Cheap but good eats in London?
Apr 24th, 2007, 09:16 AM
#22
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It is totally possible to eat well and relatively cheaply in London. I know because I did it last June and came in under budget for the first time ever on an overseas trip!
I second what others have mentioned:
Grocery stores are the best way! We stayed in a flat and cooked about 50% of our meals there -- saved us a lot of money, plus visiting new grocery stores is fun!
Pret a Manger -- good for cheap food on the go (especially when weather is nice). The little cakes and desserts are very good!
Pizza Express (pretty decent chain restaurant). They are everywhere. I had a good pasta dish. The name is rather deceptive as it's a fairly nice-ish sit down restaurant (at least the one we visited was)
And I have a few to add:
S&M Cafe -- good cheap greasy spoon with several locations. We ate at the one on Portobello Road and I had some of the best Eggs Benedict of my life! http://www.sandmcafe.co.uk/
If you're in the Portobello Rd. area make sure to stop and get a cupcake at Hummingbird Bakery -- delicious!!!
All Bar One -- It's a pub chain and admitedly not a very "authentic" experience, but the Pims and Lemonade is good and the tapas are reasonably priced and pretty good tasting. There are many locations through out London and elsewhere. We visited the Cambridge one and the one in Notting Hill.
And finally I would recommend visiting the website www.fancyapint.com and finding the highly rated pubs in various areas where you plan on visiting or staying. Honestly, I was never really thrilled with the pub food, but some of them really had nice atmosphere and good drinks.
Unfortunately, I was unable to eat at any of the ethnic restaurants as we had a very very picky eater with us, but I plan on trying them when I go back with a more adventurous eater.
I second what others have mentioned:
Grocery stores are the best way! We stayed in a flat and cooked about 50% of our meals there -- saved us a lot of money, plus visiting new grocery stores is fun!
Pret a Manger -- good for cheap food on the go (especially when weather is nice). The little cakes and desserts are very good!
Pizza Express (pretty decent chain restaurant). They are everywhere. I had a good pasta dish. The name is rather deceptive as it's a fairly nice-ish sit down restaurant (at least the one we visited was)
And I have a few to add:
S&M Cafe -- good cheap greasy spoon with several locations. We ate at the one on Portobello Road and I had some of the best Eggs Benedict of my life! http://www.sandmcafe.co.uk/
If you're in the Portobello Rd. area make sure to stop and get a cupcake at Hummingbird Bakery -- delicious!!!
All Bar One -- It's a pub chain and admitedly not a very "authentic" experience, but the Pims and Lemonade is good and the tapas are reasonably priced and pretty good tasting. There are many locations through out London and elsewhere. We visited the Cambridge one and the one in Notting Hill.
And finally I would recommend visiting the website www.fancyapint.com and finding the highly rated pubs in various areas where you plan on visiting or staying. Honestly, I was never really thrilled with the pub food, but some of them really had nice atmosphere and good drinks.
Unfortunately, I was unable to eat at any of the ethnic restaurants as we had a very very picky eater with us, but I plan on trying them when I go back with a more adventurous eater.
Apr 24th, 2007, 09:18 AM
#23
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For picnic lunches, check out the cold cases at Boots the Chemist (163,000 locations in Greater London) or Iceland Grocery stores. Both have "Meal Deals" with sandwich, crisps, and soft drink for £2-3.
Apr 24th, 2007, 09:25 AM
#26
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Apr 24th, 2007, 09:29 AM
#27
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Time Out Cheap Eats – 50 top cheap restaurants in London:
http://www.timeout.com/london/restau...tures/173.html
A few prior threads on inexpensive London food:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34750684
(bloomsbury/covent garden)
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34950670
http://www.timeout.com/london/restau...tures/173.html
A few prior threads on inexpensive London food:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34750684
(bloomsbury/covent garden)
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34950670
Apr 24th, 2007, 11:13 AM
#28
Join Date: Apr 2005
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i spent 2 weeks in london for work this january, and the best advice of all time is to go sandwiches! e.a.t, and pret a manger (awesome cappuchino) are very good, and inexpensive. wagamamma was great, i went twice! whats nice, is that the ingredients are 100% more fresh than most of the stuff here in the states w/chains...some healthy choices as well. and yes, london is as expensive as you hear and then some.
picture in your mind what you think is expensive, and triple it. that said, loved london!!
picture in your mind what you think is expensive, and triple it. that said, loved london!!
