England has gone through a culinary revolution in the past 10 years or so, going from what was considered a rather bland cuisine to a variety of cuisine from all over the world, creating in the process wonderful combinations and flavors. London, like most major cities can be quite expensive for dining out, but there are still many places that offer reasonably priced meals if you know where to look.
Covent Garden. There are quite a few trendy eateries in and around the market which offer moderately priced meals. The piazza offers the opportunity to sit outside and eat in more relaxed, European style surroundings. In the streets leading off the market, numerous cafés, bars and pubs serve everything from vegetarian take-outs to traditional roasts
City of London. While restaurants in the City can be quite expensive for people on a tight budget, reasonably priced meals can be had in the area's many pubs and bar-brasseries. There's also an abundance of upmarket sandwich bars, many of which, especially the Italian ones, have large lines at midday so for lunch in one of London's many parks, get there early for the best selections.
East End. The East End, around Brick Lane, is a paradise for fans of Indian cuisine. For some of the best curry you can experience without visiting India, this is a must place to explore. The food is very good, the atmosphere is fascinating and best of all, the prices are extremely low, especially for the quality of the food.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet Street. How could anyone resist this historic pub with a name like this? There has been a pub on this spot since about 1538. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and rebuilt the following year, so it definitely qualifies for some old world charm. The front bar has hardly changed for hundreds of years while the restaurant part has a lovely open fire. And yes, Charles Dickens ate and drank here as well as Dr. Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, Voltaire, Thackery and many others. If you go to only one pub, try this one for an experience to remember.
Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn. This is one of the most historic pubs in London. There has been an inn/pub on this site since the early 15th century. The main room, with its impressive trussed roof plays host to one of the longest pub bars in England. Huge barrels are displayed on the gallery above, each capable of holding 1000 gallons of wine - in days gone by the only alcoholic drink you could buy here. Great selection of beer & food.
The George Inn. 77 Borough High Street. Another Pub with character, the George in Borough is very popular not only because of its large open courtyard and the historic overhanging gallery, but a good selection of popular draught beers and good food. The inn itself has a number of bars, an upstairs restaurant area and a couple of private rooms.
The Albert, 52 Victoria Street, A superb example of a Victorian style pub, beautifully etched windows and many of the pub's original fittings. The pub has a good selection of draught beers and bottled beers. It also has a good reputation for food, with the carvery on the pub's first floor always busy.
Anchor Bankside, 234 Park Street. This historical pub on Bankside is right next to Southwark Bridge and a pleasant place to stop if you're visiting the rebuilt Globe Theatre, home to Shakespeare in the late 1500's and early 1600's. While a recent refurbishment of the pub has taken away the rickety and worn feel here, there is a pleasant dining area and good sized beer garden right next to the Thames River.