kids. Grown-ups should consume no more than 30 grams of free sugars every day, according to the NHS.
Feeding children aged between 7 and 10? They should eat a maximum of 24 g of sugar, the equivalent of 6 sugar cubes. Children aged from 4 to 6 should have no more than 5 sugar cubes, which works out as 19 g of the white stuff. Sugar can cause little ones to become hyperactive and excitable, resulting in mood crashes and tantrums, so a lower sugar treat may be best if you've got a trip or visitors planned!
Another option is to buy some ice lolly moulds and make your own with fruit or squash
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nestlé Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles Lollies | ![]() | A Timeless Quintet of Fun, Fruity Flavours | |
2 | Waitrose Valencia Orange Lollies | ![]() | Zesty Orange Lollies Made With Just 2 Ingredients | |
3 | Nestlé Fab | ![]() | An Absolutely Fab-ulous Retro Lolly | |
4 | Walls Magnum Classic | ![]() | The Nation's Favourite Decadent Treat | |
5 | Walls Mini Twister | ![]() | A Mini Version of a Classic That's Nutritionally Made for Kids | |
6 | POPS Pimm’s No.1, Lemonade, Cucumber, Strawberries & Mint Popsicle | ![]() | A Grown-Up Treat for Picnics and Garden Parties | |
7 | Walls Mini Calippo Orange & Lemon-Lime | ![]() | Mega Fruity Ice Pops With Only 77 Calories | |
8 | Walls Feast Original | ![]() | Chunky, Rich and Nutty With a Solid Choc Centre | |
9 | Walls Solero | ![]() | A Luxurious Blend of Creamy Vanilla and Exotic Fruits | |
10 | Walls Mini Milk | ![]() | Cute Creamy Lollies That Are Loved by Little' Uns |
The best of the bunch is Nestlé's succulent sweetie selection reimagined in ice lolly form. One stick, five fruit flavours, endless delight! With sour lemon, tart raspberry, pineapple, orange, and juicy blackcurrant, this lollipop truly has it all and is a wonderfully hydrating way to end a boiling beach day out.
Containing no saturated fat at all, this fruit pastille lolly isn't too high in sugar either considering it's made with real fruit juice. No artificial colours or flavours are involved, making this a super-sweet treat that won't leave you feeling too guilty. Refreshing, cheap and loved by people of all ages!
Here comes a zesty and tasty ice lolly bursting with real fruit that you, your family and your friends are going to love. Forget the big brands, Waitrose has come up with the simplest yet fruitiest ice lolly you'll ever try.
Fat-free, low-calorie and made with only freshly squeezed Valencian orange juice and sugar, this lolly will even give you a dose of vitamin C. All in all, this is a sweet treat that's uplifting without a chaotic sugar crash. There are four in a pack, so share with friends or enjoy one a night after dinner.
Nostalgia will really hit you with this yummy retro lolly, the flamboyant and flavourful Fab. From the comforting strawberry ice layer and vanilla centre to the chocolate dunk and final flourish of crunchy sprinkles, this one has it all.
There are 6 lollies in this multi-buy pack, which works out as a real bargain. The sugar content is high but still lower than many of the other, creamier candidates in our ranking. Just one lick and you'll be back at school with sprinkles in your teeth and strawberry dripping down your wrists.
The majestic Magnum was recently voted the UK's favourite ice lolly. It's creamy, it's filling, it's moreish. Though there are countless flavour variations nowadays – including a vegan option – we couldn't keep the classic off our list. It makes the perfect quick dessert when you're all out of energy.
If the thought of the chocolate cracking doesn't make you weak at the knees, surely the vanilla ice cream inside can't fail to tempt you. Unsurprisingly, the sugar is high and don't get us started on the 14 grams of saturated fat! This treat is, therefore, best suited to older kids and adults who can handle its decadence.
One of the most beloved British ice lollies is the tangy yet sweet Twister, which first leapt into our hearts and mouths in 1982. The pairing of zesty fruit juice and delectable pineapple ice cream is a winning combination that's brought joy to kids and grown-ups alike for nearly 40 years.
Like all Walls kids' ice creams, they have the Responsibly Made for Kids stamp, which means they've been made according to a set nutritional criteria. A miniature version made with milk, real fruit juice and natural flavourings, these are a good shout for a quick snack or to satisfy younger children without going too crazy on the sugar.
Another favourite for the warmer end of the year, the quintessential British blend of Pimms and lemonade has now been frozen into a frankly genius popsicle form. Of course, it's not for kids, as it does contain actual alcohol. But it's about time mums and dads got an ice lolly to themselves!
We think these 4.3% ABV push-up pops would make a lovely addition to a picnic or garden barbecue. The sophisticated flavour blend of Pimms, citrus and refreshing cucumber really capture the familiar taste of that well-loved summer jug. POPS make other variations too, including peach bellini and gin with lime.
Summer isn't complete without the slurpy, slippy joy of a citrus-flavoured Calippo ice lolly. This pack contains three classic orange juice options as well as three infused with lemon and lime for a sharp, zesty treat. Sugary frozen snacks like Calippo are made using fruit juice from concentrate, so they have a high sugar content that shouldn't be enjoyed too often.
However, the fact these mini lollies are smaller than the standard size means that kids take in less sugar and calories overall, while the generous pack size will serve larger broods and smaller families alike.
Sometimes lollies can feel a little weak, melting to fruit juice under the glare of the summer sun. A Feast, however, is anything but frail – it's dense, textured and has a really great bite, meaning it's one of the most satisfying ice lollies that the UK has to offer.
No good for the nut-averse or gluten intolerant and packing a whopping 16 g of fat per stick, these yummy treats are simply not as healthy as other lollies. Nevertheless, they taste terrific and who doesn't love that secret inner slab of chocolate?
Blending the tropical fruit flavours of pineapple, passionfruit, mango and peach with vanilla cream, its sophisticated flavour effortlessly straddles the boundary between ice cream and ice lolly.
While they are rather high in sugars, they come in at only 98 calories each and are made with sustainably sourced fruit. Great value for money considering the quality.
Babies and toddlers love these milky snacks but adults are allowed to enjoy them too! They contain a mix of whole milk and skimmed milk, flavoured with fruit and sugar syrups to make a yummy afternoon treat that's just the right size for little hands. Choose from three classic flavours: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.
These lollies are towards the bottom of our top ten since they contain dairy so won't be suitable for everyone. Still, little ones can always do with the calcium boost that milk-based products provide – Mini Milk's contain 36% of a kid's RDA of calcium.
Written and researched by Annie Hopkins
No. 1: Nestlé|Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles Lollies
No. 2: Waitrose |Valencia Orange Lollies
No. 3: Nestlé|Fab
No. 4: Walls|Magnum Classic
No. 5: Walls|Mini Twister
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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