Suggestions for a lovely (London?) day out with 13 year old DD

[LabraDabraDoo]

I've earmarked a day of the Easter holidays to for a lovely day out with DD. She is being quite thirteen at the moment, but does enjoy a bit of mum time, and I'm hoping it might be good for both of us.

We are in Essex, but can easily get to London if needed, or even further afield. At Christmas, she loved the Natural History Museum and a wander around Harrods. She also really enjoyed a show at Regent's Theatre. We have done lots of museums but anything unusual anyone can suggest might be fun.

She has lots of interests. I think at the moment it's mostly STEM stuff, maybe history, eco related interests, pop and folk music and cooking/ food tech.

Any ideas for a nice day out would be greatly appreciated.

Following with interest!

We're going to London with our 9yo and 13yo soon.

An Uber boat from Westminster up to Greenwich

The Science Museum seems the obvious place. My 10 year old loves it, and you can spend hours wandering around.

Does she have a favourite type of food you can book a restaurant for?

I agree re Uber boat to Greenwich, plenty of places to eat and drink if you get off at the O2. There's an outlet mall there too, it's not great, but she might enjoy a look around. Maybe also try the cable car.
Skygarden is great and free - need to prebook though.

The wellcome collection would be interesting if she's interested in stem - check it's opening situation now as I've not been post pandemic. Not as big and a bit different. It's near Euston. Camden market might be good for shopping and eating. Come from Away or Six are my recommendations if you fancy a show, my dd was 17 when I took her, and she saw Six at 18.

At that age, my DD and friends all loved mooching around Camden Market.

And maybe go out for afternoon tea, rather than lunch or dinner. There are lots of quirky ones around - I have done Alice In Wonderland afternoon tea, but that was a few years ago and I don't know if it is still available.

This! arcelormittalorbit.com/visit/faqs/

Skygarden / shard cafe?

Speedboat on Thames, or Clipper up to Greenwich then go to the Planetarium there
London Eye?

The Tower Bridge walkway (top part of bridge with traffic below you).

Afternoon tea at posh hotel.

Shakespeare’s globe theatre? Or a musical?

My dds liked the Novelty Automation museum, the sky garden, the boat trip down the Thames (they're a bit older).

I recommend the Grant Museum of Zoology, it's not huge but packed to the rafters with fascinating things. Not good if anyone is on the wiggy side though. It's not far from the British Museum. Also round the corner is the Petrie museum of they are into things Egyptian.
Also not far is Coram's Fields and the Foundling Museum. And the British Library often has free exhibits, as does the Wellcome Foundation over the road.

Thanks for these great suggestions. We've not done the Sky Garden yet, so I think this and the Wellcome museum (last time I went it was to an exhibition of sex aids through the ages!) would fit the bill perfectly. Also, I heard about the new exhibition at The Foundling Museum and that would be a nice extra too. We spent so much time in Coram's fields when she was a baby, as we lived in Bloomsbury in a tiny flat, so that's a really special place for us.

I'd without a doubt go for markets

So spittlefields market and sky garden maybe lunch or dinner at the ivy Asia ( all walking distance).

Or Camden markets + walk up to Hampstead/ primrose hill.

Or. Portobello roads market and Notting hill./ Walk to Ken high street And do the restaurant there with the garden on the roof.kensingron roof garden.

Be aware, the sky garden is very fun but once seen the views not much else

Hi, it sounds like you have a plan already but in case you're looking for more things to do, I've just published this guide to Easter in London with kids: museummum.com/2022/03/31/easter-london-with-kids/

Wellcome has just opened a new exhibition on fungi which my friend's teenage son raved about (my friend less so). It's close to the Grant Museum which is cool and creepy in equal measures.

For teens I'd also recommend the Superblue artwork where you can catch bubbles filled with smells. Thames Rockets are huge fun, and the graffiti tunnel at Leake Street.

Pop music wise there's Amy Winehouse at Design Museum and Bob Marley at Saatchi Gallery.

Hope this helps, and have fun!