My favorite Indian cuisine, in Soho:

http://www.redfort.co.uk/welcome.htm

NeoPatrick, your list is making me hungry!

Here's a link to Time Out Cheap Eats' list of the thrifty fifty:
http://www.timeout.com/london/restau...res/173/2.html

You might want to check out Belgo Centraal at 50 Earlham St. in Covent Garden. While we were there over New Years they had a special with a few choices...we had the roast chicken, french fries, and apple compote (and I think some kind of vegetable) and a drink, a small beer...and the price we paid was the time we arrived. I think we got there at 5:45 so we paid 5 pounds 45 pence. I think the special went from 4:30 to 6:00pm...it's worth a look see. That would fall in your price range even with this terrible exchange rate right now.

To inject, possibly, a bit of humor the restaurant does exist and is 10 minute or so from Leicester Square. The late great Warren Zevon

"I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
He was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook's
Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein

Aaoooooo!
Werewolves of London!
Aaoooooo! (Repeat) "

I've been to London several times, one time I was pretty much totally broke. I had a big breakfast at my b&b, then a sandwich mid afternoon..sandwich was about $5. Also would buy a huge bottle of water and fill up a smaller bottle in my hotel room. I'm not usually too hungry when I travel for some reason..you can buy bags of crisps and such for quite cheap.

My suggestion: many places have lunch specials--Indian restaurants often has specials for around 5gbp. I'd say do that for lunch, than grab a sandwich for dinner. You can get a decent meal in a pub for under 10 gbp.

I had a really excellent Indian meal at the YMCA for 7 GPB.

There's also a good convenience store in ther Earl's Court tube "mall" that sells great sambussas for 1.10 -- great snack.

Indian and other ethnic places can be just as expensive as European restaurants.

It must be the high rents.

But yeah, walking around, there were some lunch specials, even in tourist areas.

Marks and Spencer and other supermarkets had a lot of takeaway foods which looked decent. The salads were good, better than the stuff available at Whole Foods.

If you stay in an apartment or some place with kitchen, then you could also get some meals which require heating. Not frozen, just refridgerated but you'd have to heat before eating.

IIRC, fish and chips seem to be like 8 pounds everywhere.

I've had this list awhile so not sure if it's still of value. Things free or almost free to see and do.
Have fun!

http://www.londonfreelist.com/home.asp

Try wetherspoons pubs, i'm not sure exactly where they areon in Lond, but they'll do edible pub food for about £6-8. They usually do 2 for 1 offers too(well they do around the country so i'm sure they do in London too)

Carluccio's is an Italian chain of cafes that is cheap(ish) and cheerful. Pastas are in the $14-20 range. Things like bread are extra (that's how they keep it relatively cheap). It's buzzy and stylish, locations abound. Definitely on my list of less expensive eats.

Pret a manger has great sandwiches. Look for a chain of bakeries called Maison Blanc for good baguette sandwiches.

Neal's Yard for cheese - they'll give you multiple samples. Could be good for a free snack, lol.

Brick Lane is sure to have some cheap Indian fare. Chinatown is another excellent suggestion.

Marks and Spencers has salads as well as sandwiches, and a whole array of heat-and-eat foods, if you have access to a microwave.

Also, near the King's Road in Chelsea, one of my favorite low-key establishments: The Chelsea Bun. Good for a HUGE brekkie, cheap prices too.

I'll second Carluccio's but do check out Wagamama.

www.wagamama.com/

There isn't a wetherspoons in Earls Ct but the Courtfield is pretty much the same thing. Pubwise Earl's Ct is a bit pants. Apart from the Courtfield which is cheap - and a bit nasty - most of the other pubs are overpriced chains.

There is however one gem -= The Kings Head down Hogarth St, which may very well be the best pub in London. It sells excellent food - although it would be out of your budget (mains are about £8-10).

Also in Hogarth St are quite a few cheap chinese and curry places, as well as a little group of philipino places. I've no idea what they're like - sorry.

There is also a wine bar and french bistro that does a set meal that might just about fit your budget. Also there is a hotel (no idea what it's called it's opposite the Best Western) that has a restaurant that does pretty good indian food.

Churchill Arms Pub (near Notting Hill Gate tube station) Thai food for 6 GBP We love the pad thai. Sometimes we share 3 orders for 4 people.

This isn't what you would call a meal but since I won't eat most foods my lunch usually consists of a small bottle of wine and a bag of crisps or a brownie or something basic off the cafe menu at the museums or churches that we visit everyday.
My husband eats the real food in the cafe. I think I usually spend $3-4 on my lunch.

There is a small chain called the Stockpot - where you can eat a good meal inexpeinsively. Google for locations - there is one near Harrods for example.

Nandos are good value - periperi 1/4 chicken meal (with 2 side orders) plus a soft drink is in your budget.

Try Stockpot. It a chain of dinner style restaurants. Cheap hot food very quickly served. service can be a pit off but you pays you money..... I go with a team mate from work and get a 2 course meal for about £15.00
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/restaur...aurant-491.php

I second travelgirl on the Churchill Arms. We loved the Thai food, and I think almost everything was 6 - 8 GBP. It's a fun atmosphere as well.

Tudorprincess I fear that your prices are out of date. A glass of wine in most museum cafés - which are notoriously pricey for what they are anyway - will cost around 4GBP so to get some sort of "nibble" with it will set you back most probably in the region of 5-6GBP.