Interesting things to do in London with dd 15yo in July

[Fuuuuuckit]

Hi MN hive mind -

I'm heading to London with dd (15yo) on 8th July, need suggestions of things to do that won't have her rolling her eyes the whole weekend! And not just shopping in Primark...

Maybe something a bit unusual, rather than the regular touristy things (although I'm up for some cheesiness!)

Also interesting (yet teenager 'safe') eating ideas, not the usual chains.

Budget not amazing but can push things a bit.

Thanks!

To be honest if they haven’t been to london before taking a wander round Houses of Parliament. Downing Street and stroll up to Trafalgar Square . Walk along the mile to Buckingham palace or wander along to Covent Garden where there are performers on the street or up towards Leicester Square. It’s cool around their. Consider in the evening going to a sing along film in the Prince Charles ( it’s great fun) or pick up some cheap tickets to one of the theatre shows

This (skyline). Cheaper than the London eye and such an interesting part of London. You could get the boat there or back too.

I live in London and this is one of the few things my teen DS would happily do with me!

Gosh, lots of responses, thanks!

We've been to London quite a few times but not for a few years due to covid. We've done most of the usual touristy things - visited the houses of Parliament, Shard, O2, the cable car, river trip.

She likes Covent Garden so I've booked us in for lunch. We're going by train so there are a few 2 for 1 offers, and I've got a few club card vouchers to use too.

Boris bikes is a good call, we're early birds so if we go out before the rest of London gets going we could follow a bike route or two through the parks.

We've only done Camden in the dark in November, that might be a good couple of hours stroll, then down by the canal?

If the weather's poor I was thinking odeon Leicester Square, but it has wierd opening times?

London Eye is a good idea, is it better than the shard? (I was underwhelmed by the shard..)

Is the tower of London worth a visit? In terms of teenager interest/attention span? It's 35 years since I visited there!

I love the Eye but I haven't done the Shard so can't comment on that.

My 15 year old (who lives in London) loves Camden and Brixton - the little restaurants in Brixton Market are great and I would especially recommend El Rancho de Lalo which is cheap and really good: latinmarket.co.uk/blog/en/rancho-de-lalo-a-good-colombian-restaurant-in-brixton/

DD really enjoys a wander down the South Bank (go in the Royal Festival Hall and go up and down in the Singing Lift - I defy anyone not to love this, and even better if you can keep what it does a secret so it's a surprise). There is a poetry library on the 6th floor if you fancy a sit down for a bit in a peaceful place - DD loves it here but may not be for everyone. South Bank could be a whole day - go to Waterloo and do the street art, maybe the Eye, walk down the South Bank looking at book stalls and nice independent arty shops at Gabriel's Wharf and the Oxo Tower. There are a ton of places to have lunch. DD loves the Tate Modern and there is lots of free stuff to see there but also paid exhibitions if any of them take your fancy. The Globe is fun if you like theatre. You can do tours etc as well as actual shows. Once you get there, you can cross the river to St Paul's and look at that, or just go back along the river. You can also get a boat to Greenwich from Waterloo. There is a good food market for lunch at the Royal Festival Hall.

From Waterloo, you can also cross to Covent Garden and the West End easily. The view from the walking bridge is lovely looking towards the City.

Flat Iron is lovely and good food, but you can't book.

If you are going to Covent Garden, the cheese conveyor belt place in Seven Dials is fun if you like cheese: www.thecheesebar.com/seven-dials/

Brasserie Zedel is a fave of DD's, a really beautiful setting to eat in and the food is not bad either: www.brasseriezedel.com/brasserie-zedel/

We are going to this soon if there are tickets for your dates: smallisbeautifulart.com/london/

If you want a cinema, I have a soft spot for the Prince Charles, which shows old/cult movies: princecharlescinema.com/PrinceCharlesCinema.dll/Home

This (skyline). Cheaper than the London eye and such an interesting part of London. You could get the boat there or back too.

My son and I found the Emirates cable car quite frightening. Not helped by it stopping in the middle for 15 minutes and just swinging around. I hadn't really expected the cable to sag so much in the middle so you go down quite steeply.

My other son thought we were hilariously pathetic and loved it...

In answer to your question, I don't think the view from the London Eye is better than the Shard, I'd say the other way round. If you're around Covent Garden, the rooftop terrace at the Trafalgar by (unsurprisingly) Trafalgar Square is quite nice but you may need to pre-book.

My teen girls liked vintage clothes shopping on Brick Lane if she’s into that