United Kingdom
 

Thoughts on a trip to London and more with three college age kids?
When to go (thinking June/July OR December)?
What to do? Where to stay? WHat to do outside of London?
Probably would only have a week or 10 days....
Thanks

You're not really giving us much and your topic is vague. You say "United Kindom" and yet you seem to be interested in London as a base.

Where are you flying from?
How many males/females? If there are 4 of you this makes a difference as to room sharing.
June and December are totally different - June, it'll be light until 10pm, December it'll be dark at 5pm.
What are your and your travel partners interests.

Since you picked London, tells why there..instead o, say, Paris or Rome? London is huge and cannot all be seen in one trip, so knowing you and maybe more importantly your kids interest will help.

Summer is of course a much better time to visit.
Hotel or apartment?
special needs or must do's or sees?
Budget?
Hate/love museums, churches?
Plays?

OK -- 7-10 days is a relatively short time and the UK (and even just London) has hundreds/thousands of places worth seeing and places to stay.

What research have you done? What sorts of things are you thinking of seeing/doing? Start by clicking "Destinations" at the top of this page and reading up a bit. Then click on United Kingdom at the top of your own thread and read a few of the many (thousands really) threads and trip reports.

Then come back w/ just a tiny bit more focused questions. We can help you refine a plan, but not create one out of thin air.

Keep in mind that daylight hours in December are about half those of June/July, not to mention the weather.

This is a ridiculous query. London is the largest city in Western Europe, the global financial capital, and a tourist magnet with many attractions universally recognized throughout the world. Are you seriously unable to go to a website or two, perhaps a really good travel website like FODORS.com and its "Destinations" section, to develop ideas before asking everyone on this board where to go?

Good gosh.

Also, for some reason the Olympics will be in London for 3 weeks next summer. Perhaps you should determine when and consider avoiding the city then.

Don't come 27th July onwards we have a sports day event for a month or so

Just testing the waters as to a trip with college age kids as it can be tricky. Also considering some spots here - New Orleans, Charleston/Savannah/Hilton Head OR Costa Rica....
I am looking for
!. places they have not been
2. places that would interest 18, 21 and 25.
3. we like everything! shopping, eating, museums, history, outdoorsy stuff like rafting
(Actually like national parks as well)

This will probably be the last family trip so I just want it to be special.

Big Russ - no need to reply as I feel you have an attitude. I AM able and will be doing a much more extensive search once the decision is made. First want to decide where in the world ????? to go with limited time available from the kids. Just thought maybe some NICE person who has traveled with this age would have creative thoughts/positive comments...

All those questions should be asked those that will be traveling.

I am that age. I really enjoy planning trips myself! Anywhere is wonderful and everywhere is great! If it were me, it would make a big difference whether or not the trip was to be taken in my own country or in Europe:). Ask your college-agers where they would like to go, they may have many ideas of their own.... Give them some options, something like: Hey guys, I was thinking of taking you all on an amazing trip! Now we could spend a week or so somewhere in Europe, or a bit longer somewhere closer to home ( The Caribbean, Hawaii, Costa Rica ), I'd like to know what you all think, where would YOU like to go?

That way you will get a lot of positive feedback and they will probably get on board and start planning the trip with you.

Yes, I have an attitude - my attitude is that considering the vast amount of material on London and the UK, it is easy to do a modicum of research on your own before asking your questions.

I also have lots of creative thoughts and positive comments and could help you if you don't get your knickers in a bunch. But first you need to do your own legwork.

Go research London, the UK, etc. and determine from WHAT YOU KNOW of your kids if it would work and generate some thoughts on where to go. Last check, people from 18-25 can use computers and the Internet to do research too so getting them involved in planning would give them ownership of the trip and increase their enthusiasm.

"<i>Just thought maybe some NICE person who has traveled with this age would have creative thoughts/positive comments...</i>"

It would have been a hecka lot easier to be 'helpful' if you had given us anything to work w/.

You gave us nuthin'

>>When to go (thinking June/July OR December)? What to do? Where to stay? What to do outside of London?<< Is sort of like asking "<i>We are going to the United States for a week or so in June or maybe December. Is there anything to do outside of New York? What should we see/do/stay/eat</i><<

But since no one gave you 'useful' advice . . . I have never meant an 18-25 yo who didn't absolutely LOVE London. I'd think tens of times more so than New Orleans/Savannah

Yeah, but wouldn't Costa Rica be fun?

What to do? Are you serious?

Where to stay? If you are a family of 5, I would suggest an apartment. In the center.

What to do outside of London?

I honestly don't think London is for you. A nice family resort in Costa Rica with lots of adventures and beaches sounds like just the ticket.

I love the idea of the 2012 Olympics being done in the style of school sports day!

Will there be a sack race? Or egg and spoon?

I bet we get loads of golds if there are!

Took ONE college student son to London for a WEEK -first week of January....saw plays-major sights-minor sight (Wimbleton)-day trip via tour bus to Bath/Stonehenge/Salisbury-out to Hampton Court.....pubs...had a good time...that being said, he was an English major, so had a definite interest in the city/country.

RM67 well the first modern Olympics took place in the UK as part of a village festival so I can see the hop-skip and jump nonsense in the wastelands of East London as a bit of fun only.

The other aspect of the modern olympics that seem to have been dropped out in the last 50 years or so are the poetry and the architecture elements.

We can enter the gherkin for the architecture event. That's another gold sorted.

Can we submit limericks for the poetry section?

Gurning should be an Olympic sport!

Nuff said!

And queueing!

tea making

tutting

Hi Millsy5,
I understand your question very well, you are in the very very early stages of trip development. I think your question is perfectly acceptable.

You already know about the differences in weather and daylight, the possibility of clashing with the Olympics and that you won't be able to see everthing in London or (anywhere else for that matter)in the short time available.

With these things in mind, can you discount certain dates and areas?

Once you have decided this I think you need to match your interests with the rest of the UK. ie History, walking, literature, sailing, cycling, blah, blah, blah.

Have a think about those specifics and return with a definitive list of things you would like to see and do. Then, i'm confident that the ever helpful chaps and chapesses here will fill your boots with excellent information.

Good luck

Muck

Be careful where you take that age group, they may like it TOO much. I took my daughter there when she was 18, she loved it so much she did an internship (in London) a couple years later, loved it so much she went to grad school there (Univ Warwick). Now she misses it so much she applying to grad school there again for another degree. The same thing happened with Paris ( she alternates- a year here, a year there).

In my mind there would be no contest between taking your kids to Europe, especially if they have never been, verses the other things you mention.

June would be MUCH better than December. I've been in both seasons and I'll go when ever I can, but given a choice June is much nicer. The earlier the better due to the Olympics this year.

My advice is always see how economical you can go with lodging and maybe you can afford a few extra days. There are Easy-hotels (run by easyjet airline company) in London that are quite economical and they are FINE. There are also Travelodges than can be almost as inexpensive and slightly nicer. Several locations for both of those chains. With the money you'll save you can afford a few extra nights.

I'd do five in London and then the rest split between places like Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, Cotswold towns. I really like Chester which is near Liverpool and you can even pop over to Conwy Wales (great castle). There are numerous places to choose within about three hours of London, you don't have time for Scotland or the southwest of England, etc.

If you want economic lodging join the Youth Hosteling Association and book one of their very nice places in central london (this is hosteling light but very good for all that).

http://www.yha.org.uk/
it is worth checking if the international association is cheaper to join than the British one.