A London day out with teenagers

London has plenty to impress even the hardest-to-please teenager, and lots of it is free. Here’s a day that mixes iconic sights with things they’ll actually post.

By the HappyDaysOut editorial team · 11 September 2026 · Updated 14 October 2026 · 1 min read

Photo: Claudio Testa on Unsplash

Scout’s tip

Scout’s London route

Let your teen plan one stop. Then mix one free museum, one food market and one view, and finish on the South Bank.

Travel by train and check 2FOR1 offers
Free museums open around 10am
Contactless works on the Tube but not for 2FOR1

Free and impressive

The Science Museum and Natural History Museum are free.
The South Bank riverside walk: street performers, skateboarders at the undercroft and views of Parliament.
Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross for a photo.

Worth paying for

The Harry Potter Studio Tour: book well ahead.
The Tower of London: Crown Jewels and Yeoman Warder tours.
A West End show (look for matinee and day-seat offers at the theatre).

Save money

Use National Rail 2FOR1 offers with paper or e-tickets, picnic in a royal park, and pick one paid attraction, not three. Visiting from abroad? Check the UK ETA.

Last updated: 14 October 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in London for teenagers?

Free museums, the South Bank, markets, Platform 9¾, the Tower of London, the Harry Potter Studio Tour and West End shows are all popular with teens.

A London day out with teenagers

Scout’s London route

Free and impressive

Worth paying for

Save money

Frequently asked questions

Keep exploring

Free museums in London for kids

Teens

Harry Potter

Where shall we go next?