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London: What would an 18 year old dd like to visit?

43 replies

RingBinderInjury · 17/06/2022 18:48

Have a week booked in London with 18 yo dd in August.
So far all I have booked is a K-pop festival help me god, the Harry Potter play and the Tate modern.

These three things pretty much sum her up. She’s off to Uni to do art in September.

So what else would be fun?

I lived in London a million years ago but now know nothing about what would be good to go and see.

Camden Market? is that still a thing?

We are staying in Bloomsbury.

Neither of us will want to see anything royal family related, clothes shopping, wax works or ghost tours etc

OP posts:
titchy · 17/06/2022 18:50

Camden market yes still a thing. Shoreditch is cool.... cat cafe? Cereal cafe? Graffiti tour? Any secret cinema events scheduled?

Soubriquet · 17/06/2022 18:51

London Dungeon is always a fun thing.

So is Ripleys believe it or not

Ducky88 · 17/06/2022 18:53

If she’s into art maybe have a tour round of the street art (along with some coffee shops/lunch). Shoreditch, Leake Street Tunnel, brick lane all have great street art.

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Lastqueenofscotland2 · 17/06/2022 18:53

Camden market
borough market for lunch
Brick lane for a mooch

RingBinderInjury · 17/06/2022 18:54

@titchy Is a cereal cafe what I think it is? What is a secret cinema?

@Soubriquet Ive never been to the London Dungeon. Imagine it would be sweaty with low ceilings?

OP posts:
User2145738790 · 17/06/2022 18:56

Can you not ask your daughter to do some research?

balalake · 17/06/2022 18:57

Wallace collection and the Royal Academy summer exhibition given her future studies.

titchy · 17/06/2022 18:57

Immersive cinema experience Grin Shawshank Redemtion was dress up as a prisoner, wander round warehouse space done up as replica prison being shouted at by 'prison officers' then watch the film.

titchy · 17/06/2022 18:58

Yes cereal cafe is what you think it is.

Soubriquet · 17/06/2022 19:03

I’m not sure now. It’s been a few years since I’ve been but I remember it being cooler indoors than it was outdoors

Respectforpeople · 17/06/2022 19:09

Yes to Camden Market.

Depending on budget Breakfast (or a meal) in The Shard, great views with out the entry fee. Borough Market near by and walkable/Bus to Tate Modern and the Globe.

Take the Thames Clipper up the river - you can get drinks on board and sit at the back to see London go by. Best views of Greenwich and you can go to the O2.

Two smaller more unusual museum/galleries - John Soames Museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields - free so you can just pop in for a short time and you can picnic in the fields. The Wallace Collection located behind Oxford Street.

Friedaseyebrow · 17/06/2022 19:15

The original Cereal Killer cafe is closed now. Hoxton and Shoreditch are worth a look around and are good if she's into vintage shopping.
You can get a boat from Tate Modern to Tate Britain if she's into art. The clipper from the Southbank to Greenwich is also nice and Greenwich market and the park are nice to stroll around.
I also really like Dennis Sever's house and the Sir John Sloane's museum, both a bit quirky and interesting to wander round.
Finally, whenever I have out of town guests, I always recommend downloading the City Mapper App - really easy to use, free and so useful!

Haus1234 · 17/06/2022 19:17

I don’t think the cereal cafe survived lockdown, the cat cafe is still there though.

The V&A is consistently good in South Ken, and the Wallace Collection has a really great cafe / restaurant. Some other thoughts:

  • Afternoon tea at Sketch
  • Sky garden drinks (free entry but you have to book ahead) or drinks in a different skyscraper - OXO tower is nice
  • Kew Gardens

Turmerictolly · 17/06/2022 19:18

Maybe the V and A museum also.
Definitely Brick Lane area for street art and a bit cooler these days than Camden. Can walk on to Spitalfields market.

Sketch for lunch or Sushi Samba/Duck n Waffle for views and cocktails (£££).

Chill out on the Thames Clipper to Greenwich.

LadyR77 · 17/06/2022 19:24

The novelty automaton museum is really good fun! novelty-automation.com/

actiongirl1978 · 17/06/2022 19:24

7 Dials Market for lunch plus shopping in the surrounding streets.

BeyondMyWits · 17/06/2022 19:31

Cutter and Squidge afternoon tea in the potion room ... really great experience. "Has no affiliation to Harry Potter"

Ladyofthepeonies · 17/06/2022 19:32

When I was 18 it was all about Selfridges

RingBinderInjury · 17/06/2022 19:33

These ideas are great. Thanks so much. Love the idea of getting a boat between the Tate galleries. All the smaller galleries and street art suggestions are fab too.
Brick Lane has obviously changed, back in my day you only went there for a good curry.

OP posts:
AuntieMarys · 17/06/2022 19:35

Victor Wynds museum of curiosities in Bethnal Green...its an experience! Also a cocktail bar upstairs which specialises in absinthe.

MargaretThursday · 17/06/2022 19:36

My 18yo dd would like to visit the following in London:
Heathers
Six the Musical
Mary Poppins
Frozen
Harry Potter
Matilda
Lion King
Dear Evan Hanson
Grease
Legally Blond

And the Waterstones Bookshop on Trafalgar Square.

IstayedForTheFeminism · 17/06/2022 19:43

@Soubriquet I thought Ripleys had closed?

There's a Harry Potter photographic thing. Can't remember where and am too lazy to Google Grin

bluechameleon · 17/06/2022 19:45

I'd second previous suggestions of the V&A. Fancy afternoon tea somewhere? There's a science-themed one somewhere in South Ken that would work well with V&A visit. I'd also definitely do the National Gallery, and there's a pretty good Waterstones on Trafalgar Square for a browse if she likes reading.

SausageAndCash · 17/06/2022 19:47

The South Bank. Fountains, free events, public art etc. Search the Southbank Centre website.

Walk along the river from Borough Market, to the riverbank path, past the Globe, Tate Modern.

The NT Modernist house at Willow Rd, v cool and great for an art student. And on the edge of Hampstead Heath.

Highgate cemetery: beautiful and many famous graves, get her to research.

Book to go up the Sky Garden (free but you have to book still, I think)

Many lovely galleries: get her to research what’s on interns of exhibit and installations.

Brixton market, visit Black Cultural Archives exhibition, the new theatre, Pop Brixton.

The Bloom installation at the Tower of London.

Eltham Palace. Henry VIII home transformed with an extraordinary Art Deco extension by the Courtald family. Beautiful art, architecture and furnishings. 15 mins walk from Mottingham Station, quick train from Charing Cross.

The Red House. William Morris home and studio. 15 min walk from Bexleyheath station, quick train from London, booking needed.

Doubleraspberry · 17/06/2022 19:51

London Dungeon is firmly in the tourist waxwork category.

It’s not cheap but the Pret-a-Portea afternoon tea at the Berkeley is a real work of art and a lot of fun. You wouldn’t need any dinner.

The Design Museum is not far from there.