To be surprised at London prices?

[Boynamedsue]

Not for housing, I'm sure they're crazy but for food and drink. I'm a northerner and just spent a couple of days in London. Obviously I have been to London before but I think because I'm on my own this time I've noticed prices more than usual. And they're pretty much the same as any northern city.

I'm surprised because people always go on about how expensive London is but some places actually seem cheaper than my local big city. Maybe bars and restaurants in the north have just got really dear!

I also don't get the thing about London being unfriendly but that's probably a different thread!

The best and cheapest places to eat in London imo are the various street food markets all around central London. £5-10 a pop and always a nearby park to eat in.

I'm from the midlands living in London and I would say I notice a massive difference. Alcohol for example I would struggle to spend 10 pounds on a round in my home town but down here I would be using 20 pounds a round.

Depends where you go really. If you're drinking in the Northern Quarter in Manc, you'll pay London prices, but in my local in Lancs you'll get a pint for £2.

Food is cheap. Booze is expensive.

The trouble is (in any city I presume) it's really difficult to leave the house without spending something because there's so much opportunity to!

Also if you want to socialise and work in Central London you have to go for drinks or food out because eg NW London and SE London take hours to travel between - you don't go to people's houses.

I paid £1.90 for a pint of lager in Leeds last week- normal pub and usually less than £2.50 in the midlands-pubs

I live half week in north and half in central London. A pint in a normal central London pub would cost much more.

£1.90 a pint can only be Sam Smiths or Wetherspoons. Most places are around twice that.

Food from Indian grocers is often a quarter of the price in London compared to the north (except Leicester). I presume because almost everything in the UK comes from one of three London based distributers.