I’m lost as to what to do in London. Any suggestions?

[theferry]

I’m visiting London in July with DDs (14&17) and DH for 5 nights I’m a bit lost as to what to do (ie should be a priority). We’re staying at the Doubletree in Kensington. Happy to use the tube. I’ve been to London, but only for work so haven’t seen very much of it. DDs haven’t been there. DD1 loves the hustle and bustle of big cities. DD2 doesn’t like crowds so any suggestions of things that would give her a bit of respite from the crowds (or strategies for avoiding crowds) would be welcome.

What I know we’ll want to do

• tower of London
• skygarden
• covent garden
• V & A
• we have tickets for a show
• some cool coffee shops

what we don’t want:

• boat rides
• London Eye

I know it could be boiling in July? (No choice on the dates due to my work). I do not cope well with the heat so I don’t want tons of walking around.

why are you deciding this? They’re old enough to work it out themselves.

Get them on TikTok and get them a map.

OP, a lovely thing for you and your younger DD to do would be to go to Hampstead Ladies Ponds. It’s a beautiful, green, hidden natural pond and would be a lovely quiet respite for your 14 year old. DH wouldn’t be allowed so it could be a day he and DD 17 go and do something big and bustling.

Advance booking required. It’s a bit of a schlep but a really special place. Recommend family dinner in the Bull and Last afterwards - again you’ll need to book.

Portobello Market
Kensington Palace
Carnaby Street
Open top bus tour
Saatchi Gallery
Design Museum

Book the Tower of London [and anything else that you need to pay for] for early on in the morning. You'll be fresher and it'll be less crowded.
Almost everywhere in central London will be busy in July but there are loads of open spaces in the big parks and in the squares.
Take an apple with you and you can hand-feed the feral parakeets in Kensington Gardens!
Tate Modern is cool and airy inside, with a free viewing level on the new building. I'm dodgy with heights, but was OK up there. There is plenty of open space and things to see along the south bank.

Seconded. You could also combine with Highgate cemetery and/or Keats house or just mooching in Hampstead.

Kensington Gardens is really lovely. You can also go book to go into Kensington palace. It is nice for a mooch around and there is a lovely outdoor cafe. Covent Garden and other touristy places will be totally heaving.

I’ve done that, but think we could fit a bit more in.

@Rainallnight thank you. That sounds like a great option

does anyone have suggestions for cool independent coffee shops?

THere's quite a nice exhibition at Kensington Palace about servants at the moment and the Serpentine Gallery if they like modern art. In july you could also swim in the Serpentine and there are plenty of lovely shady spots for a picnic.

Depending on when in July you are in town then you could go to the Proms (there's even a disco one this year). https://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/events/by/date/2024 If the one who doesn't like crowds would find it a bit overwhelming then the small upper tier boxes are worth a look - the seats there aren't that much more than the normal ones.

I work in London.

taking DD (13) in half term for 3 days and we can’t fit in everything she wants to do!

We’ll be going to Camden for street art, markets, street food and Japanese store.

we’re doing 3 shows (maybe 4)

Chinatown for Japanese treats (cheesecake, pancakes, boba tea).

Covent Garden and soho for Japanese food, nitro ice cream and one of the shows.

(DD is going through a big Japan hyper focus just now!)

Book sky garden now or as soon as it's open for booking. Remember to bring ID.

Chinatown is worth a visit. Camden if they are tik tok programmed otherwise give it a miss.

Greenwich - you can get the DLR

Southbank and borough market

To escape the crowds, you can always go to one of the large parks.

The tubes can get busy, so consider walking between places. Central London is smaller than people think.

Covent garden is lovely but can get very busy. Go early to avoid the crowds.

The National gallery and national portrait gallery are adjacent to tralfager square. They tend to be calm and less busy than outside.

At Kensington, you gave V and A , natural history museum, science museum and Harrods all in close vicinity. You may have to book tickets for entry. (Not Harrods).

Go visit the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park, they build a new pavilion every year and have cool exhibitions on.

London Zoo? Deffo Greenwich. Abba Voyage if you can get tickets. Think you can still do a tour of Buckingham Palace.

Walking route with London walks are really good, if you are into that sort of thing.

A day at Hampton Court?

A day at Greenwich ( see the Cutty Sark from the outside, walk through the Royal Naval College, up through the park to the top of the hill for great views, International Date Line. Planetarium if raining.

Highgate cemetery is really interesting. Especially if you do a guided tour of the older side. And see the catacombs.

Best coffee in London that I have ever found is Flat White on Berwick Street in Soho. Go mid morning on a week day when it's less busy. South of the river tends to be a little less crowded, you could take a trip out to Greenwich (you can travel via DLR if you don't want to take the boat). I'll read the whole thread later and see what others have said before I add more!

Kew Gardens. There's a lot to see and do including treetop walk, the palace, sculpture installations, gallery, the palm houses etc. The little area around Kew Gardens tube station has some lovely independent cafes and shops too.

I think you can do yoga classes at Skygarden. If you could find one on a Thursday or Friday morning you could then go on to Borough Market and visit Monmouth Coffee which is (IMO) the best coffee in London. Then walk along the river to the Tate Modern for the afternoon. If you know anyone who could lend you a membership card, the Tate members bar is lovely.

There's a coffee shop called Attendant in an old mens urinal in Fitzrovia 😀 tiny but quirky.
Mercato Mayfair is a food hall in a decommissioned church

Two things that are a bit different and close to Kensington Doubletree are Carlyle House (NT) - open Wednesdays only - and Chelsea Physic Garden. You could take the #30 or #49 bus from Cromwell Road and walk from one to the other or walk down from the hotel (about 1-1.5 miles).
Using the tube is fine - just be prepared that the area in front of Gloucester Road station is a bit seedy.
Give the British Museum a miss. Very crowded.

I've been to London many times but usually seek out the free stuff, London Zoo and Madame Tussauds the exception. My sister told me that Tower Bridge was the best value for money and really interesting.

You do need to be aware that the ‘Ladies’ pond is mixed sex though. Males are allowed in if they say they identify as female, so you can’t be certain it will be just women & girls there.

Ok I've read the thread now and seen what others have said.
If you're in central and anywhere near Piccadilly and start to feel overwhelmed by crowds, head to Waterstones on Piccadilly, it's my fave bookshop in the world and there is a nice cafe on the top floor which doesn't tend to be busy. You're also near Green park which will be a bit touristy and busy but it's an open space.
For markets - Camden market will be super busy but always popular with teens. If you fancied venturing out east, then Broadway market between Dalston and Hackney is great - plus Victoria Park nearby for walks - but that's possibly a bit of a schlep from Kensington.
This place - https://oldoperatingtheatre.com/ - is a bit of a hidden gem that I found really interesting.
South Bank good for mooching - food market on at the weekends and second hand book stalls. BFI cafe/bar is pretty cool.
Like others have said, it's going to be busy wherever you go in July - I'd consider booking tables for restaurants in advance if you know where you're going to be, takes away the stress of looking for somewhere that has space, especially in the very central areas. Hope you enjoy it!