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?

Please be very careful about using those tuk tuks, against my better judgement I did with my kids and for a trip over Westminster Bridge the guy decided he wanted £200.... Had to call the police in the end, he wouldn't let us leave despite offering him more than a cab journey would have been. Spoiled our entire holiday, kids in tears etc.

Lots to do on both Oxford Street and Covent Garden. More food options covent garden way. Enjoy, sounds like fun

@urbanbuddha Surely you can see that Oxford St is a lot less exciting than when it used to have all the flagship stores, especially the big Topshop, and is therefore a bit of a disappointment as a “premium / aspirational shopping destination” if that’s what you remember it as? I like the Uniqlo, and Muji, but there’s a right old load of shit there now as well as all the money laundering / sweet shop stores.

I would second Carnaby St and Liberty is amazing to wander around (though prob not really to buy much for a 12yo!).

Floral street in CG is also lovely for a wander and sniff

Oh wow didn't think my question would elicit such opposing views!

She can't eat sweets so it'll just taunt her having to traipse past lots of sweet shops. If there's lots of those on O.St now then we'll definitely swerve.

She's lost a lot of interest in anything except damn Roblox but I think I can entice with make-up so CG sounds like we can have a bit of an experience there. Unfortunately ice cream is also out but if we can find a safe smoothie she'll be happy.

Will look up where the various suggestions are & have a loose plan, she has limited energy so it won't be hours of shopping anyway. Thanks everyone, I'm sure we're going to have fun time.

Regent street / carnaby street are good these days (I am firmly on the Oxford street is rubbish bus) and then a walk over to Covent Garden- is she into crystals? There’s a crystal shop at the end of neal street and a couple of stalls in cov garden market on the far side of the piazza.

Long Acre is quite good for a mooch as well. Few vintage shops in that area.

Another place you could take her which is nicer than Oxford Street would be Liberty. Near Carnaby Street but has all the beauty departments.

Covent Garden is much better and so is Marylebone High Street for the shops.

Maybe pick a few things additional to shopping. There's a Monopoly shop/play/bar event space on Tottenham Court Road near where I work, maybe a specialist theatre makeup shop, Freed dance shop if she likes professional dance etc.

ha! You and me are on the same page re Liberty.

Not sure what she can buy but they do their own scented drawer sachets etc if she wanted something with a Liberty label on it. Plus they sell stationery etc.

Just on whether Oxford St is rubbish, I go there A LOT and it's useful but there's no glamour or excitement (Selfridges excepted). Empty shops, building sites, duplicates, the stupid sweet shops, not even particularly well stocked shops. Regents Street is more interesting.

I went to Battersea Power Station and although it isn't quite my cup of tea and wouldn't be my pick for a 12 year old, that sort of development makes Oxford Street look old and tired.

I'm intrigued to see where Sephora are going to open.

DD wanted to go because it featured in the Cruella movie.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns just looked up that Monopoly place. Looks like it could be great fun. Might have to save that for when we can come back with DH

I think the company I work for was involved with that (we work just round the corner). I think it's slightly overpriced, but it's good fun because it's really central.

I'm trying to think of where else to go with teens - Rainforest Cafe is usually a good bet.

Depending on teen and what they're into then Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane is good and Dennis Severs house.

dennissevershouse.co.uk/about/dennis-severs/