Re: Birthday presents/Ideas please! We've been let down by the weather

[Twiglet2026]

DD is 13 next week, I was going to celebrate this weekend but half term has sky rocketed everything by 50 percent 😱🙈. Our plans have been ruined by all the rain so need to get the thinking cap on. Present wise she wanted Russell Howard tickets but unfortunately he's sold out 😔

Can you give an idea of budget and her preferences? Where in the country are you?

would she like a nice afternoon tea? Does that come in budget?

She wants the afternoon tea, which I might do but it's tricky...she wants her extended family to be there. If I say grandparents that's £35 per head but I've spoken to them and they're a bit miserable, they are saying (even if I pay) that they won't eat it all..and nanny said the same 🙄.. unfortunately as they're older they don't get the idea of just turning up anyway. Thing is I didn't want to pay over £100 for a grumpy high tea and then it be over in 40 minutes..but I suppose if it's what she wants 😕

If you're near London, go to The Ivy. You can get a 2-course set menu for under £20 pp and the food and ambiance is beautiful. My daughter's (very wealthy) friend just celebrated her 16th birthday there and it was great (and I was gutted I didn't think of it as spent an absolute fortune on another fancy restaurant).

Just to add, they went to The Ivy in Canary Wharf. The Ivy in Covent Garden doesn't have the option of the 2-course menu for under £20. My daughter said the food was amazing and it's a beautiful posh restaurant.

The ‘Ivys’ in lots of towns have the £20 offer. I went with 2 friends and had the loveliest time. My 13 year old DD would love this!

Why don’t you take her for a posh afternoon tea just you guys and then separately put on some sandwiches and cakes at home for the miserable grandparents to pick at.

You can usually box up the uneaten sandwiches after to go! It's often quite hard to get through anyway!

This is the perfect solution!

My dd is turning 13 next month, we’ve booked an escape room for us to do as a family, would she enjoy something like that?

Have a look on your local Facebook pages and see if there is a local afternoon tea delivery service. We have a few small businesses near us that deliver beautiful teas and all the fancy china for £20 per head - more than enough, so could order for fewer people and the grandparents just eat less.

Btw resale ticket sites like viagogo still have Russell Howard tickets if you're desperate.

Good idea 😂

I did think about this, in actual fact it would be hilarious with the grandparents 😂😂

Omg where!

I think you need to do two events - one tea and cake for miserable
GPs and a fun one for DD and you. I don’t think the whole thing all in one will work. Would the escape room with GP really be hilarious?

Theatre is a good idea too. Or luxury cinema and posh afternoon tea and shopping for a special item

then you could do birthday cake and tea and Prosecco at home as a mini party for an hour or so with the extended family .

I've googled the Ivy, think we're on to a definite there. I think we're going to sack off the grandparents idea, apart from them coming round for cake on the day👌. Currently sourcing an escape room 💪

I saw some on the Viagogo site. Of course they will be more expensive on the resale site, but I have honestly never had a bad experience with Viagogo. All the tickets I bought from there were legit. Maybe more official sites like Ticketmaster or Ticketswap would have them as well.

You could do a mini afternoon tea for the Grandparents at your home (as well as The Ivy etc..). I do think it's lovely she wants grandparents involved.

"tea and prosecco" Shes turning 13 not 23

OP have you asked DD what she'd like to do? Does she want to have a posh day out with family or would she rather celebrate with her friends (most teens I imagine would pick the latter)

No her wish was family and high tea. She's seeing her friends on another day x

Poor grandparents!! They probably don't want to see a lot of food wasted. Could you order afternoon tea for those who want it and just tea and scone for the others?

erm yes?

Try Twickets for Russel Howard tickets!