Things to do in London this summer with a 13yo

[WellTidy]

I find myself with quite a bit of time trips summer to do day trips and outings with 13yo Ds. He isn’t sporty, likes theatre, exhibitions, a bit of history, wildlife, animals, walks and good food.

I’ve booked lots of theatre tickets - we really like musicals - for Cinderella, Come From Away, Hairspray and Mary Poppins. Also booked a couple of cinema trips. And the Banksy and Van Gogh exhibitions. And the Tower of London. We will probably combine with picnics and lunches out.

Now I am looking for activities that are less pricey than west end theatre seats! Touristy is fine. They don’t have to be free, happy to pay in the region of £20/30 per person but suggestions of things to do that are free are very welcome too! I have the big London parks in mind, particularly Battersea, as we’ve never been.

We’ve done the science, natural history and transport museums to death over the years. Also done St Paul’s, London Zoo and Sea Life.

Thanks!

Bump

I know you said not sporty, but how about a trip to London fields Lido - you don’t actually have to swim! Followed by a spot of people watching at spitalfields/brick lane/ London fields.

Olympic park is worth a visit too (can you tell I’m east of London) great for a mooch around and then lunch at Westfield food court!

Museum of Brands is quite good.
Horniman Museum
Grant Museum of Zoology.

Check out South Bank centre, they always have loads of stuff on.

Do a walking tour of London (Sandeman's is great).

Do an treasure hunt (Treasure Trails are good and also Hidden City).

Take a pedalo out in Hyde Park.

Camden market is also a popular choice here.

Kew Gardens and Hampton Court also good.

River trip to Greenwich and walk up to the meridian line, then back on the boat and grab lunch in Borough Market. If you're feeling flush, you could go up the Shard (London Bridge, very close to Borough Market).

My DS loved the London Dungeons at 13 (pre-book though).

Tate - modern or Britain, though Tate Britain is more of a faff to get to and doesn't have a lot else around.

Whitechapel Gallery, followed by lunch at Tayyabs or Brick Lane.

Ice cream parlour at Fortnum & Mason. Go to Green Park after - elephant sculptures there atm. Or Royal Academy, lots of interesting art.

National Gallery or NPG, then Chinatown for lunch.

Do not go to Camden Market. I have always found it absolutely ram packed and awful as a result.

These are fabulous suggestions - just what I was looking for. Thank you.

I will absolutely book the ice cream parlour at fortnums and then go and see the elephants at green park, that is just perfect!

And I don’t know why I didn’t think about the dungeons as that is a must

Ditto the national gallery or NPG and then Chinatown as we’ve never done that and I dont know why

I’ve tried to book the mirror exhibition at the tate but it’s completely sold out until we’ll into September which is a shame

Never heard of the museum of brands or the zoology museum. I will look at them. I will also look at the toy museum - may combine with a trip to London fields lido, which looks really fun (and heated!!)

Treasure trails and hidden London also look great

We’ve done Hampton court and Kew Gardens and Greenwich and borough market many times, and loved it all

We live not far from hornimans so we’ve been a zillion times and I think I’ve had my fill now

Yay, glad you liked the recommendations OP. I have LOTS of chinatown recommendations - Rasa Sayang for Malaysian food, Imperial China for dimsum (they do other stuff too), plus they have a koi pond, Four Seasons for best duck, and Assa for Korean (BBQ, hot pot) in Soho. You're going to have a fab time 😊

This exhibition on the Strand is very cool www.180thestrand.com/#exhibitions

Wait - elephants in Green Park??

Sounds lovely OP, what a nice mum you are. I miss doing these outings, my youngest is 14 and finds everything boring now ☹️

Greenwich for the maritime museum, observatory and great park. Wouldn't bother with cutty sark as was too hot in a mask

@bendmeoverbackwards

Wait - elephants in Green Park??

Sculpture! I am looking forward to seeing them - they’re in other royal parks too, and an exhibition at spitalfields, which is also on my list.

@bendmeoverbackwards

Sounds lovely OP, what a nice mum you are. I miss doing these outings, my youngest is 14 and finds everything boring now ☹️

I have some time off over the summer and will enjoy doing these things too. He is good company, and is still willing to be seen in public with me, thank god. Who knows how long that will last?!

@lettie9 which would you recommend the most? We love lots of Chinese food but DS is a huge lover of duck and pancakes. And we need an English menu but an authentic experience

We’ve done Greenwich a few times, as we don’t live that far away. We live the park and the planetarium especially. A good day out though.

We're taking DS12 and DD7 to London next weekend and included in our itinerary is the Sherlock Holmes museum as DS has really got into this lately...he's very excited!

Also doing a Thames river cruise, ghost bus tour, Sky garden and London dungeons 😬😬

Cable car

Four Seasons then! On Gerard Street. You might need to book - booking was definitely required pre-pandemic anyway... Enjoy 😋

Four seasons it is then. It is the one on Wardour Street, not the one near Hyde Park?

@feellikezerobucks that sounds fantastic, enjoy. I will put the Sherlock Holmes thing in my list for another time.

I have booked to take mine to the trainer exhibition at the design museum, combined with a burger at Gordon R’s burger place across the road.

And this at RIBA: www.architecture.com/explore-architecture/exhibitions/freestyle?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=RIBAFREESTYLE combined with brunch here: www.treehousehotels.com/london/eat-drink/madera?utm_source=google-gmb&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb

Harry Potter London scenes walk? (includes borough market and spitalfields).

Denis Severs House?

Thanks @Wrinklyeyes. I didn't know there was a trainer exhibition...my DC might just like that!