Supermarkets near Westminster Bridge

[gato4]

We will be staying at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge before our cruise. We'd like to purchase water and wine before traveling to the ship. Are there any places within walking distance where we can shop?

 

 

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[John Bull]

This isn't "grocery-shopping" territory, very few people live here. So even the shops of the national chains like Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury tend to be convenience stores concentrating on food-to-go such as sandwiches, wraps, comparatively expensive chilled individual bottles of water, etc.

And specialist wine shops in central London tend to be expensive.

So keep your eyes open in the locality for a more traditional grocery store or an alcohol shop (known as an "off-licence" or - if you want to sound like a cockney, an "offie").

Threshers is a national chain of off-licences, they have a branch in Waterloo station.

Or ask at hotel reception if there's an off-licence closer.

 

JB :)

[orchestrapal]

We will be staying at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge before our cruise. We'd like to purchase water and wine before traveling to the ship. Are there any places within walking distance where we can shop?

 

 

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There is a Tesco Express I have walked by very near the hotel. This hotel is not in the best location for food and drink and shopping.

[Cotswold Eagle]

There's a small Tesco store right next to Westminster tube station, so across the bridge from the hotel. There's a bigger Sainsburys Local in Waterloo Road, opposite the Jubilee line exit from Waterloo station (downstairs from the mainline).

 

So if you use either closest station at any point, there's a reasonably convenient supermarket near each one.

Edited July 8, 2014 by Cotswold Eagle

[John Bull]

There's a small Tesco store right next to Westminster tube station, so across the bridge from the hotel. .

 

Directly across the road from Big Ben.

Have used it frequently, but had it in mind when I mentioned food-on-the-go convenience shops cos it's small & caters almost exclusively for snackers.

But do you know whether it sells wine?

Or cases of large bottled waters, and at supermarket prices?

 

JB :)

[Globaliser]

There's a small Tesco store right next to Westminster tube station, so across the bridge from the hotel.

Directly across the road from Big Ben.

Have used it frequently, but had it in mind when I mentioned food-on-the-go convenience shops cos it's small & caters almost exclusively for snackers.

It's a dreadful shop. I don't recommend anyone go in there, whatever they're shopping for. I'm often down that way for work, and I will usually literally go hungry until I can get back to the office rather than have to deal with it.

 

For the OP, I think the better idea is to go to the Sainsbury's on Waterloo Road, together with exploring the shops in Waterloo Station itself.

[gato4]

Thank you all for your help. I was hoping to avoid a stop at a Tesco on our way to Southampton.

 

 

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[Surreyman]

It's a dreadful shop. I don't recommend anyone go in there, whatever they're shopping for. I'm often down that way for work, and I will usually literally go hungry until I can get back to the office rather than have to deal with it.

 

For the OP, I think the better idea is to go to the Sainsbury's on Waterloo Road, together with exploring the shops in Waterloo Station itself.

 

Yes Waterloo has a range of shops, including the ubiquitous Marks and Sparks which will sell wine and water.

[baggal]

We just returned from our cruise and pre-cruise stay at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. While we loved the hotel itself because of the room, breakfast, friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, etc. - along with its convenience to the Hop-On Hop-Off bus and the tube station - I found the location was extremely lacking in local restaurants and other stores.

 

If returning to London anytime soon, I would stay in another area that had other amenities.

[Surreyman]

We just returned from our cruise and pre-cruise stay at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. While we loved the hotel itself because of the room, breakfast, friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, etc. - along with its convenience to the Hop-On Hop-Off bus and the tube station - I found the location was extremely lacking in local restaurants and other stores.

 

If returning to London anytime soon, I would stay in another area that had other amenities.

 

The park plaza is virtually on the south bank where there are a large number of restaurants plus theatres and art galleries.

[John Bull]

The park plaza is virtually on the south bank where there are a large number of restaurants plus theatres and art galleries.

 

Was thinking exactly the same thing.

Lots of bars & restaurants & such along the riverside walk, from Jubilee Gardens (London Eye) through to the Millenium Bridge / Shakespeare's Globe and beyond.

But no, no stores. Virtually no-one lives in the area.

 

JB :)

Edited July 14, 2014 by John Bull

[Globaliser]

Was thinking exactly the same thing.

Lots of bars & restaurants & such along the riverside walk, from Jubilee Gardens (London Eye) through to the Millenium Bridge / Shakespeare's Globe and beyond.

And also down Waterloo Road (as far as Masters Superfish), and all along The Cut. In addition, Lower Marsh has a number of restaurants too.

[Globaliser]

But no, no stores. Virtually no-one lives in the area.

I waited to post again on this topic until I'd had a chance to drive through the area, which I did this morning.

 

This is not actually true. While there's not a lot of residential stuff to the west of the railway line, if you walk east along Westminster Bridge Road and go under the railway line (about 100 yards), you're immediately in a predominantly residential area. At a local level, this is catered for by (amongst other places) all the shops along Lower Marsh, plus some on Westminster Bridge Road itself. There is also now a Tesco Express on Baylis Road near the junction with Murphy Street.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

I hope this is not construed as hijacking a thread. :p I want to ask the exact same question for a different location.

 

Is there a place to get wine/water near the Tower of London Doubletree hotel. I have read this is the business district. I guess I have the same problem as the OP--lots of restaurants, but no grocery type stores.

[John Bull]

I hope this is not construed as hijacking a thread. :p I want to ask the exact same question for a different location.

 

Is there a place to get wine/water near the Tower of London Doubletree hotel. I have read this is the business district. I guess I have the same problem as the OP--lots of restaurants, but no grocery type stores.

 

A Tesco Express by Tower Bridge, a 10 min walk. This is a mini-market of one of the major chains.

And the other side of St Katherine's Dock, where there are lots of apartments, a large Waitrose. Another big chain, Generally higher quality/prices than Tesco.

But probably one or two others closer.

 

No worries

JB :)

[Cotswold Eagle]

There's an independant wine merchant called the Wine Library very close to your hotel. No good for a case of water, though!

[Globaliser]

Is there a place to get wine/water near the Tower of London Doubletree hotel. I have read this is the business district. I guess I have the same problem as the OP--lots of restaurants, but no grocery type stores.

Waitrose will be your better bet. A very good supermarket, even if not the biggest. And you can couple this with a very pleasant stroll past the Tower and then through St Katherine Docks. Walking directions here. Note that the bit where you cross under Tower Hill uses the underpass that starts outside the main entrance to Tower Hill Tube station.

 

As Waitrose so close and is a league apart in terms of shopping choice and experience, I personally wouldn't bother with the Tesco Express.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Thank you John Bull, Globaliser, and Cotswold Eagle for your quick replies. Since we already have decided to visit the St Katherine's Dock area it sounds like we have a good source for soda, water. . . and I would enjoy visiting a wine shop in London. :)

[Cotswold Eagle]

The Wine Library is a combination shop/bar/restaurant. Select your bottle, then take it away; sit and drink it; or enjoy it with a cold buffet. Corkage charge, but no restaurant mark-up.

[Globaliser]

Posting about it reminded me that I needed to drop into Waitrose on the way home. Which then reminded me about two things:-

1. The name of the docks, and the name of the branch, is properly spelt St Katharine Docks. I think I've been forgetting this for years.
2. The shop is actually being refurbished at the moment, so it's a bit untidy. I don't know how long the work is scheduled to take, but everything they sell is still there, and it looks like they have a plan for rolling displacements of certain sections while they're being worked on. The fact that some things are not in their usual places only affects those of us who use it regularly!

[SOPOME]

We are staying at the Royal Horseguards and I'm wondering if all the advice for the Westminster area pertains to us as well...or does anyone have additional advice on where we should purchase wine ahead of our cruise? Thanks!