When I first moved to London, the closest supermarket to me was Lidl. It offers all the basic staples one might need, but at times it felt almost too basic — especially when it came to fruit and vegetables. The tomatoes were plastic-like; cucumbers came in only one variety — long, watery, and nearly tasteless.
To be fair, finding truly decent tomatoes anywhere in the UK is a challenge. The country simply lacks the sun required to grow them well. That said, Waitrose sells tomatoes from the Isle of Wight which are surprisingly good and juicy — though priced closer to red caviar than everyday vegetables. You’d better savour each one rather than chop it carelessly. They won’t stand on a par with Santorini tomatoes, but this is about as good as it gets in the Kingdom.
Supermarkets ranked from premium to budget
- M&S Food
- Waitrose
- Sainsbury’s
- Morrisons
- Tesco
- Asda
- Co-op
- Lidl
- Aldi
- Iceland
M&S Food
M&S Food has one of the best ready-meal selections and is my default option on days when I don’t bring my lunch to the office and need something quick and filling. Their small express stores are common in Zone 1 in London, which makes them ultimately convenient. They’re consistently good — I’m particularly fond of their Wensleydale with Carrot Chutney. M&S used to run the Sparks loyalty programme, which is currently on pause. That said, this is not where I’d do a large weekly shop on a regular basis — unless you’re prepared for mild cardiac distress at the checkout.
Waitrose
Waitrose’s myWaitrose loyalty card doesn’t collect points, but instead offers occasional discounts and perks such as free hot drinks (paused in some stores these days). Shopping here feels noticeably calmer than in most other supermarkets listed below. You rarely encounter wilting spinach or an avocado that’s seconds away from collapsing in your hand. This is where I shop when ingredient quality matters — and, of course, for the best English tomatoes available.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s strikes a solid balance between price and quality and offers strong own-brand ranges. Nectar points can be collected in-store, online, and with partner retailers (e.g. Argos, Habitat). On a weekly shop, the reduction in spending compared to Waitrose is noticeable, while the quality remains good. I once compared identical online baskets — including meat, pantry items, vegetables, fruit, and dairy. The Waitrose total came to £70, while the same shop at Sainsbury’s cost around £60.
Morrisons
Morrisons is a decent supermarket with competitive fresh food counters, particularly well known for its fishmongers in the past. I don't buy enough fish in this country as I can't find anything more descent than salmon, and white fish in London is disappointing. Maybe there's better choices in the countryside or sea side towns. Morrisons is also one of the rare places where you can still buy fresh yeast — a small detail, but one that matters if you bake. Their rewards scheme offers personalised discounts and points that convert into vouchers.
Asda
Asda is known for low prices and very large stores. Its rewards scheme builds a “cashpot” from purchases, which can then be used on future shops. I haven’t had much personal experience with Asda, mainly because their stores are relatively rare in central London.
Co-op
Co-op is a community-focused convenience chain. Members earn rewards on purchases, with a portion of spending going towards local causes. It’s useful for top-ups rather than full shops. Interestingly, I’ve found Co-op to be far more impressive in Scotland. While it feels relatively understated and less popular in London, its stores which I came across in Highlands while travelling were exceptionally well stocked, and thoughfull laid-out, clean and fresh. This likely reflects the chain’s strong historical roots in rural communities and smaller towns, where Co-op often serves as the primary supermarket rather than a convenience afterthought.
Tesco
Tesco is the UK’s largest supermarket chain, offering everything from premium (Finest) to budget (Everyday Value). While it’s incredibly convenient, this is also where I notice the sharpest drop in quality — particularly with fresh produce. Tesco works well for pantry staples, but it’s not where I’d go if vegetables were the main focus of my shop. Sorry Tesco.
Lidl and Aldi
Lidl and Aldi feel very similar to me, so it makes sense to group them together. Both are German discount chains with a strong presence across the UK, offering consistently low prices and a limited but efficient product range. Lidl runs the Lidl Plus app, which provides digital coupons, discounts, and weekly promotions. Its in-store bakery is surprisingly good — I’m particularly fond of the sourdough — and very affordable. Aldi operates on a similar model, with comparable pricing and quality. In practice, I find the difference between the two minimal - prices, quality, and shopping experience are broadly on par.
Iceland
Iceland is the one supermarket I almost never shop in. I’ve never noticed much in the way of ready meals, which makes sense given that the chain specialises in frozen food and bulk buys — think family-sized portions and packs of twelve bottles of water. They were the only walk-in store selling Haribo sour skeletons this autumn and for that alone, they earned a brief moment of my loyalty. Oh, those sour jellies.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, what matters most to me is the quality of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, and meat — not canned food or grains. Of course, I still check that my beans don’t contain 20% sugar and that my pasta is made from durum wheat, but those basics can be found even in budget supermarkets. Fresh produce, however, is where the real difference lies.