London with preteens tomorrow - help!!!

[Amandasummers]

I suffered from a severe case of mum/school holiday guilt today and told the kids (9, 10 and 12) I’d leave their toddler brother with nanny and take them to London tomorrow!

I love a good stroll about London but now im worrying that’s going to be pretty boring!!! I haven’t got the money for big attractions and their all old out anyway so it really is going to be a day of making our own fun but im stumped.

My first thought was changing of the guard but after reading up im now so overloaded with information I don’t know which bit to go to or at what time!!

I’ve got Camden on the list for a visit to Hans gretal

And I’ve got Covent Garden/Leicester Square type places on the list but im really getting myself in a tizz about it now and need a plan.

I know this topic has been done to death and I’ve searched through but it’s normally requests from those with younger kids!

Any ideas or can anyone formulate some form of plan for me before I lose my mind 😩

Diana Memorial Garden

You can hire a pedalo for £29 for an hour at Hyde Park - it's really fun and there's a cafe right next to the boat place. It's also near Kensington Gardens and Knightsbridge.

Also Tower of London is a good day out if you go early. Or maybe get the boat down to Greenwich and back?

Might they be into the cloths and jewellery bits of the V&A?

Free, but you need to book at the moment.

If you find yourself near Oxford Circus, the Underbelly Festival in Cavendish Sq. is fun, with street food etc. Look it up online.

Also if you are in St Paul's area, go to the Museum of London. The free bits are good for all ages.

You could spend most of the day wandering round Camden.
Boat to Greenwich is a good call. There’s a market there which is nice for a wander. There’s also a fun tunnel under the Thames from Greenwich.
The sightseeing bus?
The free museums? V and A?

Clipper boat from Westminster to Greenwich and then take the cable car across the river?

Walk down the south bank and watch the street entertainers. Covent Garden is also good for a wander.

Diana memorial park in Kensington gardens Is great but 12 yr old might be too grown up for parks.. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hamleys often have fun demonstrations this time of the year and things to explore!

Assuming they haven’t been to London before and you aren’t local? I would go to changing of the guard, as you say, it must be about 10.30/11ish? Walk down the mall, quick diversion to look at the view from st James’ park bridge, and another quick diversion to see horse guards parade, into Trafalgar Square. National portrait gallery is brilliant. Then tube to Westminster to look at Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and London Eye, back on tube to Covent Garden - see some street entertainment. I wouldn’t bother with Leicester Square. If time left over get the dock lands railway to see the skyscrapers!

You could see if the Globe has any £5 standing tickets? It’s a great experience

Tower of London in the morning.
Walk across Tower Bridge and along the Southbank and cross to the Northbank via Hungerford Bridge.
Option 1: Pop into the National Gallery to look at Van Gogh''s sunflowers and much else besides.
Take the number 9 bus to Hyde Park.
Option 2: go and see the Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, or visit the Science Museum.
Boating on the Serpentine in the afternoon.
Wander around Soho/Trafalgar Square/Leicester Square/Westminster and have a Chinese in the evening,
HAVE FUN
NB: All museums are free but require prior (timed) booking.

Sorry - forgot another option: Tate Modern on the Southbank!!!

hi Op my thread has lots of ideas and there's another thread linked to on it which has more.

I think if I were you, as a newcomer to London, I'd head to the South Bank. See if there are any tickets at the Tate drawing session thing available. I have booked crazy golf in the between the bridges festival too. Wahaca is a good place for lunch down that way, although there's lots of places. A river boat tour too.

I wouldn't bother with Camden - my pre-teens don't particularly find it special.

My children I've taking around this week are 9 and 12. I've got a mix of museums/galleries and physical activities.

My kids actually really like the British Museum too.

Oh @Amandasummers I also agreed in a fit of guilt to take my children and DSD to London tomorrow. We are going to the Tower of London, river boat to Westminster and hopefully to the Emirates cable car depending on time!!

I shall look out for you.... 😂

I’ve also found the Tate modern and Southbank a real hit with pre teens, also good lunch options along there or benches to sit and have a picnic

The play area at battersea park is amazing for kids that age. And it's free.

Our fave free activity is feeding the parakeets in Kensington gardens. Can waste quite a bit of time doing that!

We’re in London at the mo and have a day of mooching about planned tomorrow. We don’t bother with the big attractions these days. Dds are teens and not that fussed. Might pop to the national gallery or the British museum, but other than that it’ll be parakeets and shopping.

We always gravitate towards the south bank, And grab lunch in borough market.

but from Camden Town you could walk along the Canal to Regent’s Park, or continue to little Venice.

@CrimeJunkie01 what time did you book for the towers…I’m tempted, perhaps we could join forces and find an old dungeon to lock them in while we go for wine instead?! 🤣

Don't plan too much. Camden can take a good few hours (don't forget to go to Cyberdog!). Walk along the canal, perhaps to Regents Park and try and spot some of the London Zoo animals from outside. The playground in Regents park has a zip wire thing the younger 2 might still be able to enjoy.

Covent Garden is great and then walk down to the river from there, it's not far. Walk along the river and TBH all of that will be exhausting and enough. If you've got any energy left you could take the boat a couple of stops (just tap your card or oyster like on a bus). Enjoy!

Southbank to watch the street artists, a mosey through borough market or Greenwich food market, if you have money go on the Emirates cable car from the O2.

@Amandasummers 1pm. It was only £52 for 1 adult and 2 children. I'll be the one with 2 sullen 14 year olds (DS and DSD) and probably arguing with youngest DS who is 11.

[quote CrimeJunkie01]@Amandasummers 1pm. It was only £52 for 1 adult and 2 children. I'll be the one with 2 sullen 14 year olds (DS and DSD) and probably arguing with youngest DS who is 11.[/quote]
That should be 1 adult and 3 children.

@Amandasummers maybe we could steal the Crown Jewels together and run away

@CrimeJunkie01 I’m looking at 2pm as well, also 1 adult and 3 children but I’m getting priced at £75 😩