I plan to depend on London Supermarkets - Sainsbury's, M&S, Safeway for Lunch/Dinner. Heard that they have a good selection of ready to eat (Microwaveable). Do they have microwave facilities instore for customers to use?

I shopped a lot in the M & S food store last November in London and they do have a great selection of prepared food. Unfortunately though, I don't believe there were any microwave facilities. I bought prepared salads and sandwiches mainly and ate them as-is. Your best bet is to stay somewhere with a microwave available.

margy

Sorry, what about TESCO / Sainsbury's Local outlets?

I would guess I've been to about ten such stores in London, and have never seen a microwave, but I suppose some might have them. Perhaps the Sainsburys that have delicatessens with hot food could help you out. Not all Sainsburys have such delis, but if they do, I think it's noted on the outside.

I remember once I bought some bite-size Indian appetizers at Safeway, and I asked the deli guy if he could heat them up, and he said no, but that they were very good cold. And they weren't bad.

It's always dangerous to come out with a flat yes or no in London. But I've never seen a microwave in any London grocery store.

And I'd be amazed if there were any. Having a staff-operated microwave means the store has to change the price of practically everything it sells (the VAT regime changes). Having a customer-operated microwave almost certainly breaches every health and safety law in existence.

PS: Some smaller convenience stores (including a few based on petrol stations) DO have microwaves.

But, almost to the last Mr Patel, they all limit their range of instant-eating food to grisly branded rubbish with a year's shelf life and a decade's supply of preservatives. The reason London's real supermarkets are great places to graze is that their own-label, chilled, ready-to-eat food is far superior to, and much fresher than, manufacturers' brands.

Bread shops, pie shops and the like do sell hot or reheated food. Like sandwich bars (which also sell hot sandwiches) they normally have a sufficiently limited range of things to cope with the VAT complications this creates - which means all their prices will be inflated by the VAT charge.

Cotswoldscouger - I did'nt get this bit about the VAT - Does reheated food attract VAT?

The tax (VAT) is higher on restaurant food than on supermarket food. If they offer a microwave, then presumably people would eat their meal straightaway, which might change the VAT charged.
I have also never seen microwaves in supermarkets. If I get something from M&S to eat in my hotel, it's cold food, salads, bread.

i agree with the others...i have never seen a microwave for customer use in any UK food store and there are strong reasons for this as confirmed by others.

No, they do not provide microwaves (as they don't in US supermarkets).

Carolena

I've never seen a microwave in any shop OTHER than where they sell those dreadful burgers/hotdogs that you can heat up there when absolutely desperate! These tend to be as petrol stations however.

However a lot of the larger supermarkets do now have a hot counter where you can buy roasted chickens etc, which would be perfect to go with a picnic salad. And I know that M&S are planning to launch Hot Food To Go sections in some of their stores - don't have the list of which or when yet.

Look out for cafes near where you're staying that do take out.

Have fun!

Does anyone have any info on the Sainsbury's at Paddington Station regarding Prepared Food?

The Sainsbury's at Paddinging isn't a particularly big one, I think it's a Local. Kind of designed to pick something up on your way home, so doesn't have a full range - no deli counter or anything like that.