What to do in London at night with a 9 year old?

[mayaknew]

Coming to London for the HP studio tour. We fly in on a Sunday afternoon and planned to see a show not realising there is not one musical showing that night 😭😭

What else is there to do with a 9 year old on a Sunday night in London? 🙏🏽

Boat trip down the river then stop for dinner somewhere on the Southbank.

wander round Covent Garden then eat

Cinema in Leicester Square if the weather is awful.

No shows in any theatre on a Sunday. Anywhere in UK tbh AFAIK.

London cinemas are special, like the really big screens, Empire Leicester Sq etc.

Or a really nice meal somewhere like Chinatown - would they like that? It’s quite fun.

Or Yy Covent Harden is nice

Hi OP - there are some plays. Starlight express, the play that goes wrong (brilliant for a nine year old, cirque du soleil etc) all do evening performances on a Sunday.

Any tickets for the cursed child? Make a harry potter weekend of it? Some great ideas here. https://www.mummytravels.com/evening-in-london-with-kids/

Oh also the Percy Jackson musical if that's your thing.

Where are you staying? In Camden Town there's an indoor arcade with some rides etc. There's an indoor rollercoaster. I'd only bother if in that sort of area anyway, but it's open till about 10 I think.

If central London, walking along the south bank is quite special at night. A walk & boat back?

I was going to say Cirque, depending on the date you're coming! It's 5:30pm start though, don't know if that would be too early?

SIX the musical also shows on Sunday evening, and although it's 'advised' for 10 and up its down to parental discretion and lots of 8/9 year olds I know loved it.

Leicester Square will have lots of activity going on, there's a M&M shops, street entertainment, caricatures.
London eye closes at 6.

There's a giant monopoly restaurant but unsure about times.

I would also suggest Chinatown. Great restaurants and look around the cake shops and grocery stores.

Leicester Square cinemas are a good shout.

Depending on where you are staying, Battersea Power Station is great. Or either Westfields.

Twist Museum and Paradox Museum, Van Gogh immersive and Moco Museum are open until 7pm on a Sunday.

Battersea Power Station and Canary Wharf have light festivals (check closing dates).

www.westendtheatre.com/category/shows/sunday-shows/

There's quite a few but many are late afternoon rather than evening.

Definitely Chinatown for a nice meal and a nose around the shops. That's what we always did when visiting London with kids. Although one of mine is autistic and was obsessed with the Tube, so we'd spend some time pointlessly travelling around on it and spotting tube mice

The shopping centres (Westfield, Battersea etc) and big shops will be closed by 6pm on a Sunday so they're no good for a Sunday night.
Look at what's on in the cinemas.
The Prince Charles Cinema and Picturehouse Central sometimes have special event films showing (both are in the Piccadilly Circus/Leicester Square area).

This play is on twice on a Sunday:

www.mischiefcomedy.com/whats-on/the-play-that-goes-wrong/london/tickets/

Kids were wailing with laughter last time went to one of their shows.

Battersea Power Station has plenty of places to eat etc (and a cinema). Worst case scenario, Uniqlo is great for buying thermals!

Lego Shop on Leicester Square is open in the evening and good fun

@caniriskit not on a Sunday.

You could come into Kings cross and see the Platform 9 3/4 bit, and walk across to where Grimmauld Place was based, then jump on a 38 bus to Chinatown and eat some lovely dim sum and get bubble tea, then walk to Wardour Street to the House of Minalima which is the graphic design duo who worked on the potter films. Go Potter mad, if she’s super into it. Any extra time definitely use up in nearby Covent Garden and stroll round Leicester Square. If she’s got any a Christmas money burning a hole in her pocket go to the big Lego shop?

The OP said "evening".
All the shops will be closed by 6pm because it's Sunday!
That's not really evening.

That's a really good idea, there will be loads of other Potter-related sites in London. Shaftesbury Avenue is another one. Mine also went through a phase of trying to spot other possible entry points to the Wizarding World, boarded up doors and derelict looking pubs etc (my kids take their obsessions very seriously!)

I'd go for cinema in Leicester Sq or meal in China town

Thanks so much for the ideas! All ideal!

Will take a look at a boat trip then book somewhere for food would be open to recommendations for that as well?

Would be into the play that goes wrong as well I will check times and see if they would suit. I think we will get into central London about 3pm-ish

@mayaknew if you are there at around 3 then you will be ok for some shopping (if that's something you want to do) but remember shops will be closed by 6 (some may close at 5).

Ah who knew (not me clearly) that shows were on Sunday evening? Tbf most of those mentioned are 3pm/5pm/6pm but that might work. Nine is youngish for some of those on the list but if they are used to the theatre it’s worth a look.

Might they like a virtual reality game?

Look at ‘sandbox’ - do VR games, some scary but also some kids ones. One in Covent Garden.

Also quite a lot of indoor minigolfs - albeit these may be over 18s only at night.

Agree a walk around china town is fun. You can do dim sum at somewhere like din tai fung easily.

Get in a black cab and ask them to show you the sights.

I took my 9 yo up to the restaurant on top of the Walkie Talkie the Sky Garden which was fab on all levels.