London day out for teens that doesn't cost the earth!

[llamalines]

I have a free day in London with my 12 and 16 year old at half term.

We'll have easy access to central, North and East London.

Can anyone suggest anything good to do which doesn't cost the earth for teens / pre-teens?

Is there anything on in half term that won't be ridiculously packed with people? (Am I asking the impossible?!)

Thanks

Things they've enjoyed in the past - museums, Forbidden Planet, Cutty Sark and Observatory, the markets at Greenwich, Harry Potter related stuff, the river taxi, Tower Bridge, that quirky machines shop in Holborn (can't remember it's name but often recommended here), Sutton House, eating out in general, riding on top of busses.

Some of which are extortionate! But to give an idea of what they've liked.

Other things at least one of them likes - Harry Potter, science stuff, history, arts and crafts, manga, animals especially cats, fun fairs, steam punk, Halloween events, music, rugby (neither like football).

I'm following too as I'm trying to think of things and it's all so expensive.
One thing we've done for my horse mad dd is go to the museum of Calvary at horse guards parade. If you go just before changing of the guard then you can see them getting the horses ready and then you can go outside and watch the ceremony which is free as only about a tenner each.

I have got tickets to go up the horizon tower Viewpoint this time which is free but does need booking

Sorry. Doesn't make sense. The museum is about £10. The Outdoor ceremony is free

Mithraeum next to Bank station, 22 Bishopsgate View 22bishopsgate.com/viewing-gallery/

theres loads of free walking routes available online to download (or books from library?) one great walk is from London Eye along the South Bank of the river to the Tate Modern then cross the formerly wobbly bridge to St Paul’s and the City. Or you could walk from Waterloo across the river and up from Charing Cross to Trafalgar Square then on to Covent Garden / Seven Dials (quite cool).

House of MinaLima
See what’s on at the Apple Store in Covent Garden. https://www.apple.com/uk/today/coventgarden/ I’ve done the architecture photo tour with my teen. https://www.apple.com/uk/today/event/photo-tour-framing-architecture/7247260986775031808/?sn=R245
Browse in ArtBox in Covent Garden

Have a look at Treasure Trails or other treasure hunt companies. You get a good walk around with some pretty cryptic puzzles to solve. Treasure Trails is good for younger kids but there are others that are aimed at adults too. We've done some with work but I can't find the name of the company we used.

Leake St
https://www.leakestreetarches.london/

There is a graffiti tour of Camden, then go to the market, take a canal trip, end up in King's X

Another bid here for the House of MinaLima (for potter fans - and free)
Cable Car over the river?
Thames Barrier (you can take the river bus through it out to Barking Riverside station)
Museums such as science museum
Would the RAF museum interest them?

The south bank usually has something going on and is great for a mooch. You could look at the graffiti in the Leake Street Arches, watch the skaters under the South Bank and wander along to see the Cutty Sark, Tate Modern if they're happy to do a bit of art, and Borough Market.
My teens also love Soho and Covent Garden for a wander.
We go to London a fair bit and very seldom do any paid activities.

I really liked this, and Greenwich is a nice day out.

www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/astronomy-photographer-year/exhibition

I love the jewellery at the V and A; might be worth a look if you haven't been?

God's own junkyard in Walthamstow? Extremely instagrammable.

You could combine with some of the museums out that way. Or young v&A (go later when all the young kids have gone, the gaming stuff would be fun for older ones, or there is a manga exhibition). Or the V&A in Kensington has really great sessions on in the holidays and we usually find it loads less packed than the other museums.

V&A, Grant Museum of Zoology, The Old Operating Museum are all free.

My teens love a mooch around Camden Market and the ridiculous ice creams at Hans and Gretel are surprisingly not exactly cheap but definitely not expensive.

I live in London and did one of thsse with a friend recently - got fun - a walking tour with a local , pick an area of London you are interested in - you don't pay for the tour as such, but tip the guide afterwards

https://www.withlocals.com/experiences/england/london/tours/walking/?utm_source=google_ads_pmax_porto&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpvK4BhDUARIsADHt9sQa7wLHGUgxUqYxz26Of3fn2qrsLj4xn__snZQJu2w2fUI7ZQeRshsaAowDEALw_wcB

Otherwise Southbank as someone said earlier always a good shout - you could even do a boat trip between the Tates, and have a good walk, or take the bridge across St Pauls

Otherwise what about Brick lane / Spittalefield Market / Hoxton / Bethany Green -that part of London

Our two and their friends like: the South Bank, as there’s always something going on and you can grab lunch at the street food market, Camden Market, charity shops, Covent Garden (less so), Leake Street.

Sounds like they have seen the more common 'touristy' stuff. What day of the week are you there? If a Sunday, you could get out at Liverpool St, walk through Spitalfields market into Bricklane Market. Get in the queue for a salt beef beigal at Beigal Bake. Or one of their yummy other beigals, carrot cake or cheesecakes. https://bricklanebeigel.co.uk/london/beigel-bake There are also multiple curry restaurants, I'd recommend Preem, on a corner with Bricklane and Hanbury St.
Continue walking to Columbia rd flower market.https://columbiaroad.info/
Then end at the children's V&A. https://www.vam.ac.uk/young?srsltid=AfmBOorZmm9UIobRiuRyB04WbfFpo_q3v3wsT1nUnWCC4hMbR1ftaCC3
All free to see/do, except for lunch. The Children's museum has been recently refurbished, and I haven't been since, but it used to be fun for kids, with many interactive exhibits, but also interesting for adults/older kids too.

If you did the above walk, you could pass the Dennis Severs house. Its not free, and might not be of interest to the kids though, but something else to consider. I've never been, but been meaning to! dennissevershouse.co.uk/book

Hand feed the birds in st James’ Park

I came on to say St James Park! Every time we're in London DD insists on going there to fees the squirrels. They're ace - they come running if you have a bag of nuts and even sit on your knee or climb your leg.