TripHip - Travel Tips and Advice for Traveling on a Budget

Eating out in England, particularly in London, is much more expensive than in the USA. However, the traditional fare of fish and chips, wrapped in paper and eaten on a park bench is as good as gets. Sprinkle salt and vinegar on the battered fish, just like the locals do!

Alternatively, pubs serve excellent home-cooked fare, often called 'Pub Grub' which is always generously portioned, hot and tasty.

Carveries are another great British deal - basically they are all you can fit on your plate from the buffet and include carved meats, crispy roast potatoes, a wide selection of vegetables and sides along with lashings of thick brown gravy.

London is the 16th most expensive city in the world so expect to pay a lot more for food, drinks, accommodation and tickets to attractions. The most expensive cafés and restaurants are in the city centre and close to the main attractions. Although cafés along the Embankment of the River Thames look charming, they will be expensive. Soho is generally pricey, along with Notting Hill. Greenwich has many restaurants, with a range of prices. Chinatown is a good area to head for as there are always bargain menus. Head for the Baozi Inn in Chinatown where a set lunch is around £8.50 and main courses at night are tasty at around £8 each. Indian and Ethnic restaurants are also good places to find filling food on the cheap. Jambo in Tottenham, Kitfo House in Vauxhall and Dosa n’Chutny in Tooting all do great food at sensible prices. Comptoir Libanis serves Lebanese cuisine in Marylebone. It has no menus, just a self-service counter so you help yourself, pay the cashier and sit on a stool. You save on service charges too!

Vegetarian restaurants are also surprisingly cheap, even if you’re not a vegetarian yourself. Beatroot in Soho serves comfort food such as bean hotpot and veggie shepherds’ pie for under £7, or head for the community-run Bonnington Centre Café in Vauxhall Grove. The Garden Café on Lambeth Palace Road is another star, with vegetarian main courses for around £6.