How about a trip up to Stratford, home of the Bard, to tour all the five or so Shakespeare properties there and learn more than you ever want to about the presumed alleged Bard.

Seriously a nice town and interesting Shakespeare properties. A very doable day trip from London.

Menachem, it looks as if The Malcontent in April is the Young Players one.

Well another respite you can give average teens for a few hours and several quid would be to let them go to the popular Trocadero Centre right at Piccadilly Circus and have a few hours in one of Europe's largest entertainment complexes - a multi-floor extravaganza of thrills. Something of a reward after so many museums, etc.

I mention this with intrepitude of being castigated for doing so but I honestly believe average teens would love a few hours here and perhaps the adults could go to a nearby pub for a few hours too.

http://www.londontrocadero.com/

I've always loved Shakespeare. We were "forced" to read several of his plays in high school, but, as I wasn't an English major, I never was forced to read anything else of his. However, I've read all of his plays multiple times and expect to read them several more times before I die.

I once took my two children, ages 5 and 8, and a neighbor's child of about the same age, to a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in a park. I thought that if the children were bored, they could play quietly in the park while I enjoyed the play. I needn't have feared. All three sat spellbound, and for the next week, my kids played at acting out some of the parts. After that, I took them to other Shakespeare plays; I remember them enjoying The Tempest, but especially Twelfth Night, which they also acted out for weeks after seeing it, playing Sir Anthony Aguecheek and Sir Toby Belch. Nobody told them this was great literature; they just saw it and loved it. They even loved the Elizabethan language, and repeated favorite phrases.

I don't care if I ever see Stratford on Avon, or the Globe Theatre. I have multiple editions of all the tragedies, as well as two different sets of the complete works, and that's all I need.

Shakespeare was the sort of genius who appears once in a millennium. You can't explain such people by their background or education. It's just as improbable that an Edward de Vere or a Charles Marlowe could have written those plays as it is that Will Shakespeare wrote them.

The Trocadero? Pal you're scraping the bottom of the barrel. Little remains of the original except for a few arcades and dismal shops. Tacky would be an appropriate adjective. Regardless, why would a family spend thousands for an overseas trip and, then, have their kids visit an arcade?

He puls out the Dungeon and Trocadero every time a poster mentions teens. Guess the teens I know are different than the ones he knows

Stokebailey you're absolutely right. Also a great play though. I so like the emphasis on Jacobean plays, they're so underrated and one hardly has a chance to see them on stage.

The trocadero???? It is the most hideous touristy thing in that area!!!! Which is saying a lot for that area! Isn't that where M&M World is beside???? Surely you jest!!!???

He puls out the Dungeon and Trocadero every time a poster mentions teens. Guess the teens I know are different than the ones he knows>

On this we can agree - why can't teens have a few hours of fun and yes for the average teen that is fun - and the Trocadero Schlock is a unique experience - I enjoy just riding the escalators up and down and taking in all the energy and activity - I say give the kids and they are kids some free time from the rigors of sightseeing at yet another museum, a palace, etc and let them have fun for a few hours in a totally unique place the likes of which I have never seen anywhere else.

This is not your average entertainment center - I suspect some of the naysayers above have never ever even been in the Trocadero Centre to even know what it is all about.

I walk by it every day..my office is a block from it!

I've been in the Trocadero when it had more variety it now has, with my son, then 12: he thought it was boring. It's an arcade.

Trocadero is so boring that every time I go through it it is mobbed - bots of young adults and perhaps 12 is too young as it is oriented to an older youngster - so so many abnormal teens having fun - I just present these things as options for folks with normal teens to consider as a respite for them from adult sightseeing and will continue to do so as information and there is never anything wrong with presenting options. And this type of place is very unusual - most young folk have never seen anything like it.

Yes, menachem, about Jacobean plays!

We should able to make our own travel suggestions without then having to defend them on and on. Lots of things get suggested here that I wouldn't dream of doing, but I figure, you know, à chacun son goût and all that. Let people sort out what interests them.

There are hoards of people at M&M World too...I don't understand that either...or the wax museum or the London Dungeons...

I do think people can express opinions - some people do none of their own research and would benefit from hearing how others view things. That way they can make their own decision based on multiple views. If only one type of person answered we would all be at the same place

No harm meant, I just give another perspective...

M&M World - that is new to me as I did not get to London in 2013 when it opened - here is what Wiki says about M&M World:

<On Monday 13 June 2011, M&M's World store in London officially opened to the public, in Leicester Square. It is the world's largest candy store, at 35,000 sq ft (3,250 sq metres).[8] The retail space was built as part of Westminster City Council's regeneration of the local area. Its aim was to make Leicester Square a "world class destination", based on the similar remodeling of Times Square New York.[9] it has a wall where you can see how it has changed over the years and a quiz to see which flavour you are.>

Sounds like something younger kids may enjoy -

https://www.google.com/search?q=M%26...=1600&bih=1074

Neat thing about London IMO - not afraid to taint itself with such yes Schlock which would be anathema to say a Paris or Rome or most any other major European city - but like Times Square in New York - the Piccadilly-Leicester Square area of London embraces the gaudy and to some that is nice to others something to lament.

Yes many folks would avoid this area but to me it is one of the most interesting in London - always thronged - adds an energy to a city that is unique for Europe - a bit of Las Vegas and Times Square in London.

London has something for everyone! Can't wait to go to M&M World!

I think Pal enjoys the back n forth, though.

I think Pal enjoys the back n forth, though.>

I sincerely post these things that are young people friendly as options for folks with teens - no one else ever mentions them. I think it is good info - more things to consider the better - like the London Dungeon - the following site:

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

lists the London Dungeon as the #1 thing for teens to do in London - talking about things teens will find fun - the average teens - enjoying the back and forth - well not really but it is more defending presenting information without the usual come back by the same posters who say such things are silly and a waste of time and should not even be mentioned.

Let's put all the options on the table and let the folks with kids going to London decide - without judgment from folks often who I think have never ever even gone to any of those places.

And my teen son loved the London Dungeon and Trocadero - it was kind of a carrot offered after lots of sightseeing which he did not really care for that much - yes I know he must be an abnormal kid (was - this was several years ago when I took him to London) to enjoy such tacky stuff.

Phew! Well all the above (which I just read tonight) leaves me dizzy. However I always love to help with tourist advice (I am a frustrated/would have loved to have been a tour-guide .
I live in Newcastle, northern England, where it is VERY cold in Feb. However, yes London is never so bad. My suggestions for other interesting ideas:
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (Free) - every day
Horseguards parade - also a regular event, dont have details what time/when, but google it.
The London Eye - My fella and I loved it but pre-booking your "flight" is a good idea, as saves standing in a Q on the day.
Shepherd's Market - old area behind the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane. Not a market anymore but lots of interesting shops, small (some really inexpensive) restaurants and also a couple of really old English pubs, complete with a real fire when I was there a few weeks ago. Youngsters are ok to go in the pub with adults, especially for pub grub. Nice area for lunch or dinner.
The Tower of London!!! lots of heads chopped off there and a river trip to there from there/Westminster is possible and much more fun than the Tube. Hope you enjoy your trip.
Remember there is much more to England than London! Next time take the train to York (fab!), then stop off at Newcastle, and up to Edinburgh in Scotland. All great for 2 days, and all on the same East Coast Line. Bye! Madmo

"The London Eye - My fella and I loved it but pre-booking your "flight" is a good idea, as saves standing in a Q on the day."

Agree with Madmo424 that the London Eye is great. The only problem with pre-booking is that if the weather is foggy/dense/rainy, the visibility would be very limited. In my view, better to wait for a clear day.