Itinerary for day in London with 16 year old dd?

[Grandadwasthatyou]

Dd has asked that for her 16th in July we have a day in London just her and I so I am starting to plan it now.
Thought I would treat us to first class train travel but am not sure when to book the best deal. I know that sometimes first class, when on offer, can end up being not much more expensive than a standard ticket.

Never having been to London before she does not really know what she wants to do but has mentioned Madam Tussauds, which personally I want to steer her away from as I found it a total waste of money.

So any recommendations for a hotel for one night? I don't want travel lodge prices or the Ritz but something decent in between! We will be arriving at Kings Cross on a Friday evening and returning home Saturday evening.

Is afternoon tea at one of the top hotels worth it for a 16 year old? If so, which one?
I also thought Harrods but after that have no clue what to fit into one full day.
She is a typical girly teenager, likes make up and clothes, not into museums etc.
I would appreciate suggestions as really want to give her lovely memories as she hasn't had the best of times lately.

London Eye, Southbank or Covent Garden. Leicester Square and maybe get show tickets from TKTS booth . Or would she like a Royal Palace ie Kensington if Buck Palace not open. Afternoon Tea in a hotel or on a red bus tour?

i had my teenage cousins here for a visit in London and their favourite activities / restaurants were:

• cereal killer cafe in brick lane
• duck & waffle in heron tower
• tate modern viewing platform
• shopping around brick lane and oxford street
• shoreditch street art

@Grandadwasthatyou I would of absolutely loved that at the age of 16. I think try not to pack to much in as it will be a mad rush I would definetly arrange an afternoon tea you can look at promotions and such on groupon or Wowcher for afternoon tea around the area you are staying in. Also you mention she is into make up how about popping into one of the deparment stores I think certain counters you can arrange mini make up sessions, some sight seeing or you could arrange a bus afternoon tea I’ve heard of those.
victoria and Albert museum could be an option they have fashion exhibitions etc hope some of this helps

‘Advance’ train tickets are released about 12 week out.

The Glossier pop up shop might be of interest. Covent Garden is a bit naff but still worth a visit.

Get free tickets for the Sky Garden. Walk past the Tower of London, visit Tower bridge for the glass walkway and have a bite to eat in Borough Market.

Catch regular buses rather than do a tour (google for the best sightseeing routes).

See a show or a musical, or have a look in Time Out to see what’s on in July - loads of summer events.

I wouldn’t bother with Harrods.

Download the TodayTix app for discounted prices for London shows (we use it a lot!) if your DD likes the theatre. There are also ticket lotteries for Hamilton, Harry Potter, Matilda and others - if you join the Families who love theatre group on Facebook then you’ll find all details.

If you have a Tastecard ( I have the app which is £6.99 a month) you have access to discounted tickets for Madame Tussaud’s, the London Eye etc as well as restaurant offers.

B-Bakery do afternoon tea on a London bus tours - they aren’t cheap at about £60 a head though!

In terms of what is/was popular with my DD, shopping on Oxford Street, wandering the South Bank, Greenwich, the Natural History & British Museums & eating out in the West End.

The Premier Inn next to King's Cross (York Way) could be a good option. There is a bar area and restaurant and the advantage would be that you could leave luggage there when you check out on the Sunday and just collect it when you go back to the station.

The boats along the Thames are nice, can be nice too at night when lit up. You can also get speedboats along the Thames though they are a bit pricey. Covent Garden is nice for shops / restaurants.

We only went to Madame Tussauds once and it was heaving and a bit of a dissapointment, had an annual Merlin pass at the time so free. If its were she wants to go I would still take her.

Can be worth looking up events on - sometimes there's good picnic / music concerts on around then. Wouldn't go out of my way to go to Harrods unless its on her list. Kensington Palace does a good afternoon tea but may well not be enroute, has all Diana's clothes in but maybe too museumy.

She might like London Eye - you can get deals on it with boats etc if she's not done that before.

Portobello Market

My dd loves Covent Garden. Maybe book her a makeover in Bobbi Brown. There is also a big Muji there she loves. and an even bigger one on Tottenham Court Road right by the huge Primark.

I'd do some sort of exhibition or museum, followed by a late afternoon tea, then a show for the perfect day.

Or things like Covent garden or a Camden lock, then tea and show.

random extra a in that sentence.

Some lovely suggestions. Thank you all.
I did balk at the cost of a train ticket at £234 return or £454 first class from a Northern station to Kings Cross!

Get a family and friends railcard. If you buy one now, you can use it until the day she turns 17 or it expires and you will save the cost of it straight away.

We don't bother with first class, for us a treat is reserved seats on the Virgin (now Avanti) rather than the free for all London Northwestern but you can get some great advance fayre deals if you book at the right time about 12 weeks in advance.

Thank you @Comefromaway
I naively did not realise that standard rail fares cost so much never mind first class. I'm glad I hadn't mentioned it to her. I think just going on a rail trip will be fun enough for her.
I have put my name down for advanced notification as it's not until July.

Oh bugger. It says family railcard is aged up to 15!

If you look at the small print as long as you buy the card now while she is still 15 you can use it up until her 17th birthday or the day it expires.

Have just spotted if it's a 1 year card I can use it after she's 16 until it runs out

For part of my ds 16th birthday we went on the Thames Rocket speed boat. Great fun. Goes from Southbank down the river and back. Exhilarating and you see lots of iconic sights.

www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/help/faqs/

What happens if my child turns 16 while my Family & Friends Railcard is still valid?
A:
Children who turn 16 while your Family & Friends Railcard is valid are still entitled to get a discounted child fare for a time.

If you have a 1-year Family & Friends Railcard, your child who has turned 16 can travel as long as the 1-year Family & Friends Railcard is valid.

If you have a 3-year Family & Friends Railcard, your 16-year old can only travel as a child on the Railcard card until the day before they turn 17.

Not a railcard expert but this seems to get her 50% off for £30.

www.16-17saver.co.uk/

The Old Operating Theatre near the Shard is an experience. They do talks at the weekend.

Tower Bridge is also good. Good views from the top.

Boat down to the O2, and the Emirates Air Line Cable car over the Thames.

We stay at the Premier Inn Kensington High Street. Has a pool and looks posher than it is.

I am also staying at the Tower Hotel near The Tower of London soon.

Get a Tube to Embankment. Have a pootle round Covent Garden and Leicester Square, then walk to Trafalgar Square, up the Mall to see Buckingham Palace, through Green Park and Horseguards Parade then pass Downing Street, and The Cenotaph into Parliament Square to see Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament. Walk back up the Embankment with views of The London Eye, and finish with a drink in The Sherlock Holmes Pub in Northumberland Avenue.

I don't know whether this is the same hotel Romaine had in mind but Premier Inn have smaller hotels called 'Hubs' and there's one at Kings Cross. A shortish distance away is another in Goodge St, right next door to a big Planet Organic

Anyway, they'd probably appeal to a teen as they have lots of whizzy features, fast WiFi, free tea and coffee etc. The idea is that they're small but well-equipped and central. Link here, and you can get reasonable deals, I think

Don't forget that as you're travelling by train, you might be able to take advantage of the 2-for-1 London offers, which do discounts on things like the London Eye. Just google it for the website.

Download the Citymapper app for getting around, it's very useful.

I did balk at the cost of a train ticket at £234 return or £454 first class from a Northern station to Kings Cross!

Is DD the sort that would understand the difference and that by going standard class you'd potentially have £200 extra for nice meals/shopping?

If so book the standard class seats and have a look at the 'Seat Frog' app. You can bid to upgrade to First Class which might be a nice surprise. No guarantees but worth a try?