The country bumpkins go to London

[TheLongRider]

DD14 and I are going to London in early November. DD is mainly going for shopping with a bit of tourism and I'll be her bag carrier and embarassing Mum. We're looking for recommendations for shops to visit. She's interested in Glossier, Sephora and Brandy Melville. DD has champagne tastes on a beer budget so the shopping will be more for the experience than coming home laden with stuff.

We're not flying so we can bring as much stuff as we can carry. DD is not interested in vintage or second-hand clothes. We have a giant Primark and decent H&M here. We'll be based in central London.

All suggestions for a tetchy teenager and her long-suffering Mum greatly appreciated.

If it's just to look and neither of you will be upset if you can't buy then Liberty is essential.

There's a large branch of Cos on Regent Street, just 2 seconds from Liberty's which is worth a look. I have no idea what Carnaby Street is like these days but that's beside Liberty.

You could also try Covent Garden and Seven Dials.

The only Sephora is in Westfield Shepherds Bush so depends whether you want to there. It's good but just a huge shopping really!
Covent Garden has a big Brandy M and also Subdued which is similar but bit more expensive! Also a big Urban Outfitters.
Kings road would be a gentler Brandy/Subdued experience! Never been into Glossier as the queues always massive!

There’s a second Sephora opening in Westfield Stratford in November, date tbc.

Personally I don’t think the existing one is all that, certainly not compared with the ones in say Paris.

Would she maybe be interested in Monki, Weekday and Uniqlo? All can be found close together around Oxford Circus, Arket and Cos are there too.

I'll be having a good sniff along Floral street and revisiting Miller Harris.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, please keep them coming.

Does she want to go to Camden Market?

It will make her very happy and you likely bored witless.

What's in Camden Market? I'll grab a coffee and tell her to come find me while I people watch!

Teenagers love Camden Market

www.camdenmarket.com/journal/stables-market

There's really good food options. The food hall between Coaldrops Yard and Camden Market might be a good option if weather is colder and a walk along the canal is always good.

Humoungous quantities of tat are in Camden Market.

Teenagers adore the place.

Or Portobello Market

Portobello Market

Westfield or Oxford street! Have fun 🩵

Oh yes, Camden Market is absolutely essential. And if she makes you walk wrong Cyberdog, you have to threaten to buy a light-up corset to wear to her next parents’ evening.

I’m 45 and I love Camden Market (especially the food) and have bought some nice earrings, scarves etc. there.

If it's your thing then getting off the tube at Green Park and wandering through Mayfair up to Oxford Circus can be fab to see the really fancy designer shops even if you don't go in, and then wandering back down Regent Street for all of the more affordable high street options. If you still have the energy then head into Covent Garden.

14 is a tricky age, you don't want to look like a "pick me girl" or a clone of everyone else and you're trying to navigate your own style without the funds. It'll be a good time and if it goes wrong we'll be wearing our headphones on the train home.

Thanks for all the suggestions and I'd welcome more.

Ah @TheLongRider don't be calling yourself a country bumpkin. I've grown up in an area that's about a 30 min bus ride from Picadilly Circus.
I rarely visit Oxford Street/regent Street etc but when I do I feel completely lost and out of my comfort zone.
Urban and rural visitors , you'll be in good company.
Though exhausted!

Queue for Glossier Covent Garden is long - get there early if you can! Covent Garden/Neal St/ Seven Dials area good for teenagers - mix of affordable and “just looking”. And some quirky shops to poke about in. She can queue up to her hearts content to get into the Charlotte Tilbury shop, Space NK…….all full of 14 year olds with no money and middle aged mums rolling eyes and muttering about “in my day we made do with Boots No 17”

if she likes Lush then there is a massive one on Oxford Street that will kill 30 mins of shopping time. They have a cafe there also (which reeks of Lush products but looks cool) Pretty near the massive Nike store that looks and sounds like a club - so again she can have an experience without spending money!

And would also recommend a walk down Bond St just to look at the designer shops. Good for people watching too as there are often blacked out Range Rovers parked up so fun to think about who might be shopping. There is an over priced cafe attached to the Ralph Lauren shop (I think!) which has outdoor tables so can order a drink and drink it slowly while taking it all in

Pull&Bear and Stradavarius are in Oxford Street and similar price range to H & M. My teenager loved the beauty hall at Selfridges as well.

Wander down on the South Bank for the skate park.

Camden Market is great, but quite a lot of vintage clothes.

If you're heading for Glossier in Covent Garden, there are loads of individual cosmetics shops in that area and a spaceNK as an alternative to going to Sephora.
Also a good urban outfitters and she might like some of the jewellery and bag shops around there if just browsing.

I recommend a big boots (covent garden) over Sephora, boots now stock most of what sephora does. The queue to get in sephora a couple of Saturdays ago was very long!

Check out the Vivienne Westwood shop, maybe V&A for clothing inspiration, maybe the Zandra Rhodes Fashion & Textile Museum if she's into fashion.

if you are 14 the queue for Glossier is part of the experience! And their stuff is probably more “teen-oriented” than Space NK, it’s certainly cheaper! Gymshark on Regent Street is essential for my DD, if you’re there at the weekend there’s usually a DJ. Yes to Selfridges, they have most of what Sephora has and White City is a trek. It’s also fun to look at the clothes. There’s a Pizza Pilgims on the top floor, or Din Tai Fung if you like dumplings.
DD loves Carnaby Street for Brandy Melville, Subdued and Pixi (actually just round the corner in Foubert’s Place), there are good shoe shops there too.

Would also recommend Soho for Instagram desserts, Chin Chin or Bilmonte are both good for ice cream, Kova for Japanese cakes or Maitre Choix for eclairs.

Can you tell I’ve done many shopping trips with DD??

@Anonymousoctopus Yes yes to selfridges for the make up and general experience! And if you need the loo on Oxford Street use selfridges!

Camden Market isn't worth it if she's not in to vintage / alternative looks. Don't go to Kings Road just for Brandy Melville and Subdued.

Covent Garden (the suggestions above) a good shout. Westfield is a huge mall but she'd probably enjoy it and the only Sephora currently is there. There's a big M&S at Westfield and a John Lewis if that's more your thing, and quick on the tube from central.

Selfridges also a good shout

@Anonymousoctopus Thank you so much for the suggestions, I ran them past DD who was impressed particularly at the suggestions for food too.

I’d add Carnaby Street to the list. Lots of shops but also Kingly Court with some good food options. It’s just a couple of minutes walk from there to Liberty and Oxford Street is just around the corner.
If your DD isn’t into vintage/alternative fashion then I’d miss Camden and Portobello.