3 days in London with kids - most fun things.

[Ozgirl75]

I’m spending 3 days in London with my two boys in January. They’re 12 and 14 and we have been before but I want to do some really fun and wow things with them. My oldest is fine, he adores museums and everything but my 12 year old is way less enamoured and I would love some suggestions of just really fun things to do with them.

Things he has enjoyed before are; the London Transport museum in Docklands, the DLR, Canary Wharf in general, the Natural History museum, the Lego shop (!). He was not overly thrilled with the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the open top bus. He is a “doer” so anywhere that he can do hands on things is great for him.

Any suggestions for unusual things would be great - thank you!

We always tend to revolve trips around my older one as he is so easy to please when it comes to sightseeing but I want to have some really great stuff for my younger one too as he lets himself be taken round so many museums, uncomplaining, but I can tell he doesn’t LOVE them.

I’ve lived in London for years but only recently went on the oyster boat on the Thames. It was great, brilliant view of the sights.

Uber boat, sorry.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/river/about-river-bus

Camden market usually popular with that age group.

Madame Tussauds, London Dungeons, London Eye, Open Top tour bus, Musicals, Tower of London.

The Science Museum and the Wonder Lab there is fab and very hands on. My boys did like Madame Tussaud’s at that age. The cable car over the Thames is quite fun. Camden Market worked well for them and wandering around Covent Garden and the South Bank.

Mine loved a ghost walk. Such a good way to learn about the dark history of London.

We’re staying not far from Camden so that sounds great - and I love the idea of the cable car over the Thames! Never even heard of that before!
I was wondering about one of those Horrible Histories boat tours? They loved the show when they were younger but is it aimed at a younger audience?

Oh yes he would LOVE a ghost walk!

London Dungeons - we did the Edinburgh dungeons and all loved it. Is the London one very claustrophobic? (My issue!)

If you’re staying in Camden you could walk up Parliament Hll in Hampstead, iconic view of London.

speedboat tour from Westminster through town with all the views then fast out to the Thames Barrier

skywalk tour at Tottenham Ground - wall over top of stadium on elevated walkway with amazing views of town

early morning breakfast at Borough Market when it’s buzzing but before it’s flooded with tourists then to the Old Operating Theatre Museum nearby which is small but fascinating tour of a Victorian operating theatre. Interesting but nice and short for teens.

graffiti and street art walking tour in the East End then a curry near Brick Lane. Maybe Spitalfields market in that area too.

Tower Bridge tour into engine rooms to see how it’s lifted and over glass floor walk on upper section

The Orbital Slide in Greenwich

hire Lime Bikes and ride through Hyde Park from Hyde Park Corner through to Kensington High Street

Thank you, I LOVE these suggestions!