Where in London should I get dd's ears pierced? Am thinking maybe Selfridges?

[famousblueraincoat]

She's 12, and has just started school hols, so we thought a trip up to town to get them done. Any recommendations?

In fact, she also wants to have her first manicure, which would be a bit of a reward for not biting her nails. I suppose it needs to be a place that's used to kids.

Anywhere staffed by adults, where they do a lot of piercing, I would think.

Selfridges might be a bit snotty, a bit intimidating for a 12 year old? Or is that just me being chippy?

Btw, I don't know what the MN age barrier is on these things, but you might want to get your hard hat on just in case...

Hope you and your dd have a lovely trip.

I have searched the archives, and 11+ seems to meet with approval.

My concerns are about health and hygiene, which is why I'm wanting to go somewhere vaguely upmarket, plus to make it a special, end of term event. Sorry if Selfridges sounds poncey. I've never had any piercings, so can't offer advice to her, at all. I've heard real horror stories about Claire's doing piercings, so I want to be safe not sorry. I know they're adults but they're not good at piercing.

You're in the clear then I was 12 when I had my ears pierced - seems a good age to me. I went to a rather old-fashioned local jewellers, where they did one piercing at a slant through my lobe and it's caused me hassle ever since.

I was thinking of Claire's when I said to find adults, because nobody in Claire's looks grown-up to me! (but then I am very, very middle-aged). Your dd may be coolly sophisticated and completely up to Selfridges; I just know that as a gawky 12 year old I'd have found them a bit overwhelming. But it probably comes down to individual rather than shop, doesn't it?

Gosh, your lucky daughter. It sounds like a dream day out!

I had my ears pierced in Selfridges (aged 30!) and they were not snotty at all. It's a slightly alternative type tattoo and piercing place but obviously not that alternative as it's in Selfridges! Very clean and an all round pleasant experience. Don't forget to spritz with all available perfume testers on the way out!

Thanks, Plantsitter, I thought there must be people on here who'd had it done at Selfridges. Hester, she did get a good school report and had a difficult year.

I had my ears pierced in Selfridges too (aged 38!) and it was great. Like plantsitter says, you can have tattoos done, and any other bit of your body pierced that you fancy , but it isn't a bit intimidating, and the staff are very friendly. Surprisingly so, given the number of piercings and tattoos they have!

Also, it's on the ground floor of Selfridges, where they have all the "young" fashion concessions like Top Shop and Warehouse, so your DD will think it's brilliant.

And I think you can get a manicure done in Selfridges too...

Thank you so much. Just hope she doesn't want a tattoo, though...

Where are you taking her for lunch?

Dunno - any suggestions? she is a dead picky eater!

So Wagamama probably wouldn't appeal to her...

If she likes cakes and sandwiches you could take her for afternoon tea in a posh hotel. It usually costs about £25-30 a head, so it's not cheap, but it is a lovely experience. I first went to the Savoy for tea when I was about 17 and thought it was brilliant. That's closed for refurbishment now but Claridge's (about 10 minutes from Selfridges) is really special.

Claridges - very very tempting...that might be pushing the boat out a bit too far though! Maybe another extra special treat occasion. She has done Wagamama in the past, but I can't keep up with whether it's still OK in her book: I think it is. Is there one nearby?

I'm sure there is a Wagamama near Selfridges but I can't remember where - if you look on the Wagamama website they'll list all the branches in Central London. And any special offers...!

Otherwise, St Christopher's Place just behind Selfridge's has lots of lovely little restaurants - there's a Carluccio's if you want a reliable Italian, I think there are Greek, Italian and French ones there too. And a Ping Pong, which does Thai/Chinese dim sum.

I was going to recommend St Christopher's Place, too. Have a look at an A-Z map, though - lots of people miss the entrance.

And Ping Pong! (Though it's busy and a little further along, just behind Oxford Street).

I had mine done in Harrods at a similar age.

I had my ears pierced at Selfridges many many years ago, as did my two sisters, so would definitely recommend it!

With regards to where to lunch, you should take her to either Le Pain Quotidien - there's one opposite Liberty on Great Marlborough St or if you take her to Liberty, you can have tea and cake

Liberty! Brilliant idea!

St Christopher's Place - will do that on another trip maybe. Harrods - have thought of taking her to the food hall in an attempt to interest her in healthier food and a wider range.

The Selfridges food hall is excellent (better than Harrods IMO). On the deli counter they are often happy to let you try before you buy, which might work if your daughter is up for being adventurous. I once wangled a taste of some foie gras out of someone there, but I was much younger then - not sure I could do it now!

And I echo sansucre's recommendation for Le Pain Quotidien.

And of course Liberty is round the corner from Carnaby Street, which still has its moments.

Your DD is going to have such a nice day out!

Gah this thread is making me want to come down to London for the day!
I have no recommendations I am a mere midlandser hope you and your DD have a great day though!

Wagamama is behind Selfridge's in the same block. If you go out of the Top shop exit turn left and it's about 50 metres away.
I think Ping Pong would be an interesting experience for her foodwise if she's not had dim sum before.
Royal China is much better IMO on Baker Street also just behind Selfridges.
Busaba eatthai on Bird st at the side of Selfridge's also nice for a change.

Sorry no info on ear piercing!

I had my ears pierced in Self's
It was £50ish in 1993 (day before my 16th birthday) which included an 18k gold pair of studs which I've still got for when my ears go yukky now

I took my mum to The Wolseley before Christmas for afternoon tea and that was lovely.

I got my ears done in a local jeweller, but Claire's seems the place - my workmate got his done there a few months ago. £50 for piercing is insane - you could spend that on lunch and a nice pair of earrings instead.

Oh wait, is it Metal Morphosis in Selfridges? An old college friend's brother runs it, I hear it's the place to go if you want nipple cages. Best leave that for her thirteenth, though.

Metal Morphosis is indeed the one, mippy. Given the variety of body parts that I could have had pierced there, I felt quite tame just asking to have my ears pierced, and only the once in each lobe!

I think my ear piercings with hypoallergenic earrings cost about £30 a couple of years ago, which seemed reasonable to me, OP.

Thanks, everyone - I'm nervous about the health aspects so will go with Selfridges, not Claire's!