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.