Dagtrip to London with DSS12

[Stepmum72]

Hi,

I'm going to take my stepson to London for a day trip (arriving about 9am, leaving about 6.30pm by train). He really wants to see London Bridge and go on the London Eye. He's not British (or a city kid) and this will be his first time in England so is keen to see and try things that are new: fish & chips, M&M store, Chinatown, street art, try Boost (Hydration only, he's not allowed the energy drip obviously)...

The trip isnt until the start of June but I'm trying to plan ahead so he gets the most from it. (He's so excited to go!)

Two questions:

• Any advice or recommendations on what a 12 year old boy might really enjoy on his first trip to London?
• His parents are excited for him but any tips on what I can do to make them as happy/comfortable etc as possible for them? (It'll be the first time any of their 3 kids have been away without one of them there and I especially don't want his mum to worry even though we have a great relationship I think she could get stressed on the day.)

I've managed to bring my children up here for well over 11 years without ever feeling the need to take them there.

It's literally a sweet shop that you have to queue to get in to. Total waste of time. Why not just take them to the junk food aisle in tesco?

You might find these maps from TFL interesting - walking routes that are less than 20 mins long - things are much closer than you think in the centre and it’s wonderful to wander through the quiet back streets rather than going up and down escalators on packed tubes.

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/walking-times-and-steps-shops-attractions-west-end.pdf

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/city-of-london-walking-map.pdf

The City walking map has specific trails.

I always think that when I walk past the big queue at Madame Tussaud's. Just why?

But things like TikTok means that kids often fixate on something irrational but enjoyable for them despite it making little sense to us.

If Borough Market doesn't suit your timing, there are a load of food stalls behind the Royal Festival Hall, i.e. very near the London Eye, as well as many stall along the river there. I wouldn't bother going out as far as Greenwich or Richmond as you've only got a few hours.

A river boat from the London Eye up to Tower Bridge might be a good way to see it, and you can always just come straight back to continue your sightseeing in the West End.

"I always think that when I walk past the big queue at Madame Tussaud's. Just why?"

They let the whole queue in every 15 minutes. It's a time slot, not one by one entry.

The 4D cinema and the London cab ride in there are great. The waxworks are good but the themed killers walk through and the Star Wars area are really good.

And if the boy wants to go to the M&m shop and been saving up his money I don't know why you'd shit on his parade by taking him to Tesco and feeling all superior about it. Fuck me.

And if the boy wants to go to the M&m shop and been saving up his money I don't know why you'd shit on his parade by taking him to Tesco and feeling all superior about it. Fuck me.

I was saying the opposite. I have teenagers and they often choose things I wouldn't.

I don't understand the popularity of Madame Tussaud's but each to their own. We once had a German chap staying and his two requests were Madame Tussaud's and taking a photo on Abbey Road.

shame youre only doing a day trip as id have 100% said the box. jack the ripper museum in white chapel worth a visit. Camden market is great for food on a weekend. also you can go up the chimney at Battersea power station which is fab

Yes that’s a good shout the food behind RFH is excellent and saves potentially going out of your way to Borough Market which might be a bit too sophisticated for an 11 year old boy?

@dig135 sorry, that part of my comment was for @Bamboux who have done such a stellar job of taking her kids to Tesco for 11 years because the idea that kids like to follow trends is just so fucking idiotic of them.

M&Ms shop pre-dates TikTok by years. I don't take my kids to tesco. Not sure where you got that from. That was kind of my point...

Seems a real shame if you get one rare day trip to London to waste it in an overpriced American chocolate shop in the arsehole that is Leicester Square but each to their own.

Tbf madame tussauds is quite fun (I haven't been since the 80s but I enjoyed it as a kid). I wouldn't go myself but I can see why people enjoy it.

The M&Ms shop is literally just that. A shop. M&Ms aren't even a British/london thing.

I mean the London dungeon and London Bridge experience are also kind of tacky and overpriced but at least they relate in some way to being in London!

There's so many amazing things to do here. But since charming posters like @RideACockHorseToSunburyCross are swearing at me for pointing that out, i think I'll just duck out and hide the thread now rather than making any suggestions.

"M&Ms shop pre-dates TikTok by years"

TikTok? Who mentioned TikTok? 😅 Also, it hardly takes all day to go in a shop and let a kid choose some chocolate and marvel at something he's wanted to see for 10 minutes.

"But since charming posters like @RideACockHorseToSunburyCross are swearing at me for pointing that out"

Swearing at you? What? You were the one looking down your nose at a kid for wanting to go to a "shit shop" in "the arsehole that is Leicester Square".

Greenwich. So much to do, great pie& mash shop if he wants to experience some real ''London'' food. You could do the observatory and museum and then walk up to the cutty sark and have a walk through the foot tunnel.

M&Ms shop pre-dates TikTok by years. I don't take my kids to tesco. Not sure where you got that from. That was kind of my point...

Yes I know that, having lived in or around London for 30 years but that's irrelevant to the point I was trying to make. I'm sure my teenagers are not unusual in seeing things or trends in TikTok or YouTube that they want to try out.

So perhaps the child in question has seen it on a 'cool' things to do in London for kids clip or whatever. Certainly wouldn't be my choice (and I loathe YouTube videos) but this is the strange way that teenage minds can work.

Going against the flow, I'm not a big fan of the Natural History museum either (although I like the Science Museum). And I'd consider it a bit of a wasted opportunity to spend a day in London in a museum if you haven't been before.

I agree with you about the museums in this instance - take up too much time to do them any justice and they are out of the way (unless the child has a deep specific interest).

OP to answer your question I'd do all the things he will want to do.

I would take this route, starting at Covent Garden at 9am. Straight to the m&m shop to avoid queues and so he can eat his sweets throughout the day.

Pass through Chinatown and get him a bubble waffle. Then on to Oxford Circus. Walk up The Mall to Buckingham palace for changing of the guard at 11am.

Walk back through St James's Park to Westminster and see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. It's looking lovely and shiny at the moment. Cross Westminster bridge and go to the street food place behind Royal Festival Hall for lunch and a sit down.

Then on to the London Eye around 1-2pm followed by a Uber Boat along the river to Tower Bridge. From there I'd take the Northern Line to Camden Town. Loads of cool shops and street art to see including a Banksy.

I hope he has a great time.

Obviously veering off that maps route to pass through Chinatown etc but to give an idea.

Saw someone recommend the box and I’ve been multiple times with the family, couldn’t recommend it more!!

If you google Tower Bridge lift you can see what times the arms of the bridge
will go up. You can also buy tickets to walk across the glass walkways at the top of the bridge and see the exhibition about the bridge etc. a trip down the river on the Uber boats is fun. If you are visiting Tower Bridge you could also go to the Tower of London. Lots of guns and armour. You can sometime get two for 1 offer on various London attractions if you have a rail ticket.

M and m shop and also their Lego store are on the edge of Leicester Square so either LS tube or Picadilly Circus. Then could get picadilly line to green park for short walk to Buckingham Palace and through st James and horse guards to walk to Whitehall to Big Ben. You can catch boat from near there.

yes as other poster said I cant recommend the box enough. its in soho so near all other attractions eg china town

Curious about the box (as far as I can tell
its an exclusive nightclub so can’t see how it’s suitable for a 12 year old)
and boost (isn’t that a Cadbury chocolate bar?). Having a trip into town and feeling very provincial.

not heard of boost before