Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

London - Grocery Shopping

sreese68

By sreese68
in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff

Recommended Posts

sreese68 Enthusiast
sreese68
Posted

We're going to London next week and renting a place near Regent's Park. The rental agency said they'd buy groceries for us when we first get there, or there's a Tesco Express close by. Do Tesco Expresses carry fresh produce and meat? Do they have a decent selection of gluten-free bread, pasta, etc? Or am I better off at the Whole Foods in Camden? Or someplace else? The gluten-free stuff is mostly for my (picky) kids and (not picky) husband as I'm brown rice intolerant and can't eat most gluten-free baked goods.

Oh, do most people buy groceries for just a few days at a time? I picturing carrying a week's supply back to our rental in a taxi or something! LOL!

Thanks!

Sharon

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

We're going to London next week and renting a place near Regent's Park. The rental agency said they'd buy groceries for us when we first get there, or there's a Tesco Express close by. Do Tesco Expresses carry fresh produce and meat? Do they have a decent selection of gluten-free bread, pasta, etc? Or am I better off at the Whole Foods in Camden? Or someplace else? The gluten-free stuff is mostly for my (picky) kids and (not picky) husband as I'm brown rice intolerant and can't eat most gluten-free baked goods.

Oh, do most people buy groceries for just a few days at a time? I picturing carrying a week's supply back to our rental in a taxi or something! LOL!

Thanks!

Sharon

Hi Sharon,

I have been to London many times and the smaller Tesco Express places usually don't carry much. They do have some meat and produce but it's limited. You may find a package or 2 of gluten-free cookies but these are tiny stores and cannot stock much in the way of variety. They have their use in a pinch but I usually shop at the Whole Foods mega store in Kensington, right on the High St. A couple of things....Regent Park is not that far by tube from Kensington....I am extremely familiar with London's lay-out. I wouldn't shop for a weeks groceries because English fridges are small....really small and you won't pack much into one. I would suggest a few trips and buying smaller quantities at a time. You could use the Whole Foods in Camden but the one in Kensington is HUGE and is THE nicest grocery store I have ever been in. It's phenomenal. They have everything you could want in there and the kids should find lots of stuff to keep them happy.

I don't know what your budget is but I would recommend taking the Tube because it's so much faster and taxi's always get stuck in London traffic and you'll pay about $25.00 or more just to get your groceries back to the flat. I use them rarely and either walk or tube it back to the flat. You won't have enough groceries for it to a problem. I rented last year right near to the Whole Foods Kensington so just walked back and forth. Lots of Londoners take whatever they have purchased onto the Tube so it won't seem weird or anything.

Have a fabulous time! I love that city and always rent flats now and it works out beautifully. You'll love it! :D I wish I could go right now!

sreese68 Enthusiast
sreese68
Posted
  • Author

Hi Sharon,

I have been to London many times and the smaller Tesco Express places usually don't carry much. They do have some meat and produce but it's limited.

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

I cut your post down to save space, but honestly, the entire post was EXACTLY the info I need to know! Thanks so much!!! I went to London with just my husband the month before I started my gluten-free diet, so I mostly ate at museum and department store cafes! LOL! (short trip, so I crammed a lot in while my husband was doing business during the day) Didn't have to think about grocery shopping at all.

I think I may ask the leasing company to purchase a handful of things in case I'm too wiped out to shop the first afternoon. I will definitely go to the Whole Foods in Kensington. Just looked it up on my ipad's tube map and saw it's not all that far. When I was thinking taxi, I wasn't thinking about the traffic. I used the tube the whole time I was there last time, so I'm comfortable with it. Definitely a time to leave the kids with my husband when I go, though! (We have 4 kids from age 5 to 13.)

We are all really looking forward to it. My boys are very excited to get to see a real castle and real armor. :)

Thanks again!

Sharon

Very glad to be able to help! Sounds like you are a seasoned pro so you'll have no trouble. I keep forgetting with all the technology out there, it's easy to look things up from an Ipad or phone. The Whole Foods is not far at all, if you're comfy with tubing it. I love the Tube...so fast and easy to navigate the city from. Get off at Kensington High St. station, bang a right once outside the station and it's right up the street on your right. Easy!

Your boys will love the Tower of London. They have armor in the White Tower there. It's an exciting city for kids as well as adults. Please post when you return and tell us how it all went. I love to virtual travel through others, when I can't go myself! :P

  • 3 months later...
electrochel Newbie
electrochel
Posted

Does anyone know if Birds (Brand) of Brandy Sauce is gluten free??

It says in my gluten free book that modified starch is not gluten free, but i have had yoghurts and sauces with that in it before and it says gluten free on their label...? Im confused....??

navigator Apprentice
navigator
Posted

Coeliac UK list Birds ready to serve Brandy Butter as suitable.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,217
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Sutto
    Newest Member
    Sutto
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Guinness, can you drink it?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a very common question, and the most important thing to know is that no, Guinness is not considered safe for individuals with coeliac disease. While it's fascinating to hear anecdotes from other coeliacs who can drink it without immediate issues, this is a risky exception rather than the rule. The core issue is that Guinness is brewed from barley, which contains gluten, and the standard brewing process does not remove the gluten protein to a level safe for coeliacs (below 20ppm). For someone like you who experiences dermatitis herpetiformis, the reaction is particularly significant. DH is triggered by gluten ingestion, even without immediate gastrointestinal symptoms. So, while you may not feel an instant stomach upset, drinking a gluten-containing beer like Guinness could very well provoke a flare-up of your skin condition days later. It would be a gamble with a potentially uncomfortable and long-lasting consequence. Fortunately, there are excellent, certified gluten-free stouts available now that can provide a safe and satisfying alternative without the risk.
    • MogwaiStripe
      Gluten Issues and Vitamin D

      By MogwaiStripe · Posted

      Interestingly, this thought occurred to me last night. I did find that there are studies investigating whether vitamin D deficiency can actually trigger celiac disease.  Source: National Institutes of Health https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7231074/ 
    • Butch68
      Guinness, can you drink it?

      By Butch68 · Posted

      Before being diagnosed coeliac I used to love Guinness. Being made from barley it should be something a coeliac shouldn’t drink. But taking to another coeliac and they can drink it with no ill effects and have heard of others who can drink it too.  is this everyone’s experience?  Can I drink it?  I get dermatitis herpetiformis and don’t get instant reactions to gluten so can’t try it to see for myself. 
    • trents
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By trents · Posted

      NCGS does not cause damage to the small bowel villi so, if indeed you were not skimping on gluten when you had the antibody blood testing done, it is likely you have celiac disease.
    • Scott Adams
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I will assume you did the gluten challenge properly and were eating a lot of gluten daily for 6-8 weeks before your test, but if not, that could be the issue. You can still have celiac disease with negative blood test results, although it's not as common:  Clinical and genetic profile of patients with seronegative coeliac disease: the natural history and response to gluten-free diet: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5606118/  Seronegative Celiac Disease - A Challenging Case: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9441776/  Enteropathies with villous atrophy but negative coeliac serology in adults: current issues: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34764141/  Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.