To decide where to have lunch on campus is a question that a lot of students, including me, ask themselves daily. If you are part of those who are too lazy to meal prep every day, but also do not want to spend too much money on food, then this article is here for you! I share you in this blog my tips to get affordable and good food around LSE.

The free food stand in front of the Saw Swee Hock building

Yes, you have heard me correctly. There is a trolley serving vegetarian Indian food for free on campus, in front of the Student’s Union building, from noon to 2pm Monday to Friday. It is a charity, and is part of a religious organisation, the Hare Krishna movement.

The portions are big, and the food is served warm, so it is perfect for cold, London winter days! But careful: plan some waiting time in your lunch break, as there is often quite a long queue. It would be a shame to miss out on free food though!

The Wright’s Bar

The Wright’s Bar is, as some people say, almost an LSE institution. The manager, António, has been working there for 27 years! Located next to the Old Academic Building, it is a British-style café, selling everything from burgers to warm sandwiches, crips and coffee. One can sit inside, in a warm atmosphere, isolated from the hectic of the rest of the campus.

Most importantly, the prices are very affordable, ranging from to £2.20 for a cheeseburger to £1.70 for a coffee. It is difficult to find cheaper prices in central London. I personally have a sweet spot for their bacon and egg rolls, which I recommend you try out!

Pret’s Too Good To Go “magic bag”

Too Good To Go is a mobile application allowing you, the customer, to buy restaurant’s food surpluses for very low prices. The Pret à Manger in front of LSE, on Kingsway, is also on the app, and has a super deal: you can get £12 worth of food for only £4! You just have to book your “Magic Bag” a day before and come pick it up at a given time, often 2:30pm.

It is a great, affordable way to share a generous lunch with friends, and more often than not there will be leftovers for further tasty meals. Moreover, to crown it all, you contribute to reduce waste!