Central London - fun/cheap lunch

[milkmoustache]

I am taking two 13 year olds to London on Saturday, DD plus her french exchange. I am going to do a few tourist sites, probably Trafalgar Square, Buck Palace, then across the Thames and the South bank. I would like to take them somewhere a bit different for lunch, instead of just Pret or similar, not necessarily with typical English food but something memorable. Cheap would be good. I think we'll be walking mostly but a short bus trip would also be fine.
And if you have any other must see ideas, that would be great, ideally cheap/free! Harrods food hall is impressive, but a bit of a trek.

We like the cafe in the crypt at St Martins in the Fields (right next to Trafalgar Square).

Sorry, meant to put a link

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d2570383-Reviews-St_Martin_in_the_Fields_Cafe_in_the_Crypt-London_England.html

Selfridges food hall is usually good

We like Chipolti or Leons for a cheap lunch. Foyles books shop also has a lovely cafe but it gets really busy.

If you're south of the river, borough market?

We love going to Tibits off Regents Street. It's fun because its all a big buffet and you pay according to the weight of your plate.

Somewhere in Soho/Chinatown could be nice.

Ping Pong has a branch by the Southbank Centre - dim sum etc, not too expensive.

I like Leon . There’s some great Vietnamese in central London.

I love the look of Tibits, not heard of that before, thanks Yimmini

Chinatown for dim sum? Drummond Street for curry buffets with dosa wraps,

Definitely a Chinese meal in Chinatown - a short walk from the Trafalgar Square side of the river. Then buy buns and cakes from one of the Chinese bakeries to take away for puddding / afternoon snack.

Westminster Abbey has a great cafe info here - really atmospheric, quite hard to find actually so ask the staff.

National Portrait Gallery on Trafalgar Sq also has a cafe which would be a bit different to Pret etc. And also a restaurant with an amazing view but that’s much pricier.

Royal Festival Hall cafe could be cool in terms of location - the actual food is normal cafe stuff but it’s right on the river and you could easily pop in as you saunter along th South Bank.

This street food market is in soho. Fantastic choice of food and around £6-£7 a person.

I’ve just arranged to go to Tibits this weekend with my friend as a result of this thread. Thank you!

(Hope you find something fab too OP!)

Tibits is interesting, but beware, the first time I went my plate came to nearly 10 pounds. Not so bad as can be offset as they have tapwater very readily available.

Homeslice is great fun, just off Covent Garden.

The street food market behind the RFH is good. Not as exciting a destination as Borough Market but much more places to sit down and you can go into the hall to use the loos and wash your hands.

There's a great street food market at the foot of the Royal Festival Hall as you walk towards Waterloo with the river behind you. I second Leon, as another poster suggested. Ping Pong is very expensive.
Franco Manca pizza is delicious and very affordable. Various branches all over town.
Beijing Dumpling on Lisle St in Chinatown is fab. And cheap!

Wahaca is always good for street Mexican, or Dishoom for amazing Indian/Persian food. Yo Sushi! With their plates going around the conveyor belt is always a winner in our house too!

Another vote for China town, not a chain, and cheap. My kids also really like Chinese so it always goes down well.

You could also try the green room - restaurant behind the national theatre.

Camden! ....all sorts there to choose from.

but if you are staying more central then Chinatown would be good, if not keen on chinese then head from there toward the Post Office Tower (keep leicester Square behind you)and there's loads of places to nick into. Last time we went there was a shop where you could buy a cone of ham! Loads of gelateries. HUmmingbird Bakery is up there somewhere too.

We have had good pickings from the Southbank food market, but not sure if that is on all the time.
I love the NPGallery restaurant for breakfast, but it's gone all beige and modern, it used to be all leather button banquettes and heavy cutlery, but the food is still decent enough