American food in London: groceries, NFL bars, turkey

London will feed you brilliantly. It just won't always feed you what you grew up on. Canned pumpkin, real root beer and a bar that shows the late NFL game take a little planning, but all of them are findable.

The short version

A few London stores specialize in US pantry staples, including The American Food Store near Notting Hill and Panzer's in St John's Wood [1].
Costco has warehouses around London, including Chingford, Croydon, Wembley, Watford and Thurrock, but you need a membership and should check eligibility first [2].
For NFL Sundays, bars like Goldwood and Long Arm are known spots, and the NFL has listed them as official places to watch [3].
In 2026, London hosted three NFL regular-season games in October, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley [4].
Thanksgiving isn't a holiday here, so book a restaurant early or order a turkey from a butcher well before the fourth Thursday of November.

USD conversions use the Federal Reserve H.10 rate of October 30, 2026: £1 = USD 1.3398 [5].

US groceries: what's easy, what's hard

The good news: British supermarkets carry plenty of American-adjacent basics. Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and others usually have a "world foods" aisle with a few US brands, and the bigger stores stock tortillas, maple syrup and peanut butter. The bad news: the specific brand you miss may not be there, and prices for imported items can give you sticker shock.

Things Americans commonly hunt for:

canned pumpkin, graham crackers, and baking staples like chocolate chips in US sizes
Jif and other US peanut butters, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Pop-Tarts and US cereal
root beer, Dr Pepper variants and US candy
ranch dressing, US hot sauces and Old Bay
Mexican ingredients like dried chiles, masa harina and tomatillos

Stores worth knowing

Store	Where	What it's good for
The American Food Store	2 Ladbroke Grove, W11, near Notting Hill [1]	US pantry staples, holiday baking items like pumpkin pie spice [1]
Panzer's	Circus Road, St John's Wood, NW8 [1]	Deli with American pantry staples, near The American School in London
Partridges	Duke of York Square near Sloane Square, and Gloucester Road in Kensington [1]	Upscale grocer with imported US products
American Candy Co	Camden High Street, NW1 [1]	US candy and snacks (pricey)
Mestizo Mexican Market	Hampstead Road, near Euston [1]	Mexican ingredients and a restaurant
Whole Foods Market	Several London stores [1]	A familiar US name, though stock is mostly British and European

Several of these also sell online, and there are UK online shops specializing in US food, plus Amazon for emergencies [1]. Compare prices: a box of cereal imported from the States can cost two or three times what it does back home.

Pro tip: ask friends visiting from the States to bring one suitcase of essentials. It's a time-honored expat tradition. Just check UK customs rules on meat and dairy products before anyone packs beef jerky.

Costco runs in London

Yes, there's Costco. Costco UK lists warehouses around London, including Chingford in the northeast, Croydon in the south, Wembley in the northwest, Watford just outside the city to the northwest and Thurrock to the east in Essex [2].

What's different from home:

Membership eligibility. Costco UK has historically limited individual membership to certain groups, while business memberships require a trading business. Check the current rules on Costco UK's site before you drive out [2].
Your US card may help. Costco has said in the past that memberships work at warehouses worldwide, but confirm with your home warehouse before relying on it.
Getting there. Most London warehouses are on the edge of the city, so a Costco run usually means a car. If you're driving on a US license, see our driving guide for the 12-month rule.
Some familiar US items. You'll find Kirkland Signature products and some American brands, mixed in with British and European ones. Don't expect the full US lineup.

A Costco haul only makes sense if you have the storage space. London apartments and fridges are smaller than most US ones.

Watching the NFL (and NBA) in London

London is the NFL's home away from home. In 2026, three regular-season games were played here: Colts vs Commanders and Eagles vs Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Texans vs Jaguars at Wembley, all on October Sundays [4]. Tickets sell fast; sign up for the NFL's ticket alerts well before the schedule drops.

For regular Sundays, time zones work in your favor. The early 1:00 p.m. Eastern kickoffs start at 6:00 p.m. in London, and the late afternoon games run into the evening. Sunday and Monday night games, though, start after midnight UK time.

Sports bars

London bars that regularly show NFL games include [3][6]:

Bar	Where	Note
Goldwood	The City, with branches in Shoreditch, Liverpool Street and White City	Listed by the NFL as an official place to watch [3]
Long Arm	Shoreditch	Brewpub, also listed by the NFL [3]
Redwood	London Bridge	Recommended for NFL viewing [3]
Greenwood	Victoria	Recommended for NFL viewing [3]
Northwood	Angel	Recommended for NFL viewing [3]
Passyunk Avenue	Waterloo, Battersea and Fitzrovia	American-style bar, named for a Philadelphia street [3][6]
BOX	Piccadilly	West End sports bar [6]

Reserve a table for big games, especially when popular teams play and in the playoffs. The Super Bowl kicks off late at night London time, so plenty of bars run special late openings; book early. For NBA and MLB, games are mostly overnight, but the same bars often show weekend afternoon or early evening fixtures.

Prefer watching at home? The NFL's own streaming service and UK sports broadcasters carry games; check which package covers your team before you subscribe.

American restaurants

London's burger and barbecue scene has grown up. Smash burgers, Texas-style brisket and Southern fried chicken are all on the menu now, and US chains like Shake Shack and Five Guys have outposts in central London. For a diner breakfast, you'll find American-style pancakes in plenty of cafés, though the full British breakfast is the local default.

Rather than give you a list that dates fast, here's a tip: London food sites like Hot Dinners and Time Out London update their burger and barbecue roundups regularly. Search them before date night.

Thanksgiving in London

Thanksgiving is a regular working Thursday in the UK. Your kids have school, your office is open and the stores aren't decorated for it, because Christmas started in October.

Eating out

A number of London restaurants run Thanksgiving menus each year. For 2026, published roundups list special Thanksgiving menus at places including Duck & Waffle on Bishopsgate, the Savoy Grill on the Strand, CUT at 45 Park Lane, Riding House Café in Fitzrovia and RAILS at the Great Northern Hotel near King's Cross [7]. These book up, so reserve in October.

Cooking at home

The turkey is the tricky part. British turkeys are geared to Christmas, so supermarket supplies in mid-to-late November can be thin.

Order a whole turkey from a local butcher by early November and give them your date.
Measure your oven. Many London ovens are smaller than US ones. A 6 kg bird is about 13 pounds; make sure it fits.
Stock up on the American extras early: canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce, French's crispy onions and pie crust ingredients. The specialty stores above sell out close to the holiday [1].
Plan your oven schedule. No double oven? Cook the pies the day before.
Invite your British friends. Most have never had a real Thanksgiving, and green bean casserole will blow their minds.

Thanksgiving potlucks and Friendsgivings are a big deal among Americans here. You'll hear about them in our community group for Americans in the UK.

American food in London: where to find US groceries, NFL Sundays and a Thanksgiving turkey