Central London for lunch...

A question about : Central London for lunch...

Hi everyone,

I'm making a train journey up to the North East (Durham, specifically) on Monday, but as I am coming up from Southampton, I will be changing trains in London - which involves a journey, by the Tube for part or all of the interchange, between Waterloo and Kings Cross stations.

I will probably be arriving in London at some time between 11:00 and 11:30, and my train from Kings Cross is at 12:30 so there's a good hour or so of time, perhaps more, where I can spend a bit of time in London finding somewhere to grab a bite to eat. The question is; where are the best places to go?

Train station food is expensive, almost rip-off in fact, but I'm fully aware that I'm going to be in the capital city of England, so I'm not expecting miracles even if I buy food somewhere outside of the train station! I'm looking for somewhere where I can get a light-ish lunch, but for a good deal - are there any 'hidden gems' as such which I should aim for, or will it have to be the somewhat costly, bog-standard Subway fare? (I've done the change of trains in London a couple of times in the last year or so, and I've experienced the full force of a Subway foot-long steak and cheese baguette for Ј6 or whatever it came to!)

I'm looking for somewhere that offers slightly better value than that - a good place to grab a bite to eat between train changes, which will fill me up until I arrive in Durham in mid-afternoon!

If anyone with any experience/guidance/vouchers(!) can help me out in terms of finding somewhere which will cater for my needs (and budget!), it'd be greatly appreciated

Cheers,

mr_m

Best answers:

• Head for the new part of Kings X station (towards the Eurostar platforms), there are many new stylish eateries!
• Try and find a Garfunkels restaurant - I always eat in them when I go to London, you can have light bites to a full meal and they are reasonably priced. I admit that I have never been to Kings X so have no idea if there is a Garfunkels nearby.
• Depends on what you are looking for. There are all day breakfast type cafes in Grays Inn Road and Caledonian Road. There is a vegetarian takeaway in the Post Office opposite King's Cross station. Or you could go to the Eurostar terminal (which is in St Pancras) where there is an M&S, Camden Foods, Starbucks etc
• Hi everyone,
  Thanks Teterow and Lemmy Caution, I presume you're both referring to the St Pancras station, which is almost adjacent to Kings Cross? I had a walk through there last time I arrived at Kings Cross, looks very nice, and I won't go wrong with places like the M&S etc - I was just wondering if there were any places which offered particularly good value for money between Waterloo and Kings Cross? (Not necessarily at or adjacent to either station - for instance, either side of the Thames, or near to Trafalgar Square - places within easy reach of Waterloo by foot!)
  Horace - thanks for the suggestion - it looks like there are a couple of them within the vicinity of Charing Cross/Leicester Square, which is an easy walk across Hungerford Bridge from Waterloo, so I shall give them a look if I walk that way!
  More suggestions appreciated!
  mr_m
• Some of the train stations in London have one of those cheese shops in them that make the most amazing sandwiches and rolls using the best cheeses in the world. I get a huge one from Liverpool Street most days . . . it's lunch and dinner in one. Chuck in a pint of milk from the grocery, and bobs your uncle. Full up for Ј4.
  Also, most trainstations have plenty of greasy spoons around the corner.
• From Waterloo take the Northern Line to Goodge Street for a wide variety of eateries. There is a great one that's like a Mexican "subway" - you get 3 tortillas and add yoru choices of guacamole and all that jazz, quite reasonable and something different - but loads of others if this isn't what you fancy. Then hop back on and get dropped off right at KXSP.
• There was a great wine bar under the arches near Waterloo station - check online - it is called Archdukes.
  It was one of my favourites when I lived down there years ago and we went a couple of years ago and it was still going strong. Very reasonable and extremely civilised!
• Just checked and it is still there - check it out.;o)
• Looking at your message though I think you will struggle to get something to eat and get acoss London in 60-90 minutes. Don't forget there is M&S food on Kings Cross for nice sandwiches etc to eat on the train - plus some chilled wine and no stress!
• I did a virtually identical journey to yours last month - Bournemouth to Newcastle (changed at Soton due to engineering works) and had it not been for the fact I got a taxi from Waterloo to Kings X, I wouldnt have had time to get anything to eat at all - and I had virtually identical connection time to yours, got in at 11.20, train was at 1.
  However, I can definitely recommend the veggie takeaway within the Post Office straight opposite King's X - we always go there when in London. Failing that, try St Pancras.
• Evening everyone! Thanks for your replies
  I've done, as I said last night, the change between Waterloo and Kings Cross before - my record was just under 15 minutes I think (!), with the change literally being just stepping off the first Underground train (I think it might have been at Oxford Circus, not quite sure!) and across the platform to the next one within about 10 seconds! Just a fluke, probably! The last time I was there, I decided to go for a bit of a walk (I had a similar time limit of 60-90 minutes to make the journey to Kings Cross), and walked over Hungerford Bridge, past Charing Cross and the Arches shopping area, and then down to 'ground level' where there were a number of very pricey looking cafes and sandwich bar-type places, including Pret a Manger, but I was looking for something a bit cheaper so I attempted Subway for the first time in my life! The baguette was delicious but not as cheap as I was hoping for, which is why I was seeking alternatives within the same sort of vicinity! I made my trip to Kings Cross with time to spare, though
  BRichyrich - thank you! That's great - have you done that interchange before then? I shall have a look online and check out the selection of places at Goodge Street, although that Mexican place sounds tempting, I love Mexican food
  Fitorbust - bit of a wine fan, are you? Sounds great though, and if it's at Waterloo I'll definitely check it out - I wonder if their wine is better value/better tasting than the stuff you can get via the at-seat trolley service on some trains? It wouldn't be too hard!
  Thanks as well Bendix - looks like I'll have plenty of choice! Anyone got a place doing a particularly good deal at the moment in that sort of area?
  Cheers again everyone, much appreciated and obliged!
  mr_m
• Last time I did KX to Waterloo I had aaaaaages to spare so just got a bus. Goodge Street is full of lovely places to eat but I have just looked on a map and I'm afraid I have misdirected you somewhat.
  Waterloo and Goodge Street are both on the Charing Cross branch of the Northern Line. I thought KX was the same (or at least on the common part before it splits at Camden Town) but it transpires it is actually on the Bank branch. It is therefore impossible to get a Northern Line train from Waterloo or Goodge Street to KX.
  All is not lost, however. You can still do the same journey but hop off at Euston. Then from Euston you can either get a Victoria Line or Northern Line (Bank Br) train to Kings Cross or, for the sake of messing about with trains, leave Euston station and walk the 400 yards to Kings X.
• If you like Indian food, Drummond Street's not too far from Kings X - get off a stop early at Euston and it's just to the west. Chutney's do a fabulous lunchtime buffet for Ј6.95 - you won't need to eat again all day, and of course it's as quick as you can manage to eat. It's vegetarian, but most carnivores should be pretty impressed...