We hopped on the train to London for a whirlwind city break to celebrate my daughter’s 13th birthday. Our base was the Premier Inn Leicester Square, a fantastic location right in the heart of the action.
After dropping our bags, we stepped straight out into the buzz of the West End. Within minutes we were on Oxford Street and Carnaby Street, where the birthday girl shopped until she dropped. Her favourite stops were Brandy Melville and Lululemon, the ultimate teen favourites. To save our legs and carry the shopping bags we treated ourselves to a tuk tuk ride back to the hotel, complete with music blasting. It was the perfect way to end her birthday spree. That evening we headed to Chinatown for dinner, just around the corner from our hotel. It was lively, tasty and a great first night choice with teens.
The next morning we took the tube out to Westfield shopping centre, home to Sephora and Bath & Body Works which was a huge hit for my daughter who loves American brands. After ticking those off her list, we came back into central London and stopped at EL&N Café. Famous for its pink floral walls, neon signs and picture perfect cakes, EL&N has become one of London’s most Instagrammable cafés and was a fun, colourful stop for us.
From there, we wandered through Covent Garden, a historic piazza that started life as a fruit and vegetable market and is now home to street performers, boutique shops and plenty of spots to sit and people watch. It’s always buzzing with energy and makes a great place to pause before heading off again.
We then strolled down to Buckingham Palace for the classic London photos. Built in 1703 and now the official London residence of King Charles III, the palace is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city. Even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth seeing the grand façade and the iconic balcony where royal appearances are made. If you time your visit right, you can also catch the Changing of the Guard, the ceremonial handover between regiments that takes place at 11:00 am on most Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. It’s a colourful, very British spectacle that’s free to watch and always draws a crowd.
The highlight of our trip came in the evening with a night at the theatre to see Moulin Rouge! The Musical. The intimate theatre was set up with cabaret-style tables that instantly transported us back to Paris. I was lucky enough to visit the original Moulin Rouge twenty years ago, and this brought back all that sparkle and glamour right in the heart of London.
It was the perfect way to round off a birthday weekend. For my daughter, it was shopping heaven, fun transport and a glamorous night out. For me, it was a wonderful way to celebrate her stepping into her teenage years.
Nothing says London like this scene
Starting the spree at London’s trendiest street
Outside our go to London store
Checkout = the happiest (and priciest) place
Tuk tuk taxi, shopping spree edition
Outside Moulin Rouge! The Musical, London
Teen takes over the West End
The show starts here
Waiting for the show to start
Covent Garden glow up
Covent Gardens, shopping and street performers = best day
Escapes with teens 
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