Myself and 14 year old son trip to London, what do we do during the evenings?

[Confused92739572]

Im taking my son to London for 5 nights next week. I have tickets booked to the attractions and an itinerary planned but will only take me up to about 5pm
What do we do after that time? I must admit I feel slightly vulnerable and dont know if i will feel safe after a certain time.
But also dont want to be stuck in a travelodge room with him from that early either.
We are staying in tower bridge area. Area looks abit sketchy. Want to get a taxi back to the hotel each evening.
Am I being silly? Any ideas of things to do? We will eat during the day so won't want to go out for an evening meal and he won't be interested in seeing a show

Really, ditch the idea of taxis! You will just be stuck in traffic, paying loads. Tubes or buses.

The link doesn’t work for me…. It isn’t this one, is it?

walking across Waterloo Bridge late afternoon or evening, listening to the Kinks in your head….

Yes that's it. It worked for me at first in the second post, but it's not working now. Strange.

The song for commuters to the SW and SE, written by the boy from Muswell Hill.

Get the tube or bus. Taxis will take much longer and tbf Euston is a bit of a distance road wise. Really easy to tap your card in and out.
There’s a daily cap on contactless so you won’t spend more than you need to. Same with the buses.

Especially since the song's Terry (allegedly Terence Stamp) died today.

Sorry am so confused about this - you say you will eat during the day so he won’t want to go out for an evening meal - how do you intended to feed him and yourself supper? using little Tesco pasta salads eaten in the hotel room?

central London really isn’t that dangerous- I don’t know why people believe this. 1970s New York it is not.

Food in London is really great and massively varied. Eating out is an event and there is something for everyone at every budget. Use meal deals for lunch to keep budget down and limit restaurant fatigue but enjoy some incredible (however you define that) restaurants for supper - that will take your evening slot

if you want further entertainment but if you don’t want to go to a show (there are inexpensive tickets for some great things though)
live music, cinema, bowling, laser tag, neon trampoline, indoor theme park (Camden), parcour classes (Canary Wharf, borough), walking the south river bank as the sun sets, late night at museums or zoo, free Everyman on the canal behind King’s Cross, etc etc etc.
There’s so much to do and it isn’t dangerous.
You don’t need to take taxis everywhere at all. It’s not necessary from a safety perspective.

Have an amazing time. I’m a mum of 2 DSs aged 18 and 21 who’ve grown up in London, regularly go out alone at night and have done so since they’ve been about 16. I go out alone too sometimes to meet friends up there and it’s perfectly safe. I’d also recommend tubes rather than cabs. Tubes are busy in the evening and if you get a cab they’ll be costly and you’ll be sat in loads of traffic. DSs when younger liked Leicester Square, China Town, Soho, Covent Garden. All good at night and close together. South bank is also busy at night and pretty to look at. Lots of people have said this, but if he likes Stranger Things, the stage show is really good. DS2 is far from a theatre lover but enjoyed it a lot.

Especially since the song's Terry (allegedly Terence Stamp) died today.

Oh I didn't know that about Terry. Is it known who Julie was? Julie Christie?

Ghost bus is absolutely great - fun and entertaining. Jack the ripper walking tour, or similar? Comedy Store. Cinema - lots of iconic cinemas in London. The Globe theatre - can get standing tickets for £5. Free tickets to sky garden if you book way in advance. You'll be absolutely fine in that area of london - very busy and safe. Just watch out with your phones when you're out.

Phantom Peak or War of the Worlds both really fun immersive experiences.

Yes, Julie Christie.

It’s not remotely sketchy around that Travelodge. I used to work in the next street over and wouldn’t have thought twice about walking to and from the tube station, tower bridge or St Kathy’s dock from there at all times of the day and night and in the dark, and alone. That area is BUSY!

On the tube - you tap in and out using your bank card (actual card or on your phone) so make sure your DS has his own card he can use to do this.

I was thinking that tooI was thinking that too about the bank card. But if the OP has arranged a Zip Oystercard for her DS, as he is under 16, that will be a cheaper way to travel. Have you done that @Confused92739572 ? If not tbh it's a bit late as you need to do it two weeks ahead, so if you are there next week then the bank card and paying adult fare is probably the best option.

Son has got a revolut card, will that be ok?

Yes

Yep - just make sure he's got money in the account (obvs) and bear in mind when he's checking his account balance that TFL don't take the money out of your account until (I think?) the next day.

Yes - it’s the next day. Good point - if you’ve not got much in your account, that day’s delay in charging can make you think you have more left than you do!

There is a daily cap of £8.90 for zones 1-2 so if you’re staying central then he’ll never spend more than that per day no matter how many journeys you take.

The zones are clearly marked on the tube map but all of central London and the major tourist sites are within zone 1. The only place you might go outside of zone 2 is if you go up to Hampstead (which is gorgeous and the views from Hampstead Heath are amazing) - that’s zone 3, so costs a bit more per journey.

Edited to add - buses are a flat fare no matter how far you go - it’s only the tube or the overground/trains that use the zone pricing system.

You’re going to have a great time OP, a fab adventure. Definitely get the tube - have a look on the TFL website or app to work out your first couple of journeys, you’ll get the hang of it in no time. Get your DS to have a look too. Getting a child travel card on the day is a complete faff and can only be done at certain stations and it’s hard to find a staff member so I’d just get him to tap in and out and suck up the adult cost.

i hope this thread has given you the confidence/inspiration to go out and about in the evening, London is amazing at night. Do pop into Borough market for a look round and some food, my DS loves going there. I hope you come back and tell us what you got up to!

You’re going to have a great time OP, a fab adventure. Definitely get the tube - have a look on the TFL website or app to work out your first couple of journeys, you’ll get the hang of it in no time. Get your DS to have a look too. Getting a child travel card on the day is a complete faff and can only be done at certain stations and it’s hard to find a staff member so I’d just get him to tap in and out and suck up the adult cost.

i hope this thread has given you the confidence/inspiration to go out and about in the evening, London is amazing at night. Do pop into Borough market for a look round and some food, my DS loves going there. I hope you come back and tell us what you got up to!

This might be of use, @Confused92739572:

http://guide.michelin.com/th/en/article/travel/best-family-friendly-restaurants-london

I just wanted to add that the area is safe. I travel from Liverpool for the theatre, when I go solo I stay in the Premier inn hub, when with my DD's, in the travel lodge. I've walked around the great Fire of London trail and St Dunstan in the East and St Magnus the Martyr (which was the head of the original London Bridge) in the evening. The tube stop there is the only time anyone has ever offered me help with luggage. Last time I went to the Old Vic, I took a bus ride and was outside St Paul's at about 1am. Then travelled back on the night bus. The thing with tourist spots is, as said, they are well camera'd.

OP: you don’t need to apply gif a Zip Card, you can get your Dc an Oyster card and then get the Young Visitor discount applied to it at a ticket office. You should be able to do this at Euston when you arrive. It’s worth it for 5 days , you will save a lot in the tube.

Then all you have to do is top up his Oyster as required (easy to do at station ticket machines)

If he pays with a card he will be charged the adult rate, Zip card if under 16 would have been better but there probably won’t be time to arrange it.

Good plan, @EasternSkies !