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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

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Original poster

London help please

32 replies

BelligerentGhoul · 30/01/2011 19:47

I am taking half a dozen teenage girls to London soon (I know, I know!).

Other than the obvious shopping nightmare of the Oxford Street Topshop and Urban Outfitters and the taking in of at least one museum - does anybody please have any suggestions of (cheap or free!) things to do?

Also - any ideas for places to eat? Wagamamas is a possibility - but that would be as expensive as I can afford once factoring in drinks, cakes later on, train fares etc.

My plan is to abandon them on Oxford Street for a few hours whilst I go to John Lewis and Liberty, have lunch either around there or an easy tube away - and then possibly the V&A in the afternoon, plus a walk around the touristy bits for silly photo-ops.

Thanks in advance! :)

OP posts:

RamblingRosa · 30/01/2011 19:51

How about Tate Modern/London Eye/South Bank (cool skater boys for them to ogle :)) etc? there's a Wagamamas, Pizza Express, Giraffe there for affordable food. Lots to do and see.

mamaduckbone · 30/01/2011 19:52

Covent Garden has Urban Outfitters on Neal Street, lots of other shops including quirky places and lots of shoe shops, plus the novelty of the street performers etc.

The South Bank is fantastic for a walk, sightseeing and Tate Modern (cooler than the V&A unless they've a good fashion exhibition on at the mo)...and there's a Wagamama along there.
Have fun. You must be mad

mamaduckbone · 30/01/2011 19:54

ha ha x-post RamblingRosa at the skater boys! My husband was one of them several centuries ago!

mamaduckbone · 30/01/2011 19:54

even !!! Gin is subconscious wishful thinking clearly...

Original poster

BelligerentGhoul · 30/01/2011 19:55

Tate Modern - not been there for years! Is it walkable from Trafalgar Square or do we need to tube it? I want to go to the V&A because I like their shop!

Pmsl at skater boys!

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Original poster

BelligerentGhoul · 30/01/2011 19:56

Can't afford the London Eye for so many and most will have done it before anyway.

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mamaduckbone · 30/01/2011 19:58

Easily walkable...straight down to the river, over the bridge, turn left! You'll walk past London Eye etc.
Depends if they're wearing sensible shoes though. I'd do it. And there's no tube really close - best option is St Pauls and over the bridge I'd say.

dinkystinky · 30/01/2011 20:00

There's a wagamamas on Wimpole st - v near oxford circus

You could walk to South Bank - reckon its a mile or two from Oxford Circus - or just hop on bus to the strand and over waterloo bridge.

V&A over in South Ken - land of hideously expensive eateries...

Original poster

BelligerentGhoul · 30/01/2011 20:00

Thanks - I'll be making damned sure they're wearing comfortable shoes! :)

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Original poster

BelligerentGhoul · 30/01/2011 20:03

Is that the one by Selfridges, Dinky? That's the one we usually go to.

Are there any good non-national-chain places that are nice but cheaper than Wagamamas? I know that a couple don't like curry but other than that they are pretty unfussy.

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PlentyOfParsnips · 30/01/2011 20:06

My DS is one of those cool skater boys!

mamaduckbone · 30/01/2011 20:07

How about chinatown for an authentic chinese? You could pick up lunch for the same or less than wagamama and it's just amazing to look round.

dinkystinky · 30/01/2011 20:11

Yep, that's the one BelligerentGhoul

There's a Leon near Liberties - generally something for everyone there. Though can get quite packed quite quickly.

There's also a ping pong near there (lots of dim sum) but honestly I think its overpriced for what it is.

If you walk through towards Covent Garden from Oxford Circus you go through Soho and China Town - some of the more modern chinese places in China Town are great. Brilliant menu, good price points and quick turnover.

sleepwhenidie · 30/01/2011 20:14

Camden Market? Lots of bargain clothes etc and madly dressed people to ogle and loads of cheap places to eat - i can send you some specific recommendations of places to go and sit in to eat if you want but you can do pretty well just choosing stuff from the food part of the Market.

Easiest way to get from Oxford st to Camden is 264 bus that stops round corner from m&s, goes up past baker st station and across top of regents park-takes about 20 mins.

There is also a Wagamamas at back of selfridges, on the north east corner of the block. Loads of other choices along wigmore st too, ping pong fir dim sum, zizzi, a v good mezze place, many similar price range to selfridges.

At the other extreme, Harrods is amazing to just walk around-food hall, beauty hall, pet department (needs to be seen to be believed), fashion floors and people watching great there too. Not so good to shop or eat if on a budget though obviously! !

sleepwhenidie · 30/01/2011 20:15

Sorry x posted re Wagamamas and price point meant to say similar to Wagamamas.

Original poster

BelligerentGhoul · 30/01/2011 20:16

What days is Camden market now?

DD1 really wants to go to Harrods to people watch and fondle the clothes!

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dinkystinky · 30/01/2011 20:18

Camden markets big days are saturday and sunday - be warned it gets bloody packed. Used to live up the road from there and it used to drive me crazy. Lots of ethnic food stalls in the stables market to grab cheap and cheerful food from.

sleepwhenidie · 30/01/2011 20:18

Camden Market every day, it is huge. Some places, tho not many are shut on Monday and it is quiet. Weekends it is heaving...best time is Thurs/fri, busy enough for atmosphere but not so crazy.

moragbellingham · 30/01/2011 21:22

There's a Wagamamas in Camden too. I couldn't hack it these days on my own let alone with teenagers to chaperone.
Too dodgy for me (lots of unfond memories), but I have just hit my 40s and moved to suburbia from round there!

Royal China behind Selfridges is the best for dim sum ever. Slightly more expensive than Chinatown but if you order a selection of dishes it might work out (per head) the same as Waga's. A different experience too and the food is really good - my 3 year old loves it and they are used to children and families, large groups, etc.

Busaba eatthai on Bird St (just nr Selfridges and off Oxford st) is a London chain but similar to Waga's.

Original poster

BelligerentGhoul · 31/01/2011 19:19

Thanks - I think we might leave Camden this time tbh. They are not terribly 'alternative' and would probably be much happier in Urban Outfitters and Topshop!

Any more please, folks?

Never had dim sum - is it any good for veggies?

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sleepwhenidie · 31/01/2011 19:52

Dim sum delicious but not so many choices for veggies if they don't eat fish or seafood, lots of prawns, pork,fish. Mezze place would be great though, halloumi, falafel, fab salads etc. Here is link to a review, it is called Comptoir Libanais

londonist.com/2009/07/review_comptoir_libanais_on_wigmore.php

exexpat · 31/01/2011 19:52

Most of Camden isn't as 'alternative' as it used to be - last year I went round with my two DCs and a friend with her two early-teen girls who are just into girly topshop type fashion, and they had a brilliant time.

There are stalls and shops selling all the goth/punk stuff near the station, and then the crafty area by Camden Lock, but if you go slightly further up there is a huge new area called the Stables Market, which is a complete warren of little clothes and accessories shops (lots to appeal to mainstream teenage girl taste) as well as lots of food court type areas - pizza, noodles, curry, chips, pretty much every kind of world food. And very veggie friendly.

If I had to entertain teenage girls in London it is definitely where I would take them. It is all open every day now, though busier at weekends.

sleepwhenidie · 31/01/2011 19:55