London day trip with teens

[mmmmmchocolate]

If you hadn’t been to London in 20 years and your kids had never been, what would you say are the must see sights?

The train drops off at Marylebone and we’ve got about 10 hours there. I don’t want to spend loads but show them some of the touristy spots, Buckingham palace, Big Ben, harrods etc.

So where would you all recommend? And if you know the tube stations near places that would be great!

How old are the kids? It makes a difference if you're looking for nice things for little kids and you need buggy friendly tube routes or if you're looking for things to entertain teenagers.
All the things you've mentioned are relatively close. You could start by walking to Marylebone High St for breakfast/lunch. Then walk to Bond St tube to get the Jubilee line to Westminster where you can see Big Ben. Then it's a nice stroll through St James Park from there to Buckingham Palace. You could keep on walking through Green Park and Hyde Park down to Knightsbridge to see Harrods or you could get Piccadilly line from Green Park tube if you've had enough walking.
In that neck of the woods you also have a brilliant Waterstones with an enormous kids section, a nice cafe by the Serpentine in Hyde Park, the Diana playground in Kensington Gardens, the Royal Albert Hall, the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and V&A in Kensington.
You could also think about a river boat trip. There's a Tate to Tate boat from Tate Britain to Tate Modern.

Sorry, just seen you did say teens in the title. Ignore my question about whether the kids are little.

Covent Garden is quite a popular place for teens, it’s has street performers, stalls and shops and interesting places to eat and drink. Glossier is a very popular cosmetics shop too, if your teen is into make-up, and is in central Covent Garden.

The nearest tube is Covent Garden on the Piccadilly Line (although there are other stations nearby too) but I’d suggest you could get tickets for the hop on-hop off tour buses to get your bearings and hop off when a place looks interesting. I’m not sure of costs for the buses but they are regular and the driver gives a guide talk as you are driving through the main areas. The bus will take you past all the touristy places like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben etc. It will also pass St Paul’s (maybe at St Paul’s you can hop off and walk along the Millennium Bridge to the Globe / Tate Modern area). There are quite a few free things to do in central London especially if the weather is nice.
Have a good trip!

IME teens often enjoy some of the cooler areas of London like Spitalfields and Coal Drops Yard.

Camden for teens?

Outernet is good.

Teens love Shoreditch.

@mmmmmchocolate

I would recommend getting tickets for a hop-on hop-off bus - they will see all the famous places they already know of in London.

If you look at the various stops on the routes, you'll probably spot some which have particular appeal to them and which are good to stop off at for a look around.

Bus tours are always a good idea when visiting a city for just a short time, I find.

https://www.bigbustours.com/en/london/london-bus-tours

Spitalfields Market Food Court

https://www.spitalfields.co.uk/food-drinks/

Liverpool Street tube and Shoreditch High Street overground nearest stations.

I would get some buses so you can see stuff while you're en route to various places.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/using-buses-in-london?intcmp=53125

Sights, my teens have enjoyed The London Eye, The Sky Garden, The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate, The Monument - going up stuff basically for the views of the city.

Sky Garden is a good suggestion if you're going to the City. DD really liked the views. I think you have to book ahead.

Horizon 22 is a good alternative….free as well

Mine loved walking past Buckingham palace, St James's Park and then up to Trafalgar Square. It's nice around Westminster too so they can see houses of parliament and Big Ben.
They will probably love Leicester square.
Can you fit in a river cruise? Or the London eye?

They may like the m and m store at Leicester sq ….I still like going here with my GDs and I’m in my 50s 😁….then having a mooch around soho