Members of our International Student Advisory Board have put together some helpful guides for adjusting to life in the UK.
On this page – Supermarkets and buying groceries, Specialist Grocery shops and Household and Stationery Shops
Supermarkets and buying groceries
The UK has several supermarket chains with different price ranges. Aldi is the cheapest one and has two locations in Canterbury. Waitrose is the most expensive one. Sainsbury’s and ASDA are two of the biggest supermarkets in Canterbury. M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury’s Local and Waitrose are located in the city centre. We also have two Coop shops located on the University’s Campus (Central Campus and Parkwood).
Supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have a cheaper range of products. It is also common to find “Aldi price match” stickers indicating that the price of that product is the same at Aldi.
Supermarkets usually have international sections. Lidl (located in Herne Bay) and sometimes Aldi have weekly offers dedicated to foods from different countries.
Supermarkets are usually open from 8am to 10pm Monday through Saturday. They are also open on Sundays and Bank holidays, but with restricted opening times
Tips
- Loyalty and membership schemes – Most supermarkets offer free membership schemes. You can log in and enjoy some discounts, and collect points interchangeably for money.
- Discounted products – Look out for the yellow stickers in supermarkets. These are products sold at a reduced price because their best before date is approaching, but they are still safe to consume.
- Meal Deals – Most supermarkets offer meal deals that include one main (a sandwich, or salad), one side (a bag of crisps or another snack) and a drink.
- Bring your own bags – There are bags available in the supermarket, but you will have to pay a small fee.
- Self Checkout tills – Most supermarkets will have self-checkout tills (you scan and pack your own items). There is usually no internet connection in supermarkets.
- Online Delivery – It is possible to do your grocery shopping online and it will be delivered to your accommodation for a fee. You could get together with your housemates to do a bulk order.
We did a comparison guide to help you when choosing your supermarket.
Specialist grocery shops
There are also a number of specialised shops in Canterbury, here are some of them:
- Thais R Us Oriental Grocers – Asian Grocery Shop – 20 Lower Bridge Street, Canterbury CT1 2LG
- Garden Of England – Grocery with African and Asian produce – 19 St. Dunstans St, Canterbury CT2 8BH
- Canterbury, Asian groceries – Grocery with African and Asian produce. 29 Wincheap, Canterbury CT1 3RX
- Starry Mart – Asian Grocery Shop. Unit 2, Broad Oak House, Broad Oak Rd, Canterbury CT2 7PX. Unit 12, the Riverside, Sturry Rd, Canterbury CT1 1BU.
- Asian Food Market – Indian Groceries Canterbury: Grocery with Indian, Nepali, Sri Lankan and Afro Caribbean produce. 254 Sturry Rd, Canterbury CT1 1DT
- Balkan Food Canterbury – Eastern European Grocery Shop. 19 Castle St, Canterbury CT1 2QJ
- Kent Food – Grocery shop with international food. 56 Dover St, Canterbury CT1 3HD
See also the Eating In and Eating Out sections of A Black Student’s Guide to Kent.
Household and Stationery Shops
Regardless of where you choose to live, you will likely need to purchase some household items such as bedding or appliances. It is possible to order items through online retailers and get things shipped on campus. If you’d rather purchase in person, there are quite a few stores in town to consider:
- Argos -> provides a click and collect service. Buy your items online and collect at Sainsbury’s in town. Carries appliances such as rice cookers, air fryers etc. (£) ~20 minute bus ride from campus.
- Tesco -> has a small home section in store, providing good basics such as utensil sets and cleaning supplies. (£) ~15 minute bus ride from campus.
- Dunelm -> UK’s leading home store. Shop for bedding, curtains, kitchen products, etc. (££) ~ 30 minute bus ride from campus.
- Flying Tiger -> unique items including kitchen utensils, stationary, and other goods. (£) ~15 minute bus ride from campus.
- Oliver Bonas -> shop for homeware and gifts at this independent UK lifestyle store. (£££) ~15 minute bus ride from campus
- Ryman -> shop for affordable stationary items (and get things printed!), likely cheaper than options on Amazon. (£) ~15 minute ride from campus.
- Primark -> has a home section located on the top floor with bathroom and kitchen products. (£) ~15 minute bus ride from campus.
- Fenwick -> has a home section on the lower floor (££££) ~15 minute bus ride from campus)