Supermarkets in London
London is a very competitive market, meaning families have access to everything from budget-friendly options and smaller express supermarkets to both large supermarkets and more premium outlets.
Popular supermarket brands in London include:
- Marks and Spencer (M&S);
- Aldi;
- Lidl;
- Asda;
- Tesco;
- Sainsbury's;
- Waitrose.
According to a Which? survey of the UK's best grocery stores, M&S continues to be voted the number one option, followed by mid-range Tesco and then Aldi, a bargain supermarket. Aldi perfectly balances quality food with low prices, which has made it a consistent favorite among consumers.
Budget-friendly options
Unfortunately, there's not an Aldi in central London, so plan some time into your schedule to venture out of Zone 1 should you wish to. The good news is that there are 13 Aldi's elsewhere across London. Although you should be prepared to shop in two separate supermarkets, as Aldi still lacks variety in herbs, spices and world food.
Lidl has a similar brand identity to Aldi, but it is cheaper. If you are a smart shopper, buying your basics (such as fruits, vegetables and dairy) in Lidl will save you money and still provide good quality. Like Aldi, the chain has started to rebrand its image and offers more mid-range and higher-quality goods but is slightly falling behind Aldi's popularity. When you are in Lidl, look out for the “Deluxe” range and the fresh bakery section. Be aware that some of its lesser-known brands are of lower quality. Therefore, trial and error is sometimes needed. The closest Lidl to central London is in Canary Wharf.
Mid-range supermarkets
Known for its good bakery, fish counter and butchers, the supermarket chain Asda is owned by Walmart. Its image is based on affordable, quality food. Asda is viewed as cheaper than Tesco and Sainsbury's but is more expensive than Aldi and Lidl. Asda is in very tight competition with other chains, so it often has desirable deals.
So much so that Asda claims to be consistently 10% cheaper than their competitors, and if you purchase anything that is not, they will give you back the difference. Asda stores are located somewhere other than central London.
Tesco is the biggest supermarket chain in the UK, with 311 stores in London. The supermarket is usually embroiled in price wars with its closest competitors, Asda and Sainsbury's. It carries out price matching on most of its products to keep them as low as possible. Tesco Express stores are all over the city and are easily accessible if you are in a hurry or for last-minute purchases. In fact, Tesco Express has a good lunch meal deal offer: £3.90 for its regular price and £3.40 for those with a Clubcard.
Sainsbury's is the second-largest supermarket chain in England. It offers a much greater variety, particularly for specific diets (e.g., gluten-free, halal, organic, healthy food, etc.). Sainsbury's is more expensive than the above supermarkets but less expensive than M&S and Waitrose. It also has express supermarkets across the city centre. Sainsbury's has a good deli section, fish counter, butchers and bakery.
Don't succumb to expensive brands in Sainsbury's. Their own “Taste the Difference” range is of high quality and cheaper. They also have a much more affordable “Sainsbury's basics” range if you are on a tight budget.
Premium options
Waitrose has a wide choice of deli and healthy food and is well known for its ethical business practices (sustainable fish, fair trade, organic produce, etc.). Waitrose is more expensive than Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and M&S. Waitrose also has many “Little Waitrose” dotted around London if you are in a rush and need something convenient.
Finally, M&S is a supermarket that's well connected with clothes shops and homeware. Traditionally a clothing shop with a food section, M&S food is becoming a brand in its own right. Many express M&S food supermarkets are now dotted around London. The brand is known for its wide selection of party and world food and is best for a treat rather than weekly shopping. It also offers great dine-in offers regularly that are tailored to different cuisines and themes, like their family stir fry dine-in for just £6 or their dine-in pizza offer that includes two pizzas and two sides for only £12.
Good to know:
Avoid the express supermarkets for your big weekly shopping as they are more expensive and suited to convenience shopping.
If you are trying to save money, check that their price-matching service is up to date. Tesco will often lower product prices if they are higher than those of their competitors.
