Fergusbrandon

London has a not-too-good reputation for being an expensive city both for residents and for tourists due to which many people from across the world shirk away from visiting it despite the fact that they would have loved to see and experience all that this magnificent city has to offer. However, the silver lining on this dark cloud is that there are many ways of visiting and staying in London without burning a hole in your pocket, especially in the field of food which is one of the major ingredients of the total cost of your trip. There are various options for availing of budget food in London.

Street Food: If you are a gourmet and wish to have tasty food but if you lack sufficient money to eat out at some of London’s best restaurants, the best option is to enjoy street food which is available almost everywhere in the city and its markets. You can find plenty of stalls offering cheap food at fun events, food markets and even at the best night markets in the city. They offer excellent food of exceptional quality in disposable containers. For reasonably-priced, satisfying food, you can try any of the following places: Makatcha at Schoolyard Market, Chatsworth Road Market, Elys Yard and Old Truman Brewery; Hot Box at Street Feast, Model Market; Crabbieshack at Kerb; Club Mexicana at Street feast, Model Market; Allihopa at Kerb; Deeney’s at St Katharine Docks, Broadway Market and Chatsworth Road Market; Pilau Pot at Leather Lane Market, The Cheese Truck at Maltby Street Market; Ta Ta Eatery at Druid Street Market; Hank’s Po Boys at Kerb, South Bank Centre Food Market and at many more places.

Food from Across the Globe: All types of cuisines from all round the world are available in London including Vietnamese, Korean, Malaysian, Turkish, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern. London has many restaurants offering these varieties of food at reasonable and affordable cost. If you avoid alcohol, you can easily have a delicious two-course meal at about £10 per person.

For staying close to most attractions of the city and the various cheap eating joints, it would be best to stay at Montcalm Hotel London City which also offers comfortable accommodation with plenty of facilities, besides its strategic location.

Pre-Theatre Deals: If you are visiting a theatre you will certainly not enjoy the show if you start feeling hungry in the middle of the show. As such, it would be a good idea to have an early evening meal before the show by availing of special deals that are offered by some restaurants for theatre-goers in the West End. As such, if you plan to have an early evening meal, between 5:30pm to 7.30pm, you should have a light lunch.

Supermarket Food: Most supermarkets in London offer special meal deals that include a sandwich, fruits and a soft drink for about £3. You can also get a wide range of ready-to-eat food as well as prepare your own roll or sandwich. Cheap ready meals are also available at many supermarkets such as at Marks & Spencer but you should have cooking facilities or a microwave to be able to heat the food.

English Breakfast: If you are staying in a hotel that offers free breakfast or if its price is included in the room rate, you will be able to enjoy a traditional English cooked breakfast which is always very filling and can last until evening if you only have a light lunch. If there is no free breakfast available, you can go to the nearest cafe where you may have to pay about £5–£7 and it is available all day.

Soft Launches: Many new restaurants offer attractive discounts, usually up to 50% off the price of the meal, so that real people can experiment with the food being offered and their reviews will help them to test their menu.

Most attractions and other places of interest of London are located in the heart of the city and as such there is a huge demand for accommodation at the various Hotels In Central London.

Taste Card: Thousands of restaurants in the UK, even including major chains, offer 50% off or 2 for 1 deals, through the Taste Card. It costs about £100 for a year and at times you can get a 12-month card for £29.99 or a 3 month Taste Card for £1.

Discount Vouchers: Discount vouchers are valid for and offer good value at chain restaurants such as at pizza and pasta chains, Burger joints, European food restaurants, places serving Vietnamese food or Asian food, family-friendly restaurants, and restaurants serving French food or Portuguese-style chicken.

Deals Websites: There are some websites that offer special deals such as Travelzoo that offers discounts regularly on Michelin-star restaurants.

Cafes: You can also avail of daily specials that are offered at most cafes for many variations on the English breakfast that consists of a meat and two-vegetable combination.

Drinks in Restaurants are Expensive: For saving money, just take tap water in restaurants as drinks are expensive.

Pub Food: This is a cheap option but you need to choose carefully as some pubs are cheaper than others. Weatherspoon pubs are one of the cheapest.

Get the Extra Food Packed: You should not feel shy in asking the restaurant to pack the remaining food if you have ordered too much food.

Set Lunches are Cheaper: Take set lunches instead of eating in the evening.

Takeaways: This is a good option as cheap food is delivered to your home or hotel.

Read the Menu Before Entering: Since menus are displayed outside the restaurant near the entrance, it is best to read it for checking minimum charges and whether discretionary service charges may be added to your bill. It can be 10-12.5% but it is actually the tip that need not be paid by you. Normally, UK residents tip about 10% in a restaurant.