As long as our list is, Madame Tussauds will not be on it. The video game center though--we will have to think about:)

We are trying to decide among the following great places:

Museum of London Docklands (We already have seen the original Museum of London)

V&A Museum of Childhood (already visited the V&A and would love to revisit if possible)

Natural History
Science Museum
Horniman
Dulwich
Wallace Collection
Geffrye for period interiors (that one is for me)
Bank of England Museum
Maritime Museum Greenwich

If you had to rank them in order of great visitor experiences how would they rate? We are trying to prioritize and it is hard since there are so many great choices.

We have already seen the British Museum, IWM, Cabinet War Rooms, Museum of London, National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, John Soanne and Courtauld in past visits.

Hi again Europeanovice,

Not that you need more suggestions, but for your teenage son, you might consider the following:

The BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MUSEUM near Charing Cross – great multimedia “historical experience” depicting the famous statesman’s lengthy stay in London

benjaminfranklinhouse.org/site/sections/default.htm

The BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM where you can “lift” a 28 pound gold brick – behind a secure Lucite enclosure, of course. Funky, interactive, and fun.

www.bankofengland.co.uk/Pages/home.aspx

Then you might consider the ROYAL MEWS or HORSEGUARDS MUSEUM, both near to BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

Have fun. 

Hi Latedaytraveler,

Actually son already saw the Benjamin Franklin House in one of our prior visits. He went there with dad while I went to National Gallery with mother in law.

Bank of England museum sounds interesting for about an hour or so but then there is the Museum of London Docklands which I imagine would require more time to explore. So many choices but so hard to choose.

Greenwich I think deserves most of a day by itself so if that were to be done then that wouldn't leave much time for the docklands museum after and I think that would require a separate trip on a different day.

I'd certainly favour the Museum of Docklands over the Bank of England museum - much more to see, done with much more life and interest.

Saw this thread earlier and thought you might like to see it too!
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...n_England.html

Boy--this original thread is sure morphing. That is funny Morgana. Don't know if you remember but on my original trip report a few years ago I commented on the different types of loos we saw in London. Each with a different mechanism so a sewer tour might be up son's alley!

Maybe we can venture over for a little bit to get his fix after touring earlier.>

Well certainly would not want anyone to spend a whole lot of time there but I did offer it for a short while at my expense to my teen-age son when I was dragging him from what he saw as one boring museum after another!

I gave him a few quid and went to a local pub for a pint - both needed the 'rest'.

Madame Tussauds is of course somewhat Euro centric or UK centric but you'd be surprised now how many American teens know famous Premier League soccer players and of course the royals - the Chamber of Horrors defies pigeon holing and the Marvel Comics Super Heroes is something anyone can relate to.

PQ - why do you always push the lowest common denominator when it comes to sightseeing?

If the Trocaderro/Dungeon/Mme Tussauds are so darn popular there is no need to recommend them - now is there? Won't everyone already know about them . . . :?

I recommend them here because there are teen-agers involved and based on my own experience with a teen in London he appreciated a big of kid time not all adult oriented as you seem want to do. Culture comes in many different things - have you ever trekked thru the Trocadero Centre to know what it is all about?

Yes -- I've been in the Trocaderro -- more than once. There is as good an arcade in my local regional shopping mall . . .

There are TONS of better kid-centric sites and activities all over London.

There are TONS of better kid-centric sites and activities all over London.>

OK for teen-agers what are you better teen-centric things?

I don't ask why you post some of your stuff why ask what I post and why - I think to me Madame Tussauds is so London that not going there is like going to LA and not going to Disney Land if from Japan (oh we have Disney Lands there) - I loved it and I loved the London Dungeon.

Each to our own and who - just who on a high horse is to say which is right and which is wrong?

I resent your questioning of my intents - giving some nefarious reason for them - I will post what I like when the situation of kids or teens is involved whenever I want. And the Trocadero Centre is I guarantee you not like the arcade in your local regional shopping mall - that is prove that you've never set foot in the Trocadero to say some nonsense like that.

Yes indeed it is the chance to go in a world-class multi-floor extravaganza of amusement areas - I have seen no even approach it anywhere in the 95 countries I have been to.

Drop the attitude and let folks post freely without intimidation.
and innuendos about motivations, etc.
Thanks for any appreciation in the future for that request.

>>that is prove that you've never set foot in the Trocadero to say some nonsense like that.<<

The last time I was inside the Trocadero was just last October. And the time before that -- um let me think . . . Was in 2012 . . .

But that isn't the point of this thread so go ahead and assume any old thing you want.

The point of this thread is to give ideas about London to someone with teens and it seems that by even mentioning those places raises your hackles for some weird reason - there is nothing wrong with giving information that the OP or others can discard or consider - nothing wrong with presenting as many options as possible - can you not see that?

Janisj and Pal--I appreciate both your contributions.

From my perspective, a first time or second time visitor is going to want to see/do the major stuff that are particular to the area being visited and that they can't do at home. Hence the major focus should be on those places and not the kitsch tourist traps. There are plenty of Madame Tussauds in the US--they seem to be everywhere and he didn't find it all that interesting and neither did his friend the same age.

However, I understand Pal's point that kids and teenagers often need a break from the information overload and have fun with the silly things like the London Dungeons and video game arcades. A place to unwind.

But I'd rather find a unique spot that offers some fun. For instance, when we went to Edinburgh we visited the Camera Obscura--unique in that you don't find many of those in a lot of places and they had a vortex room that would give me vertigo but my son went in there at least twice. He found a fun thing to do in that site. The whole site was a lot of fun. He enjoyed making shields of arms and armour at the kiosks in the V&A museum and found an art class which we attended at the National Portrait Gallery.

Back to the focus of my original post. From the long list of museums above--which of those should we strive to see this time and which do you think rates as a nice if you can get there but it can wait for yet another visit? I know both the natural history and science museums are rated as world class museums so those are on top of the list. What about the rest?

Museum of London Docklands sounds really good and worth a few hours to explore. What about the V&A Museum of Childhood? Worth the visit?

If we spend time at Natural History then it might not be worth the trip this time to travel to Dulwich and Horniman and better to spend more time centrally like at the Wallace Collection instead?

From the long list of museums above--which of those should we strive to see this time and which do you think rates as a nice if you can get there but it can wait for yet another visit?>

Well yes the V & SA is a great place for anyone of any age - eclectic collection.

For the Docklands be sure to take the Dockland Light Railway - a driverless people mover on pillars high above the old Docklands - try to sit right up front in first car to make like you're driving the driverless train!

Take it to Greenwich, another place I think that kids that age would like - like walking between the hemispheres, the Cutty Sark, and the old Naval College buildings, some of which are now it seems a community college of sorts.

Hi Europeanovice,

Since you have been to London before, I presume that you and your family have been on the LONDON EYE, right? It’s quite an experience.

I would also suggest THE SHARD – new, funky skyscraper near London Bridge. Tallest in Europe. Pricey but worth the experience.

the-shard.com/

The Eye is a must for kids of all ages - a huge Ferris Wheel built right in the Thames - see all of London the first thing you do - great way of orienting yourself.

Are the teens into soccer (football) and team logo items from famous European and British teams - if so hit Soccer Scene on Carnaby St in London - yup Carnaby Street has risen like a Phoenix in recent decades and is once again, like in 70s, a cool shopping area.

http://www.carnaby.co.uk/store/soccer-scene

I see lots of kids these days wearing foreign soccer jerseys, etc. as soccer is now the most popular participant sport for American youth, followed by Larosse I understand.

There are TONS of better kid-centric sites and activities all over London.>

janisj since this is very relevant to this thread can I ask you what ones you are referring to?

Curious.