Safe area, central London

[Disydoll12]

I am planning on bringing my 12 yr old to London for a few nights. She wants to shop on Oxford Street, and I want to drag her around to sight see a bit!

I was looking at a hotel on Poland Street, just off Tottenham Court Road. Would this be a safe area to walk around in the day/evening or should we stay further out? Thanks 😊

Haven’t been to Camden as an adult but have very fond memories as a teenager. Admittedly I’m not the target market but I tried to shop in Westfield and few months ago and found it horribly soulless and they didn’t have any sizes. Would much prefer Oxford circus - even if you don’t buy anything it’s still nice to be in the mix!

Carnaby st just off Oxford st is good for teens after hm and Topshop. Brick lane for vintage shops.

Not sure why you're 'sighing'. Sounds boring as hell, no matter how old you are, but perhaps you have some insight that I lack.

Just back from the Oxford Circus area having seen a horror film called Smile. If you remember a film called Fallen made about 20 years ago with Denzel Washington watch that again because it's the same but better.

My friend who is from Shenfield, Essex, and wafted into Tottenham Court Road on the Elizabeth Line said you must base yourself and your daughter here. She thinks it's a brilliant idea because so many places are walkable from Poland Street.

She echoed the good teen shopping experiences of Oxford Street - candy shops included because no one is forcing you to buy an overpriced bar of Hershey's - and mentioned Leicester Square which everyone says no true :Londoner goes to. Not true, We're going next week to see another film. There's a massive M&Ms emporium there. I have no interest in M&Ms now but if I was 12 I probably would.

I first went to Leicester Square to queue for Star Wars in 1977 with my dad. It was crappy but special. I forgot that a few years ago I worked there in offices above the McDonald's in the square and I live so close I walked there and back even when it was raining so it's not like I don't know it. It's cleaned up and just what a young teenager would like because it's busy but you would think was safe (there's often a Metropolitan Police recruitment stand there) and like the little park. Plus you can walk five minutes and be in Covent Garden which is okay but I wonder whether would interest a 12-year-old.

The Westfields are okay but they are just shopping centres and not really London. I've given Camden a good few goes over the years and it's not very nice. The South Bank is nice but I think it's enjoyed most by adults and little kids.

I forgot how much I've always liked Oxford Circus and Soho.

It's not that the candy shops are over-priced, it's that they are - allegedly - laundering money for the drugs trade. Drugs are a major problem leading to gang violence and stabbings (not in Oxford Street itself).

the crowds, the traffic fumes, those iffy sweet shops, the loud music playing bike riding things, people who randomly stand outside Tottenham Court Rd tube pumping out music from massive speakers etc

This was exactly what drew me there as a teenager. These days there is sadly no Top Shop or HMV but there are still several McDonalds where you can meet boys and the buses are electric.

I know and that's one of the reasons I don't patronise them. That and not liking Hershey's chocolate (it tastes like vomit) or unusually for a Londoner of my social circle, cocaine. But there is a certain seediness that takes me back to the late Seventies and that bit of Oxford Street between Top Shop and Tottenham Court Road. And snogging Martin Edwards upstairs in the McDonald's opposite the tube.

Hold on - I snogged Martin Edwards upstairs in the McDonalds opposite the tube too!

Only kidding 😁

I bet you did. Did he ignore you on Monday at school too?

Yeah - the bastard.

Oh and Oxford Street is dire. Head to Westfield in Shepherds Bush instead.

Oxford Street is not great but sending someone off to Westfield in Shepherds Bush is just cruel, it is just as shit and souless.

If you are going to drag yourself to London at least go shopping somewhere a bit quirky and different rather then the same large chain shops you get near to home.

Take her to Spitalfields and the nearby Brick Lane, you will get loads of independent boutiques. Also consider Marylebone High Street, Portobello Road Market, Upper Street and Camden Passage, Islington, Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, Lexington Street, Soho

@BloodAndFire - because tweens like H&M. I work near there and during the holidays and after school it's bloody crammed with teenagers and tweens

Agree. Tweens aren't known for their individual fashion sense. Or the deepness of pockets required for Marylebone High Street.

Get the boat down to Greenwich!

Sorry @BloodAndFire I don't think buying a Diptyque candle and a piece of Brora cashmere was your suggestion. I still maintain that Oxford Street is an excellent destination for tweens/teens

Great idea! Greenwich is beautiful. Lots to see and do.

I will confess I had forgotten about the H+M at Oxford Circus.
@Disydoll12 I would say shopping on Oxford St is generally safe but it does get crowded - especially around the junction by Oxford Circus tube. It is easy to get separated in the crowds.
You need to come up with a "if we get separated" plan - somewhere that is an easy to find meeting point. If you were in a physical shopping centre you can get security to put out a "can the mother of Sarah please make her way to the customer services desk" but you can't do that in Oxford Street area.
I would recommend allocating somewhere as a meeting point. Tube stations are probably the best because they have staff and open all hours.
Show your daughter what the staff uniforms look like so she knows who to approach (look on Google) or there are usually police around. Make sure she knows your phone number (not just in the phone - but actually knows it or has it written down on paper in her pocket).
Make sure she knows the name of the hotel too.

Haha. No, it certainly wasn't me who suggested buying candles and cashmere!

I still maintain that Oxford Street is a complete shithole.

It’s fine, but Oxford St is a shithole.
carnaby Street is nicer with cooler shops. Also Covent Garden.
camden as well for teens although it’s very touristy too now.