ideas on what to do in london with 15 year old DD,,?

[familybfive]

My DS’s are at uni , so its just me DH & DD
We went on the london eye today, but couldn’t get booked in to madame tussaud’s as busy everyday ,

DD loves clothes so planning shopping tomorrow on Carnaby and oxford street

any ideas on nice / cool restaurants / bars to go to etc. ? TIA :)

Check out the cutty sark, go to borough market for food and coffee, head up to Camden market, see if there’s something on at the Globe, visit the Tate modern, go to any museum, sooo much to do

I love the museum of childhood and brick lane

The Mound is free now (London's 'worst attraction!') There's also a light installation underneath it. I mention this only because you say you are going to Oxford St, so you could walk up to Marble Arch and climb it - just to say you've done it!

It's nice weather at the moment, so good for walking around. You could check out the (free) cool little roof garden londonist.com/london/art-and-photography/temple-roof-garden-lakwena-maciver on Temple tube station and then walk up to Covent Garden (via Somerset House and The Beano exhibition maybe! Probs need to book that).

Apart from all the stalls and shops in CG, if you need the loo, pop into the Royal Opera House where you can see some of the ballet costumes (Swan Lake etc) in the foyers (upstairs too).

Sounds like she might enjoy the V&A

We like Flesh & Buns (Oxford Street and Covent Garden) for food. Less insta-worthy than Sketch, but really nice.

If she loves clothes shopping , has to be Camden Markets? Also loads of places to eat. That's a whole day just there...

My teenagers have been to junkyard golf - but under 18s only allowed on certain days.

If she's got a strong stomach, the Hunterian in Lincoln's Inn Fields. If she's into architecture, Sir John Soane's.

I’ve just come back with my 15yo and she/we liked Camden Market and the Sky Garden and cycling in Hyde Park on one of the hire bikes.

Camden.

Carnaby Street is nice but don't bother with Oxford Street. All teenagers love Camden Market.

Other than that be guided by her interests.

Bao on Lexington Street is a fun and delicious place to have a quick bite to eat if you've been to Carnaby Street.

Uber boat down to Greenwich then a mooch about there. We went in the summer and enjoyed it. There's lots to see and some nice places to eat around.

Sky garden! Anything instagrammable. Jubilee bridge. Tate modern. River bus.

Dishoom or Hoppers in Kings Cross, if you like curry.
Gordon's wine bar for drinks and cheese.
Highgate Cemetery if she's at all inclined to the dark side
Liberty and Fortnums
Afternoon tea at The Wolseley

Just bumping this thread as I'm heading to London with my teenage son tomorrow and would appreciate any more ideas

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far.

There’s loads of street art in Shoreditch which is a big hit

Definitely Camden. Teenagers love it for the clothes. I'm 55 and i love it for the arts and crafts. Lots of street food and restaurants too.

Thanks very much for your posts - really helpful. :)

We ended up going to;

Sketch - amazing interiors , delicious lunch
Camden Market - DD loved it - spent all day there
Oxford Street - lots of closed down shops which was a shame , but was still good for DD shopping at the larger H & M , Primark, and uniqlo stores
Carnaby Street - buzzing atmosphere , nice bars, restaurants
Harrods. - soo busy so didn’t stay there long. but went to a nice rooftop Japanese restaurant nearby called PANTECHNICON

We couldn’t get booked into the V & A or Sky Garden , as half term

We are Going to Brick Lane, Shoreditch and Museum of the home in Hackney tomorrow
:)

Sounds an amazing day for you both

Sounds great. Definitely make time for Spitalfields Market if you're going to Brick Lane

Ah was going to suggest Pantechnicon - very cool building, pretty street, Japanese/Norwegian fusion store and food. You must be knackered, you did loads!

We live near London and tend to just wander when we head up for the day. I'm there tomorrow having lunch for my birthday. If you are going to Brick Lane check out the vintage market for great clothes www.vintage-market.co.uk/. Spitalfields Market too. We usually wander down Brick Lane to the river than over Tower Bridge and walk along the river to London Bridge and pop into Borough Market to buy some bits. Can continue from there along Southbank too if you are feeling fit. Lunch at Padella is fab if you don't mind waiting a bit. We are going to Emilias Pasta near Tower Bridge tomorrow which also looks great.