After a fun sunday wandering the south bank I found myself migrating back to college to work on the last round of undergraduate Lab marking. Hungry I lurked around South Ken’s various cafe’s looking for some inspiration.

About a month ago (I am told by the helpful waitress) Tombo, a Japanese deli & cafe opened. What a find! Brilliantly cheap (for London ) well made Japanese food to take out or eat in. Sweet, airy decor and a chilled vibe in the cafe and very tasty food. The Chicken Teriyaki Don box hit the spot for a not too painful £6. My bigest surprise was that they serve flowering tea for £2.40. Well, hardly the cheapest but in comparison to a starbucks coffee (and you get about 4 cups out of one “flower”, topping up with hot water ) I am sold.

check it out, open till 7:30pm, 29 Thurloe Place (next to the ‘snog’ yoghurt shop).

And in their own words: Tombo website

The importance of coffee both in my undergraduate and in my day to day life now is unquantifiable. These are my some of favorite venues (and rough closing times) within strolling distance of the college.

They are listed in order of walking distance from my office. the closest, cheapest (30p) and possibly even best being our group coffee machine. But its good to get away from the desk sometimes..

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“Level 8″ – Blackett Lab

Price coffee : 40p

Access: Mon-Fri Closes 4:30pm, only serves postgraduate and staff in the physics department.

Pluses: cheap, lots of places to sit and an amazing outdoor space with panoramic veiws of London. loved by the plasma physics group.

Minuses: coffee of instant variety and the snacks are limited and do run out.

tea and caned drinks also available.

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SCR (Senior Common Room)

Price of latte: £1.28 (regular + with student discount)

Access: mon-fri Closes 7pm, open only to postgraduate and staff

Pluses: Close, easy to get to, served in a real cup if you sit in. Also a great place to bump into other PhD’s and staff. Also a loyalty card (which can be used in the library or other venues on college) gets your 8th hot drink (any one, any size!) free.

Minuses: Coffee is so so and the queues can be very long.

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Library

Price of latte: £1.28 (regular + with student discount)

Access: Closes: Mon-Thursday 23:00, Friday  21:00, Saturday & Sunday  16:00

Pluses: its in the library? also has internet. but then everywhere in college does if you count WiFi ><

Minuses: can be quite crowded. Its in the library?

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Gloucester Road Starbucks

Price of latte: £2 ++

Access: Closes: Mon-Friday  ***, Weekend:

Pluses: nice-ish. and they have cake. Also open lateish

Minuses: starbucks

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Gloucester Road little cafe opposite Waitrose

Price of latte: £2.**

Haven’t been there for a while but they did some great deals on scones and tea. lovely venue too.

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The Forum / house of coffees

Price of latte: £2 ish

Access: Mon-Sunday  open late! never seen this place closed

Pluses: 2 for 1 on pizza till 8pm. woop! and free croissant with coffee in the mornings. double woop!

Minuses: food getting ever more pricey in this favored venue.

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By no means exaustive. but hopefully informitive. long live the buzz!

3 course meal? christmas crackers? and its only the 9th Dec. Super

feeling the cheer!