London weekend with teen

[MojoDojoCasaHouse]

I’m taking my DD to London for two nights as a 16th birthday treat. She’s been once before with me and a one night trip with school. I think we’ll do Natural History museum and Leicester Square/China town on the Friday. She’d like to go to the theatre but doesn’t like musicals. Would we be able to pick up any bargain from Leicester Square on Friday evening for Saturday?

Saturday we are going to Camden Market which is her choice. I haven’t been in about 20 years. Then hopefully theatre.

Sunday we are most likely doing Battersea then boat to the South Bank for a wander before home. How does this sound for a weekend? DD has ASD so we have to be mindful of sensory overload. She’s good in crowds as long as we have an exit strategy.

In terms of theatre I'd highly recommend Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall. My teen DS loved it when we went recently.

look on TodayTix app, I often get last minute tickets there. Just prewarning, those places will likely be very busy on a Friday and Saturday, just so your teen is prepared. And a lot of Camden market is very squished. But hope you enjoy!

YY to Witness for the Prosecution. I've just been with my 16 and 12yos and they really enjoyed it. If you're lucky with your dates you can get gallery seats for £30 which are fine - you're much nearer the action than in the gods at a West End theatre.

A caveat on Camden Market though - I went with the 16yo and she was not impressed. It's a lot more touristy, packed, and tacky than Camden of 20 years ago. IMVHO Old Spitalfields Market/Brick Lane Market now has more of the vibe that Camden used to.

I’d also skip Camden. I hadn’t been since the 90s, it was very crowded and noisy and just had shops selling the same tat (reminded me of the strips of shops you get abroad). There’s a food market as well at the lock but it’s also rammed and noisy.
I wish we had gone to brick lane.

South Bank is likely to be heaving on Sunday too. Exit strategy from there is going to very much depend on where you are at the time.

Agree with TodayTix app for cheap(er) theatre tickets. Witness for Prosecution a good call for theatre. Play that goes wrong is quite fun if she doesn’t mind slapstick. Leicester Sq “tkts” booth only sells on the day stuff, though post Covid think they also may do some online sales. Also google London theatre week - there are some discount if you buy now, though not sure of date restrictions.
Natural History Museum seems a slightly odd choice at that age but depends on interests. My DD would have more fun at the V&A.

on the offchance that she likes fashion, there is a great exhibition at Kensington Place at the moment - Crown to Couture. Lots of old Royal Court fashions interspersed with modern-day celebrity red carpet outfits worn by Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Billy Porter, Billie Eilish etc. It's pretty quiet and low-stimulus with some gentle, quiet music in places and low lighting to show off the outfits. My 16yo loved it to the point that when her mates came round the first thing she did was get out the exhibition catalogue.

Where are you going to eat / drink?

Recommend Sketch and Sky Garden for the instagram! Sky Garden is free to go up.

Oxo tower is nearby southbank and has great views.

See if there's anything on at The National Theatre or the Young Vic she's interested in perhaps?