London isn’t just about fancy restaurants and £30 tasting menus. If you know where to look, you can eat like a local for under £10-sometimes even under £5. The city’s real food soul lives in its markets, corner shops, and hidden street food stalls, not in the tourist traps around Covent Garden. You don’t need a credit card with a high limit to enjoy amazing meals here. You just need to know where to go and when.
Where the locals actually eat
Most tourists head to Borough Market because it’s on every guidebook. And yes, it’s great-but it’s also packed, overpriced, and full of people paying £8 for a single sausage roll. The real secret? Go where the workers eat. Head to Brick Lane on a Sunday morning. You’ll find queues outside bakeries not because they’re trendy, but because the salt beef bagels are fresh, massive, and cost £4.50. That’s a full meal with coffee included.
Same goes for Camden Market. Yes, it’s touristy, but the food stalls run by families from Pakistan, Vietnam, and Mexico serve plates you won’t find anywhere else. Try the chicken tikka wrap at Chutney Mary’s-it’s £6, packed with flavor, and comes with spicy yogurt and pickled onions. Or grab a banh mi from Pho 88 for £4.75. It’s got grilled pork, cilantro, jalapeños, and crispy bread. You’ll walk away full and happy.
Market strategies that save you money
Markets aren’t just about food-they’re about timing. Most stalls in Old Spitalfields Market drop prices after 5 PM. A £9 falafel plate becomes £5. A £7 slice of pizza? Half price. Same goes for Leadenhall Market. The sandwich shops there close early, but if you show up at 4:30 PM, you’ll get last-minute deals on wraps and salads. One vendor told me he throws out unsold food by 6 PM, so he’ll give you half off just to clear the counter.
Another trick? Avoid weekends. Weekdays are quieter, prices are lower, and you get better service. At Borough Market, Tuesday through Thursday is the sweet spot. The stalls are fully stocked, the crowds are thin, and the vendors are more likely to throw in an extra pickle or a free sample. One vendor at the cheese stall lets you taste three kinds before buying. That’s how you find the £3.50 cheddar that tastes like it came from a farm in Yorkshire.
Street food that doesn’t cost a fortune
London’s street food scene is one of the best in Europe-not because it’s fancy, but because it’s real. Head to Woolwich Market on a Saturday. It’s not on any Instagram feed, but it’s where you’ll find the best kebabs in the city. A large doner with chips and sauce? £5.50. It’s greasy, delicious, and made fresh in front of you. No one’s charging you for the view. Just for the food.
Try the roti canai at Little India in Southall. It’s a flaky, buttery flatbread served with spicy curry for dipping. One piece costs £2.50. You can eat three and still have change from a £10 note. That’s not a snack. That’s dinner.
And don’t ignore the buskers with food carts. Around King’s Cross, you’ll find a guy selling churros with chocolate sauce for £2. They’re hot, crispy, and made in minutes. It’s not a meal, but it’s the perfect 3 PM pick-me-up after walking all day.
Supermarkets that beat restaurants
Some of the best meals in London come from a supermarket. Waitrose and Sainsbury’s have hot food counters that are better than most takeaway joints. A £4.50 chicken and pesto wrap from Sainsbury’s is fresher than the £12 version you get from a food app. Asda and Lidl are even better. Their ready meals are often made by the same suppliers as high-end restaurants, but sold at a fraction of the cost.
Try the vegetable biryani at Lidl. It’s £2.99, packed with spices, and comes with a side of raita. Heat it up in a microwave, grab a bottle of water, and you’ve got a full meal for less than £4. No one’s going to Instagram it. But you’ll be the one who ate well.
Free food tricks you didn’t know about
Some places give away food for free-if you know how to ask. Many bakeries in East London throw out unsold bread at closing time. If you show up 15 minutes before closing and ask politely, you might get a bag of day-old baguettes, sourdough, or pastries. One baker at The Flour Station in Hackney told me he gives away 10 loaves every night. He doesn’t advertise it. He just does it.
Same goes for coffee shops. Ask for a “spare cup” at any independent café. If they have leftover brewed coffee or cold brew, they’ll often give you a cup for free. It’s not a scam. It’s just good karma. One barista in Shoreditch said, “We make 20 pots a day. If no one takes the last one, it goes in the bin. Why not give it to someone who needs it?”
What to avoid
Don’t eat at restaurants with pictures of food on the menu. That’s a red flag. Those places charge extra for the photo, not the flavor. Same with places that have “London’s Best” written in big letters. They’re trying to convince you. The best food doesn’t need a sign.
Avoid anything labeled “gourmet” or “artisan” unless you’ve seen it being made. A £12 “artisan” sandwich at a chain café is just two slices of white bread with a few slices of ham. You can buy better ingredients at a market for half the price.
And skip the tourist pubs. The “traditional” fish and chips near the Thames are often frozen, reheated, and served in cardboard boxes. Go to a local pub in Peckham or Brixton instead. The fish is fresh, the chips are thick, and the portion is huge. All for £9.
Real stories from real eaters
A student from Nigeria told me she eats £3 meals every day. Her routine? Breakfast: £1.50 porridge from a market stall. Lunch: £2.50 jollof rice from a Nigerian takeaway in Peckham. Dinner: £3.50 lentil stew from a Somali café in Camden. She’s been doing this for two years. She’s healthy. She’s happy. And she’s never spent more than £8 on a meal.
An elderly couple from Poland lives in North London. Every Friday, they walk to Walthamstow Market. They buy a whole roasted chicken for £7, two loaves of bread for £2, and a jar of pickled cabbage for £1.50. They eat it all week. “We don’t need fancy,” the man said. “We just need good food.”
Final tip: Bring a reusable bag
Most markets and street vendors don’t charge for packaging. But if you bring your own bag, you’ll get faster service. And you’ll look like someone who knows what they’re doing. One vendor at Maltby Street Market gave me an extra pastry because I brought my own tote. “You’re not one of those tourists,” he said. “You’re here to eat.”
London’s cheap eats aren’t hidden. They’re just ignored. You don’t need a guidebook. You just need to walk a little further, ask a few questions, and trust your nose. The best meals aren’t the most expensive ones. They’re the ones that make you stop and say, “Wow. I didn’t expect that.”
What’s the cheapest place to eat in London?
The cheapest meals are usually found in local markets like Woolwich, Walthamstow, or Maltby Street. A kebab, roti canai, or jollof rice can cost as little as £2.50-£5. Supermarkets like Lidl and Asda also sell ready meals for under £3. The key is avoiding tourist zones and heading where locals shop.
Are food markets in London worth visiting on a budget?
Absolutely. Markets like Brick Lane, Camden, and Old Spitalfields offer the best value. Prices drop after 5 PM, and you can taste before you buy. Most stalls serve generous portions, and you can mix and match small items to build a full meal without overspending. Skip the souvenir shops and stick to the food stalls run by families.
Can you eat well in London for under £10 a day?
Yes, easily. Breakfast from a market stall (£1.50), lunch from a takeaway (£4), and dinner from a supermarket meal (£3.50) adds up to under £9. Add a £1 coffee and you’re still under £10. Many students, workers, and retirees do this daily. It’s not about deprivation-it’s about knowing where to look.
What time of day is best for cheap eats in London?
Late afternoon, between 4:30 PM and 6 PM, is the golden hour. Many vendors slash prices to avoid waste. Supermarkets mark down ready meals. Street food stalls offer half-price deals. Weekdays are better than weekends. Avoid lunch rush (12-2 PM) if you want lower prices and faster service.
Is street food in London safe to eat?
Yes. All street food vendors in London must pass health inspections and display their hygiene ratings. Many have 5-star ratings from the council. Look for busy stalls-that means high turnover and fresh food. Avoid stalls with no customers, no visible hygiene certificate, or food sitting out in the sun for hours.
Where can I find free food in London?
Some bakeries and cafés give away day-old bread or leftover coffee at closing time if you ask politely. Try independent shops in Hackney, Shoreditch, or Peckham. Don’t expect it everywhere, but it happens more than you think. Just be respectful and say thank you.
If you’re traveling on a budget, don’t think of London as an expensive city. Think of it as a place with hidden food treasures. You just have to know how to find them.