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!

Hire a boat at one of the parks?
Watch a trial at the Old Bailey or Central Criminal Court
Do a London Walks walking tour

We love the British Museum. The space is amazing and there are some fascinating galleries that are often deserted. Japan is our favourite. We picnic in the family room, or in one of the local squares for a really cheap day out.

What a lovely summer your DS is going to have!
I would add:

The dodgems at Somerset House: www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/dodge-summer

The Welcome Collection: wellcomecollection.org . If you're there and/or British Library you could also visit New London Architecture to see the scale model of London nla.london/exhibitions/the-new-london-model .

Some of the events on the South Bank

Not sure whether age appropriate (mine are too young, maybe yours too old?) but there is a Horrible Histories themed boat tour: terriblethames.com

North Greenwich - there is Yinka Ilori-designed mini golf, the sculpture trail, trip on the cable car (with return journey shortly after as there's not much to do on the other side!), various things inside the o2 (trampoline park etc)

Sculpture in the City - might be especially fun if you can give him a map and let him lead you round? www.sculptureinthecity.org.uk

Canary Wharf for Summer Lights canarywharf.com/whats-on/summer-lights-jun-aug-2021/ and Museum of Docklands

The Postal Museum, with its underground mail train.

It sounds like you are in SE London? Have you been to Eltham Palace? It's very nice! Also in SE, there is the Clip & Climb activity at Sutcliffe Park sports centre

And the thing I love most about London is that there are loads of things I've forgotten and will suddenly remember as soon as I've posted! It is so lovely to be able to plan days out again!

++ goboats (on the Regent's canal)

The Hunterian museum is great for that age group. Nicely macabre but also sciencey.

Thank you so much for the extra suggestions

I’ve now booked the postal museum, the dodgems at Somerset house (upgraded to limitless dodgems rides for £5 per person, which seemed like a no-brainer) and the david Hockney exhibition at the RA

Also made a note of the free events which will be most welcome as I’ve spent an absolute fortune today booking all these things

We are close to Eltham Palace so have been many times - I think the staff in the cafe recognise me now given the hours I’ve spent in that playground

I will go back to work for a break after all this

@WellTidy Hi, I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned this but it might be worth downloading the Kids Pass app, they do a trial for £1 and you can get discounts on many of the things mentioned here. You just search and book via the app!
Examples: Go Ape, London Dungeon, speedboat trips along the Thames.

I’ve booked the Dodge thing at Somerset House too, looking forward to that probably more than my 14 yo DD to be fair .

Sounds like you’ll both have a great summer!

@Terrazzo

Omg is Hummus Bros still there?? DH said it had shut but maybe that was just the branch near his office. BEST food😍

Ah. Sorry. I don't know. But gosh, I loved that place!

National Army museum might work & then for £9 each can go into the Chelsea physic garden and just up the road is the Saatchi museum

Hi there, what a lovely summer you have planned!

I have just published a blog with nearly 100 things to do with kids in/near London over the summer holidays. There's lots of free ideas in there too. museummum.com/2021/07/09/summer-holidays-london/

If he loves exhibitions, then Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser is so well done. We also loved the Fantastic Beasts show at Natural History Museum. My teen was really taken with JR: Chronicles at Saatchi Gallery too.

If you're going to Tower of London, do add on the glass walkway at Tower Bridge, and lunch at Borough Market.

Marble Arch Mound is opening and will have an infinity light room, not a Kusama one I hasten to add but a British light artist and should be good.

Dodge at Somerset House is bumper cars meets artist installation.

Free sculpture trails worth doing are Summer Lights and Sculpture in the City. You could also walk the Line art trail, with a ride on the cable cars and a visit to Now Gallery to see their forthcoming illustration installation.

Try a private art gallery day - took the teen to White Cube Bermondsey to see their Liu Wei show and she was really impressed. It's walkable from Tower of London too, and free. The Heather Phillipson installation at Tate Britain is also excellent, and Tate Modern are turning the turbine Hall into a giant canvas, both these are free.

Anyway, all links, prices and lots more ideas over on my blog plus I share our days out over on Instagram. Let me know if I can help any more!

Have you considered a bike tour? I can recommend bone shaker tours

boneshaker.tours

The tour guide- Dan is fantastic and all bikes, helmets etc are included.
It's a really fun way to see the city:)

Some great ideas here. Thank you for starting the thread.

Has anyone been to the Ryoji Ikeda exhibition at 180thestrand already? Am just wondering how long it takes to go round?

thanks

Richmond park?

forbidden planet shafts bury ave then chinatown