Planning a trip to London with teens in tow? Here are 12 awesome activities and experiences you can do with your teens in London to ensure your trip is fun and memorable!
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1. Visit Historic Sites
No trip to London is complete without visiting a few historic sites. How many you visit is another matter entirely! Some teens will be super into these sites. Others will not be so fascinated. Try to gauge your kids’ interests in advance so you know how many of these things to put on your schedule.
Also, don’t be afraid to divide and conquer if you want to do these sites and your teens don’t. Schedule these activities for the morning and let them sleep in. Or find an activity nearby that will have more appeal to teens while you visit the historic site. See my post Great Historic London Sites ( & Alternatives) for Teens for ideas on alternative attractions near various historical sites.
Teen-Approved Options
Here are a few historic sites in London that might appeal to your teens:
- Westminster Abbey – this beautiful church is where many of the kings and queens were crowned and later buried.
- Tower of London – this 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.
- Palaces – Kensington Palace is the birthplace of Queen Victoria and 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, Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays.
- Big Ben & Parliament – see the most iconic clock tower in the world and learn how the English government works. You can sit in on a live Parliament session if one is happening. Otherwise, there’s a ticketed tour.
- Churchill War Rooms – experience what it might have been like to have been Winston Churchill in World War II. Tour his living quarters and operation center where he lead the country to victory over the Nazis. Best of all, there’s an interactive element that ensures most teens will enjoy it.
- St. Paul’s Cathedral – this 17th century Baroque church that has played a pivotal role in British history. It features a grand dome you can climb up. Then you can experience the Whispering Gallery, an acoustic effect where whispers on one side of the dome can be heard on the other side. Climb up even further to the Golden Gallery to experience great views of London.
2. Enjoy Some Tourist “Traps”
Give into the temptation of one of London’s tourist traps. These just might end up being your favorite part of the trip like our experience with the London Dungeon! (See my post One Lovely Week in London with Teens for more information.) Here are some of my favorite tourist traps:
- Madame Tussauds – this collection of incredibly lifelike wax figures has been delighting visitors to London since Victorian times. Come face-to-face with the wax version of your favorite celebrity or historical figure.
- Sherlock Holmes Museum – immerse yourself into the fictional world of Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street. Here you will see what Holmes’ home might have looked like when he lived there from 1881-1904. If he had been a real person, that is!
- Shrek’s Adventure – an immersive and interactive walk-through experience with 10 fairytale themed live shows, a 4D flying bus ride, and characters from the movies.
- London Dungeon – actors 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!
3. Go to a Free Museum
Visit one of London’s great museums. There’s truly something for every interest. Best of all, every single one of these museums are free to enter!
- British Museum – this incredible museum houses two million years of history with artifacts from around the world and is best known for it’s Egyptian collection.
- National Gallery – this museum houses more than 2,000 pieces of Western European art created from the 13th-19th centuries.
- Science Museum – seven floors of exhibits 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.
- Natural History Museum – this museum features exhibits on dinosaurs, gemstones, evolution, insects, marine life, birds, and earthquakes
- Victoria & Albert Museum – the world’s largest collection of decorative arts and design featuring artifacts from various cultures and many time periods. Expect to see ceramics, textiles, jewelry, furniture, clothing, accessories, sculpture, art, photography, and more.
- Tate Modern – fans of modern art will adore this museums collection of paintings, sculptures, and more dating from the early 1900s to present.
- British Library – visit the Treasure Gallery with more than 200 items including the Magna Carta, A Gutenberg Bible, Leonardo da Vinci notebooks, and manuscripts from the Brontë sisters, Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare.
4. Discover Harry Potter in London
Most teens adore Harry Potter books and movies. Touring sites associated with Harry Potter is a great way to get teens interested in other London attractions. Free Tours by Foot offers a very entertaining Harry Potter walking tour, This tour goes by sites that are featured in Harry Potter books or movies and places that inspired J.K. Rowling.
For Harry Potter movie fans, visiting Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is a must-do! You can spend hours wandering through sets, seeing costumes and props, and learning more about the magic. There are terrific photo ops, interactive elements, great souvenirs, and even Butterbeer!
5. Take a City Tour
Early in your trip, make sure to take some sort of tour of the city. There are many great options for your tour. Free Tours by Foot offers great options such as this Westminster tour which takes you by all the major sites in the area. Another great option is a bike tour by Fat Tire Tours.
But if your teens whine about exercise, you can take a hop-on/hop-off bus tour. If you are willing to spend a bit more, teens would love this bus tour with afternoon tea! Another non-cardio option is a Thames riverboat tour for great views of London from the water.
6. Attend a Theater Production
London offers surprisingly affordable theater tickets for popular plays and musicals. If you aren’t very picky about what you see or your exact seats, you can purchase heavily discounted tickets on the same day of the show. There are several websites that offer tickets, such as TodayTix and Official London Theatre. You can also drop by the TKTS kiosk (see photo above) in Leicester Square where theater enthusiasts can help you pick a show and seats that are perfect for your family.
Another option is to see a production at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Opened in 1997, the Globe is a faithful representation of the structure that burned in 1613. Today it costs £5-10 to watch a Shakespeare production while standing in the general admissions area in front of the stage. Seats are available, too, but they cost £25-65.
7. Explore a Market
Teens will enjoy exploring some of London’s famous markets. Here are some great options:
- Borough Market – perfect for foodies, this market offers food items from all over the world.
- Spitalfields – this is a great market for fashionistas who love both modern and vintage fashion.
- Portobello Road – if your teen loves antiques, this market is a must!
- Camden Market – this market has a little of everything and is great if your teen loves it all!
8. Get A Birds-Eye View
Your teen will adore any of the many opportunities to get a birds-eye view of London! Here are some great options:
- London Eye – Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel should probably be on most London with teens itineraries. I think it’s overrated and way too expensive, but inevitably your teen will see it and want to do it. So just budget for it. And to save time buy the skip the line tickets!
- O2 London Roof Walk – wearing a harness, you will climb up more than 170 feet on the O2 Arena. With a incline of 28 degrees on the way up and 30 degrees on the way out, this is a great option for thrill seekers!
- ArcelorMittal Orbit – another great option for thrill seekers, this is the world’s largest slide.
- View from the Shard – whiz up 68 floors in 60 seconds to London’s highest viewing platform in the iconic Shard building.
- Sky Garden – London’s highest garden provides great views of the city. Best of all, it’s free!
9. Take a Day Trip
The best way to truly appreciate a country is to get outside of the major cities and see the countryside. There are a lot of charming towns and awesome sites worthy of a day trip from London. Here are some great options:
- Windsor – this village is the home of Windsor Castle where the British Monarchy has lived for 1,000 years. There are plenty of shops and restaurants near the castle. You can also take a Thames riverboat tour there. It’s about 30 minutes from London. Read my post for more wonderful things to do in Windsor!
- Stonehenge – this prehistoric collection of standing stones is located about 2 hours from London.
- Bath – located about 2.5 hours from London, the charming town of Bath dates to Roman times. Highlights include the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, and the Jane Austen Center. Read my post for all the great things you can do in Bath!
- Stratford-upon-Avon -Shakespeare’s birthplace features historical sites related to the bard. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall. The town is 2 hours away from London.
- Cotswolds – about 2 hours away from London you will enter the idyllic English countryside Cotswolds region. It’s a vision with rolling green hills, charming towns, stone walls, and sweeping meadows.
- Oxford – home to Oxford University, this country town is chock full of historic buildings featuring stunning architecture. It’s about 1.5 hours from London.
- Cliffs of Dover – 2 hours away from London, these iconic white cliffs soar above the English Channel. On a clear day, you can see France across the channel!
- Canterbury – of the Canterbury Tales fame, this village lies about 1.5 hours from London and is steeped in history.
10. Shop ’til You Drop
If your teen enjoys shopping, London has plenty to offer. As one of the most famous department stores in the world, Harrods is a must-see. There’s something for everyone. Want to bring home a souvenir for your pet? Harrod’s has a whole room dedicated to pet accessories. Hungry? Then visit one of 24 on-site restaurants. Need a new Teddy bear? Harrod’s has it’s own line. There’s an art gallery on site. You can even buy gold bars and bullion there!
You will probably just window shop at Harrods. Visit Carnaby Street for your real shopping. Located in Soho, you will find the brands you recognize as well as unique one-of-a kind shops. Oxford Street is also a good option spanning 1.5 miles and offering almost 100 flagship stores and 500 restaurants.
11. Discover Something Unusual
Teens will often enjoy doing some off the beaten track activities. And London doesn’t disappoint! Here are some fun options:
- Mudlarking – take a guided tour along the banks of the Thames on a treasure hunt! You can find artifacts from London’s 2000 year history such as pottery shards, coins, clay pipes, glass beads, and more.
- Viktor Wynd’s Museum of Curiosities – ogle at this amazing collection of unusual things such as shrunken heads, two headed animals, sea shell art, magical objects, etc.
- God’s Own Junkyard – bask in the glow of thousands of neon signs and figures within this huge warehouse. Your teen will love how Instagrammable it is!
- Clink Prison Museum – established in 1144, the Clink Prison has a notorious history. Learn all about prison life, famous inmates, and even torture methods at this fascinating museum.
- Leake Street Arches. Located beneath Waterloo Station, these former railway arches feature London’s longest legal graffiti wall. Anyone can paint on the walls, so come prepared with your own spray paint if your teen is so inclined!
12. Enjoy Afternoon Tea
No visit to London with teens is complete without having afternoon tea. Who can resist a three-tiered plate stand filled with sandwiches, scones, and scrumptious desserts? And it’s fun to try teas you have never tasted before. Here are some great options:
- Afternoon Tea at the Swan – located by Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, this restaurant’s dining room has views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the River Thames.
- Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea – this afternoon tea is based on Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and features delicious treats inspired by the story.
- Brigit’s Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – great for shorter trips to London, this option combines a city tour with afternoon tea!
- Jurassic Afternoon Tea – feast on dishes inspired by the Jurassic Park movies at the Ampersand Hotel. They also have an interactive Science Afternoon Tea served in beakers on a rocket ship tiered tray.
- Peter Pan Afternoon Tea – served on a pirate ship stand, this tea is themed after Peter Pan and Neverland. It’s located in the iconic Shard building, so combine it with tickets for a view from the top.
- Riverboat Afternoon Tea – combine your afternoon tea with a boat cruise on the Thames River.
- Potions Afternoon Tea – Harry Potter fans rejoice! This wizard themed afternoon tea is perfect for you.
- Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea – this Alice in Wonderland themed tea celebrates the whimsical world of Wonderland.
Which of these activities would your teen like best?
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