Blog written by: Lowena Norton, Film and Media student
There are so many things to consider when moving into campus accommodation, sometimes it can be easy to forget the most basic and important one of all: food! Luckily, we’re here to give you the most helpful and practical options out there, from cafes and food vans to nearby supermarkets.
Supermarkets
The Kent campus is about a 30-minute walk or a 15-minute bus ride to Canterbury city centre. From there, you can easily access all the classic supermarkets like Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Tesco Express. This can be really handy for a large food shop. A lot of students walk down into town, do their shopping and get the bus back. It gives you some exercise, saves money and gets you loads of food all at once! If you forget anything in town, you can always pop into the Co-Op on campus.
Co-op
There are two Co-Ops on campus: a larger one near the Plaza and a smaller one in Parkwood. They offer a wide range of essentials, including fruit and vegetables, ready meals, snacks, and non-food essentials such as bathroom and household supplies. They’re also a great option for a food shop, and you don’t have to walk as far! And you can also grab a quick meal deal and snack if you’re in a rush.
Delivery
This might seem like a surprising and pricey option, but uni life can get extremely busy, or sometimes you can get sick! In that case, sometimes it can just be worth it to get food shops delivered to campus. ASDA delivers with a £40 minimum spend and deliveries can cost from £1-7. This can be handy if you want to do a big food shop that lasts a couple weeks, or you and your housemates can shop together and split it! Sainsburys also does deliveries for £4.50 on Deliveroo, and Tesco is £3 as of late 2025.
Campus catering outlets
If you’re running low on food or can’t be bothered to cook, Rutherford Dining Hall is a great option for delicious, filling meals for just £3.50. They have a variety of options for every meal, including traditional, home-cooked meals and Mexican style burritos.
Fancy a coffee or sweet treat in between study sessions? Kent has multiple cafes dotted around campus including but not limited to the Library Café, Sibson Café, Dolche Vita, Gulbenkian and a Café Nero! These have drinks, pastries and cakes but also sandwiches for a quick lunch too!
Lot of options
So no matter how you’re feeling, there are a huge amount of options for food, both on and off campus! Whether your looking for large food shops, affordable meals or sweet treats, you can easily access it all on the University of Kent campus.