Cheapest hot breakfast in the UK: Greggs sausage roll from £1.30. Cheapest sit-down full English: Wetherspoons from £5.99. Cheapest hotel breakfast: Travelodge at £10.95. McDonald’s offers the best fast food value from £3.79.
Every UK Breakfast Chain — Ranked by Price
| Rank | Chain | Cheapest Item | Full Breakfast from | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏅 1st | Greggs | £1.30 sausage roll | £1.95 | Fast food |
| 🥈 2nd | McDonald’s | £1.09 hash brown | £3.79 McMuffin | Fast food |
| 🥉 3rd | Costa | £1.49 fruit bag | £3.99 sausage wrap | Coffee shop |
| 4th | Starbucks | £2.25 fruit pot | £4.79 bacon roll | Coffee shop |
| 5th | KFC | £1.49 hash browns | £4.49 wrap | Fast food |
| 6th | Wetherspoons | £5.99 standard | £5.99 | Sit-down — BEST VALUE full English |
| 7th | Travelodge | £10.95 | £10.95 | Hotel buffet — cheapest hotel |
| 8th | Premier Inn | £12.99 | £12.99 | Hotel buffet |
| 9th | Holiday Inn Express | Included in room | Free if in rate | Hotel — often best deal |
Under £3 — The Cheapest Breakfast Options in the UK
1. Greggs — From £1.30
Greggs is the cheapest hot breakfast option in the UK. A sausage roll is £1.30. A sausage, bean and cheese melt is £1.95. A bacon and egg roll is around £2.00. Greggs opens from 6am at most locations — earlier than any other major chain. There is no sit-down service, no plates, and no cooked-to-order. But for a hot grab-and-go breakfast under £2, nothing else in the UK comes close.
2. McDonald’s — Hash Brown £1.09
A McDonald’s hash brown at £1.09 is the cheapest single hot breakfast item of any sit-down fast food chain. A full McMuffin with egg and bacon is £3.79. McDonald’s breakfast has the widest UK coverage of any fast food chain — most locations open at 6am or 7am. The McCafé coffee is notably better than KFC or Greggs. For under £3, a hash brown and a coffee from McDonald’s is a legitimate breakfast.
Under £5 — The Best Breakfast Options in This Price Band
Wetherspoons — £5.99
This is the sweet spot. Wetherspoons at £5.99 is technically above £5 but it represents the best value proper full English in the UK. Eggs are cooked to order. Sausages are high quality. The £7.99 large version with hash browns and black pudding is still cheaper than a hotel buffet. If there is a Wetherspoons near you, this is the correct choice for a cheap sit-down full English.
McDonald’s Big Breakfast — £4.99
The McDonald’s Big Breakfast Meal includes eggs, bacon, sausage, hash brown, and either a McMuffin or hotcakes. At £4.99 with orange juice or coffee it represents strong fast food value. Not a full English but solid for the price.
Cheapest Hotel Breakfast — Every Option Compared
| Hotel | Adult Price | Style | Value Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travelodge | £10.95 | Hot and cold buffet | Best budget |
| Premier Inn | £12.99 | Unlimited hot and cold | Best value hotel |
| Holiday Inn Express | Usually included | Bar buffet | Best deal if included |
| Holiday Inn (full) | £15.99+ | Full restaurant | Expensive |
The smartest hotel breakfast strategy: book Holiday Inn Express and check if breakfast is included in the rate. If it is, you get a solid bar buffet at no extra cost — the best hotel breakfast deal in the UK. If it is not included, Travelodge at £10.95 is the cheapest hotel buffet option.
Tips for Getting the Cheapest Breakfast in the UK
💰 Money-Saving Breakfast Strategies
- Wetherspoons app deals — the Wetherspoons app often has exclusive discounts of £1–2 off the breakfast price. Always check before ordering at the bar.
- McDonald’s app deals — the McDonald’s app has daily breakfast offers including free items. Worth downloading before a long journey.
- Hotel breakfast pre-booking — Premier Inn breakfast pre-booked with your room is usually cheaper than paying on the day. Always add it at booking stage.
- Holiday Inn Express rates — some flexible rates include breakfast. Compare the rate with and without — breakfast sometimes costs only £2–3 extra when added to a room rate.
- Greggs opens earliest — 6am at most locations. Earlier than any competitor. Good for pre-commute or pre-flight breakfast.
The cheapest hot breakfast in the UK is at Greggs — a sausage roll from £1.30 or a sausage, bean and cheese melt from £1.95. For a sit-down full English, Wetherspoons from £5.99 is the cheapest option at any UK chain. For hotel breakfasts, Travelodge at £10.95 is the cheapest buffet available.
Under £3 options: Greggs sausage roll £1.30, Greggs sausage bean melt £1.95, McDonald’s hash brown £1.09, McDonald’s McMuffin £3.79 (just above). For a hot drink and something to eat under £3, Greggs with a sausage roll and coffee is the cheapest combination available at a major UK chain.
Yes — Wetherspoons at £5.99 is the best value sit-down full English at any UK chain. Eggs are cooked to order (not buffet), sausages are high quality, and portions are generous. The only cheaper sit-down option is a value breakfast at an independent cafe. For a chain full English, Wetherspoons is the correct choice for value.
Travelodge at £10.95 per adult is the cheapest paid hotel breakfast buffet in the UK. However, Holiday Inn Express breakfast is often included in the room rate — if your rate includes it, that is effectively free and therefore the best hotel breakfast value available. Always check what is included when booking a Holiday Inn Express room.
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