Islington is one of north London’s jewels in the crown, a lively corner where some of the city’s loveliest squares, most beautiful houses and traditional pubs rub shoulders with ethnic restaurants, fancy cocktail bars, glamorous boutiques and an intricate canal network.

Islington is also London’s smallest borough and home to a host of famous residents. The borough stretches down to Old Street and brushes up against the edge of the City of London, while reaching down eclectic Holloway Road to Archway and Finsbury Park, with Angel and Highbury and Islington stations goal posting the start and end of buzzy Upper Street—a focal point for Islington locals.

Related: Affordable hotels near London’s top attractions

Hit up Upper Street for endless dining choices

One of my favorite spots for dinner in London, Upper Street has a great vibe about it, especially in the summer when chairs and tables line the street and transport you to a much more Mediterranean destination. The choice is endless, you can pretty much eat your way around the world just on this one street, but the arrival of more chain restaurants in recent years have led to the demise of a few cheapo-friendly favorites.

Angel Tube Station is a bookend of bustling Upper Street. Photo: Alan Stanton

Budget eating & drinking options

That said, there is still plenty to choose from—the tasty Basque pintxos at Pix (from £1.95 each) or a Turkish mezze at one of the three Gallipoli cafes (Gallipoli Bistro, Gallipoli Again and Gallipoli Bazaar) will leave you full and with change for a “Happy Hour” cocktail at nearby Barrio North on Essex Road. Le Mercury and The Beach Hut are two more Islington faves that you can read about here.

Try Holloway Road for authentic global cuisine

For something a little rougher round the edges but undoubtedly better value, head to Holloway Road, which cuts through the centre of the borough. Here you can really feast on authentic ethnic food from around the world—be it a Georgian banquet at Tbilisi or a tasty curry at the Red Rose Tandoori.

Seeking out affordable entertainment

End your evening at the theater and catch something very different (and better value) to the West End musicals you’ll have seen advertised all over Leicester Square—the Almeida Theatre and the venue at the Kings Head Pub have a fantastic range of shows on year-round, while the Camden Head Pub hidden away on pretty Camden Passage runs free comedy nights throughout the week.

Relax for free in Highbury Fields

If the sun is shining then grab a picnic and relax in the fabulous Highbury Fields—flanked by some truly beautiful houses, this pretty park is a hive of activity on a warm afternoon. Alternatively, take a walk along the canal and I defy anyone not to start dreaming of upping sticks and moving into a flower-laden houseboat where the pace of life is oh-so-leisurely in this secret waterside city. You can also take in some culture as you stroll—stop off at the Victoria Miro Gallery and the Parasol Unit for a good dose of contemporary art.

A glimpse of old London for no cost

But what is there to do beyond eating and drinking yourself silly in this popular residential area? There are plenty of other activities to keep you entertained. If you’re interested in seeing a glimpse of old London and picturing how the streets of Islington once looked then start off by heading to the free Islington Museum on St John Street.

Emirates Stadium is home to Arsenal Football Club and is open for tours. Photo: Alvin Leong

Fantasy football tour for under £10

If football is more your thing then no trip to Islington is complete without visiting the home of Arsenal.  The spangly 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium stands tall and shiny amidst the rows of traditional houses that surround it. Uprooted from their old home in 2006 (which still lies just a few hundred meters away and now boasts a myriad of luxury flats), Arsenal’s more modern dwelling is a big attraction in the area. Stadium tours run on a daily basis and cost from £18 per adult (or £7.50 to enter the Arsenal Museum), but if your budget doesn’t stretch to that there are still plenty of photo opportunities to be had outside. Match days are also a fun time to visit as locals open burger vans in their front gardens and the pubs bounce to the sound of excited fans.

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There are plenty of menus catering to the London theater lovers, and they can offer brilliant value for money. On the other hand, West End theaters are perfectly located for some of London’s best cheap eats. Either option is better than filling up on over priced ice cream in the interval. I recommend saving that money for a post-theater ice at Scoop instead.

Set menus and pre-theater specials

These are pricier than the usual eating-out options usually recommended on EuroCheapo, but they offer an excellent value for the money and, combined with your theater ticket, offer a great London experience. Do remember to book ahead to guarantee a table, and let your waiter or waitress know when you need to be in the theater: it would be a tragedy to have to rush your dessert.

Go for the cheap set menus at classy Brasserie Zedel. Photo: Ewan M

Brasserie Zedel
20 Sherwood Street

Brasserie Zedel is really one of the best impress-for-less eating places in London. It’s a large, buzzy bistro that oozes Art Deco style. In fact, it’s so stylish it’s hard to believe their prices. The prix fixe is £8.95 for two courses and £11.75 for three: pretty unbelievable when it’s pretty hard to get a decent steak for that price in London. The service is swift and slick, so it’s a good option even if the prix fixe doesn’t take your fancy.

Boyd’s Brasserie
8 Northumberland Avenue

Going to see some classic British theater? This restaurant, within a 19th century hotel building, offers fantastic reworkings of classic Brit food. Prices are £16.90 for two courses, or three for £19.90. Their starters menu—a British take on tapas—gives an idea of the type of food on offer here: think potted shrimps, Devon crab and haggis.

Kettner’s has been going strong since 1867. Photo: Ewan M

Kettner’s
29 Romilly Street

From the outside you might think that Kettner’s is not suitable for a budget-conscious eats. Or perhaps when you’re on the inside too—we don’t normally recommend places known for their champagne bars! But, with their pre- and post-theater menus, there’s the opportunity to experience this famous restaurant, which opened in 1867, for less. Two courses are £18.50 and three courses are £21.50. I’d be tempted to go for the post-theater menu—it’ll be busier, but you’ll really get a taste of the old-school glamor for which Kettner’s is renowned for.

Related: Affordable hotels near London’s biggest attractions

Cheap eats always available

There are loads of cheap eats options in the nearby area: check out the recommendations in our guide to Soho for starters.  But, be warned, some of the most popular don’t take bookings sometimes leading to lengthy queues. Get there early so you have time to enjoy your food before you enjoy the theatre.

Leon
Multiple locations

Leon specializes in fresh fast food and can be found in a number of locations around London: the branches on The Strand or Carnaby Street are probably your best pre-theater bets. They’re open in the day, but offer casual dining from 6 PM each evening. Leon does a mean burger (we’re in love with their halloumi burger) for around £8, and an awesome range of sides. And leave room for their deserts. Their gluten free brownies are some of the best in London.

Flat Iron
17 Beak Street

This is a no bookings place. But, to be honest, you’d probably want to come here early to have any chance of getting a table anyway. It’s also not a place for veggies. Flat Iron does one thing and does it amazingly well: steak. A steak and house salad will set you back £10, although their tantalizing range of sides and impressive cocktail menu is likely to push the price up slightly. And, another bonus, popcorn while you wait. Very hip, very tasty.

Yalla Yalla
1 Green’s Court

We’ve already told you about Hummus Bros—there’s a branch handily located on Shaftsbury Avenue, but for more chickpea joy check out Yalla Yalla, a small chain specializing in Middle Eastern street food. There are three in London, but the Green’s Court branch is closest to the theatrical action. All the classics are here, from tabbouleh to baba ghanoush, from roughly about £5 a plate.

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If that’s not enough to entice you, you can now sample high-end English breakfast in grand, glam restaurants (transforming the first meal of the day into a fabulous event!) without paying a high-end price. After all,  breakfast—the kind typically served on a cheque table cloth by a charming waitress—shouldn’t cost you the price it would to own a farm and rear the contents yourself! The true appeal of English breakfast is that it is the perfect, satisfying, cheap treat.

London is ripe with traditional greasy spoons which open their doors each morning for serious plates-a-food. Here are a few of my favorite breakfast spots by locale:

East-End

Family-run east-end café E Pellicci (332 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0AG) has fed gangsters (the Krays), artists (Gilbert & George), taxi drivers and families for over a century. A tiny time capsule of a ‘caff’ that has stood in the East End of London for 105 years, Pellicci’s has its own place in popular culture and is a social hub of the area. Sample the old fashioned English fried breakfast all day in the cozy, relaxed dining room. Breakfast here is amazingly affordable. Expect to spend: £5-8.

Northern Delight

For some decadence: a single artisanal Lincolnshire sausage, a slice of Old Spot bacon, a perfectly presented free-range poached egg, look no further than Gordon Ramsay’s York & Albany (127-129 Parkway, Camden Town NW1). A hotel-cum-restaurant-cum-local beer pub, the York & Albany is within walking distance of the London Zoo and Camden High Street. Less greasy than other breakfasts in town, the food here still satisfies. Expect to spend: £12.

South London

Tucked away on a quiet street, the Regency Café (17-19 Regency St, Pimlico SW1P) is an old-fashioned English restaurant typically full of working men in need of a hearty meal for the day. The proper British style ‘caff’, halfway between Westminster and Victoria, is also famed for a scene in the film “Layer Cake” in which Daniel Craig enjoys a special early morning feast with Freddie Hurst. Regency serves up everything you’d expect: big portions, good solid fresh-cooked food, and comforting English tea! Expect to spend: £4.

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London can be a tricky city for dining. Long criticized for the quality of its fare (“It’s no Paris!”), the city has undergone a gastro-awakening over the past decade that has benefited the bellies, if not the wallets, of its diners.

So what’s a Cheapo to eat? Here are our dining tips, all tested and tried:

1. Go for conveyer belt sushi!

We were initially turned off and chips!

Sure, we try to stay away from battered and fried, but you have to go there at least once during your stay. Our favorite fish and chips joint is the Rock & Sole Plaice (47 Endell St, WC2 ) in Covent Garden. For under £15, you can order a whole fish and taste a variety of dipping sauces, and have your chips too! If you can’t tube it to this spot, you can usually find decent (and cheaper) fish and chips in any neighborhood. Just steer clear of major tourist haunts (Read: Leicester Square) and larger chains like Slug and Lettuce that claim they have fresh oceanic fare. When in doubt, ask the locals!

3. Kebob it!

We’ve been there: It’s midnight, the pub just closed, and your tum-tum is grumbling. If you’re in Bayswater, head for a kebob stand on busy Queensway where, for a few pounds, you can get your lamb on. Doll it up with the fixins, which usually include peppers, tomatoes, hummus, tahini, and cucumber sauce.

We recommend The Taza Kebab House, where the lamb is always succulent and the pita sandwiches are filling.

4. Join the chain gang.

You may normally steer clear of chain restaurants, but local chains can introduce you to local tastes (mmmm…. mayonnaise!) and help your budget. Big name chain restaurants like Wagamama (Japanese) and Pret-A-Manger (eat-in or take-out sandwiches and coffee) are London mainstays, located throughout the city. Smaller chains like Hummus Bros offer a unique dining experience without exotic prices. Many of these chains offer lunch specials daily.

5. Get roasted.

Sunday is the best day to partake in a yummy, often three-course, gastro-pub meal. The menus are usually prix fixe, but you can always order stuff separately. And, if you haven’t been to a Sunday “roast,” it’s a great way to see London culture at its finest—and hungriest—as piles of bangers and mash, roasted chickens and beef, and plenty o’ pints are consumed. We love The Chapel Pub in Marylebone (48 Chapel Street, London, NW1 5DP ), where we’re always warmly greeted with a comfy seat and a fantastic meal.

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When last we pounded the pavement researching hotels in London for our guide, we remembered fondly finding respite (and caffeine) in the UK coffee chains (Caffe Nero, Costa Coffee, Coffee Republic, Pret a Manger) and, yes, also in the American chains (Starbucks and McDonald’s).

Setting aside the question of the “best cup of coffee in London,” (another post entirely), where can you find the cheapest cup?

Researching this online was a no-go. Every chain has its own website, of course, but you won’t find any prices listed. This is probably due to fluctuations in pricing throughout the UK — and to prevent pesky investigators from blogging about it. So we went about our research the old fashioned way… we called ’em on the phone. (Thank you, Vonage.)

Note that coffee prices inside London may vary for the same chain, as well. Thus, we called only coffee outlets in central London, asking for prices for a small latte and for a small Americano (“drip” coffee isn’t widely available). Keep in mind that true sizes may differ from chain to chain — even though they’re all called “small,” one chain may offer more ounces.

We also only inquired about “take away” prices — when we started asking too many questions, baristas and managers got a little nervous.

The results:

Caffe Nero – The Winner!
Small Americano: £1.30 ($2.56)
Small Latte: £1.50 ($2.95)
We spoke to baristas at two central Caffe Nero locations, both near Covent Garden, in order to verify the price. These are nearly New York prices.

Runners Up

Pret a Manger
Small Americano: £1.40 ($2.76)
Small Latte: £1.79 ($3.52)
We’re fans of these cute little outlets. We spoke to a barista at a location on Villiers Street, near the Strand.

McDonald’s
Drip: £1.59/1.99 ($3.13/3.92)
Latte: £1.59/1.99 ($3.13/3.92)
We spoke to a manager (we believe) near a location on the Strand. We asked too many questions and he hung up on us. Interestingly, McDonald’s was the only chain we called that serves drip coffee instead of Americano. Also, they don’t have “small” sizes, only “medium” and “large.” (What, no “supersized”?)

Pricier Coffee Chains

Coffee Republic
Small Americano: £1.69 ($3.32)
Small Latte: £1.89 ($3.72)
We spoke to a friendly barista at a popular location on Tottenham Court Road.

Costa Coffee
Small Americano: £1.70 ($3.35)
Small Latte: £1.95 ($3.84)
A nice guy at the Embankment Place location (near the Strand) offered these rates, although he was curious. “Are you a customer?” he asked us. Of course! (We have enjoyed a Costa cup in the past, after all.)

Starbucks – Most Expensive
Small Americano: £1.75 ($3.45)
Small Latte: £2.05 ($4.04)
The prices were given to us by a barista at a Villiers Street location, near the Strand. This confirmed our suspicions that the Seattle-based chain was, in fact, the priciest coffee-chain cup in town. Or at least, the priciest cup we called.

We didn’t have time to check in on cool independent cafes in London, but that’s another post.

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