UK for 10 days with 9 and 13 year old
 

I am planning a trip to the UK arriving on July 1 and leaving on July 11. This will be a first trip for both my children and would appreciate any suggestions. On our list (in no particular order) - musical or two, Harry Potter, Tate Modern, Globe Theater, Greenwich, Tower of London, London Eye, shopping (for my 13 year old). A quick view of key landmarks like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace as I'm not sure the kids will have much interest. I'm considering a trip to Edinburgh, just because I've always wanted to go. Hampton Court Palace was also recommended. Any advice appreciated.

What are the hobbits (older/younger): boy/boy, boy/girl, girl/boy, girl/girl?

Edinburgh isn't a day trip, it would require some time to visit and stay overnight.

We've been taking our grandkids (boys and one girl) to England when they reach age 12, and they all have have enjoyed Shakespeare Reimagined in the open air theatre in Regents Park. This year it is Twelfth Night: http://openairtheatre.com/production...ght-reimagined. The plays have always been silly, way overacted (on purpose--after all, it's for kids), and great fun! The weather has cooperated, we take our own picnic lunch to eat before the show, and wander over to the zoo afterwards.

Any chance you could add on a day or two? If you've a budding aviator this is a not-to-miss opportunity, WW2 aircraft flying over a WW2 airbase, lots of "zoom-zoom" fun to hear/watch. July 12/13 are the Flying Legends airshow, just an hour's train ride from London to Cambridge and you take a shuttle from the Cambridge rail station to the show, http://www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-dux...nds-air-show-0

Absolutely do NOT miss the British Museum (the kids will like that a whole lot more than the Tate Modern - and I'm assuming at those ages you will keep them with you the whole time).

Be sure you take one boat trip on the Thames - either to Greenwich or to Hampton Court Palace.

And do look at the Verger's tour of Westminster Abby - fascinating even for kids - with all of those banners, royal crypts etc.

Thanks for all the responses! I will try to answer everyone's questions. My son is 9 and daughter is 13. Daughter plays competitive soccer and wants to shop and see shows. Son likely more interested in bridges, boats and airplanes. Both want to see Harry Potter world, Loch Ness and Stonehenge. Not sure if we can make the latter two happen. Understand that Edinburg is not a 1 day trip and was planning on spending 2 to 3 nights. Flight dates are unfortunately firm although the airshow sounds great. For the Tate Modern, it was to see a display or two. Was planning on the boat to Greenwich but going to Hampton Court sounds even better.

Love the idea of Shakespeare Reimagined. Will also plan on Tower Bridge, Tate Modern (to see the Matisse exhibit), Hampton Court via boat, Greenwich and Harry Potter. Planning on a show one night. Perhaps Camden market.

We are also considering spending 3 nights in Paris versus Edinburg. If not Paris, 2 nights in Windsor.

Any thoughts?

>> Hampton Court via boat<<

Don't go to HCP by boat. It takes hours and you can't get there until after lunch time. Take the train TO the Palace and get there at opening time. Then, if the weather is decent, you can take a boat back into town.

I'd do Edinburgh -- TONS of things for kids.

Windsor wouldn't be as interesting for them. Except for the castle not much of interest for kids the ages of yours. (LegoLand tends younger)

If you don't go to Edinburgh - then Paris would be great. Why are you thinking of dropping Edinburgh?

You don't have to go on a long boat trip either, if time's short; there's a circular cruise just between Westminster and the Tower:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/river/about-river-tours

Or you could get a boat back from Hampton Court to Richmond and take the train to Waterloo from there.

Are your youngsters still at the stage where they're not too cool to sit at the front of the top deck of a bus? They might like to get familiar with the transport system in advance and become your in-house experts:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/maps/visitors-and-tourists
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static...onnections.pdf

Given that you cannot touch the stones they may be let down there are other circles many of which you can stand inside (ref most spooky stories in UK have these to be mystical places) the top 10 are http://www.britainexpress.com/herita...tm?travel=5310

Avebury is easy to get to.

Warwick Castle. The kids are the perfect age for it.

In 2012 we went to England and Paris with twin 13-year-olds -- you might get some ideas (including many ideas of what *not* to do ) from our trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ire-wteens.cfm

Comparing your list to ours, our daughters resented our trip to the Globe, one with a fair amount of bitterness at the time (in part, I'm sure, because it was a rainy day and we all got sopping wet trying to find the place), but now they remember it sweetly. The sulky one now has no memory of being so upset and mentions occasionally, as her classes are covering Shakespeare plays, that she can't believe she actually visited the Globe. :-)

They did not like the Beefeater tour at the Tower of London, so we broke off after about 30 minutes and let them explore the place on their own, which worked well.

London Eye was a big thrill for both girls. We saw Big Ben and many other key sights from there.

One thing missing from your list is the London Dungeons. Our daughters begged to go there, and I agreed with an impressive amount of grumbling (90-minute wait in line, I didn't see the point, the usual boring mom stuff). BUT once we were inside, we all loved it! It is a fun way to learn some history in an intertaining way. Two different photos of that trip still hang in our house, and more than two years later, the girls still laugh and talk about it.

Buckingham Palace wasn't open when were there, but the Royal Mews were (in fact, that's the first thing we visited in London, fresh off the plane and with our luggage still trailing alongside). Two of us are equestrians and it was just fascinating. Oh, to ride in that indoor arena of theirs ... <3

We all loved the British Museum (husband was especially in awe of the Egyptian exhibits and seeing the Rosetta Stone) and Trafalgar Square.

We visited Stonehenge and it was amazing for every single person in our family.

There really are few "bad" choices, as long as you realize that you'd need to spend a very long time in London to see it all. Everyone seems to have a different "must-see" experience, but that's just the thing; it's different for everyone.

Enjoy your trip!

I wouldn't go to Edinburg at all - semi-dull border town here in Texas.

As for Edinburgh, that's completely different and the boy would probably love the eponymous Castle and the gory stories for the Palace of Holyrood House and a ghost walk. Plus, you can go look at the monstrosity that the Scots call a Parliament building and wonder what in the name of vegetarian haggis they were thinking.

Each to his/her own but I certainly wouldn't call the Scottish Parliament a monstrosity. Have you ever been inside it BigRuss? It's actually a very interesting building with some unique architectural features and has won several prestigious awards. The guided tour is excellent.

The inside is interesting, the outside is a mess, and the cost overruns would make the American sport stadium construction industry proud.

Great trip report! I love hearing about what the kids liked most. Thanks.