One of our favorite travel traditions is visiting Costco whenever we travel internationally. It may sound unusual, but Costco offers a fascinating glimpse into everyday life in another country. If you follow us online, you’re aware that The Wall Street Journal interviewed the Cajun Explorers. They noted how we treat international Costco visits as part of our travel adventures. We visited Costcos in Canada, France, Australia, Honolulu and now London. We are curious to discover Costco London, the food court, prices and unique British products from an American perspective.
While most visitors to London rush to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, or the Tower of London, we found ourselves making a pilgrimage to a place that felt both familiar and yet completely different: Costco UK. We went to the Costco Wembley location. Wembley is one of the newer locations and many UK members consider it among the best. Opened in 2016, the warehouse feels modern, spacious, and easy to navigate. London shoppers can also visit three other Costco locations inside the greater London area. There are another three locations outside greater London.
Costco is great for tailgating supplies…except here apparently
It’s an easy commute for us via the Underground to Wembley Park station. Then about a 10 minute walk to the store. It’s only a few minutes from the famous Wembley Stadium, one of London’s most recognizable sports venues. I wonder how many people combine a visit to Costco Wembley to load up on goodies for a tailgating party? Then I thought, do they even have tailgating parties in the UK? Or, is that an American thing?
I decided to search online to learn more. I am surprised at what I learned. Traditional American tailgating does NOT happen at Wembley Stadium. This is due to a lack of parking, strict local council rules, and the British custom of gathering at local pubs instead. Even more surprising is that “tailgating” in the UK is a football term for sneaking into a stadium without a ticket, which is a criminal offense! Who knew? I guess that answers my question about stocking up at Costco for tailgating supplies.
The Food Court Menu & British options
Of course, no Costco visit is complete without a stop at the food court. As always, it’s at the top of our list. International Costco food courts are one of the main reasons we visit warehouses around the world. London did not disappoint. Alongside some familiar favorites were menu items tailored to British tastes. It is a reminder that while Costco maintains its global identity, each country adds its own local flavor.
The food court also features menu items that American Costco fans won’t find back home. There are actually four items you won’t find in a US Costco food court. First, there is a 8 piece California Roll with crab, surimi, avocado and cucumber served with soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi. Second is the Five Cheese Pizza. While Costco’s U.S. cheese pizza is known for its generous layer of a mozzarella and provolone mix topped with parmesan, the UK version blends five different cheeses. They add Romano and cheddar, for a richer cheese flavor. It feels a little more gourmet than the familiar American slice.
A third standout is the Double Chicken Filet Sandwich. It’s served on a grilled bun with two breaded chicken fillets, two slices of cheese, lettuce and tomato. A big sandwich that looks more like something you would order from a fast-food restaurant than a Costco food court.
The fourth UK menu item is the jacket potatoes. This is a huge baked potato with your choice of 4 toppings: baked beans, cheese, beef chilli, or tuna. Hmm, I’m not really sure if tuna works with a baked potato, but it seems to be popular here.
So, what did we eat?
We ordered the jacket potato with beef chili and cheese. I decided to skip on the tuna. This is really good. Not very pretty to look at, but delicious comfort food that’s very filling. We also ordered the double chicken sandwich. It is also surprisingly good. Some UK reviewers commented that their sandwich was dry and plain. However my two fillets are hot and tender, so maybe I have a fresh batch. The grilled bun wasn’t warm, so I can see why they may say that the bread seemed dry. But, you have the mustard, mayo and ketchup available to add on. A good choice overall.
So I think all of these UK options would be great sellers in the US. Finding unique menu items like these is one of the reasons we enjoy visiting Costco locations around the world. You never know what local favorites might be waiting at the food court.
A final thing that made us smile is discovering that free soft drink refills are available, just like back home. That may not sound like a big deal, but after visiting Costco France, where drink refills are illegal, it feels like a small victory for thirsty travelers. The refill station looks familiar, and I love that they have four options for sugar free drinks, Coke diet and zero, Sprite, and Fanta Orange. Judging by the number of customers taking advantage of the free refills, we weren’t the only ones who appreciate the perk.
First Impressions of the Store
Costco London looks much like the warehouses we see back home. The oversized carts, towering shelves, and bulk quantities were instantly recognizable. Yet as soon as we stepped inside, we realized we were definitely not in Texas anymore.
The first thing that caught our attention is the great selection of distinctly British products. Shelves are filled with familiar UK brands, giant tins of biscuits, tea assortments, and enough shortbread and chocolate to fuel a royal garden party. Of course you can’t forget to mention the palllets of British Branson baked beans, “what your toast is waiting for”. Or, the ubiquitous Fairy brand of “washing up” liquid, soap and detergent. Just a few of the many British products available.
Meat & Seafood
Here is where there are great finds that are quite different than what you might see in American Costcos. Some I wish we’d have back home. They do have the famous rotisserie chicken and wings available, but I’ve never seen the roasted pork knuckle and sauerkraut as an option. This looks delicious and there’s a huge crispy cracklin on the top! A Louisiana favorite. They also have the usual shrimp cocktail, but next to it are huge spicy Thai Prawns, yummy. Then there’s the paella and assorted Indian food options.
I know at home we usually see the label Product of… and then the country of origin. I like that many of their products here not only show you the flag of the product of origin, but like on the filet below, they specify the country for everything. This label proudly states: Born in UK, Reared in UK, Slaughtered in UK, and Cut in UK. That’s quite the detail.
I then noticed these small chickens and became puzzled by the label Poussin. I had to look it up since I didn’t know what it is. It’s actually a very young chicken less than 28 days old, serving size is one bird per person. In the US we have Cornish game hens that are similar, but they are a few weeks older and are larger.
A couple more items I’d love to see back home are the crab and crawfish ravioli and the Salmon Wellington.
Bakery Goodies
The bakery offered treats that reflected local and global tastes. They did have the traditional cookies, chocolate, red velvet and carrot cakes like in the USA. But, they had mini and large Victoria Sandwich Cakes made with a sponge cake, raspberry jam and luscious cream filling and dusted with powdered sugar. There are also profiteroles, Nutella stuffed doughnuts and Pastel de Nata, a Portuguese egg custard dusted with cinnamon. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, any one of these will satisfy.
American Products
It’s always good to see American products when you’re far from home. When you’re missing that taste from home, it’s good to know a few things are available. Although it’s always interesting to discover which items that they choose to carry. Here are a few things that reminded me of home. Although the popularity of “American Pancakes” made in France still puzzles me. Why not just buy the real American pancake mix like Krusteaz? Love that they carry Cajun seasoning and the all important peanut butter.
Alcohol
Even the alcohol gets good representation of American products from beer, wine, vodka and bourbon. Unlike Costco in Texas, you can buy both wine and hard liquor inside of Costco. But we are shocked to see how cheap the prices are on many of these items, even after importing them here. Two items that we buy at home that are much cheaper here are Aperol and Glenlivet. These are the prices with 20% VAT at the current exchange rate. Aperol (1 liter) on sale here for about $15 and it’s $31 at home. The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve is about $28 here and $39 at home.
What was missing?
A big differences we noticed at Costco London was what wasn’t there. Unlike most American Costco warehouses, the London Wembley location did not have a gas station. For U.S. members accustomed to filling up before or after shopping, that was a surprise. There was also no pharmacy in the warehouse we visited. This is another feature many American shoppers take for granted. It’s a reminder that Costco adapts its operations to local regulations, real estate constraints, and shopping habits rather than simply duplicating the American model.
Not everyone can get a Costco membership?
One surprise was seeing how many shoppers seemed to be purchasing items for small businesses, restaurants, and convenience stores. Costco’s role in the UK is similar to its role in the United States, serving both families and business owners looking to buy in bulk.
However, there’s a catch. Costco UK has eligibility requirements for warehouse memberships. Unlike the U.S., where virtually anyone can join, UK warehouse memberships are generally limited to people in qualifying professions, certain businesses, or retirees from those categories. So if you’re not a qualifying member, maybe cozy up to someone who is to get added to their card, or shop with them. Do note that your USA Costco card gets you inside every location worldwide. What’s the saying? Never leave home without it (well, maybe that’s for something else).
Membership Pricing
The UK is actually cheaper than the U.S. for membership, even including the 20% VAT. Here’s what you’ll pay when converted to US dollars at current exchange rates: UK Executive: about $112, U.S. Executive: $130 , UK Gold Star: about $56, U.S. Gold Star: $65. Biggest savings go to Business members for only a $33 annual fee.
Final thoughts
For us, a visit to our first Costco UK offers something that traditional tourist attractions cannot: a glimpse into everyday British life. Watching local shoppers fill their carts, discovering regional products, and sampling unique food court specialties provides a different perspective on England than any museum or landmark offers.
Travel isn’t only about famous landmarks and historic sites. Sometimes it’s about wandering through a warehouse store halfway around the world and discovering what makes everyday life a little different. Costco London offers exactly that—a familiar place filled with unexpected surprises. And as long as Costco keeps opening warehouses around the globe, we’ll keep visiting them.
Will a trip to Costco replace a visit to Big Ben or Buckingham Palace? Of course not. But if you’re the type of traveler who enjoys exploring local supermarkets, stores, and neighborhood shops, Costco London makes for a surprisingly entertaining stop.
All these little differences are exactly why we enjoy visiting Costco stores around the world. Every warehouse has the familiar Costco feel. Sometimes the fun is seeing how each nation puts its own spin on a familiar brand and what fun new foods are in the food court. Costco London is no exception. Other times, the surprises are found in something as simple as whether you can refill your own drink.
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