London help please

[BelligerentGhoul]

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! :)

A and F even

Nope to Hollister and A&F (but thanks anyway) - not their style. They are more 'mini-skirted old lady chic' I guess.

Am googling Dim T now, thanks. :)

There's often free stuff on at South Bank Centre (Royal Festival Hall) e.g. free music every Friday lunch time, 1 o'clock I think. Jazz most weeks or Yehudi Menuhin students once/month.

Also you can take sandwiches and eat your lunch in the Clore Ballroom (packed, or from EAT round the corner) - it's the lower mezzanine of the Southbank centre. Any day of the week. It is a good fit after a walk along the river (and about a 15-20 minute dawdle from the Tate Modern if you've been/are going there).

If you want to do some culture, the John Soane museum on Lincoln's Inn Fields is free and absolutely brilliant - full of little hideyholes and I know people who have taken teens who have been inspired by it. (Although, depending on the group they may be bored to tears!). You have to queue generally but I'm pretty groups can book.

Really, really want to go to JS museum but we'll be there on a Monday and iirc it's closed then. Thanks for the ideas. :)

Martin Lewis the moneysavingexpert has a page of restaurant deals which is regularly updated.

Link to free London things.

Also the number 11 bus is good for seeing the sights cheaply - but not as cheaply as walking .

Thanks both. I check MSE every week, usually for Pizza Express vouchers!

We're happy to walk all the central stuff or tube it - am a bit scared of the buses! :)