Cheap food shops near Covent Garden??

ShockingPink

Asking this on behalf of a friend's daughter: she's about to start Uni in London, and will be living in Covent Garden (no, I'm not envious...). Obviously she's worried that general shopping will be incredibly expensive,

Does anyone know of either any specific shops/supermarkets/markets or the streets to head to for cheap food (i.e where the locals - there must still be some! - shop)?

Many thanks for any help or information you can give!

brazilianwax

Depends where in Covent Garden she'll be living really.

There's a small Tesco Express on Bedford Street (near the Piazza), another on the Strand (next to Waterloo Bridge) and another next to Trafalgar Square.

Cross the river and there's a small Sainsbury's opposite Waterloo.

There are M&S food stores in Charing Cross and Waterloo stations.

You have to go a bit further out to find a proper supermarket. Maybe delivery is the way to go!

jenniewb

For eating out, a place on Neal Street which name I forget sells veggie foods but the portions are big and the food is a good price- great for eating out with mates, really friendly and fantastic food!

For shops, Tescos is close by, but not that big. The bigger Tescos have cheaper items and there is on on Old Kent Road which is a bus ride away (no.168 goes there). I am sure there are more North of the River but I don't know exactly where! The one on Old Kent Road takes about 20 mins bus ride to get to, but its a no-walk journey and the bus terminates at the Tesco stop so you can't miss it. It closes at 10pm mon-sat and is open Sunday.

Other larger Tesocs which are further away are Earls Court, Surrey Quays, near the Wembly Ikea...try contacting Tescos, Sainsburys and other supermarkets for any directions to more stores). On Old Kent Road you will also find a Lidl, and Asda and I think an Aldi as well.

Market wise I would advise getting on a bus or tube and going to Angel Islington where just across the road and near to M&S there is a street market with fresh food. There is also a fairly large Sainsburys there. Buses 73, 14 and many others will take you there as well as the tube, Nothern line from Holborn.

There are many other food street markets around London (Borough Market is great for delux items for special occassions, fri-sunday, East Street inbetween Camberwell/Elephant and Castle, Lewisham Market, Deptford Market, Woolwich Market....)

For books, if not in the Uni library, Charing Cross Road has a Boarders, a Foyles and a Blackwells. Closer to Trafalgar Square there are more second hand book stores and book stores with random books in.

Stompa

I doubt that there's anywhere that could be called 'cheap' in that area. I'd have thought she'd be best off asking existing students when she gets there - they're bound to have sussed out the cheapest places.

RHemmings

I haven't been there for a few years. But there used to be a huge Sainsbury's up the top of Tottenham Court Road, across the road from Warren Street Station. Or has that disappeared?

For eating out, if you keep going "up" Tottenham Court road across the Warren Street intersection, where it changes to a different road, then there's a street with many Indian restaurants on the right. There's one in there, Chutneys, which had for many years a very good value all you can eat lunch deal.

Down in Charing Cross Road, there used to be a place called Gaby's, which did reasonably priced food. Take out and the like, plus some eat in.

redj5

Yes, there is still a large [by central London standards] Sainsburys on Tott Court Road near Warren St tube station.

Also, there are a number of oriental shops around China town selling their goods cheaper than supermarket - best have a scout aournd when she's there.