10 fun things to do as a teenager in London

Guest post by Ezra

Hi, this is Ezra taking over my mum’s blog for my work experience and I’m writing a guest post. In this post are 10 great things for teenagers to do in London. They are in no particular order and I would recommend checking them all out if you can. Thanks for reading!

10 fun things to do as a teenager in London

Going to the cinema:  

There will always be something special about a visit to the cinema: The big screen, the immersive atmosphere, the snacks on offer. An experience that never gets old and a great way to destress. A place that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Grab your family and your popcorn, kick back and enjoy the show. The cinema has always been something that really helped me to unwind when anxious.

EVERYMAN Cinemas: Latest Movies, Films & New Releases
Vue | Cinema Listings & Latest Movies | Book Film Tickets
Latest Movies and Cinemas Listings | Book Tickets, Films Showtimes, Cinema Listings 

Going to a shopping centre:

Places such as Westfield who have two centres in London (White City and Stratford) with more than 250 shops each and more than 80 places to grab something to eat are recommended for making a day out with the family. Shop for clothes, toys, gadgets and more.  Westfield in White City has Kidzania, a fantastic place to leave the younger ones to have a blast (if 8+ and you want to spend some quality time with your teenager). Westfield is somewhere I’ve always enjoyed going to with friends or family because it has such a variety of shops, restaurants and fast food.

Westfield Stratford City 
Westfield London 

Paint-balling/laser tag:

Great place for teens to blow off some steam, both activities are relatively kid-friendly with paintball being for the slightly older children being 12+. Laser tag is for children above the age of 6 and is thoroughly enjoyable for the whole family. Both are brilliant for building bonds and trust and maybe some temporary grudges! Suit up and head into battle. I’ve been on multiple occasions, so let me say this: it’s extremely fun if you’re good at it, fast-paced and thrilling..

Paintball London | Official UK Paintball site
Laser Tag London – London’s Best Outdoor Laser Tag Venue   

Going to concerts:

Most teens have a genre of music that they will generally listen to and getting to see one of their favourite artists perform live is one of the most special and surreal experiences that you can give them. This activity is for you and your older children. Recommendation is for children aged 13+ as concerts can be pretty wild and packed. A fitting venue is the O2 which has plenty of places to grab a bite beforehand or after. I’ve been to the O2 to see artists such as Wizkid, Not3s and Tekno and years later I still remember them vividly.

The O2  

Going to attractions:

London has a range of tourist attractions which despite the name, are great for Londoners too. Examples are the London Eye, Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon for the braver of teens. Perfect places to keep your teens and young ones happy. All mentioned are suitable for all ages, with the latter being up to the discretion of the supervising adult. I’ve been on the London Eye and it is a must-do for the astounding views, however I’d never been brave enough for the London Dungeon.

The lastminute.com London Eye: The Official Tickets Website 
One of London’s Top Tourist Attractions
London Scary Attraction | The London Dungeon

Going to theme parks:

The experience of a theme park is something that a teen is likely to treasure for a long time. Two extremely popular options are Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park who have a substantial number of rides each so they are sure to keep you interested. Entry is permitted for all ages. Purchase your photos from the ride to preserve your time there. Be sure to buckle up and enjoy your ride. Each of these places were fantastic when I went and the rides were truly exhilarating. A piece of advice from me: try to go mid-week because those are the days where it is least packed, meaning that you and your family can enjoy more rides and avoid long queue times. The more the merrier and the shorter the sweeter!

Chessington World of Adventures Resort: UK Theme Park & Zoo 
Thorpe Park Resort: The UK’s Most Thrilling Theme Park 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter:

You may not be a wizard but you can certainly still go to Hogwarts! The studio tour takes you through the creative process used to create the award-winning Harry Potter films. There are plenty of aspects to explore such as the dorm rooms, Privet Drive, Hogsmeade (where you can try the famous butterbeer or grab yourself a burger). There are also some interactive experiences dotted around the studio. This tour is sure to interest teens and is perfect for an evening out. Suitable for all ages. I loved being a wizard for the evening and the butterbeer was delicious, it really felt like the world of Harry Potter!

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter 

Going to trampoline parks:

Both joyful and affordable, trampoline parks can help you and your teen bounce your stress away. There are many trampoline park chains in London such as Oxygen Freejumping, Better Extreme and Flip Out. These all serve as great places to spend an hour or two and help if the kids are a little restless. Minimum age is approximately 18 months so you should be able to take the younger ones too. My first time going to a trampoline park was 5 years ago, when I was 10, and I still enjoy it now just as much as I used to. Jump around but stay safe!

Oxygen Freejumping | The UK’s No.1 Trampoline Parks
Better Extreme: Skateparks, Trampoline Parks and Climbing Walls
Flip Out: Adventure & Trampoline Parks  

Going to the theatre:

Watching a play at the theatre is something that everyone should do. It is a truly unique experience and the anticipation that builds up before the curtains draw is unlike anything else. Cry through a heart rending tragedy or wheeze through the annual Christmas pantomime at the Hackney Empire. They are often kid-friendly too but my recommendation is to go without the younger ones for some quality time. Having dinner and watching a play is a magnificent plan for an evening out. Famous theatres include Royal Opera House, Shakespeare’s Globe and National Theatre. Some of my favourite plays are Aladdin, Hamlet and Emil and the Detectives. There’s something about the atmosphere that just makes the interval snacks taste so much better.

Shakespeare’s Globe
Hackney Empire
Royal Opera House
National Theatre

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: 

There are plenty of things to do at the Olympic Park. Climb to the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit, perfect for breathtaking views of the city. Here, you can zoom down the world’s longest tunnel slide for an intense rush. There are also four unique trail guides to go on. You have a choice of Olympic sports which you can test out in the iconic venues from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Or simply relax in the park and enjoy. I was lucky enough to go to the Olympic Park to watch the London 2012 Paralympic games and even after the events were done, relaxing in the Park afterwards was lovely.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: Home