If you are taking a London trip with teens, you are probably planning to add in a few historic sites to your itinerary. After all, no trip to London is complete without seeing the iconic places that have shaped history.
How many of the sites you visit is another matter entirely! Some teens will be super into these historic sites. Others will not be so fascinated. It’s important to gauge your kids’ interests in advance so you know how many of these things to put on your schedule. And it’s OK to divide up your group if you want to do these sites and your teens don’t.
Read on for ideas of some of the best historic sites to visit with teens in London, who will be interested in them, and what those who aren’t interested can do instead.
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Westminster Abby
Westminster Abbey is a beautiful 13th century church is where many of the kings and queens were crowned and later buried. You can admire the exquisite architecture stunning stained glass windows, stone carvings, and soaring ceilings. The abbey houses the Coronation Chair which has been used when crowning British kings and queens since the 14th century. And you can pay your respects to many recognizable literary geniuses such as Geoffrey Chaucer, Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Charles Dickens. Westminster Abbey is also the resting place of many notorious monarchs such as Edward the Confessor, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Mary I, and Mary Queen of Scots.
Who will love it?
Teens who love history, literature, architecture and art will appreciate the many stained glass windows, monuments, and memorials located throughout the abbey.
What’s nearby for those who won’t love it?
SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure and London Dungeon are in walking distance of Westminster Abbey and are fun alternatives for teens. SEA LIFE London Aquarium features over 5,000 sea creature such as sea turtles, sharks, jellyfish, and penguins distributed through 14 themed zones. Shrek’s Adventure is an immersive and interactive walk-through experience with 10 fairytale themed live shows, a 4D flying bus ride, and characters from the movies. And London Dungeon uses actors to lead you through the sometimes dark and spooky history of London. Expect some jump scares as you weave your way through the dark streets of London and learn everything from the Gunpowder Plot to Jack the Ripper to what it was like to be a plague doctor and more!
Tower of London
The Tower of London is a must-do for a London trip with teens. The complex includes the 11th century White Tower, Royal Armouries Collection, Crown Jewels, Tower Green where many famous people were executed, and a Medieval Palace. Yeoman Warders, commonly called Beefeaters, give free tours which are highly engaging and humorous.
Who will love it?
Teens who are into British history will love all aspects of the Tower of London and will probably want to see all of the historic sites. Those who are interested in the military will enjoy the White Tower that houses the Royal Armories Collection. There are several interactive elements here that are great for teens who just want to touch everything! If your teens are in awe of the Royal Family, they will enjoy seeing the Crown Jewels and Medieval Palace. Anyone who enjoys a good storyteller will also enjoy the Beefeater Tours.
What’s nearby for those who won’t love it?
Tower Bridge is very close to the Tower of London. It’s good for teens who are into engineering as it offers information on how the drawbridge works. It’s also great for the adventurous as visitors can walk on the elevated glass walkways for a nice view of the city.
About a 10 minute walk away is the Jack the Ripper Museum. This museum tells you all about the Jack the Ripper murders as well as what it was like to like to live in the east end of London in the 1880s. This is great for teens who like history, criminal justice and forensics.
Palaces
There are several palaces in London that may tempt you to add to your trip itinerary with teens. Kensington Palace, the birthplace of Queen Victoria, is where Prince William and his family currently live. It is open year round for tours.
Buckingham Palace is where King Charles lives and is only open in July and August for tours. During other months of the year, you can view the Changing of the Guard on Mondays,
Who will love it?
Teens who appreciate history, architecture, and interior design as well as those who are fascinated by the British Royal Family will enjoy visiting the palaces and getting a glimpse into how the royals live.
What’s nearby for those who won’t love it?
Teens can chill out in Hyde Park that is located between the palaces. They can relax, check their Insta, and perhaps even make a new friend while you tour the palaces.
For your not-so-chill teens, the Science Museum and Natural History Museum are about a 10 minute walk. Your teens who enjoy science can geek out the Science Museum’s seven floors of exhibits. These include an interactive space to explore light and sound, interactive experiment launchpad, iconic objects such as the Apollo 10 command module, a gallery of aviation past and present, and much more. The Natural History Museum will appeal to a similar demographic. It features exhibits on dinosaurs, gemstones, evolution, insects, marine life, birds, and earthquakes.
Another museum about a 10 minute walk away is the Victoria & Albert Museum. This museum holds the world’s largest collection of decorative arts and design. It features artifacts from various cultures and many time periods. Expect to see ceramics, textiles, jewelry, furniture, clothing, accessories, sculpture, art, photography, and more. The V&A will appeal to artistic teens and those that love interior design, fashion, and art.
Big Ben & Parliament
Teens will definitely want to see Big Ben as it’s among the most recognizable historic London sites. Did you know that Big Ben is actually the name of the bell, not the tower itself? The tower had the name Clock Tower originally but became Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. File that bit of trivia away and amaze your teen during your London trip.
Houses of Parliament is the location where the English government rules the country. It includes the House of Lords, House of Commons, and Westminster Hall. Here you can sit in on a live Parliament session if it is in session. Otherwise, there’s a ticketed tour.
Who will love it?
Teens who are interested in government and politics will enjoy visiting Parliament. And almost all teens who have social media want those great photos with Big Ben in the background for Insta!
What’s nearby for those who won’t love it?
SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure and London Dungeon are in walking distance from the Parliament buildings. There’s also the London Eye where you can get a birds eye view of the city from Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel. The Churchill War Rooms are also right around the corner.
Churchill War Rooms
The Churchill War Rooms allow you to experience what life was like for Winston Churchill during World War II. Tour his living quarters and operation center where he led the country to victory over the Nazis. Best of all, there’s an interactive element that ensures most teens will enjoy it.
Who will love it?
Teens who are interested in World War II and military history in general will find the Churchill War Rooms fascinating. I also think teens interested in business would enjoy learning more about Winston Churchill and his influencial leadership style.
What’s nearby for those who won’t love it?
SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure, London Dungeon, and the London Eye are in walking distance from the the Churchill War Rooms. In fact, there’s so many things to do in this area I highly recommend staying in this area. We stayed at the Premier Inn London County Hall Hotel in a family room and it was within walking distance of most of the historic sites (and their alternatives) we wanted to visit in London with our teens.
What London historic sites do you want to visit with your teen, and do you think they will like it or choose one of our alternatives?
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