London is a teenage dream! As Joey from Pals proclaimed, “London, child!”
Tasty and stylish eating places, action-packed sports activities, swanky trend, classic markets, a great deal of edutainment choices, world-class theater, and a lot extra await you on this cosmopolitan metropolis. Whereas it’s unimaginable to seize the magic and limitless decisions of issues to do in London with teenagers —this text will enable you choose and select actions to assist your loved ones make priceless reminiscences!
I might write a novel on all there may be to find in London, and all of the fabulous day journeys you’ll be able to take to the encompassing areas. London is a various and vibrant metropolis bursting with distinctive neighborhoods stuffed with hidden gems at each flip.
Nineteenth-century British novelist and historian Walter Besant mentioned, “I’ve been strolling about London for the final 30 years, and I discover one thing contemporary in it day-after-day.”
Issues to do in London with Teenagers
Word: This publish could include affiliate hyperlinks. In case you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I could obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
Because you don’t have 30 years to spend in your trip, this text focuses on just a few of our teen-friendly highlights past the most well-liked favorites, reminiscent of touring the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour. Decide and select from the beneath decisions to earn props out of your teenagers.
Attempt Theater Time
London is synonymous with theater. Dinner theater, different theater, immersive theater, musical theater….all guests ought to see a present or two or three!
What an academic expertise it’s to see a play at Shakespeare’s open-air Globe Theater, first opened in 1599 and rebuilt twice since. As in Shakespeare’s time, you’ll be able to stand among the many groundlings to soak up the present (and it prices only a few kilos!). For a extra snug expertise, I like to recommend renting a seat cushion and splurging for a bench seat.
TIP: In case you don’t have time for a efficiency, take a tour of the Globe.
Selecting a present within the West Finish (“Broadway fashion”) is overwhelming. We rocked alongside to verses from 70+ well-known in style songs, reminiscent of these by Outkast, Beyoncé, and Pink, artfully woven into Moulin Rouge! The Musical. And the mysterious thriller 2:22—A Ghost Story, stored us guessing till the very finish…shhh, we’ll by no means inform.
TIP: If there’s a present you could see, purchase your tickets earlier than arriving. In case you are versatile, join the Right this moment Tix app, go to the field workplace for day-of standby tickets, or go to the TKTS sales space in Leicester Sq. (or their on-line retailer).
Store Till You Drop
London is a client’s paradise. Put together to be impressed by London’s most well-known malls, Harrods, Marks and Spencer, and Selfridges (which has its personal cinema!).
Harrods’ whopping 5 acres consists of luxurious manufacturers, a glamorous tea room, an expansive connoisseur market, and plenty of eating places. In case your teen thrives on retail remedy, go to Oxford Road for flagship shops, Regent Road for magnificence, St. James for high-end trend, and Bond Road and the Mayfair space for big-name labels and frequent celeb sightings!
In-built 1682, a swinging 60’s haven, and a hotbed of 80’s punk life, the fourteen streets that make up the Carnaby procuring space in Soho will maintain you entertained. The Covent Backyard space is one other full of life mixture of bars, eating places, and retailers. Remember to try Neal’s Yard, a tiny colourful, cobbled courtyard stuffed with boutiques that’s merely image good and leads proper into the Seven Dials Market, the tastiest meals corridor with tremendous cool bars (one even includes a conveyor belt of cheese!). That is only a peek into the procuring delights that await you in London.
Take Pictures at Frameless London
Take a break from procuring together with your Instagram-loving teen at Frameless London, the place you be wowed by 30,000 sq. toes of themed rooms that includes interactive multi-sensory inventive masterpieces from the greats, reminiscent of Munch, Klee, Klimt, Monet, Kandinsky, and Rembrandt.
Discover Native Markets
A tasty approach to discover London is to eat your approach via the various markets round city.
Along with Spitalfields and Portobello markets, teenagers will love the sights, sounds, and tastes of Camden and Borough Markets. Discover the bustling Camden Market with a number of streets showcasing classic clothes, music, and meals. Mouth-watering treats, reminiscent of plump strawberries drenched in melted chocolate, provided at South London’s Borough Market, tempt big crowds at this over 1000-year-old historic venue. Tempo your self! We nonetheless dream of our heaping BBQ sandwich at The Black Pig and delicate ravioli in pesto from La Tua Pasta. From upscale connoisseur to road meals, your teen will certainly discover one thing they love.
Stuff Your Face on Meals Excursions
There isn’t any higher approach to discover the historic and hipster-like neighborhoods in London’s East Finish than on an Consuming Europe tour that seamlessly blends daring flavors with colourful road artwork. Our native skilled information took us via Spitalfields market, launched us to modern Shoreditch, identified classic markets and road artwork, and regaled us with fascinating historical past tales as we sampled conventional beigels (a/okay/a bagels) full of salted beef, iconic fish and chips, top-rated Brick Lane curries, a heavenly apple crumble, a roll overflowing with candy bacon, and sticky pudding and British tea.
Be a part of charismatic Eddie on his “Portobello Tales” Stroll Eat Discuss Eat Meals Tour to discover West London’s Portobello Market and the Notting Hill neighborhood. In three hours, on our well-curated route, we tasted the perfect this full of life neighborhood has to supply and discovered about this space’s distinctive historical past. We stuffed our bellies with genuine road meals arepas, connoisseur chocolate chip cookies, a lick-your-lips croissant bun, jamón serrano (from one of many oldest family-run Spanish delis), and decadent handmade chocolate truffles.
We loved befriending others from everywhere in the world on our tour and toasting our adventures whereas sipping refreshing cocktails throughout a go to to a neighborhood gin distillery. Uncover impartial retailers, hidden road artwork, a seemingly limitless vintage market, distinctive structure, and even filming areas of well-known motion pictures.
Dive into Shopper Model Tradition
For a nostalgic and academic detour in Notting Hill, pop into the Museum of Manufacturers, which takes you thru 200 years of client tradition, noting the evolution of products from soda to crackers to toys.
Immerse Your self in Van Gogh
Whereas within the space, cease by the Van Gogh London Exhibit: The Immersive Expertise which presents a artistic tackle the Dutch genius’ world. This interactive museum options 360º digital artwork projections of The Starry Night time and The Yellow Home, amongst his different famed works.
Interact in Museum Mania
London’s museums are a few of the finest on this planet. And lots of are free! Whereas most vacationers know to go to the world-famous British Museum and the Pure Historical past Museum, listed here are just a few different teen-pleasers that ought to be in your checklist:
Have a budding artwork lover?
- Tate Fashionable (free, charge for particular reveals): This uber-industrial smooth museum homes fashionable and modern artwork that may spark your creativeness and catalyze discussions. A stroll via the Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirror Rooms particular exhibit is an immersive, exhilarating expertise! TIP: After working up an urge for food, head as much as the museum’s high flooring to Kitchen and Bar the place you’ll be able to delight your senses with a seasonal menu impressed by the museum’s artwork reveals whereas taking in epic views of the town.
- The Wallace (free, charge for particular reveals): Immerse your self in a vibrantly hued jewel field of seventeenth via Nineteenth-century work, sculptures, furnishings, armor, and porcelain.
- The Nationwide Portrait Gallery (free): Dive into essentially the most intensive assortment of portraits on this planet! The Main Assortment boasts over 12,700 portraits.
Is your teen a strolling encyclopedia?
- The British Library‘s Treasures Assortment (free): Spend one hour pursuing a mind-boggling array of prized genius literacy, spiritual, and musical writings such because the Magna Carta, Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, Mozart, and Paul McCartney.
- The Victoria and Albert Museum (free): This quirky, mega-museum delights with its corridor of world paintings, trend, and a lot extra! We liked that you simply by no means know what you will discover as you journey from room to room.
Do you’ve a historian-in-training?
- Churchill Struggle Rooms (charge): Descend beneath central London to search out Churchill’s underground headquarters, the place he orchestrated England’s army throughout World Struggle II. This museum offers a first-hand peek on the every day pressures of operating a battle from a bunker.
- The Imperial Struggle Museum (free): Generally known as the world’s main museum of battle and battle, the various flooring home tales and objects associated to the historical past of warfare. TIP: Detour via the close by Leake Road Arches, a tunnel with colourful graffiti artwork, and duck into the Philadelphia-themed bar, Passyunk Avenue, for a scrumptious Philly-style cheesesteak to gas your day.
Discover Ships and Science in Greenwich
The compact and historic city of Greenwich is price just a few hours of your journey! Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, brings science and historical past classes to life. Begin out touring the Cutty Sark, the world’s solely surviving tea clipper. Seize lunch on the over 300-year-old Greenwich Market in your approach to the Royal Observatory Museum, dwelling of Greenwich Imply Time, educating guests with its clocks, telescopes, and planetarium.
Reap the benefits of a brilliant enjoyable picture op straddling the world-famous Prime Meridian Line. The view throughout Greenwich Park, east London, and the O2 Stadium within the distance is fabulous. Try the artwork galleries of the Queen’s Home and one in every of my different favourite picture spots—wanting up on the Tulip Steps. You would spend a complete day wandering the Maritime Museum, bursting with fascinating objects reminiscent of a Fijian canoe, JMW Turner’s largest portray, The Battle of Trafalgar, and an exhibit on polar exploration.
Finish your time in Greenwich, admiring the hanging structure of the Previous Royal Navy School’s grounds, ogle the breathtaking Painted Corridor’s (London’s Sistine Chapel) elaborate baroque ceiling, and peek into the Chapel of St Peter and St Paul.
TIPS: For essentially the most scenic strategy to Greenwich, sail on one of many Thames River Sightseeing boats, which mixes humor and information to relate the historical past and lore of London’s sights alongside the shoreline. The Royal Museums Greenwich web site is extraordinarily useful planning your go to.
Get a Hen’s Eye View
The vastness of this metropolis begs to be seen from excessive up within the sky!
Need to go for a spin? Head waaaay up above the Thames River and board one of many 32 glass cabins of the London Eye. Driving at golden hour enables you to marvel at Huge Ben, the Parliament, and past whereas snapping Instagram-perfect pics. TIP: E book forward to keep away from lengthy queues.
Dreaming of a leafy inexperienced backyard within the sky? Log on for a free ticket to zip 43 flooring as much as the SkyGarden viewing gallery. This lush backyard boasts eating choices, spacious bars, and a mega-observation deck. Look out for particular teen-friendly occasions, reminiscent of dawn yoga and reside music.
Prepared for just a little train? Shock your teen with a once-in-a-lifetime expertise! Lace up your sneakers and climb the 334-step spiral stairwell to the Elizabeth Tower’s belfry, dwelling to Huge Ben. Stand up shut and private with the clock’s mechanisms, and stand mere toes away from Huge Ben when it strikes! Have your self a Peter Pan second whereas peering on the metropolis from behind the clock face. Following the tour, go to Westminster Corridor, the place you’ll be able to go to the galleys of the Home of Lords and Home of Commons if they’re in session. TIP: Tickets are launched on the second Wednesday of each month.
Be a part of the rooftop social gathering! London boasts many summery rooftop bars with depraved views! Try twelfth Knot Rooftop Bar Terrace on the Sea Containers London Lodge, and the Sushisamba Bar on the thirty eighth flooring of the Metropolis’s Heron Tower. TIP: The consuming age in London is eighteen, so your older teenagers can be part of you at pubs and bars.
Amp Up Your Journey
Beatlemaniacs? Recreate the well-known Abbey Street album cowl! View the outside of the well-known Abbey Street Studio (the inside will not be open to the general public) then pop into the reward store, which is sort of like a museum. TIP: Deliver a marker and go away a message on the wall outdoors the reward store.
Sports activities followers? See a sport at an iconic soccer stadium, reminiscent of Chelsea or Wembley Stadium, or take within the British pastime of cricket on the famed Lord’s Cricket Floor. A bucket-list want come true for us was queuing for, after which securing, day-of tickets to Wimbledon, the temple of tennis! Waking up earlier than the break of day was so, so price it. Sitting in Courtroom One, witnessing a chunk of sports activities historical past, nibbling on strawberries and cream, and sipping Pimms was a “pinch me, please” second!
Adrenaline junkies? Climb 170+ toes excessive over the O2 Area (the Millennium Dome), well-known for internet hosting musical performances by icons like U2 and Madonna, to soak up the panoramic view.
The place to Keep in London with Teenagers
With so many inns and leases, your decisions could appear daunting (it was to me!). For our prolonged keep in London, we sought out a separate dwelling area for our teen, a fully-equipped kitchen, and the comforts of dwelling like a washer and dryer. Desirous to immerse ourselves in British life, we opted for a spacious Airbnb rental in Hampstead that got here extremely advisable by mates.
By renting a contemporary high-end flat via LuxLet Residences London on Fitzjohn’s Avenue, we have been steps away from the environment friendly Tube, which whisked us to central London in about fifteen minutes. We delighted in experiencing life in upscale and stylish Hampstead (dwelling to celebs, like teen heartthrob Harry Kinds), meandering via this quaint and charming English village, queuing for crepes at famed Le Creperie, sipping espresso at Ginger and White, procuring boutiques, and exercising within the huge inexperienced areas.
Our LuxLet rental was surrounded by grocery shops, a farmer’s market, plentiful pubs, top-rated eating places, and a complicated cinema! Staying in Hampstead offered us with a soothing begin and finish to every jam-packed day!
Discover extra trip leases in London:
Visiting London? You Could also be Involved in…
Editor’s Word: The writer was supplied with some complimentary passes and one meal in order that she might expertise them and evaluation it on your data. All opinions are her personal. Pictures are courtesy of Lisa Grabelle. This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks. In case you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I could obtain a small fee.
