Stuck in London- daughters 10th birthday

[jolufc]

Stuck in London with no baggage due to BA fiasco. DD 10th birthday tomorrow- all presents/cards in suitcase. Any suggestions for a special birthday lunch?? She loves unicorns, acting, handbags and Jojo bows. Thanks to anyone who can help with suggestions to make it special - she was having her celebrations in lake Garda 😰

Last minute tickets for a play/musical? Matilda is meant to be brilliant.

Play/musical
Posh tea at the Dorchester /Park Lane Hotel
Shopping trip

We tried but nothing available.
Any kid friendly themed restaurants?

Maybe take her here?

www.gambado.com/facilities/

Disclaimer: I've not been in a few years as dd has outgrown it, but it used to be fab (we frequented the Chelsea location).

There are some kid-friendly afternoon teas in London that look great. Goggle it and lots of lists will come up comparing the various offers.

Sympathy op, that's really upsetting.

Rain forest cafe at Piccadilly Circus? Straight up Piccadilly line from Heathrow. Over priced and tacky with massive ice cream puddings - 10 year olds seem to love it. Better to ring and book a table though. And tell them it's her birthday, they'll make a fuss.

You could stroll up Regent Street to Hamleys after for more over priced children's heaven.

My DD would want to see School of Rock (there is availability for tomorrow).
Afternoon tea up the shard also has availability. I can't vouch for the quality but the views and the whizzy lifts are quite good.

Second thumbs up for the Rainforest Cafe. Definitely book a table. While in the area you can also go to the mahoosive M&M's World store at Leicester Square. My two DDs (10 and 13) love it.

Last-minute.com shows tickets available for Wicked and American in Paris, there may be more but I only checked those. You could also try the ticket booths in Leicester Square on the day.
My kids liked Maxwells in Covent Garden ( burgers), and a wander round the market watching the street performers.

Thank you for the ideas. Afternoon looks great but we only have our travelling clothes 😂😂. Just looking at the shrek tour thing. Anyone been?

Sorry to hear that OP.

My DDs (7&9) love the braid bar in the basement of top shop at Oxford Circus. It's a walk in. There is also a nail bar there. Friends recommend the Langham on regent st for a good kid friendly afternoon tea- their 9 year old liked it.

Definitely worth double checking for musicals on the day. If Matilda's not available, School of Rock (as mentioned above), The Lion King, Aladdin, Annie, Half a Sixpence (Wicked if you think she's old enough for it - I saw it about that age and loved it) are all playing at the moment.

Yes- completely agree with PP about Alice in wonderland - we loved it so much we're going again this year. And Southbank is great to potter along afterwards.

Shrek not bad, rainforest cafe is awful, place is dirty food is crap there are at least a million better places to eat!

How about Kidzania? She's about the perfect age for it! It's at Westfield in Shepherds Bush - so loads of places to eat before/after x

Actually there's a few kids shows on at underbelly on the south bank & loads of places to eat near by

You aren't necessarily expected to dress up for tea, but maybe a birthday outfit would go down well ( h and m et al), try the ticket booth in Leicester Square for shows.

What about kidzania? My 9 yo dd loved it

It's fine to go to afternoon tea in your travelling clothes.

At the other end of the wholesome scale, we went to see the Tudor exhibition at the National Portrait gallery (Leicester Square tube). Because they've been doing the Tudors in Y5, DS was genuinely wowed by the Holbein originals. Then Chinatown for lunch.

Not many unicorns there though.

How about the cable cars form the O2 followed by a [[http://www.trinitybuoywharf.com/about/eat-and-drink burger]]?

Totally messed up that link, but I think it still works !

My dcs LOVED kidzania!