euromom

Going to London for 4 days in may before going on to Paris. We plan to do one day trip to Oxford,Stratford Avon and Warwick castle. Just wondering if the on off bus is enough or do we need to get a London pass or take another trip. The boys are 17 and 18 and all of us including husband are history buffs. We are staying in the Trafulgar square area, and wonder about the weather..... Thank you

janisj

• Do not get a London Pass! Terrible rip off - especially for families.

• Oxford/Stratford and Warwick Castle in one day will simply be a waster of time and money. You will have very little time at any of them. Pick one -- whichever one mosts interests your family -- and visit it on your own by train. EITHER Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, or Warwicck Castle all be a full day trip.

• >>. . . or take another trip<< You have very little time in London as it is - even the one day trip will take a lot of time away from things that might more interest your sons IN London.

• I wouldn't take the H-o-H-o bus -- it essentially takes a full day if you get off anywhere, and you could better spend your time visiting a site or 3 rather than just riding past them.

• Really the weather could be anything. Nice, nasty, cool, wet, gorgeous . . . and possibly all on the same day.

Sassafrass

Just my opinion, but more than just about any other city, I disliked the HOHO bus in London; found it boring and especially painful to be trapped in the middle of a block in traffic for half an hour. I think teens would really hate it.

There are so many wonderful things to do and see in London: museums for the history buffs, the Globe, the London Eye, and fabulous theater, etc. Any interest in Lord Nelson? There is a little museum devoted to him in St Paul's. Anyway, actually doing something would, IMHO, be a lot more exciting than the bus.

justineparis

Stratford was boring for my 13 yr old son.. and I thought it was "much ado about nothing" lol He really enjoyed Warwick., especially the jousting shows.. they do a good job.
I have found weather to be totally unpredictable.. and if weather is rainy I would stay in London rather then go out to Warwick( as so much there has you outside ) .. hope for the best but be prepared for rain..

Tulips

If you want to do a daytrip, take the train to Oxford and walk around by yourself - return to London when you want to.

The kids may enjoy the 'James Bond in motion' exhibition at the London Film Museum. The Cabinet War Rooms are good too. For history buffs there is so much to do and see in London, you may not want to do a daytrip. If you don't book a bus tour, you can always decide while you are in London, if you want to take the train to Oxford for a day.

MissPrism

With lads that age, I'd get the 17 year old a 16+ Oyster http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14308.aspx
The 18 year old will get an adult Oyster. Give them a good travel book about London and then let them do their thing, You can meet in the evening and compare adventures.

nytraveler

Agree that day trip will be a very long day sitting on a bus to see very little. Pick which you really want to see and just go and do that yourselves.

Also agree that a HoHo bus is a lot of time sitting in traffic versus actually seeing and doing things. London is a city for walking.

As for weather - you will find out a couple of days in advance. Assume you will get some rain - have a sturdy folding umbrella and waterproofed walking shoes - and just ignore it and go see what you want (it is more likely to be mist or drizzle than a true downpour). Do NOT expect heat in May (shorts are a waste of time and space.)

Tulips

You really can't tell with the weather in London. The second weekend of March it was 20 celsius, and I did see some bare legs - but that was unusual. It's possible to have a heatwave in May. Just check the weather a few days before you leave.

PalenQ

Victoria & Albert Museum and British Museum and Imperial War Museum are musts for history buffs - and of course the Tower of London plus oodles of other museums and historic sites - like the Sherlock Holmes Museum, etc.

mamcalice

Unless you have been to London before, I would not leave if I had only 4 days. There is so much to see and do. In addition to that mentioned above, don't miss the British Museum and the vergers' tour of Westminster Abbey.

spanishsarah47

As mentioned, just buy Oyster cards for your family members. You can purchase them at Heathrow. They work like prepaid credit cards: put some pounds on them and then when you board the Tube or a bus, press the Oyster card against the scanner. (Remember to NOT put it in your wallet with your other credit cards!) It will subtract the appropriate amount from your card and even tell you how much you have left. If you need more "credit," you can add some at any Tube station. Finally at the end of your trip, you can return your Oyster and get the extra money back!

You and your family cannot afford to miss the Tower of London. Absolutely a must for history buffs!
The tour we used was goldentours.com which was a lovely day full of many fantastic sights! We even had time at the end of the day to return to the spots where we wanted to spend more time.

Mary24

Agree that Oxford, Stratford and Warwick for a day is way too much. Also that with only 4 days I wouldn't do a day trip out of London - there's so much to do in London.
As you are staying in the Trafalgar Square area one don't miss for history buffs would be the Churchill War Rooms - not far from Big Ben/Houses of Parliament.
Have a look at London Walks website - walks.com - they do dozens of different 2 hour walks, their blue badge guides really good at the history of London.

Mimar

The only excursion I would consider is to Hampton Court Palace. It's nice to arrive by boat on the Thames like Henry VIII on his barge. There's a large garden with a famous maze. Inside are lots of history enactors, most popularly in the great kitchen. We did this on a London Walks tour, which included a little time in Richmond.

Be sure to look into the 2-for-1 tickets. You can save a lot at HCP, the Churchill War Rooms, and many other sights in London: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/2334.aspx. But you need to buy them at a rail station. I'm not up on the latest requirements. Photo? Maybe somebody else can help.

Before you leave home, print out the 2-for-1 offers you are interested in.

Unfortunately the Imperial War Museum in London is closed until July. Otherwise that would make a great stop for history-lovers.

PalenQ

http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/

Teens that age might like a more exciting Thames boar ride!

ParisAmsterdam

My first visit to London was when I was 17. I was then and am still now interested in history and WW II. The HMS Belfast is a cruiser (as in a warship not an ocean liner) that is the only ship still afloat that was active on D-Day. I can't imagine teen boys not wanting to scramble around on it. The Cabinet War Rooms were not yet open my last visit but for any WWII fan they are surely a must.

With only 4 days I wouldn't take any day trips out of the city... there is just too much to see and do!

janisj

I agree -- I can't imagine taking a day trip w/ only 4 days in London . . . but if you 'must' go somewhere, DO NOT take that tour. Pick one of the three places and do it on your own (but really REALLY w/ kids that age there are literally hundreds of things that would interest them IN London)

PalenQ

Greenwich is one place that reeks of history and can be a day trip within greater London itself. Take the train or tube to Greenwich - see the Cutty Sark and old Naval College buildings and the Observatory where Time is kept for the world

and they can cross over from the eastern to western hemispheres and v.v.

From Greenwich take the thrilling to novices Docklands Light Railway back to more central London - built on pillars these driver-less trains run high above the Docklands, a redeveloped part of London where old docks now sport high-rise buildings - an extension of London's financial district.

Since there are no drivers you can sit in the very first two seats and pretend you are driving the train.

https://www.google.com/search?q=dock...=1600&bih=1075.

Of course Shakespeare's Globe Theatre could help kids ge Shakespeare fix without going to Stratford - can always tour the place and museum to the Bard or even be a 'groundling' and take in a play where as in the Bard's time I believe all the actors are men- even those playing gals.

SheilaMarjorie

It seems that first time visitors to London always underestimate what there is to do. You will find plenty of history in Greater London without needing to go anywhere else.

Warwick castle is good, but both it and Stratford are tourist traps. There are loads of other castles you could visit in England.

Stratford-on-Avon is a pleasant town. You can visit a house which may have been (but more likely isn't) Shakespere's birthplace and you can shop in branches of all the same shops you have already seen in London. It's also nice to go to the theatre, but you will get a much better idea of what theatre was really like in Shakespere's day at the Globe in London.

For a castle-like experience without leaving London go to the Tower of London. Its a large complex of Norman and Medieval buildings - still officially a royal palace, You can visit the place where some of Henry the 8th's wives were executed and also see the crown jewels. There's so much to see you must buy a really good guidebook or take one of the tours led by the Yeoman Warders (colloquially known as Beefeaters).

The Tower alone will take you a minimum of half a day. While in the area you could also visit the Tower Bridge exhibition (High up among the mechanism which operates the famous bridge) to marvel at Victorian engineering. HMS Belfast (mentioned in another answer) is also nearby.

Greenwich is a good idea - and you can go by river bus from the Tower or from Westminster (near the Houses of Parliament). You can also take a river bus to Hampton Court.

You really do have to get a guidebook and decide what you want to see - there is so much. Then get Oyster cards (travel cards for the London Underground) and an underground map (www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround) and plan your days.

Whatever you do, don't leave London if you are only there for 4 days. If you try to go to Warwick or Stratford you will waste most of the day travelling. Neither is close to London.

One last tip - if you want to go to a Museum, opt for the Museum of London. So many tourists feel they should visit the British Museum, which is a wonderful place but contains more history of other countries than it does British History. While in London, learn about London's History.

BigRuss

I'm thinking 17 and 18 year old boys would be bored by a duck tour. Those are better for the party set.

The Tower is part of the 2for1 offers and it will save you about $50 for the whole family - about $30 on 2for1 adult entry and about $20 or more on student entry if you use the 2for1. The Oyster cards are useless for the 2for1 offers. Go to London Bridge national rail station ticket booth (on the same level as Boots and M&S Simply Food), get single day zone 1-2 travelcards for everyone (possibly available the night before - check when you're in London), go to the Tower then double back to the War Rooms.

For HCP, your rail ticket from Waterloo will entitle you to the 2for1 offer. I'd skip Stratford/Bath/Warwick in favor of HCP . . . and have done so.

BigRuss

PS - get the boys to work. Have them make a list of what to see. Dang kids these days need to figure it out themselves.

Plus, they could do a lot of the planning work for you . . .