Lunching on a budget? No problem; we’ve got you covered.
At the River, we get it: eating between lectures whilst on a budget can be tricky. Despite Kingston’s high prices, we’ve compiled the most-loved low-price lunch spots near campus – so you can satisfy your appetite, without breaking the bank.
For students at the Penrhyn Road campus, Wan’s Chinese Takeaway, located on Surbiton Road has proved to be a student favourite.
Third-year student, Lait Cole said Wan’s is now his favourite place for food, stating it has: “good portion sizes [and] lovely, delicious flavours.” He continued by saying the Chinese takeaway is “close to the uni [and its] prices aren’t too expensive, considering the Kingston area.”
For those craving a hot, filling meal for under £15, Wan’s offers all your Chinese classics, such as chicken chow mein for £6.90 and sweet and sour chicken balls for £4.80.
Of course, we still love a cheeky Nando’s, with the Portuguese chicken restaurant being popular with Kingston students.
Just a two-minute-drive from the Penrhyn Road campus, or a four-minute-drive from Knights Park, Nando’s offers a range of different dishes and sides, all for a reasonable price. Well-loved classics include a grilled chicken burger from £8.50 and a caesar salad from £9.25.
Second-year student, Zain Pathan said it is “tasty and kind of healthy.”
Alternatively, students are also favouring pizza as a pick-me-up between lessons.
Pizza box is located on Cambridge Road, six minutes away from the Penrhyn Road and Knights Park campuses, and eight minutes from the Kingston Hill campus.
Pizza box offers a lunchtime special deal which includes two pizzas, garlic bread and two cans of soft drinks, all for £15.99 – perfect for a lunch date with friends.
Deborah Lounge, a second-year student said she enjoys going there for the “cheap tasty pizza.”
For students who need a study break, the 53 Degrees café in the Nightingale Library has proven popular; the best part? You don’t even need to leave campus.
The café, located at the Kingston Hill campus, provides drinks and snacks, including sandwiches for around £4.
Safiyaah Golamaully, a second-year student at the university said the café is her favourite and she goes there for the “reasonably priced food.”
Another option to consider is the canteen on the ground floor of the Penrhyn Road campus, which offers an £8 meal deal on selected sandwiches, fresh pizza, Korean staples such as kimchi and chicken and chips in a bag for £4.
Alternatively, the quick eats shop at Kingston Hill offers regular deals, including any 2 monster energy drinks for £3, any 2 squishies bags for £2 and Huel drinks for £3 each. Also, for those needing a quick ‘grab-and-go’ lunch, Sainsbury’s on Surbiton Road and Asda at Roehampton Vale both offer cheap meal deals, with a variety of sandwich options. From Sainsbury’s ready to eat lunch meal deal, you can get any sandwich, any snack and a drink for £3.50, with both vegan and gluten-free options, such as an egg and cress sandwich. Asda’s meal deal is £3.74 and offers options such as a cheese and onion sandwich or a pastrami and Emmental new York style deli sandwich on rye bread.