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Original poster

Ideas for special day out with 15yo dd and friend?

22 replies

ODFOx · 01/09/2019 10:35

Her birthday is soon and she's asked for a special day out with her friend (after a sleepover) instead of a gift.
It will be a Sunday, so nothing too late at night as school the next day.
Theme park seems a bit generic.
Any ideas please. I'm hoping to think outside the box so the more ideas the merrier!

OP posts:

SummerHouse · 01/09/2019 10:37

Where are you roughly? Is she outdoorsy? What time of year? I have some ideas brewing...

MissClementine · 01/09/2019 10:37

Where do you live?

Original poster

ODFOx · 01/09/2019 10:41

September.
Midlands/East Anglia/we can travel.
Thanks

OP posts:

milliefiori · 01/09/2019 10:43

If she's not afraid of heights a hot air balloon ride or a gliding lesson would be great fun.

We had an amazing day out in London recently with DS2 (teen) - went to the Olafur Eiliasson exhibition at Tate, which is an interactive experience and amazing (rooms full of rainbow coloured fog so you feel like you are walking on another planet, fountains and magic mirrors - lots of fun stuff. Then went to a matinee of a west end show and afterwards to a newish restaurant in Soho that DS was really impressed by as it is very cool on Instagram right now apparently!. It was one of the best days out in ages.

SeaSidePebbles · 01/09/2019 10:43

Driving experience?
Diving experience?
Spa day?

milliefiori · 01/09/2019 10:44

London again - but a day out we are planning - not done it yet, is to hire bikes to ride in the Olympic Velodrome then go down the Anish Kapoor slide in the Olympic Park.

afromom · 01/09/2019 10:48

I took DSD13 to Birmingham for her birthday - we shopped in shops that she's seen on YouTube, but we don't have near to us, went to five guys for lunch and had bubble tea. She loved it, and was instagramming all day.
Ashore DD is a little older, you could maybe do a nice afternoon tea or something, with shopping?

SummerHouse · 01/09/2019 10:49

Outdoorsy - Go Ape
Touristy - Lincoln castle and cathedral

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 01/09/2019 10:50

What sort of things does she like?

So if you went to London, would she prefer to climb the O2? Take a riverboat to Hampton Court? Go to a matinee? Have afternoon tea at Kew Gardens?

We've taken DS and his friend llama walking; he has also had zoo keeper experiences at various locations. How about a falconry experience? DH had one at Warwick Castle but they're not offering it at the moment but other places would do them.

MissClementine · 01/09/2019 10:52

What is she into? Is she into fashion/make up? Hobbies?

Does she watch any vloggers? Is she into Instagram?

Original poster

ODFOx · 01/09/2019 15:30

She's 15, so sometimes she loves the outdoors, sometimes not, sometimes she's really into makeup, sometimes not. I'd like to avoid a shopping day as I'll have to sub the friend too and that would be awkward.

OP posts:

bamboocat · 01/09/2019 15:48

Harry Potter studio tour near Watford?

Ice skating, Milton Keynes or Nottingham?

MissClementine · 01/09/2019 18:36

Afternoon tea in a nice hotel. In London the Firmdale Group of hotels are lovely especially the Ham Yard. Also lots of cute cupcake shops are popular with teens, Hummingbird Bakery, Lolas or EL&N

In London The Oxo Tower restaurant is exciting for teens or a trip up the Shard. There is also the Sky Garden on Fenchurch Street for a walk around.

The V&A has a great Mary Quant exhibition on at the moment, really interesting and takes about 2 hours to see.

London theatre for 15 year old I would recommend Wicked or Matilda.

Alpaca walking is fun, my teens loved doing this recently.

KickBishopBrennanUpTheArse · 01/09/2019 18:41

My dd went with a friend to a cake decorating day. They learnt loads and both came away with a huge cake each.

Leeds2 · 01/09/2019 20:01

Llama walking.
Zoo keeper for a day experience.
Walking over the O2.

Peakypolly · 01/09/2019 20:18

I’d second a day in Birmingham.
Super cool places for coffee (hot choc?) and/ or lunch. There are also bottomless brunches on a Sunday at Harvey Nicks and other places.You could visit the BBC for a tour or, if they are arty, visit the Jewellery Quarter museum or The Custard Factory. Have a poke round China Town - my teens were fascinated by The Back to Backs but you need to book in advance.
Then a matinee at The Alexandra or the Hippodrome depending which has the most suitable show.

MissClementine · 01/09/2019 20:59

Yes, Back to Backs in Birmingham was really interesting, I loved that tour.

Onlythelonelywelcome · 01/09/2019 21:00

An afternoon tea

Original poster

ODFOx · 06/09/2019 13:14

Thanks for the ideas.

She's decided on a day at a large shopping centre with additional facilities. Climbing etc, so they'll do some stuff, eat some stuff, buy some stuff.
I've booked a couple of activities and a table for afternoon tea for them as a rough itinerary but they can potter/shop/ walk for most of the day.

OP posts:

milliefiori · 06/09/2019 22:22

That sounds like a lovely day: climbing, shopping and afternoon tea.

Rosebud21 · 07/09/2019 04:16

Sky garden for a soft drink, book online, Harrods ice cream parlour (near to the V&A).

bibblegenie · 27/02/2020 13:02

For those of you with teens who have done a zoo keeper for a day experience [please can I ask where they did it, what it was like and whether they enjoyed it? I'm thinking of organising this for my son's 16th birthday but it's very expensive and I want to be sure it would be worth it. Thank you!

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