London is famous for Parliament and Savile Row.
For many, it is not a place to visit solely for its cuisine. People who feel this way tend to have food-critic tastes and budgets to match.
As with all stereotypes, this one fades with each passing year. Excellent food and reasonable prices are not that hard to find. In fact, the cosmopolitan nature of this vast city makes it one of the best locations on earth for sampling a variety of dishes.
Let's start with breakfast.
Bed-and-breakfast establishments typically offer a morning meal that will tide you over until dinner. Lunch need not be more than a snack. If you stay at a conventional hotel where breakfast is not included, consider this: Unlike Paris and many other European cities, you can find hearty breakfasts in restaurants here that will not break the budget.
Lunch and even dinner can be a "picnic" assembled at London's markets.
London's pubs have long been a place to enjoy an inexpensive meal and incomparable atmosphere. Beware: developers are putting up imitations of the authentic neighborhood pubs throughout the city. The imitations are frequently long on expense and short on authenticity.
Habits you form here to save money eating can be helpful across Europe. The idea is to eat a big, free breakfast when possible, take it easy on lunch, and save the bulk of your food budget for nice dinners that expose you to the culture of your destination.
Searching for Dining Deals on the Internet
There are a number of guides that give information based on price ranges, generally using "expensive-moderate-inexpensive" or similar designations.
London Dining Guide provides links to restaurants in a fairly wide area.
Other guides are less structured, and often assembled by students or people with an interest in helping visitors to London.
For more about budget travel in London, take a look at getting there, accommodations you can afford, getting around the city on a budget, and things to do that won't break the bank.
Elsewhere at About
About's London for Visitors site offers a wide selection of links to dining links.
