# What is worth buying at an English supermarket, and which British foods are genuinely good rather than novelty?

> English supermarkets sell real farmhouse cheddar, clotted cream and good tea. What to buy, what the meal deal is, and why Sunday hours are short.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-buy-at-a-grocery-store-in-england
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-05-02

England has the most developed supermarket culture on this list. **Tesco**, **Sainsbury's**, **Asda** and **Morrisons** are the big four, **Aldi** and **Lidl** undercut them, and **Waitrose** and **M&S Food** sit at the top. The useful distinction for a visitor is between the shelves that are genuinely good — cheese, tea, bakery, ready meals — and the ones that are purely nostalgic.

## What is actually good

**Cheddar** is the test case. Supermarket own-brand mature cheddar is fine; a named farmhouse cheddar is a different product entirely, crumbly and sharp. Buy the latter.

**Tea** is the national drink and supermarket own-brand is weaker than the named blends. **Yorkshire Tea** and **PG Tips** are the standard, and loose leaf is better than bags.

**Clotted cream** is the thick cultured cream for scones, sold in tubs in the chilled aisle, and it is not substitutable with whipped cream.

**Bread** and the in-store bakery are better than the packaged loaves, and the bakery counter is where the good stuff is.

## The meal deal, and how to use it

The **meal deal** is a sandwich, a snack and a drink for a fixed price, offered by Tesco, Sainsbury's, Boots and others. It is not gourmet and it is excellent value for a train journey.

The range qualifies differently — premium sandwiches usually sit outside the deal — so check the label before assuming.

This is the single most useful thing to know about eating cheaply on the move in England.

## The things that are acquired tastes

**Marmite** is the yeast extract spread, and like Vegemite the correct amount is very thin on buttered toast.

**Black pudding** is a blood sausage, sliced and fried, and it is a breakfast item rather than a novelty.

**Pork pie** is eaten cold, and **Scotch egg** is a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat and breaded.

**HP Sauce** and **Branston pickle** are the two condiments that appear on every pub table, and both are worth a bottle.

## Hours, bags and seasons

**Sunday trading** is restricted: large stores can open for only six hours, and small shops are unrestricted. Do not plan a big shop for Sunday evening.

**Carrier bags are charged** — typically 10p or more — and the charge applies to reusable bags too in most chains.

**Christmas** brings **mince pies**, **Christmas pudding** and a shelf of party food that starts in autumn.

**Asparagus** in late spring and **strawberries** in early summer are the two seasons worth timing; both are noticeably better in their window.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a meal deal in England?

A sandwich or salad, a snack and a drink for a fixed price, offered by Tesco, Sainsbury's and Boots. It is the cheapest way to eat on a train journey.

### What food should you bring back from England?

Good tea, HP Sauce, Branston pickle and named farmhouse cheddar. Clotted cream and pork pies do not travel.

### Are English supermarkets open on Sundays?

Large stores can open for only six hours on Sundays. Small convenience shops have no such restriction.

### When is English asparagus season?

Roughly late April to June. English strawberries peak in early summer.