If you were taking 2 teenagers to London

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

.. from Yorkshire for an overnight trip. Where would you stop? And what would you do?

I'm clueless. It's years since I visited. Teenagers are older. 19 and 16. We'd be on a budget so cheap or free is better.

We'd like to see the usual sights. HOP/Tower of London (though I imagine that's a day in itself?). I'd like a boat trip. Kids would like shopping. I'd like Covent Garden. DH is happy with anything historical/museums.

I'm guessing a premier inn would be cheapest? But where?

How does an Oyster card work? Though we've all got bank cards so could use those?

I don't mind walking but would struggle with miles and miles. So central / good links would be essential.
We'd be driving down. How would that work with the congestion charge etc?

Thank you in advance

Trains are better than driving and parking and congestion charges

Camden

Definitely Camden.

Book the TOL and go very early - it gets mad busy!
I would do a museum or 3 - either British Museum, NHM, Science or V&A because they are free and fun. Mine liked to have a nose around the madness of Harrods food Hall and or Fortnum and Masons too.
We liked the PI at Farringdon (Smithfield) best because it is so quiet and new, but if you are driving we have done the one at Westfield in Stratford a lot - it is in the shopping centre and a good way out but you can park there reasonably and it is right on the tube line. DC would like the mall and teh Olympic park is there if you're interested.
Restaurants that mine like: Chop House, any of the Big Mama restaurants, Ottolenghi for breakfast (can't afford it any other time!), brick lane market on a Sunday is fantastic...

Brilliant. Thank you all.

Oh and Flat Iron and Brasserie Zedel!
And try and see a musical or show - the tickets are quite reasonable if you are happy with a not perfect view. We loved Matilda, Alice in Wonderland Ballet at the ROH, Hamilton, Wicked and the Bob Marley Musical.

And you no longer need an oyster card - tap your contactless payment card instead :)

Leake Street graffiti tunnel is worth a wander

The Stranger Things theatre adaptation is very good if they've watched the series.

I'd also try and leave the car somewhere outside central London, eg Slough, and get the train from there.

You can all just use your bank cards to pay for the Tube. It automatically calculates it and will charge you up to the cost of a day pass but no more if you take enough journeys.

Budget food: a small London chain called Pizza Union, about 6-7 branches all around. Pizza is fantastic thin crust and about £6 for a margarita. Cheapest place to feed hungry teenagers in London that I know of. Then you have more money to splash out on other things.

We stayed in the Westminster premier inn hub hotel last feb for my daughters 18 th - small rooms but good . Definitely train in from outer London .
Camden Market is a must and the teens enjoyed covent garden too .
also enjoyed the National Gallery which is free and the Science Museum .

Chinatown and Borough market for food.

Camden is very good for teens

Cable car is a nice thing to do

Take a boat trip on the river....nice way to see a lot and not too expensive

Recently took my DS15 to London. We stayed In Hammersmith as we went to a gig nearby. Went to Camden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Southbank, Leake Street arches, Chinatown and Brixton.

Don't overestimate what you can do in one or two days. Think carefully and look at a map to see where everything is. If you're coming from the North I'd suggest leaving the car somewhere in Hertfordshire like Baldock or Stevenage and getting the train in.

There are tons of museums in London. Can you pick ones that cover subjects your kids are interested in? I know my 12yo would want an art gallery and would die of boredom in the Science museum!

Park at Shenfield on Elizabeth line direct train to bond Street.
My teens loved harrods
Also canary wharf is epic.
Museums they would hate
Its jncrefuble to go up the Shard!!!!
30£ a ticket SO worth it.

We stayed at the premier near east aldgate tube very recently and it was fine. Went to Covent Garden, up Shard, Buck Pal, saw 2 shows, harry potter world, harrods, hyde park.
Didn't really do westmister area this time. Briefly popped in at Tate.

Anything in london's going to be good.

Shows we saw were The Play That Goes Wrong and Standing at The Sky's Edge. Both great.

Ps we have stayed at Central travelodge too by Aldgate Tube. Cheaper than premier and really good too.

I'm sorry to say that London has an increase in pickpocketing/bag dipping at the moment. The perpetrators are incredibly swift and cunning. I recommend something like these mini caribiners. If you have a backpack with a two way zip, you can just clip the two ends of the zip together. With only one end, sew the caribiner to the bag, through the round hole, at the end where it closes and clip the zipper into position.

Only takes a moment to clip onto the zip when it's shut, but sends a would-be zip opener elsewhere. Not only is it a pain to find your bag open and stuff missing, which you have to sort out, but it's good for morale to feel you can do something to stop it.

Is the word "stop" the same a stay- as in where would I stay?

I'm basic and like Covent garden and southbank

Ave Mario is a cool restaurant need to book and I also love flat iron -
Quick service steak restaurants

Brick lane for a visit

Great. Thanks all. Lots to research.

Yes, stop/stay - pretty much interchangeable for me in this situation.
I'm a southerner by birth, but it's years since I ventured down that way. Looking forward to it now.

Drive to Stanmore. Park there. Last time I went it was £6 for a day - you can park overnight. That's where the underground/overground starts. Saves loads of money and stress and hassle.

Don't bother with oyster, use bank cards. Tip I've found, if you use a credit card you get charged the max charge for all zones but bank card is pence. Don't know why but every time I take my DD I give her my bank card and I use my credit card and it's always the same.

Lastminute.com have the boat rides (not used them) and the eye. You can use Clubcard vouchers on this.

That's everything I know.

I've seen adverts for a free skyscraper near the shard and as tall but i think you hVe to book.

Not sure when you’re planning to visit but if you want great views of London without having to pay, I’d recommend the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street and/or Horizon 22 at Bishopsgate. Both are free but you have to pre-book tickets weeks in advance (you can try on the day but I’m not sure how easy it is to get tickets).

If you’re planning to visit the Natural History Museum or Science Museum, you have to pre-book tickets if you want to avoid queuing.

Top tip for the Shard, just go for tea at the Lounge. Not quite as high but great views and you pay for your drinks ONLY.
Sky Garden is also one of the best free tickets in town - just register beforehand

Whilst this is useful advice, it's overly scaremongering. Some of us live here 24/7 and really don't have these problems. Be vigilant. Keep your essentials close to you and don't go flashing around the latest phone 10cm from the kerb, you know, like in most cities in the world