Everything has gone up

[coulditbeme2323]

Had a great weekend (one night) as family of five in London.

Just dawned on me paying the CC bill last night how expensive things have got.

Now London has never been cheap, but I think it cost us probably double what it would pre COVID and that was only 6 years ago.

We were only there 36 hours, and it cost quite a bit of money - not that I regret it.

But delicious!

Plenty I would imagine!

Inflation has increased prices by 32% since 2018. However that is an average so lot of services have gone up more. Some categories of goods such as clothes and electronics have not gone up too much

Some will do a meal deal in a park or m & s picky bits in evening in hotel room as preference though.
It depends what priorities are but if you are maximising sightseeing time or just wanting to a quick meal then spending under £20 for a family of 4 for lunch versus £60-£80 in a mediocre chain coffee shop makes sense.
Again what you are used to but if you usually have homemade sandwiches a meal deal can feel like a treat, kids often love being able to choose.
I’ve only been to Byron once and was underwhelmed so a nice m & s prawn sandwich on a bench in a park in May while people watching is definitely more my speed.

Lidl own brand (dark blue label) is very very good. Properly thick and not watery

Yes they do!
If I’m there for an event or visiting a venue ie not a weekend away in a hotel, I’ll absolutely get a sandwich and sit in a park to eat it.
London isn’t a theme park!

It isn't, but it's also one of the best culinary cities in the world!

I don't want a sandwich from Sainsburys when I visit!

No way was it for two, not a chance!

OP I'm now slightly obsessed with Cakes and Bubbles.

On the website, it says that the cheesecake is made with Baron Bigod Cheese, Hazelnut and White Chocolate.

Baron Bigod cheese is on my list of 'things to try recommended by Mumsnet' but I don't like the more stinky French cheeses and just haven't got round to it yet.

Does this cheesecake taste like it's made from pongy French cheese or is it just sweet creamy deliciousness?

No it's just pure sweetness, that you eat with little biscuits rather than a spoon!

People want the national minimum wage to keep increasing
People are shocked when sectors that historically utilise minimum wage jobs have to increase their prices

Spot on.

Yes, it's basically an inflationary cycle. Minimum wage goes up, everything else goes up, may as well not have gone up in the first place.

It's a shame this logic does not apply to bankers/director's bonuses!

I’m a firm believer in if you want something have it. Life too short to go without or shop in Lidl for that matter 😋

Concur

I can understand paying for a special meal or treat like your cheesecake if that’s your thing but that’s part of experience.
I thought you were talking more about costs generally and the tap tap of card just adding up.
Say a family of 4 go to London overnight.
Family A - buys fancy coffees at station, buys lunch at Costa, dinner at Byron burger. Watch show. Overnight in hotel and then more coffees and pizza express before heading home.
Family B take some snacks and drinks for train, meal deal in park and the kids run around. Watch show. Picky m & s picnic in bed. Overnight in hotel - everyone fills up at breakfast buffet. Some snacks on train.
Both have had the same treat - seeing the show but family B spent hundreds less than A.
Each to their own. I’m family B as I don’t think bog standard run of mill food adds to experience and isn’t worth it cost wise. The treat would be the show, perhaps one food thing you were going specifically for eg I can remember taking my dd to a specific cupcake shop.

But some people just aren't that into food! (Or have allergies or fussy kids or don’t like eating alone, or don't want to waste time sitting eating when they could be doing stuff, or like feeling like a local eating a sandwich on the heath in the sun people watching rather than being stuck in an overpriced restaurant with other peoples kids making a noise...etc)

You might spend more on food but be happy to stay in a Premier Inn or get decent but but not amazing seats at the theater.
Someone else might just see food as fuel but refuse to stay anywhere that isn't 5 star, or think that if you're going to see a show you want a good view!

Or they might think they can "do" a trip to London once a year going all out, or twice a year on a budget and prefer the second.

Everyone has different priorities.

I do also shop willingly in Lidl (amongst other supermarkets)
Either you are happy to spend £2000 on a weekend in London or not. Personally I’d do it for much less and it wouldn’t negatively affect the experience but we are all different.

This is the issue for most of the places people are complaining about. Eateries on weekends, supermarkets, pubs. It's less of an issue for online retailers as they're staffing one warehouse and not loads of shops, but then fuel to get the stuff to their customers has massively increased... And so on.

Most families of five can do 36h in London for a fun weekend without spending £2k. It’s not the norm.

Of course you can, I didn't suggest you couldn't!

You can in West Yorkshire! I was amazed at the huge portions, top quality and low prices for food in cafes, restaurants and markets in and around the Calder Valley