London for a weekend with my almost 10-year-old

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What shall we do? We won't be there long as we'll arrive in a sat morning and will be leaving at 1 pm on the Sunday. This is a special time for us and I want to treat her.

Well he staying near St James's Park.

She says she's not bothered about doing the usual attractions. By that, I think she means she doesn't want to queue or be in very busy places.

She loves drawing. Is there an amazing shop for artist supplies I can take her to She also likes books, can you recommend a beautiful bookshop, but not a tiny one as I know she'll feel intimidated.

Food: sushi restaurant for dinner, where is good and relaxed/child friendly? And where is good for lunch?

What else can we do? Thanks!

I don't know what you mean quite by 'beautiful' book shop but the Waterstones on Picadillly is huge and in a former Art Deco style department store. The children's department is massive and they have a lot of fancy editions of classic books.

When I took DS10 we went to Ripley's, which he liked. Full of weird things.

Can't go wrong with a visit to the M+M's store!

We did the usual other things, Dungeons, Tussaud's, Harry Potter, etc. but we were there for thee days.

Also went to the Rainforest Cafe, if that's still there.

China town is brilliant And unique for lunch.

Lots of beautiful cafés next door in Soho.
South Bank is nice, Tate modern? Museum of London...never very busy and a lovely place

Ripley's is gone now !!

Shamelessly following! I was thinking if taking mine to the V&A museum, and possibly the horrible histories show

Oh and if she doesn't like busy places don't go to M+M Store.

Theatre? My 10 year old adores Matilda, and Beauty and the Beast is supposed to be amazing too, lots of options. TodayTix app for cheap/on the day tickets.
Covent Garden always fun with the street entertainers etc - and Milk Train for impressive ice cream / candy floss cones!
Bit further out but Emirates cable car?

My dd loves it in here, would spend hours if I’d let her. She also likes Stanfords in Covent Garden.

Eat Tokyo is more authentic than yo sushi

m.yelp.com/search?cflt=artsupplies&find_loc=Soho%2C+London

Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street is beautiful.

I don’t know about art supplies but the Tate Modern is always good and sometimes has interactive things for children. Loads of stuff to do around that area as well.

Waterstones Piccadilly is great but also don't miss Hatchards Piccadilly which is magical - much bigger than it looks so don't be intimidated.

I don't know London that well for restaurant recommendations etc and you won't have time to do all or any of these, but a few suggestions:
V&A or British Museum (just choose one section to look at beforehand and then a quick browse in the shop).
Clipper cruise along the Thames, fairly quick and you will be able to see a lot of the main sites.
Maybe the British Library?
Cass Art in Soho for art supplies?

The best place we went to when we visited recently was the Tower of London. Was a great visit and the kids loved it (it wasn't particularly busy either). The Beefeater tour was hilarious. Avoid the Leicester Square shops, natural history museum and science museum. They were absolutely heaving!

Harrods is nice to wander around, especially the food hall.

Maybe the V and A museum would be worth considering.

Covent Garden is always a good shout.