Today marks the end of my second week living and interning in London, one of the world’s global financial hubs and, as I have quickly learned, one of the most expensive cities to survive in without turning your wallet into a black hole.
London is an interesting blend of old-world charm and fast-paced modernity. Compared to life in the U.S., everything feels just a bit different, from the accents, the obsession with tea (understandable), the ease of getting literally anywhere via public transport, and the way the city seems designed for walking rather than driving. There is also a noticeable “work hard, pub harder” energy after 5 PM, as flocks of professionals spill out into the streets with pints in hand. However, among all the differences, there’s one British institution that has captured my heart and my lunch budget.
Enter the Meal Deal.
For just £3.75 (about five bucks back home), you can walk into a Tesco, Sainsbury’s, or one of the many corner stores blanketing the city and walk out with a full meal, from a main, snack, and drink in hand. Sounds simple? Sure. Revolutionary? Absolutely.
You get your choice of a main, like a chicken tikki masala sandwich (delicious), a poke bowl (crazy), or even a salmon teriyaki rice box (also yummy). Then a snack, anything from crisps to a fruit bowl, or my personal favorite, the butter chicken hot pocket. (Yes, it exists.) Wash it down with a sparkling water, smoothie, or iced coffee, and boom, London’s most efficient lunch is secured.
I am not alone in this discovery. Every office lunch hour, I see a steady stream of people clutching their meal deals looking for a patch of grass, a quiet bench, or just somewhere to reset for 30 minutes before heading back to work. It is almost like a ritual. A lifestyle, you can say.
Whether you need a quick workday lunch, a budget-friendly dinner, or a midnight snack that feels just a little fancy, the humble meal deal delivers. And after two weeks in one of the world’s most expensive cities, it’s safe to say, my favorite London luxury comes in plastic packaging and costs less than a latte.\
