Where to shop in London with 12yr old

[FletchingStraight]

I'll be taking my DD(12) to London during half-term for a hospital appointment & we want to do a bit of shopping after. She's had a tough year & has lost interest in lots of things she used to like such as clothes shopping, bit of make up etc.

I really want it to be a fun day without the focus being on the appointment. Am thinking Oxford Street with a mooch in Selfridges - hoping all the beauty counters might spark some interest (although not sure I want to buy too much there £££). So long since I've been to London where else is worth a look?

I think Covent Garden is nicer than Oxford St for a day mooching and shopping. There are lots of cool places that appeal to young people around Neal St, Seven Dials, and Long Acre. There's a big food hall place at Neal's Yard now which full of teenagers. Interesting, instagrammable food.

Mine loved Brandy Melville for small size teen girl clothes

Take her to Covent Garden instead! (Not just because Oxford St should be avoided at all costs. Selfridges is all indoors and can feel horribly oppressive.) Whereas Covent Garden is fun!

Pretty.

Street entertainment.

Lovely variety of not at all sensible shops full of treats. Lots of make up and chocolate.

Wonderful pre-Christmas atmosphere and you can both do all your Christmas shopping.

You could wander into the Royal Opera House and eat at the gorgeous Piazza on the fifth floor - magical for a 12 year old.

Which hospital are you going to? The Westfield shopping centres are also popular - Shepherds Bush and Stratford. I agree with PP on that Covent Garden is much nicer than Oxford Street - several of the big flagship stores have closed and been replaced with crap!

Also Spitalfields near Liverpool Street Station.

Battersea Power Station has just openned with loads of shops and fab offers at Mac etc.

Would second Seven Dials, Neal Street etc but also Carnaby Street area is really nice.

Another vote for Covent Garden. There's Mac and Charlotte Tilbury if she wants to look at make up plus pretty much all the high street shops, but the atmosphere is much nicer than Oxford Street, lots of places to stop for a hot choc or watch a street artist.

Lots of Oxford St is depressing post pandemic. Definitely think Covent Garden, Neil's Yard and Seven Dials is a better option. Or Liberty/Carnaby St/Soho borders

That's disappointing that O.St is being filled with crap. Used to love shopping there. But Covent Garden is probably a much better shout.

She has a zillion allergies so eating out is difficult. She can just about manage a gluten free margarita pizza so I'll look up options around there.

Thanks all, really want to give her a lift & spoil her a little.

Try Rosso Pomodoro on Monmouth Street- excellent pizza and they do gluten free on request.

Dd has allergies and is gluten free. We found Wahaca good for food at Covent Garden and clued up on allergies

Thanks for the tip @Bananamaman I'll look it up.

@QuebecBagnet thanks I'd love to go to Wahaca but sadly there's too many food allergies to navigate - we'd end up with just a taco shell.

Agree Oxford Street is very dull these days. Check out the Glossier shop in Covent Garden. There’s a Kiko Milano too. And a Boots with loads of premium brands.
Also loads of pretty ice cream places round there.
There’s the giant Primark at Tottenham Court Road which isn’t too far away if she’s into that.

Dd has lots allergens and we found zizzi had good options and were very careful

FFS another one of these threads! Oxford Street is NOT crap. Covent Garden is fine but it doesn't really target 12 year olds. Nor does Spitalfields. There are the candy stores in Oxford Street which must be avoided, but other than that Oxford Street is just fine for 12 year olds - Nike and H & M especially. Big Primarks at both ends. Wander into Marylebone High Street or Bond Street for a spot of high-end window shopping. Have a coffee and saunter round the Photograpehers' Gallery - entry is free for under 18s.

The King's Road is nice and there's also a My Old Dutch for ace pancakes.

FFS another one of these threads! Oxford Street is NOT crap.

Is it ok to disagree …?

Another vote for Covent Garden - I’m just back with my 12 yr old. Go to glossier - I don’t like make up but it’s fascinating in there, Brandy Melville, window shopping at the sneaker store just off the main square. Have lunch at sushi samba or red farm. Buy one of those awful kosher gherkins at the candy store that are all over TikTok and try it together for a laugh. Finish off with a little tour on one of those tuk tuks that are parked just off the square.

One of the big primarks if you're feeling brave enough.
The one opposite Selfridges is enormous.

You could do those two then head down Bond Street to gawp at the fancy shops and avoid the million American sweet shops.

Ignore the gherkin idea - just read your daughter has allergies.

Which hospital (or area, if you'd prefer not to disclose)? I'm often travelling to london for hospital appointments and also have a variety of inconvenient food allergies so might be able to advise on a place to eat.

I think I'd avoid taking her to selfridges if it's going to be out of budget unless you plan to treat her.

Liberty is fun to visit if she's not been, Forbidden Planet, Japan House, Foyles if she's a bookworm, Fortnums, Covent Garden, Westfield I'd say is best overall for clothes shopping. It depends what she's into really as to what's best.

Oxford Street has gone downhill certainly but there are still things there for teens - the urban outfitters has several floors and Lush is huge, if she likes either of those.

This is my recommendation too. My dd loves kiko and there are always loads of girls queuing outside glossier. The markets in covent garden are great for a wander. And Milk Train is great for huge ice creams!

FFS another one of these threads! Oxford Street is NOT crap.

Is it ok to disagree …?

Of course. But I was coming home along Oxford Street just the other night thinking how good it is to live so close to a busy, buzzy street and be able to pop into Primark and pick up some socks and vitamin c eye patches at 9.30 pm.

Did a weekend in London with DD a couple of weeks back. Carnaby Street, Liberty and Covent Garden were the shopping highlights.