Help with London trip itinerary with teenager

[Castlecould]

Hi all
I was hoping some of you may be able to help me with an itinerary for my trip to London with DD13. We’ve been once before and did The London Eye (at night so didn’t see the surrounding area), Tussaud’s, Science and History museums and walked around the Covent Garden area so looking for different suggestions. Will be there 4 days.
A very rough initial itinerary I have is:

Day 1( arriving lunch time): Borough Market, Tate Modern and South Bank Area.
Day 2: Thames Clipper to Greenwich. Would welcome opinions on what we should do there? Cutty Sark, Observatory, Greenwich Park, Maritime museum? Like the idea of the Cable Car. Would also like to see although not do tours of Buckingham Palace & Westminster. Is this doable on the same day when we get back into the city or too much? Would we have time on day 1?
Day 3: Harry Potter Studios trip followed by mooch round one of the big department stores. Which one?
Day 4: Happy to mostly do parks, markets and anything we’ve not managed to fit it on other days. Possible British Museum too? Any other suggestions? She likes street art so somewhere we could walk around and see some would be good too.
Might have a few hours to spare the following day before travelling home too.

I’m not familiar with London really at all so my plans may be way out of what’s sensible and reasonable so any suggestions will be greatly received. Thanks!

Harry Potter studios are out of London so that would take a while. Need to go to Watford which is easy to do

When are you going?

Five- In July. Super-Thanks, I knew about the train and shuttle to Harry Potter Studios so that leaves half a day free to do something else.

Would she enjoy a west end show (no idea if these will be up and running in July!) You can get cheap tickets (not for the big ones obviously) and offers if you scout around. DD and I went to see 42nd Street which was spectacular.

We have had wonderful times at the Olympic Park - it's great to wander round and of course you can swim in the pool where Adam Peaty swam if that's your thing. It's ace, 50m pool and one a fiver or so. They have an inflatable assault course as well that DS2 did and enjoyed.

Is she musical at all - will the Proms be on - deffo recommended, bargain ticket to stand and enjoy amazing music.

I love the city too - Wren churches, monument to Great Fire, St Paul's, amazing modern buildings like the Shard and the Gherkin - just wander round, don't need to go into anything.

Do allow yourself lots and lots of time at Harry Potter if she’s a big fan. Good idea to do shopping afterwards, because the main shops should be open pretty late. Selfridges and Liberty are the two stores which offer an experience which you can’t get elsewhere.

Depending on where you’re based you could easily wander in a leisurely fashion from Houses of Parliament to Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace in the space of an hour on your last morning.

Oooh also Nat Gall and Nat Portrait Gall are ace - if she likes art that is. Or history (pix of kings and queens). Lots of impressionism in the NG and of course the Leonardo.

I love the British Museum too but I am an old history nerd, it's not for everyone tbf.

Browse round House of MinaLima in Soho, followed by ice cream from Chin Chin Dessert Club. Walk through Chinatown and into Leicester Square. Visit M&M world.

If you’re going in July, I’d recommend seeing Sculpture in the City

If she is into street art then go to Shoreditch. You can get guided walking tours. There is also a Banksy exhibition about to open in Covent Garden which looks awesome, buy tickets early though as it is bound to sell out.

DD was older but loved swimming at the Lido in the Serpentine when we went during the heatwave a few years ago. Was cheap to get in and they had a bar and sunloungers to while a way a few hours.

*younger sorry.

Shoreditch is the best place to go walking on Day 4 for street art and the sort of random hipster stuff you probably won’t be able to see back home There are various self-guided walking routes on the internet or just post another thread in London titled “Best Shoreditch/Hoxton/Brick Lane itinerary for teen who wants to see street art?”

Try and do a quick detour to Hoxton Street Monster Supplies while you’re in the area, www.monstersupplies.org/ and you could probably swing by Leadenhall Market (Harry Potter location) on your way there.

@TheFlis12345

If she is into street art then go to Shoreditch. You can get guided walking tours. There is also a Banksy exhibition about to open in Covent Garden which looks awesome, buy tickets early though as it is bound to sell out.

www.londonxlondon.com/street-art-in-shoreditch-free-tour/

That also has links to other locations for street art.

Yes, and Spitalfields/Brick Lane. Which days of the week you’re around will make a difference.

Time your walk to Buckingham Palace to see the Chsnging of the Guard.
changing-guard.com/dates-buckingham-palace.html

Depending on your energy levels, and where you’re staying, you can keep going along the South Bank from the Tate, cross over Westminster Bridge past the Houses of Parliament, up Whitehall a bit (peek at Downing St and throw eggs or cheer, depending on your politics), cut through Horse Guards, walk through St James’ Park to Buck. Palace? It’s a pleasant walk.

And despite the fact that it’s incredibly old hat now, every younger teenager I’ve ever had visit me when I lived in London loved bloody Camden Market.

Check whether there’s anything interesting on in South Bank Centre or theatres, if they’re back.

Also assuming Changing of the Guard will resume before you’re there, but obviously check.

100% Camden market- I adored it as a teen, plus there are many amazing stalls to get some cheap lunch from.
Also the British Museum!

I really don't think Harry Potter studios is a half day trip from London. You'll be shattered!!! What time are your tickets booked for?- you will need to book well in advance and you can stay as long as you like.

I agree that. Harry Potter is 3/4 of a day not half a day.

I’d reckon on an hour each way to Harry Potter depending on where you’re staying and 4 hours there, so if you’ve got a 10am ticket you’d be back in central London for 3pm. Pit stop for a leisurely tea somewhere nice, drop off half the gift shop at hotel if necessary, shop from 5 to 7pm then supper.

Hi there, I blog about London for families and have an older teen - lots of specifics below, but do check out my blog museummum.com/ for my what's on guides and my Instagram www.instagram.com/museummum for more reviews, pictures and reels! You can DM me there for more advice.

Day 1:
If you're going as far up as Borough then consider adding on Tower Bridge, the glass walkway is a hit with kids of all ages.

Don't miss Leake Street Graffiti tunnel on the Southbank, it's always got graffiti artists in action. Can also recommend Drafts cafe in Leake Street Arches, tons of games to play plus my daughter still raves about their fish and chips! Book ahead.

Also on the Southbank is Thames Rib Boat Tours which are amazing fun for all ages - sightseeing then high speed spin down river near the Docklands. Either add to day 1 or save for a day 4 highlight!

Day 2 - the cable car is further along than Greenwich, it's on the Peninsula which has a number of contemporary artworks to find (the-line.org/#/home) plus a new rainbow artwork on the bizarre and too short but quite cool High Walk (www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uk/whats-on/events/hundreds-and-thousands). Greenwich Peninsula has live music and food vans so try to time your visit with that.
If you happen to be in London on 1 July don't miss Gaia at Old Royal Naval College, (ornc.org/whats-on/gaia/), we saw it last year and it was stunning.
I would be tempted to skip Greenwich itself (if you really want to do it I think maybe the Observatory would be best), and get the tube from Greenwich peninsula straight to Canary Wharf. There's an amazing artwork tunnel there by Camille Walala she'll love (www.instagram.com/p/CNSq1_9nh5S/?igshid=qmj9fcvl0su1) plus Crossrail Roof Garden is pretty and there's lots of places to eat. There's also Summer Lights installations (canarywharf.com/whats-on/summer-lights-jun-aug-2021/) I've taken the teen to the winter one and she loved it, this is the first summer one.

Day 3: Warner Bros studios is AMAZING and massive, I'd allow 3-4 hours plus travel/food so you might not have much energy after. Department store wise Selfridges is coolest, although Primark is usually more popular with teens!

Day 4: I'd be tempted to book yourselves onto a Brick Lane graffiti tour, my teen went for an friends birthday and loved it. There's vintage shops to look in after too.
BM is big and a bit overwhelming for a stop by. I'd suggest seeing the Heather Phillipson at Tate Britain, it looks EPIC and it's small so you could easy see it in 20-30 mins. It's free and included on all collection routes (www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/heather-phillipson)

Hope this helps and have a fantastic time!

Sorry links didn't all work! 🤦🏻‍♀️

When I went with DD around that age we went to see a show in the evening but during the day popular places were Camden Market, Brick Lane (you have to go to one of the bagel shops whilst there), Covent Garden (street performers) and Chinatown.

Also we went to a couple of places to do with popular YouTubers. Obviously these vary a lot over time but if there's anyone she particularly likes then see if there's anywhere connected eg. we went to some cupcake bakery run by a woman DD used to watch on YouTube and also a pop-up merchandise shop selling all sorts of stuff from various people I'd never heard of but DD loved it.

Oh, and the SkyGarden - it's free but you have to book in advance - amazing views!!

There is a museum by the cable car ? crystal museum ? ours loved it. Also Brick lane and Bethnal Green (I love the museum of childhood). Second the olympic park, Stratford Westfield is right there....

www.thecrystal.org/

By the Emirates cable car at the end of the Thames clipper

Thank you all so much for your responses, they have all been really helpful and I’ve got lots of new suggestions I wouldn’t have known about to consider before.
I’m considering skipping doing any activities in Greenwich now as think she’d love time to explore Shoreditch, Brick Lane, Camden Market and good shout about Youtuber/Instagram locations and Leadenhall Market. She will love that.
Warner Studios is booked for 10 so the plan was to find a nice cafe and wander round a department store later on so think we will be ok time wise and Selfridges sounds a good option. She will love the Banksy exhibition too so thanks for letting me know about that.
Museummum - Thanks for your links and recommendations. I will definitely check out your blog and Instagram for more information.
Thanks again everyone. So much better to get real life suggestions than trawling through Tripadvisor and guide books ❤️