Will be in London next week. We are staying in the a Trafalgar Square hotel and need suggestions for places to eat that have pub type food. Also are there any grocery stores and places to do laundry in that area ?

Hi
I hoped the London experts would assist you here, as my info might be a little out of date, and I only go to this area for work and not pleasure. However, I would recommend Clarence, at 53 Whitehall, especially if you like battered fish. Also The Salisbury Pub on St Martins Lane just off the square, and The Lamb and Flag at 33 Rose Street.
M

There are certainly grocery stores: look for Sainsbury's Express and Tesco Metro up Charing Cross Road and along the Strand (I think there might be one in Whitehall).

Launderettes are less likely - the nearest I could find on yell.com is over by Victoria Station. I think you'll just have to bring enough clothes for the week and wash them when you get home, or do some smalls in the hotel handbasin (how much does any one person need for a week anyway..?)

I can second the recommendation for the Salisbury -- we were in London over Christmas and had excellent food there. It's also a very atmospheric pub.

try the cafe in St Martin in Fields church. It is very cheap.

OP posted this question twice and I answered on the other thread, which is getting buried, so here goes again (thanks to cut & paste) -

We ate at the Sherlock Holmes Pub, located at 10 Northumberland Street, which is right around the corner from Trafalgar Square. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote many of the Sherlock Holmes novels here when the building was the Northumberland Hotel. There is a re-creation of the Baker Street sitting room upstairs which was very interesting.

I can't remember what I had to eat, but I do remember that it was good food, the portions were large and I couldn't finish my meal (or maybe I was just too tired to eat...it was a long day). I would consider eating there again next time we're in London. Enjoy your visit. Peace. >-

Robyn

The nearest laundrette is probably the Covent Garden Coin-op in Betterton St, close to Drury Lane. For a map of how to get to it, put its postcode (WC2H 9BP) into Multimap. A brisk (but always rewarding) 10-15 min walk each way

The Salisbury wouldn't be my choice of eating place. But it's got one of the finest pub interiors anywhere south of Liverpool (almost as good as its namesake on Green Lanes) and is certainly worth having a drink in.

You're here for a short time, why on earth do you want to do launder clothes? Use the hotel laundry service if you must. As for "grocery stores", London has millions of shops where you can buy such provisions.


The way you talk is as if Trafalgar square is a tiny country village with one little high street. Remember it's the heart of one of the world's biggest cities!

Do the grocery stores mentioned her carry wine? I'm hoping to pick up a couple of bottles to bring on board my cruise.

Monica

Thank you for the pub food ideas and information on grocery stores laundrettes.

I second the Sherlock Holmes pub, and the cafe in St M-in-the-F was memorable, but more for the experience (ie "atmosphere" than food. Most of the food shops we were in sold wine (maybe not always the nicest, but...)

Monica. I picked up wine at a Marks and Spencer. The prices were not bad and the wine was pretty good.

They also have some good deli sandwiches for a quick snack. I also bought some of their brand of cookies. I can't remember the kind but if I see them again I am going to get more.

I would generally steer clear of 'pub grub' in the UK. It is generally cooked off premises and reheated in the microwave. Search out gastropubs for a more authentic experience, often with non-smoking areas. This will be more expensive than your usual fish and chips/chili/chicken kiev rubbish that is dished out in normal pubs. Try eating in Chinatown for cheap eats. Also try Strada just off Regent Street, or Pizza Express off the Strand, which is very near to Trafalgar Square. Also try lastminute.com and toptable.co.uk for 2-for-1 offers.
There are LOADS of supermarkets in central London as well as smaller 'corner shop' type places. IMHO, Tesco and Sainsbury's are pretty good and pretty equal. Marks and Spencer is a bit posher and has better quality foods, especially the sandwiches.

My dear, a cruise that you have to take your own wine on? Or you're not willing to pay for wine? How dreadful.

I enjoy a glass or two of wine in my *cabin* while preparing for the evening events. Of course I am willing to pay for drinks while on board and so so at each meal and after dinner. The wine I bring on board is my treat in my room. There is absolutely nothing wrong in bringing wine on board. Check the many cruise web sites as many do the same.

Thanks Sher! See you next month!

Monica

...That should be

DO so at each meal and after dinner. and so so at each meal and after dinner.