to ask for help in scheduling 2 nights/days in London for a teenager?

[whatyadoing]

She arrives Monday 20th August
Leaves Wednesday 22nd August.

13 year old girl.

Monday - I'm thinking check into hotel (Walthamstow) on arrival, and schedule a musical for Monday night (Bat out of Hell looks interesting?) Not sure of arrival time so don't know whether we can include anything else.

Tuesday am - Oxford Street shopping - she won't want Primark - she is a teenager though so likes labels - would I be better bringing her to Westfield?

Tuesday pm - cruise on Thames? Any one in particular you would recommend for a 13 year old?

Tuesday night - no idea

Wednesday am - again not sure of flight times - but could maybe reschedule shopping to this day if there are better suggestions of what to do when I have allotted the time for shopping?

Anyone with 13 year olds who want to comment on what she can do, where would be good to go to?

It's a treat, so money is an issue but not a massive one if I think it will be worth it.

Please help?

DD is 12 and loves going to Camden Market

School of rock is very good and lots of kids/teenage actors. Maybe m and m store if in leicster sqaure. Would they be interested in main sights? Tower of london, tower bridge, buckingham palace etc. Maybe not at that age though.

sorry not sire what happened there.
I dont think I would bother woth oxford street. Most ofthe shops ypu can visot any time in a city near you

Take her to harrods its a tourist attraction in itself even if you buy nithing more than a small box of chocolates Have a look at markets like camden. Go to Covent Garden and see the street performers .. plenty of good shops there with an abundance of designer labels.

Just things my 12 year old likes anyway

Camden Market, Westfield, Top Shop, Urban Outfitters and New Look at Oxford Circus, Covent Garden, China Town for Chinese meal. Not sure about Bat out of Hell. Go through the list of what is on at theatre and see what she fancies. All youngesters are individuals with their own interests so it’s hard to recommend across the board. London can be tiring and hot do factor time in for a seat and cold drink!

Oh and look up duck tours for a fun water experience

Duck tours no longer exists sadly!

How about this?

london.b-bakery.com/afternoon-tea-london/afternoon-tea-bus-london-tour/

shops are the same anywhere so unless she has no other interests, waste of time. what does she like doing?

Leicester Square
Covent Garden
South bank
Borough market
Camden market
River bus
RIB Experience
School of Rock/Wicked shows
Soho
Chinatown
Harrods/Knightsbridge
Trafalgar Square

Brick Lane
Regents Canal
London Eye
Shard
Sky Garden

Camden - have a late breakfast at the cereal killers cafe then lots of wandering around.
Covent garden- pottering about and people watching
Inamo fab for dinner
South bank

Mine is not a shopper really but doesn't mind a museum or gallery as long as I don't drag it out too long. British museum or national gallery are ones she's enjoyed. Oh and tate modern.

Shows- not seen bat out of hell. Mine loved mamma Mia and Billy Elliott (super sweary).

What does she like doing?

Has she been to London before?

If she is into art or fashion and you go to Harrods then I would consider the V&A. Or if Science and Nature then the Natural History or Science Museum.
You could always pop into Harvey Nicks for a mooch.
The Palour at Fortnum and Masons for an ice cream or three!

*Parlour

Why would you come to a city that offers pretty much everything you can think of and go to a shopping centre exactly like the ones in every other part of the UK?

@Grilledaubergines Not the OP but following along for ideas for my DD and that afternoon tea bus is absolutely genius!

Highly recommend the afternoon tea bus, I took my mum for her birthday and she LOVED it!

Southbank and London Eye on the Tues evening?

Wicked I did it about 18 months ago and it is so lovely. Everything freshly baked, comfy seats etc and you can order a prosecco in advance.

Do the hop on hop off bus (but don’t get off) - takes up to 2 hours to do a circuit but loads of photo ops for the main sights. London Eye or Shard for high up views (book ahead). Don’t waste your time shopping in identikit shops - if you must, Camden or Covent Garden are a bit different

Loads of free walking tours... Jack the ripper/haunted London /hidden London.

As teenager I loved science museum. Covent Garden.

Harry Potter tour?

I don’t think the walking tours are free! I certainly paid for the Jack the Ripper and haunted London ones.

The Harry Potter walking tour is very good, even if you’re not a Harry fan. Some sites do 2 for 1 so it works out about £10 each

sky garden, is free but needs booking in advance

Are you sure she won't want Primark? My teenage dd loves the one in Oxford Street - even though it's just a bigger, busier version of our local ones.
She's also always loved the Science Museum.

We've seen a few musicals together. Our last one was Kinky Boots. I wasn't impressed, but she thought it was brilliant (the audience was also very positive - I think I was in a minority of 1!). We also really liked Matilda.

Can I recommend one of the Thames jet boats on the Thames instead of the rather more sedate and somewhat duller standard boat trips? They both do a speedboat tour from Westminster to Docklands - slow enough to see the sights until after Tower bridge, then a thrill ride round Docklands and slow back. Brilliant!

Street food on the South Bank, just up from Waterloo. Very funky.

Climb over the O2

London Eye