top 5 restaurant recommendations for mother-daughter trip

Pastaio Carnaby in SoHo, Poppies, Nandos, Dishoom at Granary Square, or just visit the food stalls in Covent Garden.

Should also take your daughter for some pub grub. One of the prettiest pubs is The Bank of England.

Other places to experience for food is Mercado Mayfair, Seven Dials Market, Borough Market and Maltby Market.

Lastly if you want a view try the Darwin Brassiere at the top of the Walkie Talkie building. (20 Fenchurch).

Is she a Harry Potter fan? Only ask because you could dine in Leadenhall Market which has been a Harry Potter location.

Sign up at the restaurant using the QR. It’s on the outside of the Borough Market. Enjoy exploring the market then when your table is ready go for some really excellent pasta. The menu changes often, sometimes several times daily. https://www.padella.co/#menu. Be sure and take her for tea here https://www.fortnumandmason.com/diamond-jubilee-tea-salon. Yes, it’s expensive, but what a treat! And you won’t need dinner.

Tea or coffee and cake? This place looks great for a young girl.

https://elnlondon.com/pages/wardour

For a variety of foods try arcade food hall. Reservations suggested otherwise you’d need to get on the waitlist. You order via the QR code on the table from any of the restaurants there. If you go to the Tottenham Court road location pop into the lobby of the nearby Now building. It was video screens on the walls and ceiling that seem to change daily.

https://www.arcadefoodhall.com/

Is she an adventurous eater?

I was perusing this list by Timeout
https://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/the-best-child-friendly-restaurants-in-london

On that list, I have eaten at Barrafina, Ottolenghi, and Honey &Co. I like them all (and particularly like Honey & Co) but I wouldn’t really consider any of them to be great choices for kids unless the kids like a wide variety of foods and spices.

My daughter absolutely loves Sticks and Sushi, a smallish chain. The children’s bento box that they do is her favourite food ever.

Another vote for Dishoom. Be sure and make reservations.

Another vote for Afternoon Tea at Fortnum&Mason. Amazing food and experience. Worth every penny. It’s all you can eat, so go hungry.

A guru? Please. LOL.

Simply post to be helpful.

Been visiting and staying in London since the Nixon years. Have watched it evolve.

Have tasted and rejected mushy peas, Nutella, marmite, fish fingers, and jellied eels.

During those years have enjoyed fish and chips at Poppies.

Have also enjoyed meals at Dishoom, Nandos, Bill’s, Wahaca, Flat Iron, Dragon Inn, and countless pubs. As I’ve often mentioned had the best Pumpkin Sage soup at The Dove Pub in Hammersmith.

Last visit in 2022, stayed in North Sheen. Huge fan of the chicken wraps from the Kurk Grill.

Trust me in the 70’s good food options were few and far between….things have changed for the better.

Great ideas here! I'm bookmarking this for my trip both next year (solo) and the following year with 2 of my grandkids.

Volva, there is absolutely no need to apologize for disagreeing with someone here! There's no way everyone will agree on any one thing, and that's what makes this forum so worthwhile. :-) There are a variety of recommendations and opinions made for everyone's tastes and it sounds like yours are very worthwhile! I look forward to trying some of them out when I am there next year.

To me it might help if you gave us an idea of where you'll be staying. With a 10 year old I might want to seek out interesting things during the day near attractions I'm going to but for the evening meal when it gets dark so early I'd probably want to be nearer the neighborhood. Of course I'm a go-to-bed-early gal anyway!!

Daylight times in London on Nov 23 (from www.sunrisesunset.com)

Twi: 6:53am
Sunrise: 7:31am
Sunset: 4:03pm
Twi: 4:41pm

Also, not knowing where you are from, you might be used to lower light in the early Winter but if you are from a Southern clime it may be a shock.

Although I have not been, Christmas at Kew Gardens is a wonderful event and I understand they have food kiosks in the grounds which might be fun. You'd need to get tickets ahead if there are any left for your time frame.

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas

I also think Hyde Park Wonderland would be fun and I think there are kiosks for various foods there as well.

https://hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/

I am NOT certain these meet your criteria of "very good food" for yourself but I think they might meet the expectations for a fun experience for your daughter.

We'd love a trip report when you get back!