Breakfast in London

"Not looking for ham, sausage eggs, hash browns etc"
"Ham" isn't really a breakfast item, more likely bacon.

That’s up to you if spending just under $12 for breakfast is reasonable.

What I’ve done when breakfast wasn’t included in the rate was go to a grocery store around the corner the day before and pick up yoghurt, a muffin or croissant, and fresh fruit for breakfast to enjoy in my room the following morning (or the next few mornings). So easy to do.

Why not look for a hotel that includes breakfast, there are a lot of them, these hotels would offer several different cereal, juices, toast and cooked food if you want it.

In doing your cost/value estimate, allow for coffee being relatively high-priced in the UK.

Is that £9 at the hotel for a "full English" breakfast, or for Continental?

I don't know if Continental breakfast is offered as a buffet at London restaurants. Generally it is ala Carte r, and might add up to more than that £ 9 to get several ite,s and coffee.

Here is an example from Bill's restaurant, a decent chain that offers all-day meals, including breakfast.

https://bills-website.co.uk/restaurants/baker-street/menu/breakfast

The closest to your list is the granola with berries and yogurt for £6.50. Add coffee and you may be up to €9.

Another option would be Pret a Manger, which has cases of "grab and go" items, and fresh pastries. You can sit down there ( if you can find a spot) or take out. Here is a list of their "pots", which include things like yogurt and berries, granola, etc. they also have lots of coffee choices, and nice bakery items. Lots of variety here. No prices on this menu though.

https://www.pret.com/en-us/our-menu/129-pret-pots.aspx

If you just want coffee and a pastry, there are coffee places like Caffe Nero, Costas, and of course Starbucks all over.

Many seem to be fans of Hotel breakfasts, I never have really understood, but no, I would not pay $10+ for what most hotels put out, especially if I wasn't eagerly looking for a full English breakfast (if that is what they are offering).

In London, you can find a Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero, or a Starbucks every few steps. Pret a Manger as well, but offering a bit more food options. The advantage of these are they are cheaper, better coffee, and allow you to get out earlier and enjoy some quiet at a sight before the crowds show up.

We try to get hotels with breakfast included. If it isn’t, we will generally pay for it, more for the convenience than anything else. Also, on bad weather days, you don’t need to go out in the weather until heading out for the day. In large cities like London, there are plenty of places to get something to eat, and depending on what you want, can spend between £6 and £13 or more. Where hotel breakfasts are a plus is in those small and really small towns where there are few restaurants open in the morning, or even close to the hotel.

In some places in the UK, their bacon is like Canadian bacon in the states; thin slices of ham.

Coffee at Starbucks or Costa or anywhere is going to cost about £2 (more if you want anything fancy), a muffin or croissant also about £2. If you think you'll want to drink 2 cups of coffee and a pasty and a piece of fruit and some yogurt - well even in a grocery store that's going to run you close to the 9£. Each individual thing is not that expensive but add them up. So I guess the answer depends on how much you will eat. The last hotel I stayed at the breakfast was an extra £6 so I went the down the street to Costa - thought about it for two minutes and went back to the hotel - for what turned out to be so much food and so good that I rarely need lunch.

"In some places in the UK, their bacon is like Canadian bacon in the states; thin slices of ham."

Called back bacon in the UK, it's not "ham", IMHO much better than the streaky bacon you get in the US, which is to fatty for me. At least with back bacon you can cut the fatty rind off.

https://www.englishbreakfastsociety.com/back-bacon.html

Coffee in Starbuck$ is north of £3 now.

We love B&Bs were you get free breakfasts.

If I haven't done my research then Bill's is a dependable stalwart as is Pret a Manger (but only if I can sit down, I'm not eating my breakfast whilst walking!).

What's the hotel? I would never eat a Permier Inn breakfast or a Travelodge one (did that once, never to be repeated). In the few B&B's I've stayed at I've enjoyed very good breakfasts. Personally, unless it was a good B&B I would seek breakfast elsewhere and either do a bit of research or head for the nearest Bill's.