For years, McDonald’s fans in the UK have been begging the fast food chain to bring one very specific menu item over from the US.
And these prayers have finally been answered, as the ‘legendary’ Shamrock Shake is finally making its UK debut.
For the first time ever, the vivid green milkshake is available here, but it’s only going to be on sale for a limited time, so you’ll have to be quick to give it a try.
McDonald’s is launching the drink from today (Wednesday, March 12) and it’ll be on the menu for two weeks only until March 25 – and when it’s gone, it’s gone.
What is the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake?
The milkshake features a peppermint-flavoured syrup blended with a creamy vanilla base, and comes hot on the heels of the launch of the Grimace Milkshake, which arrived in the UK in 2024.
The purple milkshake went viral on TikTok, sparking a bizarre challenge and quickly sold-out after it was introduced, but returned for a second time later in the year.
It will cost £3.09 for a large Shamrock Shake, £2.69 for a medium and £2.19 for a small one.
And, as well as getting to try a cult item, those who purchase a Shamrock Shale in participating restaurants will also be donating to a good cause, as 20p from each sale will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities UK.
McDonald’s is a founding and forever partner of the Charity, which provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with children in hospital.
What do people in the US think about the Shamrock Shake?
Online, people in the US have raved about the Shamrock Shake, with @russbus_18 on X hailing it ‘the greatest McDonald’s creation ever’.
Similarly, @slime_belief1 proclaimed: ‘Shamrock shake [is] the best shake in the world. I have one every year only during this time since I was 10.’
While @Makeupbaroness said the drink was ‘legendary’, as @LethalEmpress claimed the return of the milkshake to the US menu is ‘what [she] lives for.’
Others branded it ‘delicious’ and ‘amazing’, but not everyone was a fan, with some claiming it just tastes ‘like toothpaste’.
A McDonald’s archivist named Mike recently shared a look at the history of the Shamrock Shake on McDonald’s Corporate TikTok account.
He explained that the milkshake was originally created in 1967 by a McDonald’s operator in Connecticut, and in 1970 the drink was expanded to a number of locations across the US. The sales from these drinks helped to build the very first Ronald McDonald House in 1974 in Philadelphia.
But it wasn’t until 2012 that the drink was available nationwide across the USA for the first time.
The milkshake proved so popular that in 2017, the fast food chain started experimenting with different varieties, launching a chocolate version.
Fast forward to today, and 2025 marks the first time the Shamrock Shake will ever be available in the UK – it’s come a long way in the last 58 years.
As well as the Shamrock Shake, there are a number of other exciting new items on the McDonald’s menu for fans to try.
Three fan-favourite items including a burger that’s previously been hailed as ‘sensational’, ‘immense’ and one of the ‘best’ by fans, recently returned in February.
Yes, that’s right, the Philly Cheese Stack is one the menu once more and it’s going to be sticking around for a while this time.
The burger, which fans have been known to launch petitions for, features two beef patties, cheese sauce, and cheese slices, as well as grilled and crispy onions and pickles, all served in a toasted bun.
There’s also the new the Stormzy Meal, which recreates the rapper’s go-to order.
The £7.99 meal features nine Chicken McNuggets and a side of fries, with two BBQ Dips. To finish off there’s a choice between the Oreo McFlurry or an Apple Pie and the whole thing gets washed down with a Sprite Zero.
Every Stormzy meal purchased in a McDonald’s restaurant, will come with a set of premium limited-edition stickers.
But if you’re still stuck over what to order during your next visit, you could always take a leaf out of an expert’s book.
Two top chefs recently told Metro what they actually order from the fast food restaurant, and their answers were certainly interesting…
This article was first published on February 7, 2025.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
