Where would you take teen for special shopping trip?

[exLtEveDallas]

In UK, I don’t care how far I have to drive.

Trying to do something nice for DD for her 16th birthday. She suggested a shopping trip and I’d like to build on that.

Ideally an overnight in a hotel on a Sat/Sun. Somewhere I could drive (trains are so bloody expensive) so would need parking. Good shopping, central so wouldn’t need to drive again. Something to do in the evening.

Thinking London (but parking ££££ and driving in centre worries me a bit), Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham. We are Midlands, so can go anywhere really.

Is there somewhere you would recommend? Even if it’s a bit ‘out there‘. DH suggested Oxford, I’m wondering about somewhere on a coast?

Bristol.

If you decide on London, on street parking is free in Central London from 6pm on Saturday until 8am Monday (or Tuesday if it is a bank holiday).

Try the train with a railcard it's £30 for a year and we got tickets to London return from Birmingham for £21 for me and 2 kids

We get bus loads arriving for Leeds shopping. Can't wait to nip into Leeds to shop again soon.

Surprised nobody's suggested Cardiff. Lots of high street shops in the St David's 2 complex and then more quirky stores in the many arcades. Pretty compact for getting around. Plenty to do 'after hours' down in the Bay (once restrictions are eased of course). Not too far from W.Mids for driving or train.

If you fancy a two centre type trip, Manchester is ideal. You could do city centre on Saturday - lunch in the Northern Quarter and poke around the shops there. Have a look at Exchange Square, Deansgate etc, then on Sunday do the Trafford Centre.

Birmingham! It ticks every box. You could spend the whole day in the giant Primark they’ve got. Lots of great shops. I’d go to Digbeth Dining Club and then ghetto golf or the Mockingbird cinema in the evening. Lots of amazing independent casual places to eat like Original Patty Men (I’d crawl over hot coals for one of their burgers right now). Digbeth is chocka block full of cool little indie shops and cafes.

Obviously London. Oxford, regent and bond streets for high st to luxury, department stores and everything in between

Plus all the markets like spital fields, Camden for more quirky

Westfield malls if you like malls

So much choice!

I think Liverpool and Manchester are edging ahead, followed by London (if I can get a railcard) and Cardiff.

There are 2 Westfields in London , Stratford and Shepherds Bush , personally prefer Shepherds Bush and the parking there is excellent .

@orangenasturtium

If you decide on London, on street parking is free in Central London from 6pm on Saturday until 8am Monday (or Tuesday if it is a bank holiday).

its hellish trying to find a space though, I drove around for 50 mins last time I went in. Plus the £15 congestion charge is everyday 7am to 10pm.

Mega bus is really cheap if it leaves from a town near you.uk.megabus.com/journey-planner/journeys?days=1&concessionCount=0&departureDate=2021-05-14&destinationId=56&inboundDepartureDate=2021-05-15&inboundOtherDisabilityCount=0&inboundPcaCount=0&inboundWheelchairSeated=0&nusCount=0&originId=90&otherDisabilityCount=0&pcaCount=0&totalPassengers=1&wheelchairSeated=0

there's some good deals on London hotels too, £50-70, look on booking.com

Definitely Liverpool. Such a great city for shopping and a weekend break, your teen would love it. If you did want a day in Chester its only 20 mins on the train so you could do both.

I’d go for Liverpool. And perhaps a walk round the university area whilst you are there. We did that just after GCSEs - it was a good trip

Liverpool or Manchester/Trafford centre.

If you download the “trainpal” app you can split the tickets so they’re cheaper and they also give you vouchers for money off. Got really cheap tickets to Liverpool from the Midlands using it.

Westfield White City has everything you’re looking for, including affordable parking and museums (take the 49 bus to Cromwell Road for the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Victoria & Albert Museums). Best located hotel is the Dorsett.

Trafford Centre!! Would be 2 in 1, TC one day and Manchester City centre the next

hotelpapa Westfield White City (aka Shepard's Bush) doesn't really have much that the OP said her daughter likes. I believe there is now a Primark but it's mostly luxury designer brands.

Portsmouth. Has been my DS's choice of shopping trip since his early teens - we stayed in an apartment on Gunwharf Quays last time we went and had a really good time.

Ilovemaisie

It has a massive Primark, H&M, New Look, Next, Zara etc. The Village is the designer shoppin bit, and much smaller than it was.

A few years ago I went to Leicester for the weekend and really loved it. Such good shopping. Manchester is always good As is Oxford. Cardiff is a lovely city as is Brighton. So many great places.

hotelpapa there isn't much decent non clothing places though at Westfield. The OP didn't seem to give me the impression her daughter wanted a clothes shopping trip.
(Apologies OP if I miss read)

A bit of both tbh. She needs (and wants) a new wardrobe, plus she likes going into quirky shops, unusual places and just browsing around aimlessly etc (it’s all my idea of hell, but the things we do for our kids... )

Yeah Westfield sooo doesn't have quirky and unusual don't waste your time going there.