Does anybody fancy helping me with a London plan please?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

3 full days
2 adults and 2 16 year olds

One day they want to go to the zoo; we will take them there and pay for them and leave them for the day with a picnic and then collect them. Meanwhile we'll probably go to Wahacca and to Sir John Soanes, plus maybe the National and Portrait galleries.

Any ideas for the other days please? I imagine it'll be a mixture of doing things together and them going off for a couple of hours. In the evenings, we'll stay together.

Thanks. :)

[KCOZ]

The shoreditch / spitalfields area would be great for teens into things "indie". There are walking tours run by homeless people that are apparently fab. Can't remember the name, but a quick google should find it. The Boxpark next to Spitalfields station would be good for coffee / lunch.
You can then walk to Tate Modern then along the river to Southbank so that would be a good days activities.

[GreenEggsAndNichts]

Making notes. Might be going with my 4 yr old for a day, if I'm feeling brave...

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

These are brilliant. Thank you so much everyone.

Any more ideas v welcome! DD's friend is seemingly a v fussy eater, so recs for anywhere she might cope with appreciated. Fish and chips maybe? Or she says she likes Chinese sweet and sour! Oh and pizza...

[VerityClinch]

Giraffe is all over the place and has something for everyone (burgers, stirfry, all sorts) plus sharing plates etc

One on the south bank, one in Soho, plenty of others

[VerityClinch]

Phoenix Palace close to Baker St Tube (for Regents Park, Marylebone High St shopping, Madame Tussaud's if you must) is THE BEST CHINESE IN LONDON. And cheap. I used to work just round the corner do my research on this tip is extensive!

Afternoon tea might be a good idea for a fussy eater? T'is just sandwiches and cake after all. The Mandeville (again, near Regents Park/Marylebone) does a good one and it's not stupid money like Fortnum's.

[VerityClinch]

The Mandeville

[ATouchOfStuffing]

I'm sure someone will have mentioned it - DD climbing on me and refusing to sleep = not reading all responses, but the London Dungeons is open now near the London Eye, and I imagine 16 yo's may enjoy both, so you could kill 2 bids close together there :)

[VerityClinch]

St Christopher's Place is a little pedestrianised square with a fountain in the middle just off Oxford St (literally just down a tiny blink-and-you-miss-it alleyway) has loads of teen friendly food options, pizza express, carluccios but in a much nicer setting than Oxford St itself.

[VerityClinch]

And last but not least of my hot tips, at Detroit Bar in Seven Dials (just up from Covent Garden) you can get a cocktail (for you and DH) and manicure (for DD & friend) for £12 on a Wednesday. I swear this is the best bargain in London at the moment. It's an amazing bar with great drinks. DH and I went there so often (pre-children) they named a cocktail after us in honour of our engagement (sadly no longer on the menu!). Ask for a rose petal martini - like liquid Turkish delight!

[VerityClinch]

I miss living in London. Does it show?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Yes to St Christopher's Place - and yes to Carluccio's! Detroit Bar sounds good - googling that now.

Am a horrible snob and Tussaud's and the Dungeons will not be happening! Anyway, they've been to them before (phew!).

[Southeastdweller]

Primrose Hill is nice to go strutting around in, the park itself and the area. It's very close to London Zoo and Camden. I like to pretend I live there

The best fish and chips I've had here is at Fryers Delight on Theobalds Road in Holborn.

You'll all love mooching around Spitalfields/Shoreditch. Bagels on Brick Lane is a must.

I find the Westfield in Shepherds Bush less claustrophobic than the one in Stratford but either is worth a visit.

The Lichtenstein exhibition at the Tate Modern is fun if quite pricey.

Borough Market is another must but get there early. The best coffee in London is to be had there, from Monmouth Coffee.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Monmouth Coffee is elsewhere too, yep?

Maybe dp and I could go to Primrose Hill when the girls are at the zoo, and then all go to Camden later? Is Primrose Hill walkable from the zoo? I'm scared of London buses but don't mind the tube at all!

Spitalfields and Shoreditch on the list - now need to get my head around where they are and how to get there.

Not bothered about shopping centres at all - Covent Garden and Carnaby St and around there will be fine for them.

I need somebody to plan it all day by day for me now!

Thanks again.

[Southeastdweller]

There's another Monmouth in Covent Garden, and in Bermondsey.

Primrose Hill is a ten minute walk at the very most from the zoo. You can easily walk to Camden from P.H too.

You can get to Shoreditch and Spitalfields directly on the tube now - the East London line - but most people walk the five minutes from Liverpool Street. Otherwise get the 8 or 242 bus from the west end.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Thank you - VERY useful!

[dinkystinky]

It takes 10 minutes Max to talk to Primrose Hill from the zoo! lovely view from top of Primrose Hill.

[dinkystinky]

Bloody autocorrect - walk not talk!

[fortifiedwithtea]

Another vote for the cable car. It's brilliant.

I took my 10 yo DD for a day out to London in half term. As we come from Essex, our route was train to Stratford then DLR to cable car across to Greenwich North. Followed by river bus one stop to Greenwich to visit the observatory then home the easy way.

[OliviaMumsnet]

Hi there
We will move this out of chat section.
Thanks
MNHQ

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Wow - that was quick! Thanks Olivia.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I hope it can stay alive a bit more, now it's moved from Chat... :)

[dinkystinky]

Another tip if you're having a southbank day - they often have food markets on round the back of the Royal Festival Hall. Real mixture of food so pretty sure you'll find something for everyone there - and tables at the end of the market to sit and eat. If you dont find anything you like, there's a Canteen there (which serves Fish and chips among other things).

If the weather has warmed up the rooftop garden on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall may be open - is lovely and in summer there is a bar up there so you can people watch the people ambling by below.

[NotQuiteCockney]

If you're in the St Paul's area, the new shopping mall at One New Change has an open roof space where you get a great view of the city, for free. It's only about 6 storeys up, but it's still lovely.

[Ambridge]

Spitalfields market is worth a visit - there's usually a lot going on there.

You probably don't want to do too much museum-ing but I would recommend the Museum of London, which is also very handy for St. Paul's and also not a million miles from Tate Modern, the Globe etc. I was passing the MofL the other day and just dropped in, as I had some free time. I hadn't been for years but it was fascinating.

A tip - Sir John Soane's Museum gets horribly crowded. I tried to take a visiting friend there on a Saturday and there was a queue of an hour to get in (I was as I've always just strolled in with no problem). The helpful guide said the best time to go was when they open on a weekday, ie 10 am. It's closed Sundays and Mondays.

[drwitch]

Don't 16 year olds just want to hang out? I would buy them a pre pay oyster card, give them some spending money and just arrange to meet again in the evening.