Trip to London - I'm clueless!

[SeriouslyNot]

So, my daughter is turning 21 and she has asked that we go a trip to London. We are looking at 3 days in February (her birthday is end January).

We live in Scotland so we would be looking to fly down.

Where do I start?! I have never been to London, I'm not sure where to stay or what to do. Which airport to go to?! My daughter loves art and music and people watching! We will also have my 6 year old with us so obviously not looking to go clubbing! 😂

There’s two big ones and lots of smaller ones.

Heathrow is on the tube so you can get the tube into London.

Gatwick has a train - the Gatwick express.

the smaller airports -Stansted, Luton and the like mostly have trains into central London.

art and music: well, no shortage of those.

west end show? Might have to be something suitable for young ones if you want your six year old to go.
plenty of art museums - courtauld, national gallery, etc.

Natural History Museum/VA/Science museum. You may need to book so check that.

If you fly to Heathrow you can get the Elizabeth line in. If you fly to city airport you can get the dlr to the tube, city is so small and fast to get through but not may flights on weekends.

Maybe get a drink or dinner depending on budget up one of the sky scrapers. I took DS up the Shard for a coke on his 10th birthday which was great.

buckingham palace will be closed but you can walk past, wander down the Mall, through St James park to Westminster. Lots of London is very walkable.

Have a look at British Airways as they do flights and hotel packages which are good value.

If you're in the central belt, get the train down. Doesn't take that much longer by the time you factor in waiting at the airport, then getting into central London etc. Book 12 weeks in advance for the best fares.
I always stay in a Premier Inn, there are loads in central London, go for the cheapest one.

If your daughter likes music, and you have a 6yo with you, why not get tickets to Matilda?

https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/matilda-the-musical-tickets?&msclkid=65afd1ecd48d13abd3d8b954a1a5a026&gclid=65afd1ecd48d13abd3d8b954a1a5a026&gclsrc=3p.ds&gad_source=7&gad_campaignid=20797201152

It’s really enjoyable. It’s right in the West End, so you could enjoy a good meal before hand, and a wander round Covent Garden.

I agree with @IMissSparkling - you may find it’s actually quicker to get the train.

Probably more expensive though.

And the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is really worth going to. (It’s free - avoid any sites that try and say there’s a fee)

https://www.buckinghampalace.co.uk/changing-the-guard

I would look at the Park Plaza Westminster. Comes with a view of Parliament and Thames ( easy walk to London Eye and Southbank).
Waterloo has trains and underground obvs.

If you can fly to City airport definitely fly there! It's by far the easiest and quickest.

If it's over a weekend the area around St Paul's/the city is central, clean, safe and has nice historic sights.

The Tower of London (including the beefeater tour) is great for a combo of six year old and adults. So is Frameless art exhibition. Greenwich is another hit but I think the observatory may be closed over this Winter for a refurb.

Battersea power station is a nice place to visit and eat.

You could combine a trip to the national gallery with Hamleys (fairly nice walk between the two starting or ending at trafalgar square).

The new area just north of King's Cross is nice for food.

you can get a canal boat from London zoo to Camden if you time it right (or walk it).

you can get nice brunch type food and views up in primrose hill or Hampstead.

Ah, what a lovely mum you are!

Agree with the train if poss. It's also a lovely route down on the train from Edinburgh particularly through the east coast with views of the sea! Or you could get the Caledonian Sleeper and make a real treat of it!

My teens love having a stroll along Brick Lane and going into all the little independent shops. At the top (more or less) is the children's V&A which is worth a visit. Alternatively Camden Market there's lots to see and do. As long as you stay centrally yoy can do all of these things easily on public transport.

I was also going suggest Matilda! You’ll all love it.
Also Camden for cool vibes

I would also get the train down, much more pleasant than all the airport faff. Then the Euston/Kings Cross areas are pretty decent for hotels and also transport links, if you want to keep things simple. Kings Cross is lovely these days and has been completely re-vamped, with great food and shopping.

Seeing a show is definitely good, perhaps a matinee - would suggest Matilda or Six or perhaps Wicked.

For art, definitely go to the Tate Modern or Tate Britain, and also the National Portrait and National Galleries, depending on what you are into. The Tates can be combined with a lovey walk down the river, which means you can take in loads of sights and IMO is one of the nicest things to do. Consider getting a clipper boat to Greenwich too maybe, as that is great for kids and a lovely place to wander around.

I would consider bringing a fold-up scooter for the 6 year old as there is loads of walking and you can drag them around on it. Ours were invaluable living here in London and we also took it to Paris when DS was 6.

Park Plaza also has a big indoor pool and spa so if you get fed up of the city in the rain you can still have a lovely swim and sauna in the afternoon before going out.
They also used to do an executive lounge; pay for lounge access with free bar and afternoon sandwiches and cakes.

So many things to do… as well as the museums and art galleries, I’d definitely have a wander along the river / South Bank to see the street performers, maybe have a drink and people watch, and possibly go on the London eye. Alternatively consider a trip on the cable cars - not by South Bank though tfl.gov.uk/modes/london-cable-car/

There’s a really helpful Facebook group called ‘London with kids : travel planning and advice’

worth a read as loads of good ideas, places to stay etc

For an amazing, and free, viewing platform you can book Horizon 22 - it's on Bishopsgate so you could combine with lunch in Spitalfields and Brick Lane (if you like that sort of thing). Tickets are released every Monday at 10.30 for next two weeks, they go quite quickly but you'll normally be fine if you get in on the Monday. Could also get a bus from here to the Young V&A here for your 6 year old, which is brilliant (more for younger ones but still great)

Southbank is always nice - if weather is nice there is a great garden above the Southbank Centre or here is lovely - https://forzawine.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop9JycC60w9KPtHpY_5BriTKWJ_XugquhxN2ld9ZltJV_e8zOwB (also great views) .

https://ramenyokocho.com/ - my kids love it here.

John Soanes museum is brilliant and Tate Modern is always a great day out too.

https://www.vam.ac.uk/east?srsltid=AfmBOoohikqCcZRFBqefSay-Ape5sCt29oJT7dFLAeeUq0bdAXFQlmwr - this is great (and very near Westfield if you can handle that ;)

I've managed to get some great cheap tickets via Todays Tix for shows so if weather not great then you could maybe look at getting some tickets for s show for the 3 of you.

Make your 21 year old part of the planning. You do the big stuff transport and accommodation. But set her off following some instagram accounts like Secret London for things to do and places to eat. Ugly Dumpling springs to mind as a great place to eat there are the Asian flavours if your 21 year old wants to try those and cheese burger ones if your 6 year old is less adventurous.
If you are looking to splash out a bit the Charlie and the Chocolate factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych is great for all ages. My AFRID DH ate blueberries and liked them for the first time there.
If ut is your first time in London and with a 6 year old getting a hop on hop off bus that goes to all the my sites could be fun. I wouldn’t take a scooter as it will be tricky with museums.

Get your Dd to research the things she would like to do and see.

Tate Modern is fantastic, and a walk from London Bridge station would take you through Borough Market and past the Golden Hinde for the 6 yo. Great views over the river from the terraces on the higher floors.

I don’t want to sound mean, but a trip with a 6yo along is going to make a very different itinerary than for a 21yo. I would honestly try and leave 6yo with dad, friend or GPs - you and DD will get around the city much more quickly and be able to tailor what you do to her (it is her birthday trip, after all).

If she likes fashion there is a Gianni Versace exhibition at the Arches London Bridge. Walkable from there to Borough Market. And taking in Southbank as PP mentioned above.

How about a Hamilton matinee on the Saturday (or if you’re going midweek lots of shows do a Weds/Thurs matinee). That’s Victoria so from there you can walk past Buckingham Palace, up the Mall to Trafalgar Square and the National Portrait Gallery (which is free).

edit for DD age

Art, music and people watching sounds to me like a trip to Trafalgar Square for the National Gallery then a walk to Covent Garden for busking and lots of people watching, plus theatre one evening - that fills one day.
Perhaps a bus and/or boat trip to see all the main sights and one other day around the regenerated Kings Cross with street food, shops and people.

Don’t bother with Oxford Street (except maybe Selfridges). Do try and get to Fortnums. Whilst that end of town the Wallace Collection is worth a look and lunch around Marylebone Lane.

Depending where in Scotland you are, would definitely think about taking the train instead of flying. So much less stressful, and you are not limited in size of bags / bringing liquid etc etc.
I'd book a show - you're a bit limited with a 6 yo in tow but Matilda is fab, so is Wicked.
Personally, I would struggle with spending too much time in central London, so would break it up with an afternoon in a nice neighbourhood or park- Highgate, Hampstead, Battersea park etc
Other places that could work to visit, depending on your interests - Chinatown, the museums, London eye

You can leave scooter in cloakroom at all the main museums but might be unecessary for a lot of kids - mine was hypermobile and got tired quickly