Kidzania for Year 8

[FlamingGusset]

I'm planning a school trip to London for the end of March. I will be going with my year 8 class from France, the kids will be 12 years old at the time of the time.

I was wondering if anyone has been with slightly older kids? The website said it's good up til 14 years old, but was hoping someone could recommend? I do think the kids will love it... but hard to tell whether it's really for a younger crowd or not.

When I went, there were a few children of secondary age there. However, they seemed more interested in hanging around, in a Saturday-afternoon-in-town kind of way, or trying to irritate the younger children, rather than participating in the activities.

If you have a very "young" group, who would enjoy the role-play, then maybe, otherwise it could be an expensive day out with little value.

I took my Brownies earlier this year & the two 13-year-old Guides who help with the Unit quite enjoyed getting to have a play themselves, but it was the pair of them going round with an 11yo Guide; with some helping the Brownies as they went.

I'd certainly not run a Guide (age 10-14) trip there, it's very much geared, in my opinion, to children up to the age of about 10/11 - the move to secondary school making a pretty big difference, I think. While there we encountered some very bored Scouts who were slouching about despondently; & some Guides who would very clearly rather have been shopping in Westfield.

So no, basically, I'd not do it - think it'd be a VERY expensive mistake. There's so SO much to do in London (& lots of it free) that you'll have no problems creating an exciting & varied programme for the week. If you want/need help with it there are heaps of London-based teachers & Scout & Guide Leaders about who could help with the logistics of herding groups of 12yos around our fair city as well as suggestions for places to visit if you need them...

Take them to sky garden-it’s free. Kidzania is great but they are a bit too old.

My DD went for her 11th birthday and I’d say they were slightly too old, and her and her friends aren’t mature for their age.

Can think of many better things in London for 12 year olds....

Thanks everyone ! I'll probably start a new thread, asking for ideas for my school group.

On the other hand, I'll definitely have to book a trip for my appropriate aged DC the next time we're over.

Year 8s did it last year at dd2's school. Her year-year9 were madly jealous.
I think it'll be fine

We've been a couple of times and year 8 is way too old, my year 6 son was bored.
It's more suitable for 5-9/10 yo