Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is today and we've got some info to help you have a flipping good time.

The facts

The idea of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday is more than 1,000 years old.

They were originally invented as a way of using up all the leftover fatty and rich foods before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

In total, Brits use an unbelievable 52 million eggs on Pancake Day. That’s 22 million more than any other day.

The most flips anyone has ever done with a pancake is 349 in two minutes.

Over a lifetime, an average person will eat 7,300 eggs.

In France, people like to make a wish before flipping their pancakes. They do this while holding a coin in the other hand.

Andrei Smirnov from Russia ate a colossal 73 pancakes in one hour. That’s more than one a minute.

In France and the United States Pancake day is called Mardi Gras which means 'Fat' or 'Grease Tuesday'.

How?

So how do you make the perfect pancake? 

Here is a simple pancake recipe for making around 11 pancakes

Ingredients:

75g – Plain flour

120ml – Full fat milk

Pinch of sugar

Pinch of salt

1 egg

Method:

Put the flour, salt and sugar into a bowl and make a dip in the centre using a spoon. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk and egg together, and then whisk this gradually into the flour mixture. The batter should resemble the consistency of single cream.

Some people swear by leaving the mixture to rest for an hour, but I think its fine to use straight away. A heavy non-stick frying pan about 16cm across is best – over a steady medium to high heat.

Recipe from Beatriz Sanchez, the Chef-de-Partie at the 5-star hotel The Arch London in Pall Mall.

Where?

South-east London and north Kent have some great fruity, sweet and savoury pancakes and crepes to be had. Here are five of the best...

Le Delice - 38 Ladywell Road

Karine Bengueloul, wife of owner Nabil, said their authentic French crepes were popular. She said: “It’s the recipe. It’s a real crepe, we use vanilla and we also use hot milk for the dough.”

Le Delice serves a variety of sweet and savoury pancakes, but there is one stand-out favourite.

Pancakes start from £2.99

Kaspas - 18 London Road, Forest Hill

It’s got a whole wide selection of crepes – from Sweet and Simple’s sugar and butter to the Bananaberry with banana, strawberry and a luxury milk chocolate syrup. There are 10 varieties, all of which can be washed down with a cool milkshake.

Canvas and Cream - 18 London Road, Forest Hill

The pancakes are made with a South American recipe which includes cheese to make them extra doughy. The stacks of three also come in delicious and extravagant flavours, such a fresh fruit, ice cream and caramel sauce, bacon and sausages. And their syrup is pure Canadian maple syrup.

Giraffe - Wintergarden, Bluewater, Greenhithe

A Giraffe spokesman said: "Not only are our pancakes light and fluffy but served with a nutritious and delicious combination of fresh banana and blueberry compote – adding flavour, freshness and fruity goodness!"

Bill’s - Wintergarden, Bluewater, Greenhithe

Always good for a lovely bite to eat, Bill’s is expanding its regular breakfast menu pancakes on Shrove Tuesday to serve them all day long. You’ll be able to pick up classic lemon and sugar, maple syrup and vanilla ice cream, winter fruit compote and fresh strawberries, and caramelised banana with malted caramel banana ice cream and chocolate sauce. Get blueberry and buttermilk pancakes with banana, strawberries and maple syrup for £5.95. Add smoked streaky bacon for £1.50.