One of the first things that you do when you move to the UK will be to go to a supermarket or grocery store. This article details what you need to know about supermarkets and grocery stores in the UK.
- Grocery stores and supermarket chains in the UK
- Home delivery services and online supermarkets
- Convenience stores
- Buying groceries from your home country
Supermarket chains in the UK
There are a number of supermarket chains in the UK which operate nationwide. Most of them will offer fresh meat, dairy and produce, dried groceries and in-store bakeries. In the larger stores, they may also include clothing, homeware, electronics, opticians, pharmacies, fuel stations, currency exchange and ATMs.
Here is a list of the main supermarket chains in the UK and a link to search for the nearest store to your location:
Tesco
Sainsbury’s
Asda
Morrisons
Aldi
Iceland
Lidl
Waitrose
Co-op Food
Home delivery services and online supermarkets
With a busy work schedule, you may find it difficult to go supermarket shopping. Thankfully, the majority of the above-mentioned supermarkets offer home delivery, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Iceland.
There are also a number of online-only supermarkets and meal-kit providers such as:
Convenience stores
Convenience stores are usually independently run and will typically sell newspapers, everyday essentials and a limited range of groceries. Most will have longer opening hours than the local supermarket, although their prices are usually higher. Convenience stores can be located in most neighbourhoods across the UK.
Buying groceries from your home country
Due to the UK’s multicultural nature, foods from around the world are accessible in most areas – particularly in larger cities.
The vast majority of supermarkets will have a world foods section however, in addition to this, there are often independent grocery stores that can be found (both online and in cities & towns) that offer international food.
If you’ve recently moved to the UK, or you’re in the process of relocating, visit our ‘Life in the UK’ blogs section.
