Cheryl

I am not a coffee drinker and usually start my day with a diet Pepsi each morning with breakfast. Are sodas (like we are used to drinking in the US) available in London supermarkets? <BR> <BR>Any other grocery tips would help, too. What about items like boxed breakfast cereals, sliced deli meats, eggs, or peanut butter, etc? Our family is renting an apartment and I'm trying to plan ahead for meals.

Kathy

We stayed in a hotel with our children, but it had a refrigerator which we kept stocked with water, milk, juice, yogurt, cheese, fruit, along with crackers, cookies, and sometimes pastries. We used a couple of little local grocery stores that were near our hotel. There are a number of large supermarket chains in London. Just use a phone book to see if any are close to you or ask your landlord. We used the smaller ones because they were closer and had everything we needed. You can find anything in the London food stores that you find here, but do try some of the European brands. Our kids went crazy over the Cadbury cookies and the packages of ginger nuts (gingersnaps). We also got some great yogurt. You can get deli sliced cheese and meat prepackaged or sliced to order in larger stores. The bakeries have great rolls and pastries. You will not have any problem finding great things to stock your kitchen.

Melissa

Ya know, there is a Safeway in London.

Traveller

Cheryl <BR>No it's not. Water though is available -you may like to bring some bottled with you though, tap water gave me mad cow disease last time I was there, at least it seemed like that. Best to bring your own from the States. Concerning food - it's awful here. I stock up on food whenever I travel to the States. Since living here one year I am down to a size 2, can you believe that! Just be careful with the eggs in your luggage, carry them on as hand baggage to keep them safe. Boxed cereal should be OK but the box may get a little crushed if you don't mind that. Perhaps transfer the cereal to a tupperware container before travelling. <BR>You can buy peanuts in London, but bring your own butter, peanut crusher and wooden spoon. Also bring your own pig (if allowed. British Airways might allow it as they realise the problems Americans encounter) - you can then make sliced deli meat with it when here, your apartment kitchen may or may not have a knife. <BR>World Traveller (but really want to stay in the States!) <BR>

Chris

Of course we have Diet Pepsi, meat, eggs, cereals etc in England!

XXX

London is a very civillized place, you are not heading off to the boonies. Everything available in US stores is also available in the UK, most with the same label you have grown up with do doubt (i.e. Kellogg's). There are many small neighborhood stores and also large grocery chains, Tesco, Safeway, Sainsbury's for example. Marks&Spencer also sels food. You won't starve.

s.fowler

Hey folks -- cut the sarcasm. This may be Cheryl's first trip abroad. Try to remember how YOU felt at that point -- I'm sure not all the questions YOU had before that first trip would past "review" on this board. Also remember that kids can be finicky in what they will eat and what we may be hearing is Cheryl's anxiety.

Debbie

Cheryl, <BR> I can actually sympathize (sp?) with you. When my Mom & I took our 1st big trip together, her big concern was having access to Pepsi - preferrably with ice. She will absolutely not drink Coke. <BR> Once we found a deli / small market that sold Pepsi, we had to incorporate it into our daily path, so she could get her fix. <BR> ( we leave for Ireland next week, and I am sure we will have the same issues with her needing Pepsi). <BR> <BR> Just pop into a couple of deli/market/ stores on your first day and you will be fine. Re: the other groceries - the brand names might not be the same, but you will surely find what you are looking for. <BR> <BR>Debbie <BR>

Angela

There have been a number of questions like this on the board recently which appear to adopt a patronising tone and view Europe as an undeveloped backwater. <BR>I haven't been to Australia before but I do realize that the toilets probably have soft toilet roll, some will be cleaner than others, the "natives" will speak English, most people will be really friendly, some will be rude. I will not go hungry, and there is a very very small chance (but almost non-existant) that I will be involved in a terrorist incident due to the troubles in the Middle East. <BR> <BR>Having said that Cheryl, If this is a genuine question and not a wind-up, you will find everthing you have asked about here. Please though do try the local food. I hope you have a great time here with your family and manage to explore the beautiful countryside and towns outside of London also. <BR>Angela

Sandi

Cheryl, <BR> <BR>I hear ya about needing the caffeine fix in the mornings....Diet Coke is my preference, but Pepsi works in a pinch. I asked the exact same question on here about six months ago before I took a two-week tour in France. Had no trouble finding my Diet Coke, they call it Coke Light, and it might taste a tiny bit different, but not enough to worry about. Actually, my trip was through Brendan Tours and on our motorcoach they offered several different types of sodas, including my favorite, bottled water and even some beer, every day! The cost was just 5F for whatever you wanted. I know this seems silly to most people, but that was something akin to a Godsend, and totally unexpected. <BR> <BR>Well, hope you have a great trip. I was in London about three years ago and had an awesome time. Now I have my sights set on Italy.... maybe next fall. <BR> <BR>Sandi <BR>

erica

I was told they don't have Mt. Dew in England, which will make mornings difficult for me. I bet they have Pepsi, not sure about Diet Pepsi. <BR> <BR>I don't care for coffee or tea. Does anyone know which pop (soda) in the U.K. has all the sugar and caffiene I so desperately need in the morning?

Dave

Erica, <BR> <BR>As a replacement for Mt Dew, try "IrnBru". It doesn't taste at all the same, but will definitely wake you up!

Thyra

Actually this is a very valid question. The very first time I went to Europe, I was 14... back in the um LATE 70's. Diet sodas hadn't really caught on in France and being an obnoxious teenager, this nearly ruined my trip. Fortunately since then 2 things have occured A) You can now get diet soda in every country to which I have travelled and B) I overcame my diet soda trauma enough to go back, and back and back to Europe.

jwagner

I am a Diet Pepsi fiend, too, and have found it difficult to locate in Europe. Diet Coke? Plenty of it. But not Diet Pepsi. The sweetener in Diet Coke gives me a headache. Just so you know. (And I don't appreciate the sarcasm, either.)

AC

Hi Cheryl: <BR>It's nice to know I am not the only one who begins their day with a diet soda! <BR>I am a Diet Coke person...Coke Light across the pond...and never encountered a problem finding it. Don't try Wheetabix cereal. Tastes like a dry sponge in my humble opinion. Plenty of corn flakes and raisin bran types. <BR>Have a great trip!

American

Hi Cheryl! <BR>I spend a good part of my time trying to find a number of things here in London that are readily available in the States, so for those smart alecs that think London stores have all the same things as the States....THEY DON'T!! But, you will find at least some variation of most products. And as a warning, it will be more expensive than what you are used to paying. I am picky about my peanut butter and it took me a long time to find Skippy Creamy! The big stores are OK, but Partridges (found on Sloan and 1 on Glouster) and Waitroses (number of locations) have more of the products you will find in the States. All "diet" sodas are "light" and lemonade is actually just like Sprite/7-Up. Hope this helps!

Thyra

Wow reading this brought one thing to my mind, Muesli...... like you get in Europe, not the super sugar, too many nuts kind that Post makes in the States, where is it? Where can I get it, I can never get enough when I travel and would love to get some here at home. Any hints?

Londoner

American in London <BR>Why would stores in London have the same things as stores in the US? <BR>The answers were about the specific items Cheryl asked about and all of those can be found in London. <BR>Try Weetabix mixed up with hot milk and sugar - wonderful on a cold morning. <BR>

Ed

Thyra: <BR> <BR>We love Muesli. The stuff in the boxes in the States has no relationship to same. We make our own. Yum! <BR> <BR>Recipe at www.twenj.com/tipsrecipe.htm#muesli <BR> <BR>Ed

Thyra

Thanks Ed! I am going to the grocery store right now!