In news that will come as a shock to Londoners and visitors alike, London has somehow been officially declared one of the UK’s best cities for foodies on a budget. That’s right, according to recent research from Canvas, if you’re a foodie and you’re counting your coins, London is still one of the best cities to visit. In fact, we’re the third best city in the UK for gourmands who don’t want to drop all their cash on one meal.
After analysing how many of a city’s restaurants were ‘cheap eats‘, and looking at the average price of a three-course meal for two, Coventry was crowned the best UK city for foodies on a budget. Following closely behind was Southampton, and then London in third place.
It’s no secret that London is a proper foodie destination. We’ve got world-class restaurants, Michelin-starred dining, incredible street food, and more. But naturally, that means that there is also a wealth of ultra-expensive restaurants. Plus, with prices seemingly ever on the rise in the past few years, London has (understandably) developed a reputation for being an incredibly expensive place to dine.
Despite that, London’s street food traders, pop-up vendors, and hidden budget spots still make the city an affordable place to eat! Plus, with so much choice in our city, there’s something for every foodie, no matter their taste.
The best cities for foodies on a budget
So, if you want to eat well without overspending, where should you go? Here are the top 10 cities in the UK for foodies on a budget:
- Coventry
- Southampton
- London
- Cardiff
- Sheffield
- Oxford
- Liverpool
- York
- Glasgow
- Leicester
Average dinner prices
Now, even though there are plenty of affordable eats in London, you might think the average price of dinner is far higher than elsewhere. However, thanks to the proliferation of budget spots, the average price of a three-course meal in London was on par with other affordable foodie destinations in the UK.
The average price of a dinner for two in the list-topping Coventry is a mere £50, matched only by Liverpool. Meanwhile, the average price in Southampton is £59, and an average dinner for two costs just one pound more in London. Other great cities for foodies on a budget had similar average costs, with Sheffield, Oxford, Glasgow, and Leicester all coming in at the £60 mark. Cardiff was marginally cheaper at £57.50, while an average meal for two in York will run you £61.
So, next time you’re wondering where to go to explore a culinary world without breaking the bank, why not just stick it out in London? (Or head to one of the other lovely cities in the list.)
