Help me plan for a scorching day in London with 16YO DD

[SaunteringDownwards]

16 YO DD are in London tomorrow ahead of catching the first Eurostar out on holiday the next morning. I'm disabled and I don't do super well in the summer and I've seen that the heat is going to be horrendous, so our plans have to change. We're thinking a mooch around Westfield then I'd really like to take her somewhere a bit pretty for dinner, preferably somewhere by the water or something.

Tips and ideas to salvage the day now it's going to be scorching would be very welcome!

A Thames clipper trip might be nice. Then dinner in Greenwich, or there are a lot of places near London Bridge, where are you staying?

Or Southbank, you can amble around, duck into air conditioned places and eat out.

We're staying close to King's Cross

If you're staying at Kings X I'd probably go to Granary Square. There are some nice places to eat there and will be air conditioned. There's always something going on. I love a wander round there.

Tbh, I wouldn't be trying to do anything apart from finding the nearest place to your hotel that has aircon, and staying there all day.
London is unbearable in the heat, public transport will be awful (no aircon on buses or tubes), the sun reflects off the buildings and pavements and it will feel hotter than whatever is forecast.

That's why we thought Westfield would be best but maybe not?

OK, I'd get the thameslink train.from KX st Pancras which has air con, to Blackfriars, then you're right by the Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern and on the river. Head along the Southbank walking by the river for breeze, and see how you go.

There are loads of lovely restaurants near Kings Cross. Coal drop yard is nice. You can have a wander down Regents Canal. Everyman on the canal is a free open air cinema. The Welcome Collection and British museum are all in that area if you don’t want to wander far. There is also a good escape room-Cluequest near Kings Cross.
The Postal Museum is really interesting too if you want to be indoors.

Sorry meant to say British Library, not museum.

Hm I’m not convinced it will have aircon.

Westfield is also just a shopping centre, there are more fun things to do!

The Wellcome is always good. And free.

Oh no! We thought it probably would do as its a big shopping centre. DD not keen on museums etc as we have a lot of that planned later in the week.

Westfield is hot and sticky and crowded. not relaxing at all.

if you like a swim, head for Ironmongers row baths which is a beautiful building, recently modernised and not normally crowded.

thameslink to blackfriars and then a nice walk along the southbank is definitely a good idea. lots of streetfood markets along there and some free music stuff too.

King’s Cross is very cool these days. The Olympic watching village thing will be down tomorrow but you might catch one of the Everyman outdoor cinema films on the canal. Coal Drops yard is good for shopping and unless you have access to a rooftop pool somehow, the canal will be a great place to stay for a hot day

If you’re set on Westfield you could go to Notting Hill for dinner which is v close. I think Westfield is air con so will be nice in the heat.

Are
You staying at kings X? Granary yard is nice.

It does. But you have to go on the tube from KX, which does not.

There are also great what fountains in granary square, which are nice to walk through, play in when hot.

Ok as DD has her heart set on Westfield I think we'll try to survive the trip there and back then have an evening walk around granary square for somewhere to eat.

Just hang out in KX. Granary Sq (with fountains) / Coals Drop (nice shops and bars) / Tom Hanks Moon thing.

I think Westfield does have aircon but not really worth having to get public transport to.

Re Westfield - if your DD set on it, recommend the earlier the better as quieter then.

The circle line has air con now in the fancy pants new trains.

If air con is wanted , is there a film you'd both like to see? I decamped to the cinema quite a bit when they opened post lockdown and it was really hot!

Film is our idea for if its just too hot to cope with.