How much will it really cost us to eat in London?
Dec 5th, 2004, 02:52 AM
#1
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How much will it really cost us to eat in London?
Taking long-planned trip with my mother and teenage daughter. Food is not focus of trip - we are happy enjoying the sights, theatre and each others company rather than seeking memorable food this time. Would be happy with simple breakfast of baked good and tea, perhaps purchased at a shop rather than restaurant. Lunch could be burger, fish and chips, sandwich - atmosphere not important. Would want a restaurant dinner (US equivalent - we go to local places that end up costing us about $50-$65 per couple without a lot of drinks, not counting tips).
Knowing sad status of US dollar and reading doom and gloom here, just wondering what we are likely to spend for this level of eating. Not ready to eat at McDonalds on the trip and will go regardless of what it will cost - we may not get this chance together again. A rough estimate would be helpful. Thanks.
Knowing sad status of US dollar and reading doom and gloom here, just wondering what we are likely to spend for this level of eating. Not ready to eat at McDonalds on the trip and will go regardless of what it will cost - we may not get this chance together again. A rough estimate would be helpful. Thanks.
Dec 5th, 2004, 03:13 AM
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Gail
where are you staying? Most places here, unlike in the US, include breakfast in the price of an overnight stay. Otherwise, you should find a greasy spoon that would give you a good breakfast for £3-4/head.
Lunch- same same.
Dinner is a "how long is a roll of string?" question. You can eat nicely for £15-20 head.
where are you staying? Most places here, unlike in the US, include breakfast in the price of an overnight stay. Otherwise, you should find a greasy spoon that would give you a good breakfast for £3-4/head.
Lunch- same same.
Dinner is a "how long is a roll of string?" question. You can eat nicely for £15-20 head.
Dec 5th, 2004, 03:18 AM
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You shouldn't need to spend more than £20.00 per head for a decent 2 course meal with a glass of wine in London but you easily can!
Time Out produce two excellent eating guides which you can buy on arrival from all good bookshops. They also have a web site.
Have a great trip and try not to worry about the dollar! Adam C
Time Out produce two excellent eating guides which you can buy on arrival from all good bookshops. They also have a web site.
Have a great trip and try not to worry about the dollar! Adam C
Dec 5th, 2004, 03:20 AM
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I would definitely choose eating cheaply in museum cafes, tea Gardens or Pubs during the day & Chinese/Japanese, maybe in the evening. We loved a Lebanese( I think) restaurant in Shepherds Market which gave us a meal for a fiver. Having said that, we also splurged on roast beef at Rules!
Avoid Aberdeen Angus and chains in that vein. Horrible food.
Avoid Aberdeen Angus and chains in that vein. Horrible food.
Dec 5th, 2004, 03:23 AM
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>...you should find a greasy spoon that would give you a good breakfast for £3-4/head.<
I think that you can avoid a greasy spoon. You can get a cuppa and muffin at Starbucks for that price.
Lunch and dinner for about 5GBP.
See http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/info_restaurant_8034.html
and
http://www.talkingcities.co.uk/londo...rink_cafes.htm
I think that you can avoid a greasy spoon. You can get a cuppa and muffin at Starbucks for that price.
Lunch and dinner for about 5GBP.
See http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/info_restaurant_8034.html
and
http://www.talkingcities.co.uk/londo...rink_cafes.htm
Dec 5th, 2004, 04:28 AM
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Ira, you made me think... I don't consider the expression "greasy spoon" to be pejorative, so I did a web search onmeanings and found a plethora, some indicating better standards of food and hygiene than others.
the sort of place I have in mind will do toast and coffee or tea; and bacon roll; or a full blown cooked breakfast, if that's what you want.
In all respects better than a Starbucks!!
the sort of place I have in mind will do toast and coffee or tea; and bacon roll; or a full blown cooked breakfast, if that's what you want.
In all respects better than a Starbucks!!
Dec 5th, 2004, 04:37 AM
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Another suggestion is to sign up (free) for the London Top table weekly newsletter. They offer specials every week for some of the better London restaurants..many buy 1 , get 1 free or special set menus for £15 and often under
http://www.toptable.co.uk/index.cfm
http://www.toptable.co.uk/index.cfm
Dec 5th, 2004, 04:40 AM
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You can eat as you wish in London. For the cheap there is always pizza and chinese. London has sandwich shops everywhere, at some you can land a sandwich, drink and chips for GBP 2.80. For moderate there is always chain and Indian restaurants that are very popular. Then there is the expensive...
I just got back from London so if you want to see my restaurant write ups, go to my weblog and click on the link "LONDON EAT"
http://richardab.typepad.com/iheartparis/
I just got back from London so if you want to see my restaurant write ups, go to my weblog and click on the link "LONDON EAT"
http://richardab.typepad.com/iheartparis/
Dec 5th, 2004, 04:43 AM
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Well here is what I have found over the years and folks are certainly welcome to disagree...
I've been to London for the past 6 or 7 years 2 or 3 times a year as I have friends who live there and they visit me in New York and sort of agree..
Prices in London restaurants for quality are almost exactly the same as they are in New York with one small exception...
The prices are in sterling not USD. You go to a restaurant and if a similar restaurant in New York would cost $25 a head, in London it costs £25. Unfortunately that's is pretty much the way it is.
Of course that means you have to almost double the price and pretty soon you will be doubling the price and it really is becoming quite a sticker shock so to speak.
You know, you go into pret a manger, hardly a gastronomical palace, buy a nice mozerella sandwich for £2.25 and a diet coke for 65p....a nice lunch for what seems not too bad a price £2.90...big deal. But then you realize you just spent $5.80 for a lousy sandwich (actually the sandwich ispretty good but you know what I mean) and a diet coke...and that's pretty cheap for London.
That's the reality of what is going on today...London restaurant prices have not dropped over the years and while 3 years ago it was costing me $1.40 for £1 now it's almost $2...but that's the price you have to pay to travel....
(Can you imagine a big mac meal in London is £3.99; almost $8!...at least you can get a pint for £2.30..only $4.50.
C'est la vie!
I've been to London for the past 6 or 7 years 2 or 3 times a year as I have friends who live there and they visit me in New York and sort of agree..
Prices in London restaurants for quality are almost exactly the same as they are in New York with one small exception...
The prices are in sterling not USD. You go to a restaurant and if a similar restaurant in New York would cost $25 a head, in London it costs £25. Unfortunately that's is pretty much the way it is.
Of course that means you have to almost double the price and pretty soon you will be doubling the price and it really is becoming quite a sticker shock so to speak.
You know, you go into pret a manger, hardly a gastronomical palace, buy a nice mozerella sandwich for £2.25 and a diet coke for 65p....a nice lunch for what seems not too bad a price £2.90...big deal. But then you realize you just spent $5.80 for a lousy sandwich (actually the sandwich ispretty good but you know what I mean) and a diet coke...and that's pretty cheap for London.
That's the reality of what is going on today...London restaurant prices have not dropped over the years and while 3 years ago it was costing me $1.40 for £1 now it's almost $2...but that's the price you have to pay to travel....
(Can you imagine a big mac meal in London is £3.99; almost $8!...at least you can get a pint for £2.30..only $4.50.
C'est la vie!
Dec 5th, 2004, 05:13 AM
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Just for comparison sake - I went to the site Ira posted above (thanks Ira, the second site was quite useful) and went to Pret A Manger and looked at their sandwich prices. They ranged from £1.15-£3. So that's under $6. Last night I had a sandwich at a Starbucks here in the US for $5.95. I don't see much of a difference. In fact, the sandwiches I've had in London (at Pret, Marks and Spencer, etc) are much fresher, more varried and overall much better than those in the US.
Certainly restaurants tend to be more expensive in London - ON AVERAGE - than in the US. But IF you are willing to eat mostly sandwiches, that can be done quite easily. I realize most people, especially when traveling, are not willing to do that. But I just want to point out that it can be done. I hate to see people talk about not going to London (or anywhere) because they think they can't afford to eat there. Christ, you're in London, there's a heck of a lot more to do than eat. Go to a fancy restaurant when you get home.
BTW, I realize the OP of this thread is not saying that, but there have been so many posts recently by people saying don't go to London cause it costs too much.
Certainly restaurants tend to be more expensive in London - ON AVERAGE - than in the US. But IF you are willing to eat mostly sandwiches, that can be done quite easily. I realize most people, especially when traveling, are not willing to do that. But I just want to point out that it can be done. I hate to see people talk about not going to London (or anywhere) because they think they can't afford to eat there. Christ, you're in London, there's a heck of a lot more to do than eat. Go to a fancy restaurant when you get home.
BTW, I realize the OP of this thread is not saying that, but there have been so many posts recently by people saying don't go to London cause it costs too much.
Dec 5th, 2004, 06:28 AM
#13
I agree with Isabel that prices for take away sandwiches are about the same in London as the US. I live in southeastern Virginia, hardly NYC, and routinely pay $6 for a sandwich and soft drink at lunch time. Ditto for coffee bars and pastries. A latte at Caffe Nero or equivalent is under 2 GBP. Cost in US is $3-$4.
Sit down, full service meals are definitely pricier. Your $50 meal will be $100 in London.
Gail, There have been a number of relatively recent threads about moderate & budget restaurants in London. Have you done a search? You will have plenty of options that don't start with McD and end in "onalds."
Sit down, full service meals are definitely pricier. Your $50 meal will be $100 in London.
Gail, There have been a number of relatively recent threads about moderate & budget restaurants in London. Have you done a search? You will have plenty of options that don't start with McD and end in "onalds."
Dec 5th, 2004, 06:44 AM
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I've never been much of a breakfast eater and usually in London I've done with a latte or cappucino each morning from Pret a Manger along with juice at my flat. But since becoming diabetic last year this summer I HAD to do breakfast. I discovered Pret a Manger was the ideal for me. Not being a big egg eater, I focused on the wonderful fresh fruit salad there, or the granola/fruit/yoghurt combination, or a smoked salmon sandwich, or even the warm tomato, cheese, and mushroom croissant. It became my favorite and at the same time inexpensive breakfast place. There will surely be one within a block or two of wherever you are staying.
Dec 5th, 2004, 09:10 AM
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Pret A Manger is good. also for lunch try a supermarket...tesco, sainsbury. they have some good prepared meals and cheap. the food section of harrods contains some real good stuff. but at all cost don't give in to McDonalds.
Dec 5th, 2004, 09:22 AM
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Harrods doesn't sell economy foods, they have a superb selection, but really it's food for dinner parties or for lazy nights when one can't be bothered to dine out.
You can easily eat for 40GBP for two for a meal with some drinks. Go to little Italians or Indians or Chinese restaurants, some of them are surprisingly good.
You can easily eat for 40GBP for two for a meal with some drinks. Go to little Italians or Indians or Chinese restaurants, some of them are surprisingly good.
Dec 5th, 2004, 10:39 AM
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As noted, there are several places to eat in London without breaking the bank. I just got back from another great trip - I usually just buy one meal a day and I've kept my costs to around 6 GBP or less for a meal. The grocery stores and sandwich shops are a good place for an inexpensive meal. Deep pan pizza restaurants with their all you eat menu is another choice.
Dec 5th, 2004, 04:51 PM
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XYZ123: That is EXACTLY what my 13-year-old said in London a few weeks ago! And not just about the restaurants, but about everything---movies, newspapers, books, subway, etc. We decided to just forget about the "pound sign" and just pretend we didn't know it was nearly double!
Dec 5th, 2004, 05:21 PM
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Yup...
The basic subway fare in NYC is $2 although you can travel from one end of the city to the other and then transfer to a bus on the $2 and if you buy 5 at a time you get the 6th for free.
The basic zone 1 underground fare in London is now about £2 with no transfers and limited to only one zone.
Newspapers? don't buy them...hit the internet cafes. Easy Everuthing on High Street Kensington runs a little more than £1/hour in the early AM. Every morning, we hit that spot, check our e mail and read the NY Times, the NY Daily News, the NY Post, Newsday, USA Today as well as check our bank and credit card balances. If there's time, we check the LA Times and the Washington Post!
The basic subway fare in NYC is $2 although you can travel from one end of the city to the other and then transfer to a bus on the $2 and if you buy 5 at a time you get the 6th for free.
The basic zone 1 underground fare in London is now about £2 with no transfers and limited to only one zone.
Newspapers? don't buy them...hit the internet cafes. Easy Everuthing on High Street Kensington runs a little more than £1/hour in the early AM. Every morning, we hit that spot, check our e mail and read the NY Times, the NY Daily News, the NY Post, Newsday, USA Today as well as check our bank and credit card balances. If there's time, we check the LA Times and the Washington Post!
