London with Teenage Boys - Sports, Jack the Ripper, Olympic Village?
Oct 19th, 2013, 04:06 PM
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London with Teenage Boys - Sports, Jack the Ripper, Olympic Village?
I've been to London many times for business and am finally bringing the family over! The boys are 13 & 16 and are more the sports types (hockey, not even soccer) then museum and theater types; and my husband is like another teenager 
I mostly want for them to experience just being in another country, however, I know I need to keep them busy but not overscheduled.
I saw a few tours of Chelsea and Arsenal FC - has anyone done those?
We will be there 8 to 12 Nov- does anyone know if any public ice rinks are up at that time?
How about the Jack the Ripper walking tour, or any other walking tour this audience may like?
Is the Olympic area interesting to visit? Do you need to do a paid tour?
Last, I do want the boys to appreciate how much history there is in London - any pre-reading recommendations (not like a travel guide, but more historical highlights)
THANKS in advance for any recommendations!
Any other recommendations appreciated.
I mostly want for them to experience just being in another country, however, I know I need to keep them busy but not overscheduled.
I saw a few tours of Chelsea and Arsenal FC - has anyone done those?
We will be there 8 to 12 Nov- does anyone know if any public ice rinks are up at that time?
How about the Jack the Ripper walking tour, or any other walking tour this audience may like?
Is the Olympic area interesting to visit? Do you need to do a paid tour?
Last, I do want the boys to appreciate how much history there is in London - any pre-reading recommendations (not like a travel guide, but more historical highlights)
THANKS in advance for any recommendations!
Any other recommendations appreciated.
Oct 19th, 2013, 04:12 PM
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Jack theRipper tours aren't great as everything is gone, including most buildings etc.
You may find some other tours of interest at www.walks.com
You may find some other tours of interest at www.walks.com
Oct 19th, 2013, 04:23 PM
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I would get them to a couple of castles - The Tower and Hampton Court Palace and possibly Windsor Castle. As for history - there have been a bunch of historical series on the BBC and they might want to check out a couple of episodes - esp the Tudors.
Other things they might want to check out:
Boat trip to Greenwich and the maritime museum there
Changing of the Guards at the Horseguard parade (many fewer people and you get much closer than at Buckingham Palace - and the horses make it more impressive)
Other things they might want to check out:
Boat trip to Greenwich and the maritime museum there
Changing of the Guards at the Horseguard parade (many fewer people and you get much closer than at Buckingham Palace - and the horses make it more impressive)
Oct 19th, 2013, 04:41 PM
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Thanks - I am also looking at some of the exhibits at the Science museum - they look fantastic. Flight simulators, super colliders, 3D printing...
I would guess the weekends are super busy there - better to go on a Monday?
I would guess the weekends are super busy there - better to go on a Monday?
Oct 19th, 2013, 04:47 PM
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http://www.londonlegacy.co.uk/about-...t-corporation/
It looks like it is a park now. I know we took the jubilee line to get there.
I would try to get ticket to some game, the soccer there will really impress them even if they are not big fans.
I would even do a hop on hop off bus tour. Great way to see the city and they might see something they want to check out.
It looks like it is a park now. I know we took the jubilee line to get there.
I would try to get ticket to some game, the soccer there will really impress them even if they are not big fans.
I would even do a hop on hop off bus tour. Great way to see the city and they might see something they want to check out.
Oct 19th, 2013, 10:27 PM
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The whole point of London's pitch for the 2012 Olympics was that the complex would regenerate a depressed industrial wasteland into something people would use. One of the many great scandals about the modern Olympic system is the great swathe of Athens, Barcelona and Sydney on which billions have been squandered but which now just sit there, never used and scarcely visited.
Turning hundreds of acres of buildings into something of daily relevance is a lengthier job than developing a sports complex, so most of the Olympics area is a building site again.
The modest-sized park (250 acres and 4 miles of waterway), and the shopping mall (adjacent to the main Olympic station and offering a view over the whole site) is all that's currently visitable. The park's just another park in a conurbation that's stuffed with them, and the mall's locally useful but a visitor attraction only if you're interested in urban regeneration.
The 2013 calendar for temporary Xmas ice rinks is at http://www.timeout.com/london/things...ng-in-london-3. You'll arrive after the first couple have opened, but before most open
London's Science Museum rarely gets rave reviews from urban Americans on this site: it's probably less exciting to most teenage boys (and less intellectually stimulating to potential scientists, with far fewer enthusiastic docents) than peers in several US cities: it's probably best as a museum of the past two hundred years' technology - which many sports-jocks might just see as another museum.
I'd query the big football stadium tours: they're long on the kind of memorabilia that means more to fans of the teams concerned, or sociologists, than to those underwhelmed by real football.
They really ought to get to a football match. Fuggedaboutit for Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham). But West Ham, Fulham, Crystal Palace, QPR, Milwall or Charlton (in descending order of current ranking) will have some home matches between them over that weekend: all London area sports stadia are designed for relatively easy access by public transport, but all Premier League or Championship football matches still require you to budget at least 90 minutes to get to, and a further 90 mins to get back from because crowds do slow you up.
One bit of history that might tweak their interest is Lord's and its museum, which is the worldwide spiritual home of the sport that commands the biggest regular audiences of any sport in the world (at least half a billion people - over twice Superbowl's TV audience - for every India-Pakistan cricket match). While the sport itself might underwhelm them, the sight of all those South Asians queueing to be photographed at the sacred spots might widen their horizons. So too might the Twickenham (which has a similar role to Lord's for rugby) stadium tour.
Turning hundreds of acres of buildings into something of daily relevance is a lengthier job than developing a sports complex, so most of the Olympics area is a building site again.
The modest-sized park (250 acres and 4 miles of waterway), and the shopping mall (adjacent to the main Olympic station and offering a view over the whole site) is all that's currently visitable. The park's just another park in a conurbation that's stuffed with them, and the mall's locally useful but a visitor attraction only if you're interested in urban regeneration.
The 2013 calendar for temporary Xmas ice rinks is at http://www.timeout.com/london/things...ng-in-london-3. You'll arrive after the first couple have opened, but before most open
London's Science Museum rarely gets rave reviews from urban Americans on this site: it's probably less exciting to most teenage boys (and less intellectually stimulating to potential scientists, with far fewer enthusiastic docents) than peers in several US cities: it's probably best as a museum of the past two hundred years' technology - which many sports-jocks might just see as another museum.
I'd query the big football stadium tours: they're long on the kind of memorabilia that means more to fans of the teams concerned, or sociologists, than to those underwhelmed by real football.
They really ought to get to a football match. Fuggedaboutit for Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham). But West Ham, Fulham, Crystal Palace, QPR, Milwall or Charlton (in descending order of current ranking) will have some home matches between them over that weekend: all London area sports stadia are designed for relatively easy access by public transport, but all Premier League or Championship football matches still require you to budget at least 90 minutes to get to, and a further 90 mins to get back from because crowds do slow you up.
One bit of history that might tweak their interest is Lord's and its museum, which is the worldwide spiritual home of the sport that commands the biggest regular audiences of any sport in the world (at least half a billion people - over twice Superbowl's TV audience - for every India-Pakistan cricket match). While the sport itself might underwhelm them, the sight of all those South Asians queueing to be photographed at the sacred spots might widen their horizons. So too might the Twickenham (which has a similar role to Lord's for rugby) stadium tour.
Oct 19th, 2013, 11:39 PM
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I agree with flanneruk as regards sport. Fulham probably has the best reputation for being family friendly and is right next to the River Thames.
I'd suggest going to Greenwich by DLR - the Docklands Light Railway that takes you above ground with views across east London, then under the Thames to Greenwich. And back to the city centre (Westminster Pier) by boat. Apart from the Maritime Museum (which has outside what is probably the biggest ship in a bottle in the world), walk up the hill to the Observatory, home of the Greenwich Meridian, the dividing line between the Eastern and Western hemispheres, with a view over London.
With an active family I'd suggest hiring bikes one day and cycling - there's plenty of space round Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens if you're unsure of cycling on the "wrong" side of the road. For information about hiring the so-called Boris Bikes see http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/14808.aspx
I'd suggest going to Greenwich by DLR - the Docklands Light Railway that takes you above ground with views across east London, then under the Thames to Greenwich. And back to the city centre (Westminster Pier) by boat. Apart from the Maritime Museum (which has outside what is probably the biggest ship in a bottle in the world), walk up the hill to the Observatory, home of the Greenwich Meridian, the dividing line between the Eastern and Western hemispheres, with a view over London.
With an active family I'd suggest hiring bikes one day and cycling - there's plenty of space round Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens if you're unsure of cycling on the "wrong" side of the road. For information about hiring the so-called Boris Bikes see http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/14808.aspx
Oct 19th, 2013, 11:46 PM
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The Olympic Park is reopening in stages, but won't be much fun in November - the Village itself will be a building site as it's being reconverted for ordinary residential use.
http://queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/
There are speedboat rides to do on the river, which might be just the thing for teenage boys, but they look damned expensive to me:
http://www.visitlondon.com/tag/speedboat-tours
As for the history, though they might be museum-averse, the Museum of London goes out of its way to be youth-friendly (if I can put it like that) - and their website might give you some pre-reading:
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/explore-online/
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/exp...ket-histories/
http://queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/
There are speedboat rides to do on the river, which might be just the thing for teenage boys, but they look damned expensive to me:
http://www.visitlondon.com/tag/speedboat-tours
As for the history, though they might be museum-averse, the Museum of London goes out of its way to be youth-friendly (if I can put it like that) - and their website might give you some pre-reading:
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/explore-online/
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/exp...ket-histories/
Oct 20th, 2013, 01:27 AM
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What about something like the Fat Bike Tours. http://london.fattirebiketours.com
They get really good reviews.
They get really good reviews.
Oct 20th, 2013, 05:12 AM
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London Walks has a walk of Olympic Park. Or as mentioned above Harry Potter walk too. Kids under 15 are free with their parents and full time students only 7 pounds. For the cost of a movie at home I think any of their walks would be well worth the price.
For teenagers I would think that Tower, Greenwich, London museum (including the Roman ruins in the lower level!) would be the hightlights.
Note that most museums are free. So you don't have to feel bad just to pop into one to see one part that interests you and leave in an hour or so. And they all have free guided docent tours. Check their websites if there is a subject that interests you. British Museum (like the Egypt gallery) and Victoria and Albert Museum (like the theatre and permformance art collection) have great ones.
For audio do you know Rick Steves pod casts? You can download and they are free. www.ricksteves.com. His style is pretty casual and would be teenager friendly.
For teenagers I would think that Tower, Greenwich, London museum (including the Roman ruins in the lower level!) would be the hightlights.
Note that most museums are free. So you don't have to feel bad just to pop into one to see one part that interests you and leave in an hour or so. And they all have free guided docent tours. Check their websites if there is a subject that interests you. British Museum (like the Egypt gallery) and Victoria and Albert Museum (like the theatre and permformance art collection) have great ones.
For audio do you know Rick Steves pod casts? You can download and they are free. www.ricksteves.com. His style is pretty casual and would be teenager friendly.
Oct 20th, 2013, 06:33 AM
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We were just there with kids (albeit a little younger) and here were a few hits:
- Climbing the O2 arena. Highlight of the day, if not the trip. Very fun.
http://www.theo2.co.uk/upattheo2
- Bike Tours - we are a pretty active family and this was a fun way to see London.
http://london.fattirebiketours.com
- Harry Potter - do you want to see sites in London or go to the Warner Bros studio outside? In either event, we did both - just know that the WB studios require a combination of train and bus. We had rented a car on arrival day, so were able to use it. My 9yo is a HUGE HP fan, so he loved it. Also, we did the Muggles Walking Tour - which was a big hit with the 9yo and Mr. Surf. (I didn't go, I was on a photo tour).
http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk
http://www.muggletours.co.uk
Along with our trip to climb the O2, we did a day in Greenwich - saw the Prime Meridian (neat because they were learning about it in school), the Cutty Sark, and sights in-between (Maritime Museum).
click on my name and I've got a trip report out there with more details.
- Climbing the O2 arena. Highlight of the day, if not the trip. Very fun.
http://www.theo2.co.uk/upattheo2
- Bike Tours - we are a pretty active family and this was a fun way to see London.
http://london.fattirebiketours.com
- Harry Potter - do you want to see sites in London or go to the Warner Bros studio outside? In either event, we did both - just know that the WB studios require a combination of train and bus. We had rented a car on arrival day, so were able to use it. My 9yo is a HUGE HP fan, so he loved it. Also, we did the Muggles Walking Tour - which was a big hit with the 9yo and Mr. Surf. (I didn't go, I was on a photo tour).
http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk
http://www.muggletours.co.uk
Along with our trip to climb the O2, we did a day in Greenwich - saw the Prime Meridian (neat because they were learning about it in school), the Cutty Sark, and sights in-between (Maritime Museum).
click on my name and I've got a trip report out there with more details.
Oct 20th, 2013, 08:34 AM
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They may enjoy wandering around Camden Lock and markets. Start at Primrose Hill, to see the view over London, walk along the Regent's Canal past London Zoo to end up at Camden.
I'd give Jack the Ripper a miss. Why would you want to go on a tour to hear about a sadistic serial killer? Most of the sites are no longer there, anyway.
I'd give Jack the Ripper a miss. Why would you want to go on a tour to hear about a sadistic serial killer? Most of the sites are no longer there, anyway.
Oct 21st, 2013, 05:14 PM
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I know you said your boys are not really theater types, but I took mine to see The 39 Steps when they were 10 and 13 and they loved it. It was very fast paced and funny.
http://www.love39steps.com/
http://www.love39steps.com/
Oct 21st, 2013, 05:23 PM
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Flanneruk, the Sydney Olympic precinct is filled with accommodation and the actual Olympic venues are used often.
Suzette do you think your boys could contribute a day of activities each? Or perhaps between them they could plan a day. They might feel more engaged that way.
The Borough Food Market is fun and something they might enjoy. Plenty of free tastings as well as yummy things for lunch.
The Tower would be fun for their age bracket, there's lots to see.
Suzette do you think your boys could contribute a day of activities each? Or perhaps between them they could plan a day. They might feel more engaged that way.
The Borough Food Market is fun and something they might enjoy. Plenty of free tastings as well as yummy things for lunch.
The Tower would be fun for their age bracket, there's lots to see.
