"<i>Already have the keys tickets. Have to get them three months in advance, according to web site.</i>"

Yes - I know. I've attended the Ceremony of the Keys more than 10 times. They say to apply 3 months in advance to assure getting tickets. It doesn't say you must get them that early. That's why I asked.

So back to my point. Just tell the MIL that visiting the Tower that morning will mean being out and on the move from about 8:00AM til 11:30PM w/o a chance to get back to the flat, relax, or change shoes. Maybe then she'll understand. In fact, I'd do something nearer to 'home' that day. Kens Palace, or the parks, or Buckingham Palace, or Westminster/Cabinet War Rooms. Then go back either just before or just after dinner to change, get coats, freshen up -- and THEN head out to the Tower.

I will take your advice and ponder it, janisj. But you don't know my MIL. I have to manage her delicately. And she is very energetic and strong willed. I have been to Disney World with her, and she stays in the parks until midnight. And sometimes, its best to just let her figure out how to have her way in such a way that you're still winning the war, if you get my drift.

Also, didn't mean to offend you with the Ceremony of the Keys information. Having never been to London, I felt that I needed to follow the rules stated on the web site and in all the guide books I consulted as far as getting tickets since we will be there during a busy tourist time and we have seven people in our party.

OK. Thinking of this for Thursday -- we get to the Tower of London promptly as it opens, stay there a few hours. Then go by the Monument on way to St. Paul's Cathedral. Do a walk by on way to Museum of London. Somewhere eat something in there.

After Museum of London, go back to flat. Relax, kids will fight, etc. Then we head back to Tower of London that night.

I don't know how to rearrange other days, given certain things we want to do that have to occur on certain days -- Saturday market, Friday morning Westminster walk. My husband has to work on Tuesday, and I don't want to do some serious sightseeing without him -- that is, I don't want to go to see things he would want to see without him. He couldn't care less about Kens. Palace or shopping or whatever.

I think I will play the CWR by ear, depending on how everyone is handling everything.

Again, thanks for all the great advice.

My friend and I took our 15 and 14 year old daughters to see War Horse. We absolutely loved it. It's one of the most amazing shows I have ever seen. My daughter who wasn't that into going thought it was fantastic, particularly the goose!

On the day you go to the tower, if you want to be a bit naughty and there are queues go to the right hand side of the Jewel house and slip in there where the exit is. You just enter one room after the long escalator room and you don't have to queue. I've done 8 school trips there and we do it every time as the kids get so bored waiting and have never been told off!!

If you are sticking to your original plan and have time to wait between the Globe and the Keys ceremony there is a really great library on Borough High Street near St George the Martyr church (opposite Borough tube, 7 mins walk from the market), which is open till 7pm. It's just been totally refurbished from lottery money. Inside is a laid back cafe and there are toilets there and comfy seats to sit and relax. Kids can go on the internet, they have several computers there and you can relax for an hour and see some real locals!! Just opposite is a sweet kids park called Little Dorrit park, nice for picnics in good weather and lots of play equipment.

Charles Dickens used to live locally in Lant Street at one point when his father was in the Marshalsea Prison, one of the prison walls is still standing next to the library which you can see if you walk down the side of it. There is also a friendly coffee shop - Costas which is totally chilled about people just hanging out. That is just down from the park. It also has toilets and big comfy sofas!

It may be an alternative to rushing around and when I've done the sightseeing thing with friends and their kids staying with us, sometimes it's nice just to hang out....anyway just some more ideas for you. Hope you have a fantastic trip!

Oh and re: the museums (and I don't mean to be negative) but all the kids I've ever taken/gone with to the Museum of London found it boring. I know that sounds terrible...We love it but they don't. Maybe your children will love it cos it's a different country but for total kid entertainment I would recommend the Science museum, the Imperial war museum, you can walk to it from London Bridge - 20-25 mins or the Maritime museum in Greenwich, a ten minute train ride from London Bridge station. Here's the link for the Science museum for teenagers:

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visi.../12_to_16.aspx

There is loads to see and it has some great exhibitions, plus if you want to pay you can fly with the red arrows on a simulator. The launchpad is also fantastic for 8 year olds and there is something there for everyone. The museum without the special exhibitions is free.

When we've gone out for day trips with our kids they all liked the Imperial War museum, lots of interactive stuff and the same at the Maritime museum. There is also a great market there in Greenwich.

If your teenagers are girls another idea is to take them to Carnaby Street, near Oxford Circus - lots of teenager wow shops and Liberty's just around the corner. There is a pret-a-manger at the end of Carnaby street where you can sit and have a cup of tea and let them go up and down the street. It's my daughter's fave thing to do!