We’re considering a trip to Europe with our 16 year old daughter. She says that she wants to see “modern” things. She is not a Harry Potter fan.
She is into art and theater.
Any suggestions for places to see in London that are “modern” and would be interesting for a teenager?
The London Eye https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/282783-london-eye
Underground Tour https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/sightseeing-tours/london-underground-tours
Visit Tower Bridge https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/
Tate Modern https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
What exactly does she mean by 'modern' - how modern does it need to be?
OK, I;'m showing my age here, but my first thought was the Royal Festival Hall which was cutting edge when it opened as part of the 1951 Festival of Britain and is still an important concert, dance, and talks venue. Link it with visits to Tate Modern and the National Theatre - they are all a few minutes walk of each other. (Don't forget the Millennium Bridge too.)
The Canary Wharf area has been rebuilt over the last few years with some pretty cool buildings. Not sure if that is what rocks her boat. I'd also clarify what your daughter means by "modern". Mid century, current, since 1900's....? I'd look to see if there is any street art areas - murals, graffiti, etc. Many cities have these areas. Tate Modern would also be a recommendation. I'd also get her involved in some of the research. London Walks may have some walking tours that may interest her..... and you. Edit - just checked - they have a street art tour. https://www.walks.com/artistic-london/
I don’t think she knows what she means by “modern.” It’s more that she doesn’t want us to spend all of our time visiting very old places.
London is so replete with history that you can’t walk down a block without seeing something historic, so even if she wants to avoid it, history will be all around her! :-)
That said, try Shoreditch and the area around Spitalfields and Brick Lane for a young, modern vibe, including lots of really cool street art. It’s funky and vibrant, not stuffy and “historic.” The Spitalfields Market has excellent stalls with independent artists, fashion, wearable art, etc., plus some excellent food. https://www.spitalfields.co.uk/
The Saatchi Gallery has super exhibits, and concentrates on modern works. https://www.saatchigallery.com/ If you visit you’ll be on the King’s Road near Sloane Square. If she has any interest in fashion/boutiques/shopping, it’s a great area.
The Tate Modern features modern art, and it’s great. https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
If you visit the Tate you’ll be on the south bank, so you can visit Shakespeare’s Globe. Catch a show as a groundling - I bet she’d love that! There are tours, if she’d like a peek backstage. https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/pinocchio/
Camden Town has a youthy vibe. https://camdenstablesmarket.com/ Tons of fun shops and edgy merch. Stables Market is great for teens. There’s great shopping there - if she’s into thrifting, this would be right up her alley.
There’s interactive theatre (Squid Game, Fawlty Towers) if that sounds attractive to her. Otherwise, the sky is the limit when it comes to shows… big stuff in the West End, plus new plays, experimental theatre, and the like in smaller venues.
I think London is perfect for a 16 year old. I visited the first time when I was 15, and vowed that I would live there someday. And now I do! :-)
Hope you have a blast!
You have some great suggestions already. For art I would just add the following as places for her to research: the Moco Museum London as my first choice, then Barbican Art Gallery and The Line art walk quite a long walk in the direction of Greenwich. Depending on the direction of her interests, a new and therefore not so stuffy addition to the cultural scene is the V&A East Museum.
I'd think the markets would be very interesting to her. First and foremost perhaps would be Camden as mentioned above and especially The Stables section there. Also have her check out Borough and Broadway Markets.
A can't-miss probably would be Battersea Station and Park.
For theatre I wouldn't even try to make recommendations and would suggest that you also simply stay as hands off as possible (or give only a budget restriction if you need to) and make her choose. At 16 there's no sense in parental content moderation for London theatre.
As noted, theatre is going to be a million options so once you pick your dates have her check the offerings for that time period and buy tickets ahead for anything you "must see" - but know you can often get same day tickets to some shows (but rarely for super popular shows or limited edition runs).
For art is she in to "modern" art or any art? The National Gallery has a great collection of famous pieces but they're in the "old" department. I enjoyed Sir John Soane's museum because it's quirky and bite sized, but also "old" stuff. If she prefers something from more recent times you could check out Leake Street Arches or do the already mentioned street art walk with London Walks. There is a new Banksy just up in the past two days.
FWIW I recently went to London with a 20 year old who one could argue has tastes of a 16 year old (don't tell her!) and she loved the theatre (multiple shows), going to Hamley's toy store, eating lunch in an old pub, and riding in the double decker bus in the front top seats. If she's a social media person there are a zillion ideas there, and many informed my young person's choices to visit that I certainly wouldn't have gone to (Taylor Swift's Black Dog pub, for example). Like any big city London can provide just about any experience you seek out, the key is to get her input and excitement for the choices.
My daughter is a bit younger but has a similar aversion to anything ‘old’. Her absolute favourite thing to do in London is go to the Westfield Mall at Shepherds Bush. However she also likes Tate Modern and the whole South Bank is fun, the Sky Garden, London Eye, Covent Garden, going to the theatre, going to restaurants especially Sticks and Sushi which is a chain that you’ll find all over London.
London is a modern city so there’s plenty to see without getting bogged down in boring old things!
Just for clarification the V&A East Museum doesn’t open until later in 2026. What is open, and I assume is meant above, is the V&A Warehouse at More East near Stratford.
As it happens we went there for the first time today. It’s very different from any other museum I’m aware of and might very well interest your daughter. Seeing it thoroughly would take a very long time but it’s the sort of place that you can just wander and concentrate on what catches your eye. A smartphone is very useful - you can call up full information on most of the pieces there through the V&A website using the museum’s free WiFi.
It’s also very close to Hackney Wick, a very vibrant and hip part of town these days.
I took my 12-year-old (going on 20) granddaughter to London and she loved the V&A. She also enjoyed eating out at places like Wagamama and having afternoon tea and going to fun cafes. We went to Dishoom one morning for breakfast and she loved that.
She also loved Camden Market. She had a lot of fun there just seeing all the different shops and buying a few things. And mostly she and her older brother who was 16 really liked riding the double-decker buses. Not the HOHO tourist buses but the regular buses. They would jump on and immediately climb up to the top level and watch the city as we rode along.
One day they went to a movie by themselves, and both really enjoyed that. It wasn't the movie so much that they enjoyed but just the idea of going to a movie theater in a different country thrilled them. It sounds like your daughter will be on her own with the two of you but I'm sure it would be something that you and your husband could enjoy with her.
The Shard
30 St Mary’s Axe ( The Gherkin )
The Walkie Takie Building
The Sky Garden View
IFS Cable Car
Canary Wharf
The Battersea Power Station Conversion
If not afraid of heights the Tower Bridge experience
Climb the O2 arena
Underground stations such as Canary Wharf/Liverpool Street
The Garden at 120
Photographers Gallery
Tate Modern
Sachi Gallery
Spitalfields
Shoreditch Street Art
EDIT #1 Carnaby Street
EDIT #2 Have her review the London Theatre Guide https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/ for the dates of your stay. If still on stage consider her Witness for the Prosecution or The Play That Goes Wrong or a musical. Theatre in London is an experience not to be missed.
IMHO Look for seats in the 1st balcony but at least 2 rows up so you can see the entirety of the stage. Also understand restroom facilities ( the loo ) are small and the wait can be long.
Hopefully whatever show(s) are chosen ice cream cups will be available for purchase.
Some good suggestions above! My first thought was Tate Modern, but there are so many museums that have more modern art, particularly in special exhibitions- such as National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery, Tate Britain, Hayward Gallery, Barbican gallery (tho that will be closing for refurbishment in a couple of years), V&A (which also has a good theatre section your daughter might like), Photographer’s Gallery- what I would advise is once you know the time of year you are going, look on the websites for these places to see if there’s anything on then that will be of interest. For the somewhat “cooler” neighbourhoods in addition to what’s been mentioned already I would add Brixton and even Peckham. Good luck with your planning!
Another post simply to suggest cafes, restaurants and street markets. Remember even at 16 she can visit a pub. Even if she only wants modern she might be impressed by the Cittie of York, the art deco in the Blackfriar or The Dog and The Duck.
Dishoom
Bill’s
Portobello Road Market
Roti King
Leather Lane Market and the Aria Golden Grill
Nando’s
Padella
The Dove pub in Hammersmith
If not allergic to cats see can see the General and enjoy good pasta at the Seven Stars Pub. Located near the Royal Courts of Justice inquire if she has any interest in watching a trial.
The White Cross on the river in Richmond
The Attendent in Fitzrovia…learn its history…might find it amusing
The British Library Cafe/ great gift shop too
https://www.bl.uk/visit/eat-drink-shop
It’s a great city to explore.
Here's some ideas not already mentioned:
The Outernet- free
https://www.outernet.com
The Leake street graffiti tunnel
https://www.leakestreetarches.london
any West End Theatre musical
Theatre- Witness for the Prosecution
https://witnesscountyhall.com
Theatre -Murder Express Dinner and show
https://themurderexpress.com/bethnalgreen/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=localcards&utm_campaign=80803_lon
Does she know who the Beatles were?
https://www.walks.com/our-walks/the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/
Abbey Road
skygarden
https://skygarden.london/plan-your-visit
or the Shard
London Eye
Carnaby Street
London food tours in Soho
Diana's cat cafe- and afternoon tea
Afternoon Tea at the Swan- next to globe theatre
Show at the Globe theatre
backstage tour of the globe theatre. (she's into art and theatre, right?)
paradox musuem
Battersea Power Station Lift
walk on the roof of the O2
Mamma Mia! The Party dinner and show at the O2
take a boat ride to Greenwich and stand on the Prime Meridian. (OK, she may not be that nerdy)
Shoreditch street art tour and spitafield market
I've been to London several times with my sixteen year old daughter. She loves markets, Portobello Rd, Brick Lane, Covent Garden. We also like to shop at Fortnum and Mason's. Last time we were in London we also visited a cat cafe called Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium on Bethnel Green Rd. You have to book ahead. It was great fun! We also saw several shows, such as Mama Mia, The Play that Goes Wrong, Six, and The Book of Mormon. Loved them all!
She bought an old vintage camera at a Covent Garden market, and the woman she bought it from recommended she get film at a particular shop in Teddington, a town southwest of London. So we went out there and got the film. It was fun taking the train to a bustling suburb that wasn't touristy at all. Felt more like real life.
In February we're going to Mudchute Farm in the East end. Haven't been there before, but hoping it's fun. Also going to a different cat cafe (Java Whiskers) and a dog cafe (Pet a Pooch) (my daughter loves animals and so do I!)
There's also an ice skating rink near Mudchute Farm that we're going to try out. Not sure how well that will go, I've only ice skated once many many years ago, and my daughter never has.
We've seen a lot of the main touristy things like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the British Museum in past trips, but this time I'm dragging her to Windsor Castle, because it's my trip too (and I'm a history lover). Surprisingly, she wants to attend evensong at Westminster Abbey, so that's on our schedule too.
And I have to add that she loves just riding the tube!
One more suggestion for shopping. Liberty. https://www.libertylondon.com/us/information-hub
It's a beautiful store (old but cool and stocked with modern goods, including gorgeous fabrics).
Around the corner is a branch of Mother Mash, where I enjoyed a delicious meat pie and mash.
Alternative London Street Art tour is right up her alley! It’s led by actual artists and is always changing. If I recommend anything in London it’s this, and folks love it. Super interesting and cool. It’s also a great look at a side of town a lot of tourists bypass. You’ll be by Spitalfields Market which can have some interesting shopping, and imo a curry on Brick Lane also ranks as a quintessential stop that’s a bit more “back-door.”
