Where and how to eat cheaply in London: cafes, restaurants, markets, ideas and life hacks. How much does it cost to travel for a week to London? And how can you save money there? Where and what to eat in London
If earlier in London restaurants children were barely tolerated and shushed with disapproval, now families are treated with more courtesy, and the meal itself is becoming more and more informal. Too noisy children will not be happy in any restaurant, but even first-class establishments will be happy to host those who are well-mannered, they will offer high chairs, coloring books and colored pencils to small visitors. The choice of cuisines is huge, dishes are collected literally from all over the world. The prices shown in the guide include a two-course meal for a family of four, without wine but with soft drinks.
Chinese cuisinein London
Obviously, the best Chinese food is to be found in Chinatown in the West End. The vibrant heart of the area beats on the pedestrianized Gerard Street, which is lined with supermarkets and restaurants of all kinds, from modest eateries with bare tables and rows of glazed ducks in display cases to elegant establishments with extensive menus. Chinese families regularly eat out, and therefore all restaurants are adapted to accommodate children. Many have highchairs for feeding, and all dishes are served in small portions - dim sum is especially worth trying. Children generally prefer foods that are mild in flavor, from rice, noodles and dim sum dumplings to spring rolls and crispy, fragrant duck pieces.
Indian Cuisinein London
Indian curries are one of the most popular dishes in the UK. For authentic Indian cuisine, head to the Indian-populated areas of Southall in west London, or Brick Lane and Bethnal Green in the east, where you'll also find Pakistani and Bangladeshi restaurants. While many dishes are likely to be too spicy and spicy for children, there are plenty of milder options that older children will enjoy, such as tandoori, tikka masala, korma and pasanda. Mild curries are usually made with coconut milk. Curries are served with rice or flatbread such as naan or chapatis and crunchy pop pads. Vindaloo, Madras and Jalfrezi are perhaps the most spicy dishes. Two family restaurants with a children's menu are Imli, in the dining room which always reigns revival, and Masala Zone in Covent Garden, where puppets from Rajasthan hang from the ceiling.
Thai Cuisinein London
Kensinton and Fulham have a great selection of Thai restaurants, including the famous blue elephant with its stunning garden interior. There are also many modern local restaurants, pubs and cafes serving Thai food. Although some foods are incredibly spicy, the Thai menu is sure to contain more moderate options, often inspired by Chinese cuisine. Children usually enjoy satay (prepared with peanuts), noodle dishes such as pad thai, sweet and sour dishes, and pork ribs.
Greek and Turkish cuisine in London
Typical for the countries of the Middle East region cuisine with indispensable mezes (light snacks and sauces). Traditional Greek dishes include tzatziki (cucumbers in a yoghurt and garlic sauce), dolmadakia (vine leaves stuffed with rice, herbs and sometimes meat), spanakotirapita (puff pastry with spinach and feta cheese), keftedes (meatballs with mint and shallots) , moussaka (layered potato slices, eggplant, zucchini and minced lamb with béchamel sauce and grated cheese), lamb and chicken kebabs, as well as grilled meat and fish.
Turkish dishes are distinguished by a slight difference in names: for example, jadzhik instead of tzatziki and dolma instead of dolmadakia. It is traditional to start the meal with soup, after which children can be offered kuza tandyr (baked lamb), ex-ile-kofte (meatballs in lemon sauce) or iskender (grilled lamb and beef with yogurt and tomato sauce served on thin pita bread). Both cuisines are characterized by sweet, syrupy desserts such as baklava. Restaurants are located in central and north London, the meal is often accompanied by music and dancing, and in Greek restaurants, sometimes breaking dishes. Greek cuisine can be tasted in traditional taverns four lanterns And Konaki, and Turkish in Sofre
Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine in London
Most Indonesian and Malaysian restaurants are located in central London, including Melati And Bali Bali, where dishes from both countries are served. Both cuisines are influenced by Thai, Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern culinary traditions. Rice and noodles are staples, while chicken satay and beef kebabs are a must on any restaurant's menu. Among the Indonesian dishes that may entice little gourmets, we should mention, in particular, gado-gado (vegetable salad with peanut dressing) and nasi uduk (rice in coconut milk). Less spicy Malaysian dishes include Hainanese chicken and noodle dishes such as hokkien-mee and kohlon-mee. Round off your meal with fragrant purple mangosteen (tropical fruit) or goreng pisang (fried bananas).
Middle Eastern cuisine
The choice of small portions of hot and cold Middle Eastern dishes - meze - will especially appeal to children. Most children know what hummus is (a smooth, non-spicy chickpea puree), but there are many other new dishes worth trying sambusek (triangles of dough stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables), tabouleh (bulgur salad with mint, parsley leaves , tomatoes and green onions, with lemon juice and olive oil dressing) and fattoush (salad with parsley, mint and thin, crispy pieces of toasted pita bread, with lemon dressing), as well as more substantial dishes with marinated chicken and lamb. Properly prepared, these dishes are very flavorful, but not overly spicy. The Edgware Road area has a range of Middle Eastern restaurants, mostly Lebanese, including a few from the chain. Maroush, and a little to the west you will find AIWaha.
English cuisine
Previously, British cuisine, considered tasteless and difficult to digest, was unpopular with other nations. But time has made its own adjustments, and a whole galaxy of outstanding chefs, such as Jeremy Oliver, Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay, miraculously transformed it, borrowing something from others, but remaining faithful to their roots.
Some English restaurants go out of their way to attract visitors with children: one such place is a place called Roast, located in a real paradise for food lovers, the Borough food market. Here you will find high chairs, coloring books and a children's menu, as well as excellent traditional British cuisine made from local, organic produce. Great food can also be found in the city's several gastropubs, pub-restaurants that opened in the 1990s that serve quality food in pleasant surroundings; in most of them, the most cordial welcome awaits children.
Italian Cuisine
Of all the world's cuisines, Italian is the most kid-friendly, at least when it comes to pizza, pasta and ice cream. In addition, the friendly staff of Italian restaurants, trattorias and pizzerias will surround them with care and attention. There is usually a special menu for children, probably including pasta with a simple sauce such as pesto (basil and cheese), pomodoro (tomato), bolognese (meat) or carbonara (eggs, cheese and ham or bacon), homemade pizza or just cooked meat. Usually in such places there is a wide selection of ice cream varieties.
Spanish cuisine
The growing popularity of tapas restaurants and bars has increased interest in Spanish cuisine among residents and visitors to the English capital. The Spanish, like the Italians, are very child-friendly and traditional tapas (small portions of different dishes) allow young gourmets to try new flavors and ingredients without having to order the whole dish. Some have a children's menu, and tapas such as Serrano ham and Iberico ham (both cured), calamares fritos (fried calamari), gambas al ahillo (garlic shrimp), tortilla (Spanish omelette) are not very fancy, but very tasty.
french cuisine
The French, whose culinary tradition is considered one of the best in the world, have been influencing British cuisine since the days of the Norman Conquest, and today there are many good French restaurants in London serving excellent French cuisine. As people become more health conscious, the old traditional heavy cream sauces have given way to lighter ones. Children's menus are more likely to be found in brasseries and bistros than in high-end restaurants, and they offer dining table favorites such as steak or minced steak (burger) and fried potatoes, chicken, scrambled eggs and Nicoise salad, as well as a large selection desserts - from apple and lemon pie to chocolate mousse and ice cream.
North Americankitchen
Londoners have had a fondness for North American cuisine ever since the Hard Rock Cafe opened in the city in 1971. With its juicy burgers and fries, hot dogs, grilled chicken and ribs, thick milkshakes, American-inspired decor and rock and roll music, the cafe is an authentic piece of the United States relocated to Old Park Lane. Other restaurants have followed suit, including the authentic and kid-friendly Chicago Rib Shack in Knightsbridge and a range of diners.
Restaurant chains
It may not be the most original choice, but restaurant chains are a guaranteed reliable option for families - with high chairs and inexpensive food. It's not necessarily ubiquitous, but it's a world-famous burger and fries in MeDonald‘ s. North American cuisine can be tasted at Ed‘ sEasydiner And Thediner, copies that existed in the 1950s. in the US eateries; excellent burgers can be found in GourmetBurgerKitchen. Another popular network Nanado‘ s, specializes in chicken dishes in Portuguese ail. For Chinese food, go to one of the restaurants of the chain PingPong, where they serve dumplings in the village of dim sum, and pan-Asian dishes form the basis of the menu in Wagamama. On the Japanese network Benihana All ingredients are prepared right in front of your eyes. Maroush And Noura- networks of Lebanese reaorans; RealGreek— a truly Greek institution; Tas- Turkish; a brasserieGerard And CafeRouge- French. Some of the most family oriented Italian chain restaurants are Ask, Carluccio‘ s, pizzaExpress, Spaghettihouse, Strada And Zizzi. You will find international food loved by all children in Giraffe.
Everyone involved in applying for a visa to the UK remembers the recommended minimum amount of money at the rate of at least £50 per day. This amount can be considered sufficient to live an interesting British day without gastronomic delights. How to combine the desire of tourists to eat deliciously and fully in London with modest financial resources?
street food
One of the popular snack options not only for tourists, but also for the locals of the city - street food (street food). It doesn't sound appetizing until you find yourself in a colorful local bazaar where you can't resist the smell of freshly prepared food. The most famous London market is the atmospheric Borough Market (boroughmarket.org.uk), located next to London Bridge tube station. The best days to visit it are from Thursday to Saturday. With £10 in your pocket, you can count on first, second and compote. The only inconvenience is that there is all this gastronomic splendor, most likely, you will have to stand up.
Fast food chain restaurants
If you don't like to eat on the go or don't trust street chefs, head to one of the many cafes from famous chains like Pret-a-Manger, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Eat. Fresh food is guaranteed there, from hot soups (about £3.5) and cereals to delicious pastries. A large salad in such establishments will cost about £4.5, and a sandwich - from £1.5 (small) to £4 (large loaf). As a rule, these networks charge an additional service fee (about 20-25% of the order value) if you want to eat at a cafe table. When calculating at the checkout, you may be asked: taking away (takeaway) or eating in (meals at the table)? If you decide to stay, be prepared for a higher check amount. Do not think that you have been deceived - take a close look at the price tag. Usually there is a "take-away" price in large print, and a less visible price with a service charge follows it.
Restaurants of national cuisine
Those who want to add exoticism to the foggy everyday life of the British capital should look, for example, at Korean, Indian or Vietnamese restaurants. There you can sit comfortably at a table and order a vegetable curry for just £4.
It is easy to find budget restaurants with good reviews on www.tripadvisor.co.uk by filtering by the parameter cheap eats (“cheap and cheerful” in our opinion).
pizzerias
One of the most popular and favorite cuisines - Italian, can be tasted on a budget in numerous pizzerias offering takeaway food. Delicious and inexpensive pizzas can be found at Pizza Union (whole pizza - from £4) or Princi (big slice straight from the oven - from £4). It is easy to guess how popular the institution is - there is always "no place for an apple to fall" in them. In this case, you should follow the crowd and look inside. Of course, this rule also applies to other European cuisines, but most often it is the Italians who manage to treat the guests of the institution tasty, varied and inexpensive.
Supermarket
Many tourists love foreign supermarkets, where the choice can only be limited by imagination. If you don't mind satisfying your hunger in your hotel room, then go grocery shopping in the coming Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer or Waitrose. You will have the same cereal with milk and a croissant as at breakfast at your hotel, but pay several times less. For example, a large box of cereal costs £2 on average, a carton of milk starts at £0.45, and a croissant in the fresh bakery department is around £0.70. Of course, eating in the room is not so fun, but the savings are significant.
English pub
It is completely illogical, being in the capital of Great Britain, to bypass the typical english pub. Even if you are a categorical opponent of alcohol, it makes sense to look into the pub for the traditional Fish & Chips dish (fish and french fries). The pub can be fun and economical, especially if you are traveling with friends. If you do not abuse alcohol, then you can keep within £ 10-15 per person.
pocket food
And stock up pocket food in the case of a long excursion or trip outside London. In an unfamiliar place, it is sometimes difficult to find where you can eat inexpensively.
Tourists planning a holiday in London can use the map of London hotels to find a hotel that is suitable for the price and location. Zoom, move the map and choose the hotel that meets your needs.
There is a car rental and taxi service for arriving tourists at London Airport.
In addition, a transfer to the hotel can be pre-ordered in the Russian-speaking taxi booking service Kiwi-taxi. Compared to finding a local taxi, in addition to the traditional comfort, safety and reliability, this option has a number of advantages:
a driver with a name plate will meet you at the arrivals area;
in case of a flight delay, the driver monitors the change in arrival time (no surcharges);
operators communicate with you in Russian and a Russian-speaking driver is usually provided;
child seats can be ordered in advance;
it is possible to choose any class of car (out of 12) and a car for non-standard luggage;
the price of the transfer will be known before the trip and will not change.
It is very difficult to answer correctly, because London can be both a very expensive city and a fairly budget one, if comfort is not very important to you, and you are willing to save. Therefore, I will simply give the prices, and you yourself consider.
Visa. The UK is not included in the 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 for a transfer. The most budget option is flight, you can save twice on it. Please note that the plane arrives in England at London Heathrow, and you will have a return flight to Moscow 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 in one of them will cost 9 thousand. In the coolest - 4 stars TripAdvisor - six nights will cost 14,600 rubles for two.
Nutrition. A three-course dinner in a good restaurant will cost 50-75 pounds, 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, which is 350-600 rubles. In London, delicious street food: you can buy a sandwich 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 Underground will cost 370 rubles for a trip through 2 zones and 470 rubles for a trip through 6 zones. If you use an Oyster card, you can save a lot. A metro ticket without a travel limit for a week costs 57 pounds, which is 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. 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 daily subscription costs 3800 rubles, for 3 days - 6200 rubles. You can go to a Chelsea home match for 1300 rubles. A ride on the Ferris wheel will cost about the same as visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Yes, everyone's travel budget can be different, depending on preferences and needs. But there are plenty of opportunities to save money in London!
Housing. First, it is, of course, couchsurfing. This option is good for many, but it is not suitable for those who travel with a group, do not like to live with strangers, or come to London not for a couple of days, but for a longer period. Just for such travelers, there are many options on airbnb. It is better to choose housing in the 4th or 5th zone near public transport stops.
Transport. Of course, it is best to travel on foot - it saves a lot of money, and you can get to know the city better. But sometimes transportation is indispensable. 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 the subway prefers buses, then 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, the theater and Fleet street, while bus 88 leaves Camden along Regent and Oxford streets and passes Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Tate Britain. More tips and ways to save money on transport in London.
Food. The cheapest way is to buy food in supermarkets and cook yourself. This is especially true if you're staying with local couchsurfers, 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 quality of the products is also poor. In addition to products for self-cooking, you can buy Meal Deal in stores - an analogue of a business lunch. And before closing in London's department stores, a sale on pastries and sandwiches begins.
It is relatively inexpensive to eat in London's pubs, some of which offer snacks in addition to drinks. By the way, in any pub you can ask for a free glass of water (tap water) instead of buying it. There are also all sorts of network establishments, the prices of which are lower than in restaurants. And some also have "happy hours" and promotions. For example, in Myolddutch - pancakes with discounts on Monday. Details.
Well, for the most austere and ultra-thrifty: canteens at churches and religious organizations are scattered throughout the city, where you can have a bite of soup or a sandwich for free or for a small donation. You can also find them.
Entertainment. All public museums in London are free of charge. Walking through parks, fairs, streets can also be free. But this may not be limited. If you want to go on a tour - please! Several communities of enthusiastic guides offer free walking tours in different parts of the city. For example, Free London walking tours, Free tours of London and others.
In London, you can watch plays, movies and listen to concerts for free. In The Scoop, an open amphitheater near the Tower, free cultural events are held during the warm season: 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 Ceremony of the Keys, the meetings of Parliament and the trial in the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court. You can also do this for free. You will find details, schedules 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 UK visa. 2) This trip was before the rate jump, approximately 54 rubles per 1 British pound. 3) I am a very, very, very unpretentious person :)
Firstly, I flew a low-cost airline with hand luggage (minimum clothes, one pair of shoes, a minimum set of hygiene products), a direct flight from Moscow, 4000 rubles. Secondly, I lived in a beach hostel, in a room for 15 people, but for 8,000 rubles and a 5-minute walk from Bigben. It's gorgeous!
Breakfast at the hostel was poor, so I bought food for breakfast in supermarkets; I went to restaurants three or four times during the trip. I usually dined in Chinese chifanki, for 5 pounds you can get a large container of food, including seafood, meat, and eat up for a week in advance! Pubs were on the program every day.
The main museums were reviewed on the first trip. The biggest expense for me was a wheel ticket - something like 19 pounds, if I'm not mistaken. I still don’t know why I decided to ride, because it was at that moment that it started to rain))
Moved around the city almost always on foot. I used Oyster only on buses, they are cheaper than the metro, and the bus network covers the whole city. If I wasn’t afraid to ride a bike around the city, I would also save on transport. There are plenty of parking lots around 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 at 50 you can try;)
You can save $50 on housing as follows:
1) Register on airbnb.com and verify your profile.
Updated 01/29/2020
Where to eat tasty and inexpensive in London so that you do not spend your entire budget for the first dinner and do not ruin your vacation.
Fish&Chips at Wetherspoons pub chain In this post, we will tell you how you can save on food in London, while still trying the local cuisine and not going hungry.
This list of establishments is based on personal experience.
1. Pub chain Wetherspoons
The Wetherspoons pub chain is my top pick for cheap food in London.
Firstly, these are traditional English pubs, which every tourist must visit for the sake of the atmosphere and local cuisine.
Secondly, it is a huge network of pubs throughout the UK, where you can not only eat cheaply, but also drink beer.
For comparison, in an ordinary pub the price for a pint of beer is about 5 pounds, in the pubs of this network - beer from 2 pounds. It is also convenient for tourists that establishments in the center are found literally on every corner and the menu contains dishes of English cuisine, which the traveler will first of all want to try.
Jacket potatoes (jacket potatoes in English) + beer for 6 pounds The peculiarity of this network in promotions is that often a drink is included in the price of the offer (this is non-alcoholic or beer to choose from). Or on Friday, for example, in some pubs there is a "fish day" and the famous English FISH & CHIPS and beer are on sale for about 7 pounds, while in other establishments such a dish without a drink can cost 15 pounds.
Prices in the pubs of this network are slightly different, so I write approximate prices. Current prices and promotions can be viewed in their application.
Wetherspoons pubs on a map of London
Very, by the way, a convenient application - you can find the nearest institution on the map. On the spot you can make an order by indicating the table number.
2. Asian restaurant chains Itsu, Wasabi
There are two very popular chains of Asian fast food restaurants in London, the prices are quite affordable.
Assortment: rolls, sushi, salads and all kinds of Asian dishes, such as teriyaki chicken with rice. You know, the food in these meetings is quite tasty and not every expensive restaurant can boast such fresh rolls. The food there is never stale, apparently because of the affordable prices.
Examples of prices: a set of rolls from 5 pounds, 2 sushi - 2 pounds, salad 3-4 pounds.
But the most important thing is not even that. Just a gift for a budget tourist is that the Itsu restaurant half an hour before closing discounts the entire remaining assortment by 50%. That is, you can eat deliciously for 10 pounds together. Wasabi also practices this, but not in all establishments.
It is important to note: in these chains of establishments, prices for food on the spot and takeaway are different, eating on the spot is insignificant, but more expensive.
3. Borough market
Borough Market is an incredible adventure that everyone should experience. It's hard to believe, but this market is almost 1000 years old. In addition to being one of the most important attractions in London, there are a huge number of delicacies that will appeal to any gourmet.
The main advice is to go on an empty stomach, here you will definitely be fed, and even for free.
There are many seafood stalls in the market. "Oyster" we could not pass by and took a set of 4 oysters plus a glass of champagne for 10 pounds.
Where to eat cheap oysters in London 4. Pret A Manger
Pret A Manger is the most popular and inexpensive fast food chain in London. They position themselves as healthy food restaurants. You can find it on every corner, literally, sometimes two in one building. There are always a lot of people there - it is popular among tourists and locals.
Assortment: sandwiches, salads, soups, cereals.
Takeaway food is also cheaper here.
5. Chinese buffets
It is worth paying attention to Chinese buffets. These are oriental restaurants where you can eat whatever you want for a fixed price. Drinks are usually not included in the price, but water can be requested for free. There are a lot of such establishments in the Soho area.
6. Shops
In London, almost all supermarkets have a huge selection of ready-made food. The most popular chains: TESCO, Sainsbury's, M&S Food.
You can buy in the store and eat quietly at the hotel, as we sometimes did.
Discounted meal from £4.4 to £1.09
For the most economical:
By the evening, a lot of discounted food comes across, these are products that will soon expire, but you can still eat.
7. McDonald's and other fast food
No matter how trite it may sound, McDonald's still remains a lifesaver for a budget tourist.
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