I'm excited to visit MK this week and want to do some shopping. I'm looking for: Raspberry Pi, fake meat, real meat, dad clothes. Suggestions?

Posted by RearAdmiralP@reddit | miltonkeynes | View on Reddit | 43 comments

Hi! I'm taking a short city break to MK this coming week. I'm thrilled to be visiting your wonderful city again. I'm American, but I live in Hungary, and visits to MK are a special treat for me. I really enjoy being in a modern city, and being able to get around hearing and speaking English everywhere is so relaxing.

Anyway, I'd like to do a bit of shopping while I'm visiting, and I thought I would ask here for suggestions about where/what to buy. I'm looking for the following stuff:

A Raspberry Pi 5. I can easily order this online, but, when possible, I like to buy things in physical stores. Are there any around selling them? Does anyone know if the museum shop at the National Museum of Computing, which I plan to visit, might happen to sell them?
Fake meat-- specially a fake "roast". The roast in this picture is from the American brand Tofurky, which I understand used to be sold in the UK but no longer is. Can anyone suggest local brands making something similar and where to buy one?
Black pudding and white pudding. I assume I can just buy this at Sainbury's, Waitrose, etc., but I don't know which brands are good. If there's a local butcher that makes some in-house, that would be even better.
Dad clothes. I can, of course, just go to Centre:MK and walk around (okay, I plan to do that a bit anyway), but if anyone can mention that places where middle-aged men buy trousers and pants and such, I would appreciate it.

Sorry if it's a lot of questions. I've done a bit of research on the topic myself, but I would very much value the input of locals-- you know your city better than google or I do. Thank you so much!

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flwdbydsgn@reddit

Hope you enjoy your stay!

It’s been a long few years since I was vegan but I can recall Holland and Barrett (think whole foods but without groceries and 4 times as many supplements) at CMK used to have a decent range of meat alternatives, especially for Xmas. I wouldn’t suggest going out of your way to check because we’re talking 5-6 years ago but if you’re in CMK anyway as most visitors tend to to be, the store is basically in the middle of the shopping mall and somewhat hard to miss.

On that note, while you’re checking out Bletchley park, there’s a huge Asda in Bletchley next to our football stadium that might give you a reminder of Walmart. In fact I think at one point it technically was a Walmart? Anyway, being a larger store it tends to carry more alternatives than most of what’s available in MK so could be worth a trip to explore.

For local bucthers, Bletchley high street (not far from Bletchley park) still has a couple ‘ol timey looking ones but that’s not my side of MK so I can’t speak to the quality. I believe there is still a butchers in a housing estate called heelands, I used to go there a lot as a kid and don’t remember anything foul. It’s a stones throw away from Longdan in Bradwell Common that others have recommended, so if you’re this side of MK it could be worth a peek.

Dad clothes, you’ll be wanting either Marks and Spencer’s at the bottom of CMK or Next and John Lewis which are at the top. Personally the stuff from Marks and Spencer last longer and the sizing in Next can be.. odd. John Lewis is a department store so it carries brand names you might be familiar with and trust but bring a credit card lol.

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sealedtrain@reddit

Sainsbury do a great fake turkey roast

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

A fake turkey roast is exactly what I'm looking for. Is this the one you recommend?

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sealedtrain@reddit

100%

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UnhappyBench860@reddit

This! And a brand "This isn't..." In most supermarkets that sells vege roast

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SammyMcSamface@reddit

It's nice to see someone excited to visit Milton Keynes. Hope you have a good visit mate, and get all the things you need and have a merry Christmas!

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rice-and-doola@reddit

Cambridge for the pi

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

That's the plan! Thanks!

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mkroberta@reddit

You can try Cyntech for the raspberry pi: Cyntech Components Ltd 6 Clitheroe Croft, Kingsmead Milton Keynes, MK4 4HD, UK Tel: +44 1908 373927 sales@cyntech.co.uk

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

I'll probably go to Cambridge for the Raspberry Pi, but I'll keep them in mind in case that falls through. Thank you!

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lostuk19427892@reddit

If you're a foodie and you want some good food you gotta try Five Akhis or Five Akhis express. Award winning burgers.

Personally I find Centre MK is like a concrete maze. I always get lost even though I've been there so many times. I end up using Google maps to get where I need because I can never tell where I am in this mile long shopping centre or however long it is. I end up planning to go from Boots to Marks and Spencer and realising I'm walking the wrong way. Is it just me? Stores only sell skinny people clothes anyway. I can never find my size.

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

I saw Five Akhis mentioned in another thread. I'll keep them in mind. Thank you!

I have also ended up using maps on my phone in Centre MK. I'm a huge fan of the architecture / planning of Milton Keynes, and I'm always impressed by the scale of Centre MK. I wandered into the open market next to it last time I was visiting and found that really cool too.

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realintopotatochips@reddit

American in MK here. I miss Tofurky! There’s a brand called “THIS” that make a vegan chicken roast, I get it from Sainsburys or Tescos. A bit different than Tofurky, but really great.

Longdan’s plantbased store is really just their “plantbase” products dotted around the entire store. Still worth the trip as there’s a frozen section full of many vegan meats beyond a typical roast.

Veggie World is an excellent all vegan Chinese takeaway-only spot in Bletchley. The correct menu is on Facebook. Call ahead as they book collection times over phone only. Enjoy MK!

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

Thank you! Someone else in the thread mentioned a brand called "This isn't", which I think I've seen it in Tesco before, and I think is the same brand. Thanks for the suggestion.

When I lived in the US, I'd often drive a little bit extra to get to "the good Kroger" (or other mainstream grocery brand) rather than going to the one strictly closest. Is there a "good Tesco" in MK?

Thanks also for the vegan food advice. I'm no longer vegan, but I really enjoy well-made "meat substitutes". Unfortunately, they're not so common in Hungary. I'm looking forward to eating lots of fake meat in England and smuggling some back home.

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jenny_quest@reddit

Hi I'm about 80% sure.. Maybe more..I saw raspberry pi being sold at the national museum of computing. It was a year or so ago so maybe call/email to check. It's a great museum with a fun shop!

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

Thank you! I'll probably buy one in Cambridge, but I'll try to remember to check at the museum and follow-up here in case anyone in the future wants to know.

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jenny_quest@reddit

Sorry my memory isn't great, I'm fairly certain they have them. It's a small shop though (it's in the cafe) and the volunteers are very helpful

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shdanko@reddit

Raspberry Pi is a difficult one but off the top of my head I’d try CEX, would be second hand though. I checked their website and apparently stocked as close as Bedford (about 30-40 mins drive).. I bet there are some independent computer shops around you’d find them at though.

Dad clothes TK Maxx is pretty good and good prices! There’s a big one in CMK and a bigger one in Bletchley.

I suck with food so ill bow out of those questions with my head held high lol.

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

CEX website isn't working properly for me. I'll try again when I'm in the UK. If I have time and luggage space, there's other computer stuff I may want to buy, so it's good to be able to search.

Thanks for the TK Maxx suggestion.

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TheMopFromMars@reddit

I bought some fake chicken for Xmas dinner from Wolverton Tesco!

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

Thank you!

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Sedulous280@reddit

Costco used to sell massive Black pudding. You can go to palmers butchers in Bletchley for most real meat 🥩. The might sell white pudding. Never seen anyone selling raspberry pi . Tesco has many fake meats now. Different brands but same thing

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

In the US, a membership is necessary to shop at Costco. Is it the same there?

I checked Palmer's website and didn't see any puddings, but I did see some nice looking biltong, so it's worth a stop anyway. I'll ask while there.

I was planning to visit Tesco anyway, and the M&S the other guy suggested is in MK1, so I'll keep an eye out for good looking fake meat and clothes while there.

Thanks for the tips!

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lostuk19427892@reddit

I like Palmers. I find it's a good butchers. They have big packs of sausages. Their steaks are great. UK beef I believe is mostly grass fed.

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arghness@reddit

Costco membership is even trickier in the UK, usually have to be a business or government / council worker, I think.

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Substantial-Rip2571@reddit

Haven’t heard of having to be a business or government / council worker for a Costco membership, someone in my family has one and isn’t apart of those jobs so I don’t think that’s a thing anymore if it used to be

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shdanko@reddit

Fairly certain anyone can just pay a monthly membership now. And there’s tiers of membership… my girlfriend has one and has zero business / government / council ties.

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KingDaveRa@reddit

Yes, but at long as you have a membership, you can get in. I.e. If OP has a valid one from the US they can get in.

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jaceinthebox@reddit

I'm sure one of the many butchers in Bletchley will sell it, I can buy shark in Bletchley.

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UsefulAd8513@reddit

For the RPi, if you have the time, they have a store in the centre of Cambridge 40 miles away from MK.

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

That's perfect! I don't mind the trip at all! Thank you so much!

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Notagelding@reddit

I have one that you could buy. I'm not sure if it's a 5

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shdanko@reddit

Cool had no idea they had their own stores

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bigboyjeff789@reddit

For fake meat - you could try Longdan MK in bradwell, they have quite a lot of vegan/plant based fake meats. For dad clothes you could check out stony Stratford or Bletchley high streets which both have a lot of charity shops, which are great for Middle Aged bloke clobber.

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suicine88@reddit

If you'd like a veggie meal, I'd recommend Veggie World in Bletchley. Pretty good!

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Odd_Kaleidoscope3723@reddit

Second that on veggie world! Worth the trip, but I think it’s takeaway only since the pandemic.

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

It looks like there's a "Plantbase Store" inside of the Longan. This looks promising. I love charity stores. Thank you for the suggestions!

Interesting thing-- in Hungary, charity stores advertise that they have "English clothing" and often will incorporate the UK flag in advertisements. English used clothing has a good reputation.

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ExtraPersonality1066@reddit

Longdan isn't a charityshop, it's a really nice Asian grocery store though. I

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frugalacademic@reddit

Be aware that you cannot bring meat products from outside the EU (thank you Brexit) to an EU country.

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

I think it's that you cannot legally bring meat products into the EU. If the customs man asks about the sausage in my trousers, I'll tell him that I'm just happy to see him :)

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Sedulous280@reddit

MK one retail park for clothes is another option

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ExtraPersonality1066@reddit

You can buy 3/4 of those things at Marks & Spencer. There's one in Bletchley near the Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park. I don't know about the Rasberry Pi sorry.

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RearAdmiralP@reddit (OP)

I had a look at the Marks & Spencer website, and it looks like they primarily (only?) sell own-brand products, so I wouldn't need to choose between several different versions of the same thing, which sounds nice. Thank you for the suggestion!