London 2 days Half term with teens. Suggestions please?

[inthesticks]

We are genuine country bumpkins and took the DSs to London for the first time two years ago.
They loved it.
We are going again at half term for 2 nights and I want some ideas.DS1 is 14 and DS2 is 12.
Much to my surprise they were very keen on the museums and want to go back. We visited the Natural History and Science museums and I wondered which others would be top of your list.

We didn't go to a theatre last time as they seemed very expensive and I wouldn't know what to choose. Any recommendations or tips on booking please?
I also thought some kind of bus tour might be a good idea.

Bus tours are fun, but the open-top ones can be grim if the weather isn't great.

The British Museum and Victoria and Albert museum are both great, but have a look at their website first and work out if there is anything you'd like to see. The Muaseum of London has some quite interesting exhibitions on sometimes.

Any interest in art? The Tate Modern is quite good fun. The National Portrait Gallery is good if you like that sort of thing, and in a great location.

How about a boat down the river? Only if the weather isn't too grim, though.

We took ds, who is 16 over the Summer and the things he really enjoyed { as well as the Natural History and Science museums } were :

The British mueum - probably enjoyed that moew than the other museums
A boat trip dowm the Thames taking in lots os landamrks. There is also the Duck tours which are in amphibious vehicles that do tours that include a trip in the river.
The Tower of London - ds particularly enjoyed the White Tower as there was lots of armour and armaments.
We Will Rock You at the Dominion theatre. That was ds's favourite bit of all, but he is a Queen fan
Seeing all the ultra expensive cars parked round the side entrance to Harrods - lots of cars he'd seem on Top Gear like Bugatti Vayrons. That was another high point for him.

Had we had more time we would have gone on the London Eye, seen a performance at the Globe {ds is a budding amateur actor so would love this }, and gone to Covent Garden.

Sorry about all the typo's !

Ds would also probably have enjoyed the V and A and the Imperial War Museum.

Took DS (12) and a a visitor (19) to London the other week. London Eye is worth doing - we booked for the first time slot on Sunday morning (10am) but turned up early as we were staying nearby and more or less walked straight on - there was no queue, and they actually started it going at about 9.30. Queues can be pretty bad by the afternoon.

Camden market always seems to go down very well with teens/preteens - it is huge these days, with lots of silly t-shirts, fashion, music, general tat and a good choice of cheap food stalls.

Tickets for musicals can be very expensive but it is worth trying things like Lastminute.com, or if you don't mind being really last minute, getting same-day tickets from the booth in Leicester Square. We've done We Will Rock You and Wicked recently - Wicked probably less appealing to teenage boys but still fun. Next choice would be Stomp, I think.

DS also keen to do the Duck tour - we saw a few of them driving around - but we didn't have time. The ordinary boat trips or river buses are also worth doing (and much cheaper).

Other museums - Tate Modern can be fun, and the Transport Museum is good if your DSs have any interest in that sort of thing...

That's the British Museum and Imperial War museum on the list then.
We did the Duck tour last time and I can highly recommend it.
Perhaps a bus tour without the open top, even if it's dry it's likely to be cold.

StandingAtTheBackLookingStupid the fancy cars behind Harrods would be right up their street, that's definately worth a look.

Is Camden market a permanent fixture on is it on certain days?

Never thought of a gallery, that might be pushing culture too far but if it's not too expensive worth a go.

We will Rock You would probably appeal , at least they know the music.

Galleries are free. Tate Modern might be good because even if you're not into art there are some really interesting things.

There's a booth in Leicester Square which sells unsold tickets half-price if you buy them on the day.

Camden seems to be open every day now but busiest at weekends (Sunday afternoons they only let you out of Camden tube, you have to go to Chalk Farm to go back). I would guess half-term it would be quite busy too.

What about the Imax cinema if weather not great. Also, The London Dungeon? tower of London? A Walking tour? A boat trip from westminster to greenwich and visit the O2 Arena? Trocadero (sorry about spelling). famous shops such as Hamleys, Harrods, Liberties.

Try and mix free stuff and stuff you have to pay for:

Tate Modern - strongly recommend, combined with walk across "wobbly bridge" to St Pauls. Eat in the ground floor cafe at Tate, it's very good.

I would say transport museum is too young for your children. Science and Nat History museums will have stuff they'll like. Another freebie is the National Portrait Gallery - lots of kids like the early rooms with Tudor kings and queens portraits and it's close to Trafalgar Square and to Chinatown - possible meal stop? And Admiralty House, just along the Strand is a good visit, less often on the main tourist trail.

For paid stuff I highly recommend the Eye, and the duck bus. Open Top Bus Tour is quite good but very expensive. Get an oyster card and DIY it!

Have a lovely time

In August we went on boat trip from London Eye pontoon down to Greenwich. Museums there are free, big hill to run/walk/puff up and see meridian line/observatory. Great view from top looking back over towards Canary Wharf and other landmarks. Much nicer than I thought, would go again!

Its not to everyones taste but Ripleys, which stays open late at night was a hit with my children. We ate out first then went on later on as a treat. Also, not for the faint hearted is the London Dungeon. Eat at the Horniman pub next to the river - fab views.

Agree with exexpat about Camden or Portobello Rd if you want street atmosphere/trendy hangout. Loads of ideas here. The less well-known theatre shows might cost less- what about The Woman in Black (ghost story), remember as excellent.

Hi there, are you still planning going London half term? I'm planning to go with my 12 year old and somebody mentioned was it safe there at the moment and I wasnt sure whether to take head?! Anyway I have been to the natural history in the past and can highly recommend a visit there and this time we're hoping to go to Ripleys (with tesco vouchers) and the boat and bus trips sound fab.

I lost this thread as it dropped off threads I'm on. Thanks to everyone else who has contributed. Yes we'll be there next week.
mummymeister - I was wondering what to do in the evening. I don't think any of us are keen on a show. If it was just me and DH it would be easy. I don't know what Ripleys is but will check it out.