Day Trips from London with teens

York also has right by the train station a sweet family experience - the National Railway Museum - lots of inter-active displays and tons of old trains, royal carriages, etc. and it's free - a nice component for families in a York that i suspect kids that age will be not much plussed with.

When I heard "teenage boys" I immediately thought of Jorvik Viking Centre in York. It's been ten years since I've been, but it was a lot of fun - informational but also pretty entertaining, as I recall. Complete with authentic Viking smells.

That said, I think either of your options could work well. I went to Warwick Castle with the same group and enjoyed it there too. I don't know the logistics of getting between Oxford and Warwick Castle, so that might play into things.

Oggsford and Warwick in the same day would be problematic - in Oggsford there is so so much to do - if so i would head to Warwick first, take care of business there and spend the rest of the day, what's left in Oggsford as just seing the town is a treat and peeking into the quads, etc.

Stonehenge may be more of an attention grabber for teens and Salisbury also has a great great cathedral and is a sweet regional town

Salisbury does have a great cathedral, but I don't think there would be enough there to keep five teenagers occupied for a day.

keeping teens happy for a whole day anywhere is problematic if they are like my kid was when he was a teen. The Jorvik type Exoerience would be a good component of a York trip

Warwick and Oxford is an easy day trip IF one rents a car for the day. I'd rent/pick it up near your hotel/flat the night before so you could get an early start. You won't be carrying luggage so you'd just need a people mover (like a Previa) w/ seven seats and not need any extra space.

Drive from London > Warwick to arrive at 9:30 AM and spend until about 1PM-ish. Leave Warwick and arrive at Oxford by about 2PM. Park in a park and ride lot and spend the rest of the afternoon in central Oxford. Drive back to London after 6 or 7 PM. I'd drop the car at LHR and take the tube back into town.

It would be a hectic/busy/fun day - and I defy any boredom

Have you thought about splitting up for the day trip - with the women doing what they really like and the guys doing their stuff. I can see the Viking center being a big hit with teen boys and a giant yawn for a 16 year old girl - who might prefer Bath, or another choice depending on her interests. There's no need to be joined at the hip every moment.

when we went with my step-daughters (14 and 17) they did several days of things on their own in both London and Paris - to revisit things we had already seen - or for us to go some gallery hopping while they wanted to do teen shopping. A little break from each other is always a good idea - and it gives you more to talk about at dinner.

Just peeking into the UK forum...FWIW, my teen boys ages 14 & 16 (and husband) raked me over the coals for taking them to Warwick Castle. First thing out of their mouths - I kid you not - 'YOU TOOK US TO DISNEYLAND??!?!?' - see my trip report if you want more info.

I would consider having the kids read/rent DVD (is it out?) of Follet's 'Pillars of the Earth' about the building of what is ostensibly Salisbury Cathedral, and if that piques their interest, make a day of Salisbury/Stonehenge etc. Sign up for the tower/spire tour. The cathedral also has one of the best preserved remaining copies of the Magna Carta.

We only did half a day in Oxford and we all wish we would have spent a full day instead. The city tour was too short at 1.5 hours, we could have gone on. If the kids read the Pullman Dark Materials book - it is set in an Oxford like locale. Need I say Harry Potter, Tolkien, Lewis. We didn't get to the Pitt Rivers Museum, but I am told that even the most jaded, museum-adverse teen ends up having a great time there.

I think your t(w)weens would enjoy Hampton Court. You could do that in half a day and perhaps include more areas which was my plan if I hadn't screwed up the train schedule . I spent approx. 4 hrs and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I thought Warwick was lots of fun and definitely good for kids.

York would be fun for the Jorvik Viking Center but to me it's a long train ride and would they love the Minster? Altho' I was glad I staying in York overnight, I don't recall a lot to see. Did take a walk with a local guide along the wall and into a church or two. Helps to have someone pointing out the sites you're looking at. This was free so you could check scheduling if you decide to go to York.

London (Kings Cross)to York by train can be done in less than 2 hours, and therefore is only 10 mins or so longer than going to Warwick??

Wish there was a way to edit - should have added that I think you have to know your kids before you shell out big money and travel time for Warwick Castle. Mine were too old.

Thanks for the advice. I think my kids who are 16 (female) and 18 (male) might think Warwick is too much of a kids location. Hampton Court looks interesting, and all of my kids love the outdoors, so maybe a Hampton Court half day with some other activity might go over just as well. We really do not have to leave London, but I would like them to see something of the countryside to see the vast difference.

Hampton Court - yes could be a great thing for all ages - have them read about Henry VIII (and watch the Tudors series) and try to go one way up the Thames by boat - return by train from a station right opposite the palace.

Called England's Versailles to me Hampton Court is one of Europe's most mesmerizing, historic and neat palaces. And i give the Royal Castles or whatever group runs it an A+ for presentation - lots of folks dressed in period costumes in various parts to answer questions and giving demonstrations and playing old instruments, etc.

And outside the great gardens for adults, including The Vine, a centuries-old grape vine originating from Capability Brown. And for kids a Maze to navigate. Hampton Court also has priceless art in its Orangery section.

The restored Tudor kitchens are said to be the most complete around and again there are replications of meals being prepared, etc.

Include some kind of lunch at a nearby restaurant, such as the pub overlooking the Thames and also do the short trek to the Mosley (sp?) lock to see how a river lock works.

Hampton Court - yes something for everyone.

We did day trips a couple of years ago with a boy and a girl. Would absolutely agree with York, Salisbury and Hampton Court. We did all of these in addition to many tourist things in London.

I'd throw Cambridge into the choices - one hour by train from King's Cross - or 55 miles by car mostly on the Motorway.

In no particular order:

Imperial Air Museum at Duxford
American Cemetery (see as part of bus tour)
King's College Chapel
Great St. Mary's Church - climb the tower
Fitzwilliam Museum
Folk Museum
Botanic Gardens
Open air market most days
etc.

And in Cambridge kids and adults too could do some punting on the river as the old college tradition has it

"And in Cambridge kids and adults too could do some punting on the river"

As they could in Oxford . . . .

Yes janis but the comment above mine was Cambridge and not Oxford.

Welcome to Hampton Court Palace
Welcome to Hampton Court Palace Part of Historic Royal Palaces ... The Garden Room at Hampton Court Palace is the ideal venue for your dream wedding. ...

Getting here - What's on - Buy Tickets - Plan your visit
www.hrp.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace/

If going to Hampton Court peruse the official site for special demos, etc. and see if any are more fun for kids - not so much the classical music played in period costumes but i once happened into a falconry demonstration in the park there - lots of neat things going on at Hampton Court Palace, making it not just the usual and perhaps boring pile of bricks for teens (and many adults as well)

If you go around Christmas time there are many Christmas-themed special events.

pjcpa, Cambridge has an excellent website at:

http://www.visitcambridge.org/VisitCambridge/WhatToSeeAndDo.aspx

Enjoy your planning!