London with teenagers
 

We are planning a trip to London with two teenagers-their first trip, our second. Any suggestions to keep them entertained? One is a Beatles fan, the other likes Jane Austen novels if that is any help. Thank you!

Liz - read the posts about the Rock 'n Roll tour. We just got back from a week in London with a 14, 16, and 21 year old - their first trip to London also. They loved the Rock 'n Roll tour, you'll find it on the Astral Travel website, half-day tours.<BR><BR>We kept an eye on the paper and found an exhibit on the history of video games on now through October ? at the Barbican Centre in London. While it's hardly something special to London, the kids and my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the two hours we spent there, playing old games like Asteroids and Donkey Kong. And it gave the teens a little break from history and "old" culture.<BR><BR>We also found they loved the "Special Access" tour to Stonehenge - where they take you right up to the stones, and the guide really explains a lot of what it's all about. My 16-year-old really got into that.<BR><BR>Can't help you with Jane Austen, though I'm sure someone else here can and will. I have 3 boys, none of whom are interested in her. . .all I'd suggest is that you remember that you want them to enjoy the trip, so include some stuff more aimed at their interests than yours. Don't go overboard, but also don't overkill the history and museum bit to such a point that you find yourself leading the Bataan Death March through the V&A.

The history of video games? You flew the family to London and then went to this? I gotta wonder at some people's values. Would it be SO hard for your kids to absorb some history and real culture for a few days? You gotta coddle 'em with some cheap crap like this while in London, where there's a fabulous, fascinating historical site around every corner?<BR><BR>No wonder Al Quaeda thinks we're screwed up.

Of course, you have to take the Beatles fan to Abbey Road and take the ever-popular photo of them walking the zebra crossing!

Liz, Beatles fans go straight to their own special Mecca when they hit London--Abbey Road! Take the tube to St. John's Wood, and walk up Grove End, hook a right at Abbey. Be sure to take a black felt tip pen to write on the wall. They don't mind. They expect it! (You can even take your photo in front of the main door--just don't bug 'em inside.) The other place Beatles fans like to hang out in London is #1 Soho Square, Paul's office. No guarantee he'll be there! Both of these spots are on Richard Porter's Beatles Walks (one of the Original London Walks.) You can find out more at http://www.beatlesnews.com Another thing your teenagers will enjoy is the record shops. My favorite is the HMV on Oxford Street, near the Bond St. tube stop. There is another HMV down the road, and a Virgin Records at the intersection with Tottenham Court Road. I thought Rock Circus was a waste, and waaay too loud. I've never heard about the Rock and Roll Tour that Marcie just mentioned, and I need to look into that. Oh, be sure to take a pocket radio and buy the Radio Times, so they can hear the BBC and the commercial stations. They'll also enjoy tuning in "Top of the Pops" and any of the chat shows that may feature current artists.

A daytrip (by train) to Bath would be great for the young Jane Austen fan. Several of her novels have scenes taking place in Bath.<BR><BR>The Jane Austen Centre is on Gay Street, and about a block further up at 25 Gay Street is one of the four houses in Bath that Jane Austen lived in.<BR><BR>http://www.janeausten.co.uk/centre/index.html<BR><BR>Jane Austen's family home, Chawton, is more difficult to get to unless you have a car. You would take the train to Winchester, then a bus to Alton, then walk to Chawton. Jane Austen is buried in Winchester Cathedral, so you could see that, too.<BR><BR>Hope you and your family have a wonderful time in London, Liz!<BR><BR>

BTW, I should have made this clear, you CANNOT go inside the house at 25 Gay Street in Bath, it is a private residence. The outside of it is just another of many things to see in the beautiful city of Bath.

Let them hang out for a while along Kings Road - lots of cool shops, funky restaurants, etc.

For CulturalWasteland -<BR>I figured somebody would diss me for the idea of the video games exhibition ;-) In theory, of course you're right. However, that was *2 hours* out of an 8-day trip which included going to Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, St. Paul's Cathedral, Hyde Park, a day-long trip to Stonehenge/Avebury, a tour by bus around London highlighting historical buildings/events, and the London Zoo. Not to mention Portobello Market on Saturday morning, and Camden market on Sunday.<BR><BR>Sorry if it's not your "cup of tea", but it worked for us.

Dont worry marcie, I can understand, and I dont even have any children! you need to keep everyone happy, dont you. There is always someone on here willing to look down their nose, diss other peoples ideas. I think they are bored at work.

Thanks for the advice-I remember the forced march through churches as a kid, so I want to be armed with alternatives.

For the Jane Austen fan pethaps afternoon tea in the Orangery just north of Kensington Palace. The nearest tube station is Kensington High Street, and http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=331 and http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/ro...n%20palace.htm have pictures. For both teenagers, a lecture or two at the National Portrait Gallery, with as much attention to fellow members of the audience as to the lecture. Please see http://www.npg.org.uk/live/lecindex.asp/.<BR><BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome back.<BR><BR>Ben Haines, London

Liz, <BR><BR>You've already gotten info posted on Abbey Road and a suggestion for a day trip to Bath for your Jane Austin fan....so here are a few other ideas for teens in London, depending on their other interests:<BR><BR>--London's Science Museum is one of the best anywhere, if either of your teens is into high-tech, hands-on exhibits. <BR><BR>--On the other hand, the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum is usually NOT someplace I recommend for kids, but if child who enjoys Jane Austin has any interest in the costumes of that period, the V&A may be worth a stop<BR><BR>--the London Eye is a hoot for most kids (my 15 year old son liked it so much he must have taken 50 photos on the ride)<BR><BR>--A boat trip on the Thames is a good way to see parts of the city...and the "Frog Tours" on amphibious craft are the quirkiest way to travel in London<BR><BR>--A daytrip to Greenwich can be a good choice. Go either by the automated (driverless) Docklands Light Railway for an interesting ride out OR take a boat trip down the Thames from London (or one each way). Greenwich's newly refurbished Nautical Museum is worth a visit, as is the old Royal Observatory where you can stand on the zero longitude line.<BR><BR>Hope this helps. Not to worry though, London has lots to interest teens.<BR><BR>David White<BR>http://www.KidsToLondon.com

topping for Jo Ann