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Original poster

Days out American Visitors

67 replies

Jaffacake76 · 24/05/2025 19:40

Hi,
I have family visiting from USA. Their children 14 yrs old girl & 13 yr old boy..any suggestions they’re here for 5 days. We’re based near Guildford but happy to drive.

I'm also planning on doing gift bags for them but have no idea what to buy!

id be so grateful for any suggestions?

OP posts:
UName38 · 24/05/2025 20:28

If they haven’t been then London and the sights - seeing old buildings and the sights- they just don’t have it apart from a very few indigenous peoples’ sites.

Otherwise talk to them about what their interests are.

HeddaGarbled · 24/05/2025 20:24

Proper fish and chips

MrsMoastyToasty · 24/05/2025 20:18

Bristol and Bath. They're only about 20 minutes between the two by train.

atesomanybananas · 24/05/2025 20:18

…and lunch at the Sky Garden which is really cool.

atesomanybananas · 24/05/2025 20:16

From Guildford I’d go to London - Tower (Crown Jewels), trip down the Thames and open top bus tour, Camden and Covent Garden. Then Portsmouth and the dockyards. Chessington or Thorpe Park? Windsor? None of these are too far away.

alseb · 24/05/2025 20:16

Whereabouts in America do they live? Is it a city or rural area?

HeddaGarbled · 24/05/2025 20:11

Borough Market. If you ever watch American YouTubers vlogging about their trips to London, that always seems to be a highlight.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 24/05/2025 20:06

Cotswolds - Bourton on the Water is lovely, the miniature village is quite a novelty. plus Cotswold Wildlife Park.

Arrestedforit · 24/05/2025 20:03

A visit to Hampton Court Palace is a fairly obvious suggestion? Or Windsor Castle?

Genevieva · 24/05/2025 20:01

Portsmouth Royal Historic Dockyard.

dottiedodah · 24/05/2025 19:52

I think london as above PP said. Also Oxford isn't too far and is very beautiful. Kent is pretty too.Canterbury Cathedral.,Dover Castle. Dungeoness is cool too .have a great time!

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/05/2025 19:52

Depends on their interests really.

I'd take them to see the kind of stuff they don't have in the US.

Stonehenge, a decent castle, trip to somewhere like Oxford.

Definitely at least one day up in London.

cestlavielife · 24/05/2025 19:50

With the kids wait to see their interests.
A teen might not be impressed with a tea bag!

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 24/05/2025 19:48

What about the rib boats down the Thames. Go for one of the blast ones that spend most of the time outside the speed controlled zone.

then brick lane / camden

Ineedtocheckmylist · 24/05/2025 19:46

JazzyBBBG · 24/05/2025 19:43

They do love Stratford and all things Shakespeare... but you're nearer London so I'm sure you won't be short on things more locally.
Gift bags - tea and custard creams! Oddly Americans are also intrigued by squash (juice) as they don't have it the same way we do.

Stratford On Avon is a bit of a trek. Personally I'd take them to the central London - the Tower, Westminster Abbey a river boat tour etc.

JazzyBBBG · 24/05/2025 19:43

They do love Stratford and all things Shakespeare... but you're nearer London so I'm sure you won't be short on things more locally.
Gift bags - tea and custard creams! Oddly Americans are also intrigued by squash (juice) as they don't have it the same way we do.

cestlavielife · 24/05/2025 19:43

Ask them their interests? ?
Offer them a list
Active go ape or sit on a bus or boat?
Do they want to visit London or Canterbury? Coast or countryside?
www.visitsurrey.com/guildford/things-to-do-in-guildford/family-fun/