Where and how to eat cheaply in London: cafes, restaurants, markets, ideas and life hacks. How much will it cost to travel to London for a week? And how can you save money there? What and where to eat in London
The culinary abilities of traditional English housewives are considered to be, if not mediocre, then slightly devoid of imagination. No matter how hard you try, but apart from the classic English pudding and the classic English breakfast (scrambled eggs with fried bacon, sausages and other unchanged ingredients), nothing will be immediately remembered. Oh, and oatmeal, sir!
Nevertheless, a tourist in London will be able to have a snack and thoroughly refresh himself in any price range and in any gastronomic segment - you can taste the "classics" of the English culinary "genre", and exotic, and, if necessary, children's and diet menus.
Vegetarian Bus
This restaurant allows you to compose puns like "even if a whole bus of vegetarians arrives in London, there is a vegetarian bus at their service." A restaurant Vegan routes located in a real red bus, double-decker, traditional for England. The prices here are affordable, the food is completely plant-based. Even vegans of the strictest rules can be sure that not only a milligram of meat is not on their plate, but also eggs, cheeses, milk and other animal products.
Vegan routes is located in Soho, at 32 Brever Street, 190 meters from Piccadilly Circus, 600 meters from Oxford Circus and 760 meters from Charing Cross.
We save in an expensive area
Most of the inexpensive "food outlets" in London are closer to the outskirts. But there is one trick that will allow a tourist to have an inexpensive snack while being in rather prestigious and expensive areas of the British capital. Look for national restaurants and cafes - Brazilian, Chinese, Vietnamese. For example, in the East End, it is quite budgetary to eat at Tay Do (Vietnamese cuisine) and Raizes (Brazilian food is served here). Lunch in the first will cost you seven or eight, and in the second - nine to ten pounds. Inexpensive Vietnamese food awaits you at Kingsland Road 60, and Brazilian food at Hackney Road 460.
An unexpectedly cheap cafe called Mooli "s nestled in Soho, at Frith Street 50. It serves Indian and European cuisine, the prices are quite low - you can eat tightly for 6-9 pounds, and if you decide to limit yourself only to a kind of shawarma - a flat cake wrapped in beef stew with vegetables , then keep within less than three pounds.
The pub is a purely English pub
Everyone has heard that the pub is the name of the very place where English gentlemen ceremoniously drink English beer. But the fact that you can have a very good snack in a pub sounds a bit paradoxical for some. Moreover, it is in the pub that you will be offered a relatively inexpensive and absolutely traditional English dish, and it will not be oatmeal!Fish and Chips- this is the name of cod fillet baked in batter, served with fried potatoes as a side dish. Other pub food is just as simple, good quality, and inexpensive. Crowds of gentlemen who want to drink beer by all means gather in pubs in the evening. Recently, they have transformed into crowds of football fans who come to the pub not only to drink beer, but also to watch the broadcast of the match. So if the tourist does not crave such local exoticism, it is better for him to use the pub as a place for a daytime snack. By the way, a portion of Fish and Cheeps costs an average of 5-8 pounds, from which we can conclude about the average cost of a dinner in a pub.
One of the oldest and most famous London pubs -Ye olde cheshire cheese... The place is historical, the interiors are gloomy and mysterious. This institution survived the reign of fifteen monarchs, whose portraits adorn its walls. However, along with the monarchs, the first waiter, who began working at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in the early nineteenth century, was also immortalized here. You can find this pub by driving to the Blackfriars metro, the address of the institution is Wine Office Ct., 145, Fleet Street.
Eat that - it is not known what
For lovers not only to have a snack, but also to experience a real adventure, there is a restaurant in London Gingerline hq... This is a place without a real address. More precisely, this address is constantly changing, and visitors will find out where they will dine shortly before the actual dinner. They do not know the menu either, nor do they know the menu. It is necessary to get to the restaurant according to the laws of spy novels - turnouts, passwords, secret addresses. For several years, Gingerline HQ has fed its customers wherever and with whatever! And his only address is still only on the network: gingerline. co. uk .
Oatmeal? No steak sir!
In spite of vegetarians, meat-eaters will also be able to frolic in London. Steak Is no less traditional English dish. In the capital, there is a whole restaurant steak empire, many establishments specializing in all kinds of steak variations - from well-done cuts of meat to almost raw, with blood. And the most delicious steak, and at an affordable price, according to visitors' reviews, is served in Lantana Cafe... The institution is located at Fitzrovia, 13 Charlotte Place. Lunch with this most delicious steak will cost between £ 4.5 and 11.
Pizza squared
There is a special category of travelers who, in each city, use the opportunity to taste the most delicious pizza, the most delicious ice cream, the most exquisite dessert. For such gourmets, there is a wonderful place in London - Malletti... The pizza here is rectangular, thin, with the freshest tomatoes, artichokes, spinach and absolutely cosmic mozzarella. The fact that it is the best in the London capital is known to everyone, including the staff of the establishment. That is why they keep a brand here and will not serve a client who, for example, tries to order pizza between times, talking on the phone. Only those with the respect it deserves have a chance to sample the finest London pizza. A standard slice of London's delicious pizza costs £ 3.95.
Bon Appetit!
Covent Garden is full of fine fancy restaurants, charming cafes and busy bistros, but that's not the point today.
Covent-Garden, one of the most popular tourist destinations in central London, is particularly attractive for cultural enthusiasts. There is a lot to talk about the cozy coffee houses, the best restaurants and bars in the area, but you will have to mention the crowds of tourists and the biting prices. Few know that there are several places to visit in the area from Shaftesbury Avenue to Strand and Drury Lane to Charing Cross Road. However, let's start with the Covent Garden itself.
Chez antoinette
This French cafe is located in the building of the Covent Garden market and specializes in fresh open sandwiches. On weekdays, you can drop by for lunch. The fixed menu of the day for £ 9.90 includes a drink, sandwich, soup or salad of your choice. You can limit yourself to a delicious sandwich. Average cost £ 7.
Abeno too
Situated just steps from Leicester Square, this compact Japanese café offers great food on the go. Pay special attention to okonomiyaki - a flatbread with kale and egg, grilled, sprinkled with a special sauce of mayonnaise and seaweed and sprinkled with thinly sliced dried tuna. This is a deluxe size cake (no others available) for £ 9.95.
The cafe is open every day from noon to night, so it is ideal for lunch or dinner.
Chick 'n' Sours
This noisy, poorly lit semi-basement restaurant consistently earns five out of five stars ratings. And all because here they know a lot about fried chicken and know how to arrange a holiday every day.
Don't pass up - the southern-style chicken marinated in buttermilk and fried to a crisp is served with delicious cocktails. From the most budget-friendly dishes on the menu, we recommend homemade roast with chicken, marinated watermelon and seaweed salad for only £ 9, or a “General's” chicken burger for a dozen.
Flat iron
As we've already found out, the interior can be deceiving. Ignore brick walls and unpainted wood floors. Instead, take a look at the designer lighting, and most importantly, taste the delicious steaks of this restaurant located at the very beginning of the chic, trendy and stylish Henrietta Street.
If you want to avoid long lines, do not come here Wednesday to Saturday evening. Better to pick a time in the afternoon.
The restaurant prepares one and only dish - steak, and they do it exclusively. The only recommendation is to choose a low roast. You may decide that this is the best steak you have ever tasted. And this is attention! - for only ten pounds sterling (plus a couple of pounds per chips).
Homeslice Neal's Yard
Quite a cozy eatery in a brightly painted Neal'sYard. The name speaks for itself: this is a pizzeria. New York style pizza is served in chunks or huge portions for two to three people.
Tables are not booked here and a lot of people gather in the evening. But, as is usually the case with pizza, it doesn't have to wait long and ends quickly. There are much fewer visitors at lunchtime and afternoon.
Any large pizza for two costs £ 20. For £ 4 you can order a slice of pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms and ricotta cheese, or the familiar Margarita. Pizzas with unusual fillings are sold only whole.
Where to eat:
The most budgetary and, by the way, no less tasty option is the Pret A Manger cafe chain. This is a great option to eat tasty and inexpensive. All products are fresh, food is quite decent. Breakfast or lunch for three with drinks will cost approximately £ 30. There are restaurants on every corner. I highly recommend it to everyone!
For dinner at least once I advise you to go to the Fish Works restaurant, one of which is located at 7-9 Swallow Street, Piccadilly Circus, London, W1B 4DE. You should definitely try fish dishes there, the fish there is very fresh and the food is delicious. Dinner for three with drinks will cost about 100-120 pounds (if you don't save at all, you can pick up more budget dishes).
I tried the most delicious beef steak in my life at Steak House in the famous Harrods store. There you can choose the part of the meat that you want to taste, they will cut it off in front of you and cook it right there. For three persons this pleasure will cost 120-140 pounds. But it's worth it! I have never eaten tastier than meat.
All in the same Harrods there is the famous French pastry shop Ladurée. If not, then you definitely need to look!
If you have absolutely extra finances, you can dine at a restaurant in the famous Fortum & Mason store, which is located on Piccadilly. They cook quite well there, but it will not be cheap. However, it is definitely worth going into this store for the sake of interest, at least for the sake of appreciating the gastronomic variety that is going on there.
And don't forget the 10% tip of the check!
There is also a restaurant of the famous Moscow restaurateur Novikov (as it is called) - the price-quality ratio is incomparable. All in the same Piccadilly there is a Wilson restaurant (Willson, I don’t remember the name exactly, not far from the Ritz), where, by the way, we had the honor to see the famous Yoko Ono eating her breakfast; oddly enough, not very expensive and tasty, although the restaurant even has its own doorman. I managed to visit the restaurant of the famous chef Jamie Oliver. Surprisingly, the price tag is quite acceptable, but the food, unfortunately, did not live up to expectations. Perhaps, if Jamie himself cooked, it would be much tastier.
It is very difficult to answer correctly, because London can be both a very expensive city and quite budgetary if comfort is not very important to you and you agree to save money. Therefore, I will just give the prices, and you yourself count.
Visa. The UK is not included in Schengen, unfortunately, and a short-term tourist visa will cost you $ 129, at the current exchange rate it is 8 356 rubles.
Flight. After EasyJet left Russia, direct flights to London from Moscow remained only quite expensive, about 20 thousand rubles, so it makes sense to look with a transfer. The cheapest option is a flight, you can save on it twice. Please note that the plane arrives in England at London Heathrow, and the return flight to Moscow will be from Gatwick: this airport is located at some distance from the city.
Housing. Six nights in any London hotel from three stars and above will cost the same 20 thousand rubles. If you do not agree to this - look, there are many of them in the British capital. Six nights for two will cost 9 thousand. In the coolest - 4 stars TripAdvisor - six nights will cost 14,600 rubles for two.
Food. A three-course dinner at a good restaurant will cost £ 50-75, which is 4300-6500 rubles. In an Indian or Chinese restaurant you can dine for 1500 rubles, and in a pub - for 1000 rubles. Lunch at McDonald's will cost 4-7 pounds, that's 350-600 rubles. In London, delicious street food: a sandwich can be bought for 200 rubles, and a large portion of kebab for 500-600 rubles. A cappuccino will cost about 200 rubles, and a pint of beer in a pub - 300 rubles.
Public transport quite expensive in England. A single ticket to the London subway will cost 370 rubles for a trip through 2 zones and 470 rubles for a trip through 6 zones. If you use the Oyster card, you can save a lot. A metro pass without a travel limit for a week costs 57 pounds, that's 4,100 rubles. Add to it a weekly bus pass and another 1,500 rubles.
Entertainment. Many museums in London are free, but not all. The entrance to the Churchill Museum, for example, will cost 1,300 rubles, and the Tower - 1,600 rubles. You can buy a London Pass that gives you access to 55 museums. A day pass costs 3800 rubles, for 3 days - 6200 rubles. You can go to Chelsea's home game for 1,300 rubles. A ride on the Ferris wheel will cost about the same as a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Yes, everyone has a different travel budget, depending on their preferences and needs. But there are plenty of opportunities to save money in London!
Lodging... First, of course, it is couchsurfing. This option is good for many, but it is not suitable for those who travel with a company, do not like to live with strangers, or have come to London not for a couple of days, but for a longer period. Airbnb has many options for those travelers. It is better to choose accommodation in zones 4 or 5, close to public transport stops.
Transport. Of course, the best way to get around is on foot - it saves money and you can get to know the city better. But sometimes you can't do without transport. To save on transport, it is definitely worth buying a transport card. There are three of them in London: Travelcard, Oyster and London pass. Each of them has its own advantages. By the way, if you prefer buses to the metro, you can not only get from point A to point B, but also see the city. For example, route 4 passes Parliament, St Paul's Cathedral, Waterloo, Theater and Fleet street, while bus 88 leaves Camden along Regent and Oxford streets and passes Piccadilly Circus Square, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament and Tate Britain. More tips and ways to save money on transport in London.
Food. The cheapest way is to buy groceries in supermarkets and cook yourself. This is especially true if you are staying with locals for couchsurfing, hostels that have a shared kitchen, or rented an apartment. There are many supermarkets in London, but the most popular chains are Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's. The last two are almost indistinguishable from each other, and Asda is cheaper than the others. But the products there are of inferior quality. In addition to products for self-cooking, you can buy Meal Deal in stores - an analogue of a business lunch. And before closing, a sale on baked goods and sandwiches kicks off in London department stores.
Eating is relatively inexpensive in London pubs, some of which offer snacks in addition to drinks. By the way, in any pub you can ask for a glass of water (tap water) instead of buying it. There are also all kinds of chain establishments, the prices of which are lower than in restaurants. And some also have "happy hours" and promotions. For example, Myolddutch has pancakes on Monday. Details.
Well, for the most ascetic and super-economical: throughout the city there are canteens at churches and religious organizations, where you can have a snack or a sandwich for free or for a small donation. You can find them and.
Entertainment. All public museums in London are free of charge. A walk in parks, fairs, streets is also free. But this can not be limited to. If you want to go on an excursion - please! Several communities of enthusiastic guides offer free walking tours around the city. For example, Free London walking tours, Free tours of London and others.
In London, you can watch performances, movies and listen to concerts for free. The Scoop, an open-air amphitheater near the Tower, hosts free cultural events during the warmer months: film screenings, performances, concerts, festivals. The Queen Elizabeth Concert Hall hosts concerts every Friday as part of the Commuter Jazz program.
But the most interesting thing, in my opinion, is to witness the ceremony. For example, you can see the Key Ceremony, Parliament meetings, and the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court trial. You can also do this for free. You will find details, schedule and other ideas.
I went to London for 10 days with a budget of 30 thousand rubles. True, I had a few "buts". 1) I already had a British visa. 2) This trip was before the jump in the exchange rate, approximately 54 rubles per 1 British pound. 3) I am a very, very, very unpretentious person :)
Firstly, I flew in a low-cost airline with hand luggage (at least clothes, one pair of shoes, a minimum set of hygiene products), a direct flight from Moscow, 4000 rubles. Secondly, she lived in a beach hostel, in a room for 15 people, but for 8,000 rubles and a 5-minute walk from Bigben. Gorgeous!
Breakfast in the hostel was poor, so I bought breakfast products in supermarkets; I went to establishments three or four times per trip. I usually dined in Chinese chifankas, for 5 pounds you can get a large container of food, including seafood, meat, and eat a week in advance! There were pubs in the program every day.
The main museums were overhauled on the first trip. The biggest waste for me was a wheel ticket - something around 19 pounds, if I'm not mistaken. I still don't know why I decided to ride, because it was at that moment that the rain poured down))
I moved around the city almost always on foot. The Oyster was used only on buses, they are cheaper than the metro, and the bus network covers the entire city. If I was not afraid to ride a bike around the city, I also saved on transport. There are a lot of parking lots in the city, a day will cost 2, and a week 10 pounds. Perhaps something has changed now.
Most likely now you can't go for 30 thousand, but you can try at 50;)
You can save $ 50 on housing as follows:
1) Registration on airbnb.com and confirmation of the profile.
