W/ just 3 days in London - they'll barely see anything, let alone 'everything'.

Unless animals are a must --I'd skip the zoo. It is definitely OK, but isn't that special.

Things that kids/girls would generally love . . . a fancy afternoon tea, the natural History Museum, maybe the V&A - all the costumes and jewelry and 'stuff', the Tower of London, a ride on a double decker bus, a ride in a London taxi, shopping at Hamleys, British Museum--any place w/ mummies HAS to be good , a river boat trip, a play or musical, the Eye . . . and a hundred other things . . .

With "3 days in London and 2 days in Dublin" there is no way you can "see 'everything.'" Evidently you or your relative has no clue as to the size and scope of London. That city is on par with New York in size, population, energy, attractions (actually more than NYC). So to see everything in London in three days won't happen. And to waste time at the Zoo is just ridiculous. Every decent sized city in the US has a zoo and every state in the US has various national or state or private parks and reserves where the kids can see wildlife. The London Zoo is not on par with San Diego, Columbus, St. Louis, Bronx, Omaha (yes, Omaha) or any of a number of excellent zoological parks in the US.

If the girls are "girly" there are exhibits at the V&A that will be attractive to them. If they like history, they should like the Tower, War Rooms, Imperial War Museum. If they're into medieval life, there are more than enough castles and palaces in the London area to sate their interest. And London Walks offers Harry Potter themed walks too (www.walks.com).

So be a bit more creative and do some research. To entertain kids of that age, a trip to London is shooting fish in a barrel.

I don't see the point of traveling to Europe just to go to a zoo. It would have to be something so fantastic unlike any zoo I'd ever seen for me to spend my limited vacation time seeing something you can see very well at home.

There are so many things to do in London as others said. Now I don't think of Dublin with quite as many things for kids to do, as I spent my time seeing architecture and visiting Trinity college, etc., not kids things. I did visit an interesting castle outside of town, but you'd need some kind of transportation for that kind of thing. I'm sure there are problably some good ideas for kids just in the usual guidebooks.

Definitely ASK THEM what they would like to see. I would think Natural History and British museums a hit, Definitely a boat ride on the Thames. Tower of London (crown jewels, beefeaters and ravens). Look into what shows ar on that kids would like.

They might like Hampton Court Palace (with a lot of costumed docents and the maze).

Definitely do afternoon tea - but someplace more casuale.

Eventhe tube if they live someplace without a subway.

In dublin start with the Book of Kells (yes, even for them - but be prepared to explain), Dublin Castle - and check guidebooks -there will be a London and Dublin with kids.

In Dublin they had a viking boat tour when we were there,2010, my nephew 11 at the time loved it. They liked Dublin Castle too. St. Stephen's Green is a lovely park right at the end of Grafton Street which is great shopping if only window shopping. take the bus out to the "beach" to see what the ocean looks like other places. Plus you go through some lovely areas. Walk around and just see the city, don't try to do "everything" you'll just end up frustrated.
Double decker buses both places.
London, if they like horses go to Whitehall and see the changing of the Queen's horse guard. much better than Buckingham because you can see something and the horses are gorgeous.

Our kids were about that age. Link to my blog for photos, etc.

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/london.html

The shows were a big hit; British Museum and Natural History too.

I would emphasize doing those things that are "typical" of London and England. I would include Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. Give each of the girls a guidebook and a highlighter and let them suggest places that appeal to them.

I recommend taking kids on trips. It gives the opportunity to do fun things without feeling silly.

Thanks for all your suggestions. While I'm very familiar with London, not so much with Dublin, I'm way-far-away from entertaining young girls whether here or abroad. The adults in the group know perfectly well that they can't see "eveything" in such a short time. That was an expression indicating they are interested in everything. I'll pass along your ideas, and thanks again for your help.

For Dublin, I was going to suggest the Viking Splash tour also - good fun.

Maybe the Chester Beatty Museum in Dublin castle for something that might appeal to both adults and kids (not children focused, but interesting all the same). You could combine that with a tour of Dublin castle. There's a nice cafe there for lunch afterwards.

There's a new museum for Irish dance in the city centre in Powerscourt Town House. Powerscourt is a nice place to go, bring them to visit the shop in the dolls hospital there, although it is disappointing because you can't actually see into the hospital itself so don't go with high expectations. Anyway, the new Irish dance museum has various shows some of which are interactive and they might enjoy that - check out www.jig.ie

Kids generally like Kilmainham Gaol, which is close to IMMA the museum of modern art, and if you check out their website before you go you can download all sorts of "trails" for families to guide you through the paintings in the museum or the sculptures in the gardens. There's a reasonable cafe in the basement that caters well for children.

The more ghoulish kids like visiting the mummies in St Michan's church.

For a break as suggested above take the train out by the sea to Howth or Dun Laoghaire/Dalkey, walk along a pier etc. Try to hit them on a market day or festival day when there will be activity. Check out the website www.dlrcoco.ie for activities in the Dun Laoghaire / Dalkey area. There's a market every Sunday in the people's park in Dun Laoghaire, you could pick up something to eat there and then wander down to Sandycove to the James Joyce tower beside the forty foot to watch crazy people diving into the Atlantic for a swim. That would be a very low key day, suitable if you were fed up with all the sightseeing and wanted to kick back a little. Wander further out to Dalkey (by foot if you have energy, on the DART from Dun Laoghaire or Sandycove/Glasthule if you don't) and you can take the tour of Dalkey castle - the castle itself is really a small "keep" but the tour is done by a very good bunch of actors playing the part of the Normans (???I could be corrected on that one!) that lived there and it would be good fun with kids.

Super information, littlejane. Thanks so much!
k

In London, you could try taking them to a show. I am not sure if Mary Poppins is showing there but I was just there with my 15 yo son and saw Jersey Boys and it was the highlight of his London experience this time. Billy Elliott might appeal to them as well. Les Miz is showing, as is Chicago and Phantom of the opera. You can get discounted tickets in Leicester square.

More good ideas -- more thanks!
k

St. Micah's was interesting but unless they have changed the entrance it would be a little tough for granny..As I remember you had to literally go in through a cellar window..I don't bend so easily any more!!! But mummies, especially a too tall knight, can be, as I said, interesting!!

I would second tea and seeing a show. In London our favorite places (traveling with a then 8 year old girl) were the Natural History Museum and Tower of London. We enjoyed the Natural History Museum so much we went twice on our last trip. My daughter loves that sort of thing, so of coarse it depends on the girl. Even things like going to the grocery store to buy candy bars and crisps were fun at that age. It's often the little things that make the biggest impression. Enjoy your trip.

Of coarse, whether going to the grocery store is interesting to them depends on where they are originally from!

Thanks, Art_Mom,

Actually, I don't know the children very well so that's why I've posted asking for suggestions to pass along to granny, mom and the others. With all the great ideas I've gotten, they're sure to find plenty to keep the girls interested.

We found a great book - a Lonely Planet kids guide to London, called "Not-for-parents London: everything you ever wanted to know". My girls are using it to help plan our trip. It's got great facts about all the major sights. We've also bought a Family Guide to London which is great too.
We've booked tickets to see Matilda - I'm told it's brilliant.

Will recommend those guides as well as Matilda. Thanks.

We took our two girls (then 6 &8) to London last Feb for 4 days. We were suprised how many sights had activities for kids. The biggest suprise was Westminster Abbey, we ducked in for a quick look but the staff gave both girls a treasure hunt sheet that took us into all the nooks and crannies. We discovered tons of interesting tidbits and ended up staying over an hour and a half. Other highlights for the girls were Henleys 5 story toy shop that is older than America, Beefeaters tour of the Tower of London, Changing of the Guard, British Museum (audio guide is an alien), national gallery and seeing Big Ben.

In terms of preparing them for London our older daughter read Harry Potter, and Big Ben Mystery while the younger one loved the Katie goes to London book, plus some of the Magic Tree Houses (can't remember exact titles sorry). They also watched Samantha Browns travel show about London, the Filthy Cities London documentary on Youtube (dont watch while eating!) and the Olsen Twins Winning London.
We have discovered that if the girls see it on TV or read about it in a story, they are far more interested when they see it in real life. Although there are not many places to run around in London, our girls enjoyed the city more than we expected.
Hope that this helps!

"We were suprised how many sights had activities for kids"

It's not just tourist sites.

London's 1.6 million 16's (contrary to inaccurate right-wing American propaganda, their numbers are rising, and they make up a growing proportion of London's population) don't spend ALL their lives whining "there's nothing to do" (though it might feel like it), and they've got at least as many options for their time as any other city with 1.6 million people.

See http://www.timeout.com/london/kids/ now (because it's got a guide to summer-long activity), but also check the same URL closer to your trip, since it gets updated weekly. The "Kids" section of the weekly hard copy gives fuller information