Days out American Visitors

London of course and perhaps Stonehenge and Avebury. Take them to a really old pub, tends to go down well with Americans, and perhaps Thorpe park or similar to entertain the kids. A castle or stately home perhaps Petworth. Bath is also a good place to take Americans, though it’s heaving in summer

Windsor and Eton.

That sounds lovely, may I ask where you hired the boat?

We hired a little motor boat and went all along the river Arun recently. The teens took it in turns to drive which they loved and the countryside was beautiful.

You could easily combine that with a trip to Arundel castle as well

Just to do a ‘decent castle’ list achievable from Guildford:
Hampton Court Palace - if you go on a day when the staff are dressed up and the Tudor kitchens are going, it’s hard to beat.
Leeds Catle - actual castle is crap but the adventure playground is massive, they have jousting and falconry some days and you can do a picnic in the lovely grounds
Windsor would get my vote - not cheap but well worth it. The town is lovely and then there’s the park.
Tower of London - less castle more fortress and is really good if you can avoid the pickpockets!
Arundel Castle - not been but that’s striking distance
Hever Castle - again not been but hear it’s good.

if you want to combine it with Shakespeare take them to Warwick Castle and Stratford. Warwick is a bit disneyfied compared to what I remember in the 80’s (derelict) but Americans like that sort of thing.

I live North Surrey (Zone 4). My kids are younger so I’m hopeless on teenagers.
I would suggest Windsor Castle and visit the great park.
Got to do Buckingham palace, St James’s Park/serpentine
Westminster, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square.
I personally think Canterbury is a bit crap. So is Winchester. Sorry but you’ve ’done it’ in about an hour! I’d take them to Bath or Oxford and Stonehenge.
shopping at Westfield? Carnaby Street, Bond Street etc might win over teenagers?
Is Wicked still on at the west end?
As you know Guildford has that Ninja Warrior UK and the Ice Rink? I actually think Guildford town centre is lovely!

Wait to see their reaction with our chocolate and crisps, they may be happy to have bags of snacks to take back. I'd hold off because they might like something branded or themed that you can't get online, so when shopping you might be able to treat them instead. My DD and her friend carry sweets, biscuits, tea bags and jam when they go to the US, for family members.

Stratford on Avon is a good one for US guests, the birthplace of Shakespeare and all. Do not give them marmite unless you dislike them. They will be baffled by baked beans. Buy them some crumpets (so they can tell their friends at home they had tea and crumpets) and offer to do the voice for their voicemail (weirdly this is super popular as they like the British accent). Buy them goods from your area, so farm products they might like to try/ nice bit of fudge. Enjoy!

With young teens, I'd definitely do some London sights, maybe an open top bus tour. London Dungeons and London Eye. Harry Potter experience? Thorpe Park? West End Show & dinner in Chinatown. Sunday lunch in a proper pub. Trip to the seaside?

Leeds Castle is expensive, and the tickets are valid all year, so, it’s not really worth it for a one off.
They also take your photo when you buy the tickets, so they won’t be able to give them to someone else when they go home.

I had my wedding reception in there.

The Painted Hall in Greenwich is beautiful, and still free (i think).

Based on my experiences with teens in the US:

definitely London! They’ll have seen it all on film.

one castle or palace (unless they’re historical nerd children like mine).

Harry Potter: this is a divisive one so not unless you know they like it.

I would really ask what they’re into. Some teens get terribly bored being taken to historical things, others love it.

Jane Austens House in Chawton, near Alton?

It matters a lot where they're from in the US but definitely the main London sites, start with things around the Thames as the London skyline is so impressive, so much history

River boat to Greenwich, yes

Some suggestions on here are really weird, Americans are not fascinated by squash or shopping malls!
Gift bags not necessary

Guildford to the Mary Rose in Portsmouth is quite a quick drive straight down the A3, then some discounted retail therapy at Gunwharf Quays, which is only a couple of minutes walk from there.

Hever castle is lovely and not too far a drive from Guildford. Friday street and lunch at the pub there. I’d skip the gift bags TBH. Agree with Hampton court— you could spend a whole day there.

When are they coming?
Interests?

London: Fortnums, Buck House, South Ken Museums, boat trip along the Thames is always good. London Eye? Fringe theatre - you've the Yvonne Araud in Guildford, or somewhere like the White Bear in South London.

Will they be here for any of the big events: Ascot, the Derby, Henley?

Leeds Castle.

A day in Brighton - fish and chips on the beach, the Lanes, the Pavillion.

Trip to Bath and visit to a beautiful English village like Bradford on Avon?

Defo do The Globe

On one of the days, get a train into London.

Walk along the Thames. London Eye, walk past festival hall. Visit The Globe... Tate Modern... Go to the top for a drink. Good view. Borough. Get on a boat from there and go to Greenwich (can chill, photo etc) You'll go under Tower Bridge, past Tower of London etc. See Cutty Sark or observatory (won't have time for both...) get boat back to Westminster - can walk past Westminster Cathedral, see Buck Palace. Get a cab back to Waterloo (black cab !) Home.

Or shopping .. All the regular haunts. That could be a second day. Harrods, Covent Garden, Kings Rd... Or they may be more east London.. Truman, Brick Lane etc.

Also, modern stuff? Harry Potter world at Leavesden(Watford) - although expensive and maybe too late to book?

A taste of British life is a good shout also - supermarket, large shopping centre (Bluewater etc), bus ride, taxi ride, train ride, fish and chips, icecream at the beach etc.

You need at least one day doing the sights - Buckingham palace, Big Ben, Trafalger square, , etc,

Cambridge or Oxford is a good shout.

Leeds castle (in Kent) is a lovely castle to visit and not too far.

What about Greenwich - naval museum, Cutty Sark, market etc?

Does depend a bit if this is a 'once in a lifetime = want to see as much as I can' trip, or if they come over every couple of years.

Working on basis of 'once in a lifetime' then London has to be at least one, but probably 2 days.
Then a historic town or City such as Bath, Bristol, Oxford, etc.
A castle (if not doing the Tower of London)
From where you are, I'd have thought Portsmouth wasn't too fa, and lots of history.

Most visitors from abroad genuinely seem to enjoy a bit of time finding out about daily life - including a trip to the supermarket. But I'd also through in a pint at a nice country pub.

Oh, and the Harry Potter experience.

Too many to name - depends partly on whether you want iconic UK trips or just to keep them entertained (or a mixture). Also what they're interested in.

There's lots of good trampoline parks around (AirHop in Guildford), also ice-skating. Wisley Gardens nearby, but might be too tame. A London hop-on, hop-off boat or bus tour would probably be good, along with a posh afternoon tea.