Ten of the best things to do in London with teens
Afternoon tea on a vintage bus
See London from a red double-decker bus.
This fun tour combines a double-decker red bus and afternoon tea – it doesn’t get more British than that. Tick off London’s landmarks – Big Ben, Marble Arch, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and more – as you tuck into a delicious spread of miniature cakes, scones, pastries and sandwiches aboard a refitted 1960s red bus. Hot beverages are served in keep cups which are yours at the end of the 90-minute Brigit’s Bakery tour. Passengers are seated at tables of four with reupholstered seats while a catchy playlist and recorded commentary plays as you pass key sights.
See b-bakery.com/london/bus-tours
Hyde Park
London’s beating green heart– one of eight royal parks covering 142 hectares –is truly special. Rollerblade (see lonskate.com) or scooter lakeside paths and walkways, visit Kensington Gardens, the Diana Memorial Foundation or take a dip in the seawater lido. Hire pedalos and row boats on the Serpentine or enjoy rides, mulled wine and hot chocolate from November 17 to January 1 at Winter Wonderland. The park’s wildflower meadows, trees and waterways are home to abundant wildlife including swans, blackbirds, wrens, owls, ducks, foxes, bats and squirrels. See royalparks.org.uk
Eye-ball London
London sights – Westminster, Big Ben and the London Eye with the Thames alongside.Credit: iStock
Designed to celebrate the new Millennium, the London Eye’s enduring popularity has made it the UK’s number one paid-for attraction. Board one of 32 enclosed capsules for a spin on the “cantilevered observation wheel,” which moves at a leisurely pace (0.9km an hour) to a height of 135 metres. Look out over St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and more. For spectacular aerial footage of London visit the 4D Experience afterwards. To beat the crowds, avoid peak times (11am-3pm), purchase tickets online or buy a Fast Track ticket. See londoneye.com
Artful Japanese fusion
Tempura shrimp shiitake, miso caramel chicken wing skewers and wagyu beef served with a spicy ponzu sauce await at TOKii inside the Prince Akatoki – a minimalist five-star hotel a stone’s throw from the Marble Arch. Enjoy a pre-dinner tipple of top shelf Japanese whiskies and delicious mocktails for the young ones first in the Malt Lounge and Bar with its izakaya vibe. The A5 wagyu skewers cooked on the robata grill are a standout. See tokii.co.uk
Stay in an aparthotel
Locke’s sixth London property – the eye-catching Ember Locke Kensington – resides in a Victorian mansion block on Cromwell Road. Offering 121 apartments in contemporary art deco style ranging from studios to duplex one-bedroom apartments, the hotel is walking distance to some of London’s most famous museums, including the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Science Museum and the Design Museum. The 40 square metre Family Suites sleep up to four and come with a compact Smeg kitchen, fast Wi-Fi, Smart TV and laundry access. There’s a cafe and bar onsite however Over Under Coffee a short walk away offers a terrific brunch and great coffee. See lockeliving.com
Instagram fun
Get your influencer on at London’s prettiest cafes like Peggy Porschen and Farm Girl, visit Europe’s biggest collection of vintage neon lights at God’s Own Junkyard, capture London’s Tower Bridge from Potters Field Park, visit the cool loos at Sketch London and grab an Instagram moment at London’s iconic red phone boxes dotted across the city.
Hunt for vintage treasure
The legendary Camden Market is full of treasures. Open daily from 10am till late, explore Camden Lock Market, Stables Market, Buck Street Market, Inverness Street Market and the newest addition, Hawley Wharf. London’s thrift and second-hand stores make for fun fossicking too with some of the best found in Earl’s Court, Notting Hill, Marylebone and Kensington.
Explore London’s street art scene
Dive into the city’s colourful, edgy and ever evolving street art in Shoreditch, Spitalfields and Brick Lane in London’s East End. Here Banksy has two works found behind the Cargo Club in Rivington Street while Cremer, Fashion, Princelet and Buxton Streets also display some of the city’s best. Brick Lane houses the “street art quarter” made up of Hanbury, Sclater, Heneage, Pedley, Grimsby, Bacon and Cheshire Streets. Afterwards dine at one of Brick Lane’s famous curry houses.
Chocolate
The Wonka London Chocolate Tour.
Visit Roald Dahl’s favourite chocolate shop, the sweet counter at Fortnum and Mason, sample the late Queen’s favourite choccie and try arguably the UK’s best hot chocolate on a three-hour Chocolate Ecstasy tour with Australian ex pat Jennifer Earl. Be warned: you’ll be seriously “chocolate-ed out” by the end. See chocolateecstasytours.com
Star spotting
Snap a selfie with Harry Styles, the royal family, Marvel heroes, Zendaya, Taylor Swift and Olly Alexander at Madame Tussauds – London’s flagship wax figure museum welcoming visitors since 1835. See 150 wax figures across 11 different themed zones including the music zone, The Royal Palace, a 4D cinema (currently screening Marvel) and Spirit of London ride in a “black cab” which takes you on a tour through London’s history. See madametussauds.com/london
The writer was a guest of Visit Britain, Merlin Entertainments Group and the Prince Akatoki London.
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