Where to buy groceries?? and other London, United Kingdom Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: TESCO!

Tesco groceries (express or regular) are awesome. They have the same selection and more compared to Sainsbury, who rips you off! They're prices are cheaper by anywhere from 5p to 2 quid! (American translation= 10 cents to $4!)

Yeah. Tesco for large amounts of grocery and off-license shops or Sainsbury (if you must) for quick emergencies.



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Theme: Food and Drink
Address: random areas in London
Website: www.tesco.com

Name of Shop: Street Markets...any of them!

Alright, alright. So I'm not describing a "shop" (again!) so to speak, but as student living in London (who has to pay her own living expenses! aCk!) I'm mostly concerned with how to "get by" rather than trying to get the latest pair of kitten heeled boots.

Toilet paper. VERY important. Probably one of the most important things to purchase. And also one of the hardest things to price, because c'mon! It's one of lifest necessities (except for those of you who clean your rears with newspaper!) You need toilet paper. However, do you REALLY want to spend a pound or more on JUST four rolls of toilet paper? NO! You don't.

Solution: go to the street markets where you can get as many as 10 rolls for 1 quid! Amazing. That comes to 10p per roll of tp! hehe! :-D

What To Buy: Good, quality 4ply toilet paper that doesn't flake on you!

What To Pay: less than 10p a roll!

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Theme: Other
Address: Toilet Paper Lane
Directions: Run around till you find a street market that sells toilet paper for 10 p or less! If you find it for less, TELL ME!

Name of Shop: Primark

Call it a JC Penney's in London. (Not that I ever did shop at JC Penney's in the U.S.)

**This was a recommendation from my flatmate. I haven't actually been here.

Primark is like a department store but with much more reasonable prices. Very good for basics like tshirt, tanks and underwear (the underwear can't beat Marks and Sparks though!)

Check this place out if Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Oxford Street is just a little out of your price range.

What To Buy: Just the basics.

What To Pay: Whatever you want to spend. Shoes ran from as little as 5 pounds to 10 pounds. Pants were on average 8 pounds. Quite cheap compared to anything on Oxford Street.

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Theme: Department Store
Address: At the Hammersmith Tube stop
Directions: End of the Hammersmith and City line
Website: www.primark.co.uk

Name of Shop: Tesco AND Sainsbury!

OK, so I'm not giving a tip about a specific "shop".

If any of you remember, I just happen to be the infamous "salt poster". Yes. I posted in the London forum inquiring as to where I could purchase some SALT. Because I quite honestly could not find it ANYWHERE! Not in Tesco, Sainsbury, or even one of those off-license newsagents! And it wasn't just me either! 4 of my other friends could find salt either!!!

However, much to our dismay, we did find salt. In Tesco. in Sainsburys. And even in one of those little off-license newsagents!

Salt does not come in a normal cannister. It comes in 1) a paper bag 2) a bullet-shaped looking receptacle 3) a box.

Happy salt hunting!

What To Buy: Salt is very important to one's diet. In moderation of course. And it is essential in baking AND cooking. Like when you're trying to make chicken!

What To Pay: less than a pound I would hope!

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Theme: Food and Drink

Name of Shop: Top Shop

Top Shop. Enough said. Londoners say that Top Shop is where you go for 'relatively' cheap, up-to-the-minute trendy clothing, but with the current exchange rate, most Americans don't think it's 'relatively cheap'. (a 'trendy' top will run you about..30-40 pounds, 60-80 USD...?). But it's still definitely worth a look. I could spend hours in there, it's like an Urban Outfitters meets H&M (two stores London's Oxford Street definitely has as well). You could always buy a certain piece that 'screams' and get the chance to say you bought it in London when someone asks :-)

What To Buy: I love their little designer t-shirts, with the Top Shop specific designs that you can't get anywhere else. Their bag and scarf collection is also quite good, as is their jewelry, although I prefer to get my jewelry in the markets (or at TIffanys! ;-) ) They also have a really good selection of winter coats, which at first glance may seem like the typical coats of the season, but with a special twist that I just don't see anywhere else.

They also have a little 'home' section where you can get things to decorate your room with, like lamps and such. Also, some books which are pretty interesting, but I wouldn't buy them, but I'm a nerd and like academic books. They would make good presents though! And a little candy section, which I think is a cute addition, but pointless.

What To Pay: A t-shirt will run you about 20-30 pounds, a coat 60-90 pounds, a bag 10-50 pounds, a scarf 5-40 pounds, jewelry 5-20 pounds.

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Theme: Women's Clothes
Address: 214 Oxford Street
Directions: When you get out of the Oxford Tube, it's right there. On the north-east corner of Oxford Circus.
Website: topshop.co.uk

Name of Shop: Fortnum and Mason

Fortnum and Mason's food hall is THE place to go to make the most special picnic basket imaginable. A foodie's absolute dream (I aspire to being a professional foodie someday!), Fortnum and Mason's teas, cheese, chocolates, biscuits, foie gras and more are made of the best ingredients, the elite of all elite foods, with prices to match. But if you can afford it, grab a prepared hamper from the food hall and head over to Green Park (or Hyde Park, my favorite) for a lovely afternoon of picnicking...

What To Buy: Personally, whenever I go to London, I do grocery shopping. :-/ Fortnum and Mason's lemon curd and creme fraiche (which are both very difficult to find in the US...I'm assuming you're from the US?). They make perfect gifts and they are just lovely for guest desserts. Oh, the Fortnum and Mason's lemon biscuits. (Basically, anything from Fortnum and Mason, since you can't get it easily in the states)

My suggestion: Take the lemon curd and creme fraiche. Take equal amounts and mix them together (like, teaspoon of lemon curd and teaspoon of creme fraiche...mix...teaspoon of lemon curd and teaspoon of creme fraiche...mix...and so on). Stick it in the fridge for an hour or so. Take it out and put a dollop on a small plate, put some fruit on top whatever you like, I put strawberries or blackberries and such, and drizzle some alcohol around the outside of the plate (whatever you like) or if you prefer a more sober dessert, some fruit syrup and ta da! A lovely, fancy looking dessert that looks like you spent hours on it! Perfect for entertaining!

What To Pay: Ehh, I think I spent a little less than 10 USD on each jar of lemon curd, can't remember the creme fraiche and maybe 3 pounds on the lemon biscuits? (If you're leaving the country to return home, I suggest you buy these duty free at the airport. I almost never buy them at Fortnum and Masons..ooh that ridiculous VAT...)

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Theme: Food and Drink
Phone: +44 (0)20 7734 804
Address: 181 Piccadilly
Directions: Take the tube to Green Park or Piccadilly Circus. Right off Duke Street
Website: fortnumandmason.com

Name of Shop: Marks and Spencers

Marks and Spencers is a department store that can be found all around the UK. Very similar to a Macy's or Nordstrom (possibly even bordering on a JCPenney), Marks and Spencers offers everything from men/women/children's clothing, furniture, accessories, beauty and a food hall, which is very popular, especially around lunchtime, for picking up sandwiches and such.

What To Buy: Marks and Spencer's is well-known for their knickers and bras, which I always pick up when I'm back in the UK. You can get the cute knickers separates or by the 5-package sets of cotton knickers in different styles, from thong, to boycut and more. They're great quality and pretty cheap. Their bras are adorable, with matching knickers. Their quality is comparable to Victoria's Secret, but at far cheaper prices.

What To Pay: 5 pounds for a 5-pack of cotton knickers, 15-20 pounds for a designed bra

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Theme: Women's Clothes
Address: 173 Oxford Street
Directions: Take the Tube to Marble Arch or Oxford Circus
Website: marksandspencer.com