PalenQ

http://www.thedungeons.com/locations/

Kids that age will love the London Dungeon - lots of history and hystery there!

One of the top sites in London for that age group and really one of the very mos popular things in London.

but like BigRuss says let the kids - teens are still kids - research and plan things they really want to do - not that they should dictate everything but some % of it all - they are old enough to do things on their own as well - things you may not want to do, like the London Dungeon.

ElendilPickle

>>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.<<

We (Mr. Pickle and I, no kids with us) chose to do a h-o-h-o bus when we arrived in London because we didn't get to our hostel until early afternoon, and with only 2 1/2 days there, we at least got to glimpse some sites that we wouldn't have time to visit otherwise. But if you're getting in early in the morning, you may not want to do that.

I agree that your day trip sounds like way too much for one day. We spent most of one day in Oxford and most of the next day at Warwick Castle.

Lee Ann

PalenQ

Since you are staying right in the heart of the West End Theatre District be sure to take the teens and yous too to a big time play - the theatres themselves are lavish - casual attire - tennies OK, jeans, etc - a real treat if never experienced that before.

PalenQ

Hop off buses are fine but IME they get mired in heavy traffic a lot so it makes a slow slog around town - hop off a lot!

alanRow

<i>With lads that age, I'd get the 17 year old a 16+ Oyster</i>
If they were spending several months in London then get them, otherwise just get normal Travelcards (if interested in 2-4-1) or Oystercard PAYG if not

http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/

If you buy Travelcards from a National Rail ticket office (ie the main train stations) then you can use the offer

You could even mix and match Oystercard PAYG and Travelcards - just use Oystercard PAYG on days you don't want the offers, then on the day you want them buy one day Travelcards

dreamon

Check out London Walks (both in London and out if you want). Plus we did a cycle tour of central London (my 14 year old daughter and I) and really enjoyed it. It left from Gabriel's Wharf. We did it on a Sunday morning when it was a bit quieter but she's not awfully confident in traffic.

MissPrism

I know we Britons bang on about our 18 year olds going off to Africa to dig wells.
Mine didn't do that, but my daughter went inter-railing in Europe for a couple of months.
My son went to the US with a couple of friends. Apart from warnings about going off with friendly cultists or approaching rabid animals, we waved them off with fairly light hearts.

London is a pretty safe city. Tourists are very unlikely to venture into the more dodgy parts. Let your sons read up about London , choose what interests them and let them explore on their own, if they get lost, they have tongues in their heads and those tongues speak English.

PalenQ

http://golondon.about.com/od/londonw...-Teenagers.htm

BigRuss

Seriously: skip the London Dungeon. Tourist trap. There's plenty to do in London without blowing wads of cash on rubbish. And there is plenty that is gruesome in the history of the Tower, which is the #1 site in London for good reason.

The 2for1 offers I mentioned are available at the website Alanrow posted. Pardon my omission.

TDudette

After I read spanishsarah47's statement, I skipped to here. I heartily agree--go to the Tower. My late DH loved history and was 17 at heart and loved it.

PalenQ

http://www.tkts.co.uk/leicester-square/

the discount ticket booth in Leicester Square - beware other nearby store fronts offering discount tickets - they may or may not be discounted.

MissPrism

I'm always a bit irritated by "casual dress" in London theatres. What's wrong with clean, neat and aesthetically pleasing?
I saw this recently. It's New York, not London, but people seem to be making an effort http://lastnightatthemet.com

PalenQ

What's wrong with casual - you do what you want and don't diss others for having a different take. I am always moer than a bit irritated by folks who want to force others to conform to their notion of decor that IMO in London Theatres today is definitely in the minority and getting more so.

Casual for the tourist is key as we can't always carry around a lot of aesthetically pleasing - which I gather means fancy clothes.

Ricardo_215

euromom, you say all of you are history buffs.

If you do decide to visit the British Museum, do some research first and decide which areas you want to visit. It is seriously HUGE - and even history buffs can have too much. Avoid the temptation to walk quickly so as to see everything; you never will. Just go to an area which interests you and linger there for an hour or 2. Bring a camera. Take shots of interesting signs and read them later.

If you go to the V & A (mentioned above), you may like to just look at the Natural History Museum across the road; apart from the stuff inside it the building itself (well, the older part of it) is magnificent .

MissPrism

There's casual and scruffy.
Casual can look good, scruffy is disrespectful. Clean, tidy and groomed is fine. The unmade bed look s not.

PalenQ

OK Ms Prism - now we are on the same page - I misread your comments and I think you are right on in this regard - I was only coming from a tourists' angle where wardrobe may be limited to casual clothes which we both agree if kempt would be OK.

euromom

Thanks to all just wondering have any of of you eaten at the crypt cafe at st Martin's field? I heard that might be fun for the boys?

janisj

I've eaten there lots of times. Not that big a deal nor especially 'fun'. Pretty typical (good) food you'll find in most of the major sites in London (V&A and other museums, the Tower, etc). It is cafeteria service and there are cafeteria-type tables and metal/plastic chairs - the main thing is it is underground and the vaulted brick ceilings are cool. If you are in/near Trafalgar Sq at lunch time - sure. But IMO don't make a special trip just to eat there.