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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

London this summer holiday

51 replies

lulubelle1977 · 09/07/2023 21:09

Hi!

To be clear we live in the suburbs of London so not really tourists as such. But wondering if you have any cool things planned for your teenagers this summer?

I heard there was an ice-cream museum but that looks permanently closed.

We've done the usual over the years....theatre, museums, galleries, but wondering if there's anything new and exciting that you could suggest.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Sunnysunbun · 09/07/2023 21:19

I was thinking I might book a kayak safari. London Kayak company run them.

tryingsomethingnew · 09/07/2023 21:32

Sounds interesting but my one is more of a land-lover!

Original poster
lulubelle1977 · 09/07/2023 22:06

Thank you- I think DD would like that.

OP posts:
BaconAndAvocado · 10/07/2023 15:04

We live outside of London but are planning to bring our teens 15 and 16 for a few days.

So far, I'm planning Puttshack and Game Immersive.

DS will want to go to Niketown and DD has said she'd like to go to Brandy Melville in Covent Garden.

Spinet · 10/07/2023 15:06

Do they like science? There is some cool stuff on at the Royal Institute.

BaconAndAvocado · 10/07/2023 15:09

If they were a few years younger we would be doing the museums and art galleries.
Sadly, those days are gone......

LondonMummer · 10/07/2023 15:29

There's an Anya Himdmarch ice cream pop up with all sorts of random brand flavours (Branston pickle, Ribena, soy sauce etc)

My 13 year old is desperate to go.

Original poster
lulubelle1977 · 10/07/2023 15:34

LondonMummer · 10/07/2023 15:29

There's an Anya Himdmarch ice cream pop up with all sorts of random brand flavours (Branston pickle, Ribena, soy sauce etc)

My 13 year old is desperate to go.

That sound weird and wonderful.

I agree with a PP. When they were little we could chose and they'd bound to live everything. Teenagers though....it kind of has to be fairly cool.

OP posts:
cherryassam · 10/07/2023 15:42

We are taking our three teen/pre-teen niblings on a London trip mid-August.

They have requested:

Heathers the Musical
A speedboat ride on the Thames
Gods Own Junkyard in Walthamstow
Boxpark in Shoreditch
Peggy Porschen in Belgravia (apparently it’s a pink bakery which they need to take photos in / of?)
IMAX Cinema
Roof East, Stratford (U18s can go before 5pm at weekends)

SoWhatEh · 10/07/2023 15:44

Have they done stuff like cable car to the Millenium Dome, then climb over its roof, DLR to island gardens then foot-tunnel under the Thames, Greenwich observatory.

The street art tours of Shoreditch are brilliant. My DC loved them as teens.

Would they like weird places like Viktor Wynde museum of curiosities in Hackney?

Or really modern spaces like Hadid's Serpentine gallery and a boat trip on the Serpentine or swim in the Hyde Park lido.

Have you taken them to the mixed pool at Hampstead, for a picnic on the heath with music drifting out from Kenwood, then fireworks as the sun goes down.

If they like (or like to laugh at) high end fashion, they could mooch round the eye-wateringly expensive Dover Street Market (on Haymarket, not Dover Street) then up to the cafe for a rose latter and to watch the uber cool types hanging out up there.

Look for festivals. DC and I often went to music festivals during the day - you can pick up quite cheap tickets if you go to the smaller ones or on the days/times when the big headliners aren't playing. And look for mini acoustic promo gigs and signings. They do a lot in Kingston on Thames via Banquet Records. Have to be over 14 for some and over 17 for others iirc or accompanied by adults.

Sign up to Show Film First for very cheap short-notice tickets to comedy and West End shows that are not selling out.

Spinet · 10/07/2023 15:44

The Royal Institute stuff includes a VR trip 'beyond the moon'. I mean cool if you're a geek.

MissyB1 · 10/07/2023 15:45

I’m hoping to take 14 year old ds to the Planet Earth experience

https://bbcearthexperience.com/

BBC Earth Experience

BBC Earth Experience

https://bbcearthexperience.com/

BaconAndAvocado · 10/07/2023 18:45

SoWhatEh the street art tours sound fab.
Where do they start from and do I have to book?

Capitulatingpanda · 10/07/2023 19:06

Not sure on ages but have you looked at young V&A, just opened.
www.vam.ac.uk/young

CoffeeChocolateWine · 10/07/2023 19:38

Following for ideas. We live on the outskirts of London too so may do a few trips in London over the hols. And if poss I need ideas for things that would appeal for ages 14 to 5 😬

Has anyone been to the Twist Museum on Oxford Street? It popped up on my Facebook page and looks like it could fit the bill for all 3. But reviews are a bit mixed and it doesn't look like you spend that much time there. Any experience of it?

Fluffycloudsblusky · 10/07/2023 19:40

We played monopoly go. It was fun. Frenetic but fun.
sky garden is also good.
and China town and borough market

tryingsomethingnew · 10/07/2023 20:28

CoffeeChocolateWine · 10/07/2023 19:38

Following for ideas. We live on the outskirts of London too so may do a few trips in London over the hols. And if poss I need ideas for things that would appeal for ages 14 to 5 😬

Has anyone been to the Twist Museum on Oxford Street? It popped up on my Facebook page and looks like it could fit the bill for all 3. But reviews are a bit mixed and it doesn't look like you spend that much time there. Any experience of it?

I looked at the upside down house/place but it's too far for me. Cheap but also not very long in there. Looks good though

Georgig · 10/07/2023 20:35

Twist museum fab...but only takes about 30-45 mins! David Attenborough not worth the money...its literally just big screens in one room playing exactly what's been on bbc. It would be OK if it was £5 or so but def not worth what they charge!

MissSueFlay · 10/07/2023 20:36

Depending on their interests the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon is really good, and I think they have a Horrible Histories interactive thing going about WWII on in one of the hangers.

Hampton Court is a good day out and in the summer they often have short drama performances going on in the Palace.

There's an amazing fashion exhibition on at Kensington Palace at the moment.

A walk along the South Bank from Waterloo to the Tate Modern is good, lots of street food and performers, and the skate-boarders too

viques · 10/07/2023 20:38

Lots of stuff going on around the Olympic Park ( now Elizabeth Park). Have a look at their website.

hursty900 · 10/07/2023 20:40

Just following as some great ideas on here

tryingsomethingnew · 10/07/2023 20:58

Any cool places to eat? I thought ivy Asia would be pretty inside. Anywhere you can think of?

CoffeeChocolateWine · 10/07/2023 21:56

Thanks for the Kensington Palace fashion exhibition tip. Looks great. We're HRP members so a nice cheap day out for us too. That can definitely go on the list!

We went to the HMS Belfast museum relatively recently which was interesting if they like history. Not the cheapest but we found it excellent.

reluctantbrit · 10/07/2023 21:57

Depends on your teen. It's DD's 16th birthday on Wednesday and we will go to the Science Museum to see the medical galleries.

We wanted to see the Dressing the Georgians exhibition at the Queen's Gallery but it's closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

@tryingsomethingnew I have been to the Ivy Asia in One New Change near St. Paul's (business dinner) and loved it. I found it actually quite reasonable for the name and location and the sharing dessert is really something.

BaconAndAvocado · 11/07/2023 08:44

Hello again reluctantbrit

Ivy Asia sounds great. DD loves all things Asian and DS just loves food!

Has anyone been to The Clink prison museum? It's quite near where we'll be staying so nice and easy.