Tourist in your own city - London

[BrinkWomanship]

I’ve taken my two DDs to most of the more obvious places in London. I’d really welcome some less obvious suggestions of things we can do. They’re aged 11 and 14. The eldest is jaded as only a teen can be. She’s into history, art and science but the youngest is easily bored and a gallery or museum is dull for her. She says she doesn’t know what she likes (which is fair enough - she is only 11!) though enjoyed the science museum which we’ve now done to death.

Please help inspire me!

I used to take my daughter here a lot.

I love London Walks https://www.walks.com/ and have learned loads about areas I thought I knew well.

When I was in my early 20s I went on one of those open top bus tours and enjoyed it. I've done them in other towns too

Horniman is fab, but better for young kids imo. Dts love Camden, an uber boat down to Greenwich, Chinatown for bao buns, brick lane, and the m&m store in Leicester Square (do everything you can to avoid!)

Tower Hamlet cemetary park. When they stopped using it as a cemetery, they left the trees and plants to grow. Its actually nice to walk through and if interested, can find specific graves. They used have an annual, summer festival with multiple events on too. There are other, similar cemeteries in london too.
https://fothcp.org/

If wanting something for a Sunday, have you been to Bricklane markets and columbia flower market? I've visit early to avoid the crowds.

Museum of the Home (used to be called the Geffrye)

https://museumofthehome.org.uk/whats-on/rooms-through-time/

Postman's Park had a big impact on my Danish Girl guides last summer. They found it really moving.

Ooh what about the beautiful sewage place?

Crossness Pumping Station?

https://crossness.org.uk/

https://www.inthehiddencity.com/london-treasure-hunt

On my list for my kids, similar age. A friend has done it and said it is fantastic

The Welcome collection is interesting. The London Transport museum depot with all the things which aren't in the museum is good if you can get a spot.
You could do a tour of the London lidos? There are loads. allthelidos.co.uk/map-of-all-the-outdoor-swimming-pools-and-lidos-in-the-uk-the-complete-list/

You could try doing one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/mystery-guides-london/s?k=mystery+guides+london&tag=smbravukdstens-21

They take about 3 hours to do and you get to see different parts of London as well as having to solve the clues on your way round.

That's the one!

Climbing the rigging on the Cutty Sark (expensive though)?

Ooh, this made me think of the hidden London tours the museum run of closed (or closed bits of) Tube stations. Not sure about minimum ages on some of them though.

https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/hidden-london?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17440913420&gbraid=0AAAAADcvytPMAPk-2rWJ9lDbssYGSF3GS&gclid=CjwKCAjwqJXUBhBNEiwA8BgG7kSts5HfcWB8KnJl1J7-Q_nZy7eQyje2BMTrPzIK4_nzkjnEDreYZxoCUfEQAvD_BwE

@BrinkWomanship
London is awash with immersive/VR experiences which could satisfy the older ones interests and may inspire some interests in the younger one.
I went to see a Tutenkhamun one in Birmingham recently, lots of children there.
If I lived in London and be going to one every week.

https://feverup.com/en/london/immersive-experiences?srsltid=AfmBOoqgwjyiHp1RUCjWHZ6wMgYrJE6vnyw6XklSreE9Oop6cIhC1xPy

The Musuem of Illusions and Paradox are interesting and very interactive and not a traditional musuem

Huntarian Museum ( it is quite.....medical so not if you don't like the thought of bodies)
Java Whiskers is nice if you like cats and if there's a kitten on scene but most of the adults sit in their high beds and stare at you ( I have two cats so I accept this )

Loads of Ghost/Ripper/Krays walks but probably an age restriction.

Dennis Servers house is on my list , I'm looking out for Christmas dates

Here are a few ideas.
-Over a period of time, visit all the protected views of St Paul’s and take a picture of the cathedral from each one. It took me ages to line up my phone with the telescope viewer to get a pic from Richmond park!

-Visit an area with a lot of blue plaques, and then look up the life story and achievements of the people involved.

-Read up on the history of Bankside and Borough, and then walk round the area - The Globe, the site of The Tabard Inn, The Clink, the ruins of the Bishop of Winchester’s Palace, Cross Bones graveyard and lots more, and have a goats milk ice cream from Borough Market.

-Visit all the places on the Monopoly board - in order, if possible. Do it on foot and by bus rather than the tube. Take a picture of each, print them out, and stick the to your family Monopoly board.

-Make a list of songs about London places - everything from nursery rhymes to pop. Then let them go to each location, and make a video of themselves singing that song. So, for example, “London Bridge is falling down” on London Bridge, “Let’s all go down the Strand” on the Strand and “Waterloo Sunset” on Waterloo Bridge.

Severs

DH and I went to the underground bunker I think Clapham Common. Lots of steps but fascinating history
And Pudding Lane

The automaton museum is fantastic (and not really a museum at all because you can play with everything!).

I would second Hidden City! Really, really fun and takes you to things you wouldn't normally see. Treasure Trails are also really good fun and again cover areas and things you wouldn't normally visit.

(Apologies if this has already been suggested. I couldn't be bothered to read every reply).

Go on a Banksy hunt to see one in the wild, or visit an exhibition.

Graffitti tunnels waterloo
Skateboarders under the S Bank

Royal Parks - Bushy Park is wonderful

Walk sections of the Thames Path e.g Richmond to Kew or the other way to Ham House

Maze at Hampton Court

Any of the outdoor cinema showings near you?

It's London Theatre Week - loads of very cheap tickets for west end shows available London Theatre Week – Official Tickets | What's On

Uber Boat down the Thames

Kew Gardens to see the Henry Moore sculptures.

Boat along the Regents Canal from Little Venice to Camden Market. Join Our Regent’s Canal Boat Trips | London Waterbus Company

Climb up the roof at Alexandra Palace to look south over London. Summit - Ally Pally Rooftop Adventure < Alexandra Palace