You’ve moved to London and you want to be as cost effective as possible, so it’s important you know of the cheap spots that doesn’t compromise on quality. When it comes to money, one in five have never budgeted, which has led to 84% of people worrying about making ends meet — with the biggest damage being dietary requirements (60%), soon followed by mental health (50%), relationships (42%) and grades (34%) consequently.

Great dining experiences

Regardless of us moving to one of the most expensive cities in the world, we don’t want to compromise on socialising — so much so, the Student Living Index of 2017 reported that students spend £43.30 a month on going out with mates. To help you get the most out of your money, take a look at some of our top suggestions for eating out in London:

Dining at Franco Manca

You can’t go wrong with an Italian dish from Franco Manca. With over 40 pizzerias in London alone, the sourdough pizzas are to die for and are super affordable. Accompanied with quality ingredients, the brick oven bakes the pizzas, subsequently leaving a beautiful crust to munch on — and no, crusts don’t give you curly hair!

It’s completely affordable too, no exaggeration. Although with this USP comes a downside — Franco Manca is no secret to Londoners, meaning that there’s always a queue outside. A tomato, garlic and oregano pizza could be yours for only £4.95 (with extra toppings ranging from £0.50-£1.75). You’ll need something to wash down your main, so non-branded beers and ciders are available to purchase for £3.65 and are just as good, if not better! Post pizza, grab yourself a desert for just £3.95 too!

You won’t have to dip into your savings when eating at Franco Manca, as the average meal prices comes to around £12.00pp.

Dining at Haché Burgers

Haché is a hit with everyone — from locals and tourists to our favourite celebrities. If the food was good enough for Amy Winehouse, it’s worth a try to get those taste buds going! (Amy’s favourite on the menu was the Steak Canadien).

If you’re looking to split the bill, why not opt for a sharing starter? The perfect way to kick off a great evening. Although this is a burger bar, there are plenty of vegetarian options that help make a more inclusive environment for all. Burgers are presented in fresh ciabatta or a brioche bun — served with tomato and sliced sweet red onion, along with a little bit of mustard mayo which is to die for. Sides, desserts and drinks are also reasonably cheap!

“You could get a decent burger, but nothing like Haché” was one statement from luxury magazine, Tatler.

Dining at Terry’s Café

Expect plenty of nights on the town when living in London and the only thing that can make you better the next morning is a full English. Terry’s Café is here to help you start your day off in the right way — fixing that headache (and heartache?) in a jiffy. The café itself is in Suffolk and is heavily proud of its British culture — as you walk in this will be evident with the countless of black and white photographs documenting local history.

Expect a fry up to cost you around £8 at this café too. If you can’t stomach a fry-up on the morning, alternatives range from filling omelettes to porridge! On your visit, you must order a pot of tea — what they’re most known for — and if you enjoy it that much, you can buy a box to take home!

Great drinking experiences

You don’t want to compromise on the typical student lifestyle because of the extortionate prices of London. We take a look at some of the hidden gems that will save you a fortune:

Drinking at the Shoreditch

If you love to boogie on the dancefloor, take a trip to The Shoreditch, who are specialised in making the most delicious cocktails with a Tiki theme. Offering a Happy Hour service, you can purchase two cocktails or four beers for £10 — and there’s no rush, with this offer spanning from 2pm to 10pm daily!

Eating and drinking at Café Kick and Bar Kick

There’s always a deal available for grabs at this place, with house beer costing only £2.50 a bottle. If you’re closer to Bar Kick, this branch offers the same deals — perfect for students dotted around the capital.

Drinking at Bar Elba

The most affordable bar with a great view of the London skyline. Take plenty of pics — Instagram at the ready! Accompanied with their two-for-one Happy Hour deals (5pm-7pm), it is the perfect location to start a sophisticated night out.

Remember to make as many savings as you can — then you can look at the different Oxford bus times and plan a weekend away!

Sources:

https://personal.natwest.com/personal/life-moments/student-living-index.html

https://order.francomanca.co.uk/#/

https://www.savethestudent.org/money/student-money-survey-2017.html

https://hacheburgers.com/our-story/

https://www.timeout.com/london/bars-and-pubs/bar-elba

Author

Northern girl Laura is the epitome of a true entrepreneur. Laura’s spirit for adventure and passion for people blaze through House of Coco. She founded House of Coco in 2014 and has grown it in to an internationally recognised brand whilst having a lot of fun along the way. Travel is in her DNA and she is a true visionary and a global citizen.

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