This article was first published in print on March 11, 2026.
The permanent closure of the Strand’s Greggs on January 5, 2026, has left a sausage-roll-shaped hole in the daily routines of King’s students. Located less than a minute from the Strand campus, the branch was a cornerstone of student life due to its unmatched affordability and speed.
If you are looking for your next go-to spot, here is the revised landscape for lunch near the Strand:
King’s Food and KCLSU Options
The Shack
Offering two meal deals at £3.99 and £5.99 respectively, it is worth noting that several items are excluded. At £3.99 your main can be a sandwich or a toastie. For £5.99, you can upgrade to a panini.
In addition to pints, you can also choose from several lunch options. Notably, you can get a ‘BOX’D LUNCH’, from between £6.99 and £7.99. Curries with rice are also £7.99. Pizzas range from £4.99 to £9.99, whilst a regular portion of loaded fries costs between £5.49 and £7.49.
King’s Kitchen
For those fancying something more hearty, King’s Kitchen may be the choice. You can choose between a main meal at £6.00 or £6.75 every day. Students can also choose from pizza, costing between £5.95 and £6.15, a salad bar at £4.95 and the soup of the day at £2.75.
‘The Spud Hub’ at Macadam Cafe
If you’re happy with butter, baked beans and salad on your spud, you’ll only pay £1.75. However, apart from ‘the controversial one’ (a potato topped with peanut butter and banana), all other options cost at least £5.
Chapters
If you thought the constant price increases for a sausage roll were bad, you’ll pay £2.75 for one here. What’s more sandwhiches, toasties and wraps all cost between £3.95 and £5.25.
Roots Plant-Based Cafe – 8th Floor Bush House
A weekly choice of soup with pretzel or crusty ciabatta at £4.95.
Options around the Strand
Prêt à Manger
Unfortunately, it seems this branch isn’t one of the seventy trialling the new £5.99 meal deal. With some exceptions, you’ll likely be paying around £5-7 for most lunch items.
Caffè Nero
Fairly similarly priced to Prêt, but with fewer choices. A ham and cheese toastie here is 40p less than Prêt, however.
SOHO Coffee
Almost all cold wraps and sandwiches cost £4.95. Most other lunch options cost upwards of £6.
Leon
Expect to pay from around £7 to £10 for some fancy fast food, although a student discount can be redeemed via Student Beans.
Route
Despite their 10% student discount, you’ll probably still end up paying a fair amount here. The cheapest option, a small salad box, comes in at £6.45, whilst a main and a salad costs £13.45.
The Art Café at The Courtald
Another expensive option, with both the ‘salad of the day’ and an ‘artisan sandwich’ costing £8.50.
The Crown Cafe
A café with plenty of soul, but not the lowest prices. Sandwiches cost from £3.50, whilst a cheese and beans jacket potato costs £7.30. A range of hot food at £8.80. What’s more, none of this accounts for their £1 eat-in fee.
Tesco
£3.85 for a Clubcard meal deal (£4.25 without a Clubcard). Cheaper and with much more choice than The Shack’s meal deal. For Strand students, only a jacket potato with beans and butter, or a packed lunch, can outcompete it.
BA European Politics Student
