What to do in London

[lizwizz]

I'm taking my 14 year old to London on Saturday. Just wondering if anyone can suggest the things not to miss. Don't want to spend a fortune and I know she wants to go shopping! Was thinking of trying to get tickets to see Mamma Mia or Hairspray. Is it best to go to the box office for these?
And good places to eat?

Thanks ABers!

[Im a BusyBee]

it really depends on what you are interested in doing there. 1 day will fly by - you will surprised at how much time it takes just to get from a to b. Mamma Mia and Hairspray will tickets will be very expensive maybe �70 each but you pays your money and takes your choice. Ive just come back from 3 nights in london and we done the cruised along the Thames, visited theTower, Dungeons, Tower Bridge Expedihition, ate at Rhodes 24 etc etc. But we go regularly and do different things each time. let us know what you are interested in.

[Im a BusyBee]

oh theres also the perfectly adequate little Bistro in covent garden and soho where 3 courses are 7.90 (if my memory serves me correctly!) at lunchtime and 9.90 for 3 courses in the evening, which is very good value if you are on a budget.

[VHG]

There are couple of places in London where you can buy cheaper tickets for shows that have tickets left, more here

http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/tkts/ab out_tkts/

There is a booth in Leiceser Square.

http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/tkts/le icester_square/

But if you are there Saturday you may not get tickets as this, of course, is the most popular night of the week.

[VHG]

You dont say if you have the night there, or just the Saturday.

If you have just the Saturday then as has been said, the day will just fly by.

If you want shopping then Oxford Street is the most obvious. Selfidges is an amazing shop to go in.

If your 14 year old has not been to London then the best "sight" to see is possibly Trafalger Square, as there is always a lot going on there.

Also Covent Graden has loads of street entertainers, as well as lots of market stalls selling Jewellry and so on, so that will be interesting for a 14 year old.

Or maybe Hamleys the toy shop on Regent street, or Harrods, which has an amazing toy department (both of which will be of interest to adults as well).

And Bond Street (just off Oxford street) is where the rich shop, loads of expensive watches and jewellry. You see more Rolls Royce's in Bond Street than any other street (not a fact but my observation).

Piccadily Circus and Leicester Square are both worth a visit as they are "free" but there is a lot going on there.

Also, is the Trocadero still open just near Piccadilly Circus?

It was full of shops, places to eat, cinemas, even fairground rides the last time I was there. Nearest thing in London to an indoor theme park, but I think it may be being redeveloped at the moment.

[Im a BusyBee]

Have you seen those queques in Leicester Square for tickets?! i wouldnt want to waste my time there, i would advise that you book them in advance to collect at box office and get on with shopping or whatever you choose on saturday!

[Im a BusyBee]

Everyone loves Harrods i would love to go and spend a whole day in there alone!

[lizwizz]

We don't have the night there, we are booked on a train at 7pm. We've already been on the Eye, she fancies going back to Madame Tussauds (over-rated if you ask me). I like the sound of Trafalgar and Leicester squares, and the Tower (maybe they'll lock her up!!), but I fancied the Tate modern too!
Is the Bistro in Covent Garden called 'Bistro' Busy Bee?

[hailthechimp]

Does she like dance? If she does this is on fr,sat and sunday-

http://www.moveitdance.co.uk/page.cfm/Link=1/t =m/trackLogID=769396_6E04A89CBA

[Im a BusyBee]

if you google Bistro 1 you will find the menus and addresses etc. I personally would have thought my children when teenagers would have prefered the dungeons to the tower- both about �20 each to get in unless you can find some vouchers (we had 2 for 1 with our train tickets). you can walk along the top of tower bridge and see its history and engines that lift the bridge for �6 each, again we had 2 for 1 tickets.i would look on internet and see when the bridge will open on saturday to see if you can watch that. tower bridge is right beside the Tower and about 5 mins walk from the dungeons.if i can help any further do give me a shout.

[lizwizz]

Thanks Busy Bee thats a great help.

[Lil O'lady]

Shopping - London - Saturday....aaaaagh!!! If she insists on shopping, take her somewhere smaller-scale and boutique-style, like Neal Street East:
http://www.covent-garden.co.uk/SITES/nealstree teast/index.html

Resr of neal Street:
http://www.londontown.com/LondonStreets/neal_s treet_5d0.html
It's just going to be much less grim than Oxford Street on a Saturday