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Student Ereza shares her hacks for eating out and enjoying some of the best food that London has to offer, while still sticking to a student budget.   

Being a foodie while living in London as a student can be a challenge. With high restaurant prices and grocery bills stacking up, it sometimes seems impossible to eat well without breaking the bank. Here are some of my top tips for enjoying great food in London without overspending: 

Dining out on a budget: TimeOut and FirstTable  

If you’re like me and you love eating out but hate the high prices, TimeOut and FirstTable are both game changers, especially for special occasions. 

FirstTable offers 50% off meals at top London restaurants when you book the first or last table of the evening - usually around 5pm or 9pm. The app is super easy to use: sign up, browse available restaurants, and book a slot for a small fee (typically £5).

Many of the featured spots are high-end restaurants so it’s the perfect way to enjoy an affordable celebratory meal.

And just like that, you get half-price dining. Many of the featured spots are high-end restaurants, so it’s the perfect way to enjoy an affordable celebratory meal.  

TimeOut is another personal favourite with weekly food offers and discounts on great restaurants across London. A recent deal included a Margherita pizza with any topping for just £5 at ICCO, a popular pizzeria near SOAS. Keep an eye out on TimeOut’s latest offers to explore new local food spots for cheap!  

My favourite student discount apps UNiDAYS and StudentBeans both offer many discounts across London restaurants and stores, and are a great way to save extra money on purchases.  

Food shopping 

For most of us, food is one of the biggest expenses, especially as a student living alone. Some simple tips to keep grocery costs low include: 

  • Shopping at budget supermarkets and using loyalty cards: Supermarkets like Asda and Lidl both offer great deals on food and everyday essentials at low prices. Signing up for loyalty cards at any supermarket you visit often is another good way to get extra discounts and exclusive deals.
  • Using Too Good to Go: This is a popular app that allows you to buy surplus food from shops and restaurants for a fraction of the price - and sometimes even for free! It’s one of my favourite cheap ways to stock up on ingredients while also reducing food waste.
Rows of fruit and vegetables
Image credit: nrd via Unsplash
  • Looking for reduced labels: Grocery stores often discount fresh food close to its sell-by date in the evenings. Planning your grocery visits later in the evening means you can pick up heavily discounted items, making it an easy way to grab a cheap dinner or meal prep for the next day.  
  • Meal prepping: By planning your meals in advance, you can shop smarter and stick to budget-friendly ingredients. Cooking in batches and freezing food also helps with reducing daily food costs.   

Being a student in London doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your love for great food. Take advantage of all the student offers and deals available while you can!   

Header image credit: Ambitious Studio* | Rick Barrett via Unsplash

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Ereza Hasani is studying for an MSc in Development Studies and is a student ambassador at SOAS.

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