A few days in London with 16 year old dd....

[Shesparkles]

That's what we're planning! It'll be mid October, travelling by train, arriving Kings x approx 2pm....but I've no idea whe we should be looking to stay!

This is HER trip, a bit of a late birthday present so it's likely to be all about shops-especially Top Shop (shoot me now ), although I would like to sneak in a wee bit of sightseeing (I'm thinking open top bus tour), and maybe a show, depending on what's available when we're there, although I'd rather just go to a last minute booking office for that.

I'm looking at 2-3 nights, in a decent hotel , 3-4 star, kind of close to the centre of the action, however it's so long since I've been to London I might as well not have been! I know we could get a pretty cheap hotel by stayin a bit further out, but this is a 1 off trip for me and her and I want it to be memorable for the right reasons, and mot for getting lost on the tube!

Any suggestions?

Anyone?

can't help on the accommodation. but personally wasn't over impressed with the open top bus. River boat ride was much better (I just jumped on the cheaper "commuter" boat instead of a bus tour) best way to see London though is walking.

Must admit we tend to stay in a Travelodge when we go. A lot of them have been refurbished recently, so are not bad. Most recently I've stayed in the Waterloo and KC Central ones - both fine.

The ticket booth at the bottom of Leicester Square is the one to go to.

I wonder if the 80s clubbing fashion thing will still be on at the V&A? She might like that.

Don't forget to pick up the 2 for 1 leaflet at the train station and if you get daily tube tickets, buy them at a mainline station so they can be used for the 2 for 1 offers.

Keep your eye on lastminute.com for theatre offers.

Try Premier Inn at County Hall, just behind the London Eye. Or the new one also near there on York Rd close to Waterloo, lots of buses go from there and also lovely walk along the river, Southbank, lots of restaurants, entertainers etc

I'll add when I go my favourite thing to do is take a wander around covent Garden watching the street performers. you can walk from Oxford Street. last time I went walked with dd (7) from Covent Garden though trafalgar square down the mall to Buckingham palace. it was a long but very beautiful walk.

Take her to Camden Market - she'll love it.

These are all great suggestions, and that V&A exhibition is one shed definitely go for if it's still on then , and Camden Market, I want to go there even if she doesn't !
All brilliant suggestions, the boat ride sounds good too, just a bit different form the norm.
I'll look at the travelodge site too,mhadnt thought of the obvious!

Any other suggestions very welcome!

You could dump her in Topshop on Oxford St (go early!) whilst you have an hour in John Lewis, then meet up for a (much needed by then) coffee. Lots of nice coffee shops around Carnaby Street, or you could go to the Wallace Collection for 'posher' coffee. :)

oh Wallace collection is fab

Remus, you've hit the nail on the head about dumping her in Top Shop-I think as long as she has time in there she won't care much about what else she does!

We recently had a day in london as a treat for dd1 just after her 21st birthday. We had breakfast (I searched online the top ten places to eat breakfast to get some ideas of where to go for a special breakfast) and then walked through Burlington arcade, it is lovely to look in the shops as nothing is priced! we can dream... Then we walked round to regent street and did some more realistic window shopping. We also went to Fortnum and Mason where the shop assistance still wear tails, we had afternoon tea as a treat and it was an experience. We like wandering round Covent garden watching the acts and went over to the london eye as dd1 wanted a ride - we watched more acts over on the embankment

I would suggest a look on trip advisor for things to do as there are a few things - the war rooms is on my list and hinthunt is on dd1's list but you need 3 or more to take part in that - but the ideas came from trip advisor.

Harrods food hall is worth a look as they always put on a great display, there are two free museums to mooch round for an hour as you have the science and the V&A. If you walk from here you can go into Hyde park.

dd2 wants to go to east london on and try the cable cars not sure what else is over there.

I would dump dd in top shop and tell her to walk along and to either John Lewis or Selfridges.

Changing of the guard is free

Tower of London is my dd1's favourite but you have to pay (used to be free on a saturday!) and you do get a talk as you go around the tower which i like.

I also have popped into the tate and wandered round with dd2

Have fun

If you go to F&M and like Earl Grey, buy a box of their smoked tea bags. :) It's lovely to just wander around and try all the tasters too. And Lauderee (sp?) is just across the road, either for macaroons or just to look at the gorgeous window display.

Thanks again, these are all great suggestions, I missed out on the shopping gene, but I'm liking the idea of seeing the likes of F&M just because of how they do things (and the sampling )
I guess I'll be doing a LOT of research between now and then!