London with teen in June?
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Anonymous
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Just mom and daughter this summer - thinking 4-5 days before train to Amsterdam..
My daughter is not into culture. Pass on Buckingham palace/castle tour/any jewels and art museums. She is however a huge adrenaline junkie (unfortunately I am not) and loves science (space). We will see a show and Tower of London. Appreciate any unique/off the beaten path kinda stuff... |
Anonymous
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The London Eye is the huge Ferris wheel if she likes heights.
My kid loved the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. Not sure what you want to see there if not into culture/history or jewels. St James Park is between Big Ben and Buckingham palace, it’s got a pond, walking trails. Sort of like a mini version of Central Park. My 13yo DD and I enjoyed walking thru there last June. Broke up tbe hectic streets of London. |
Anonymous
| Too hot. September is better weather wise. |
Anonymous
London can be cool and rainy in June, too. It's like a box of chocolates.. you never know what kind of weather you will get. We've experienced by hot and rainy weather in June. My Brit spouse jokingly says that you can experience all 4 seasons in one day. |
Anonymous
I took my son to London when he was 6. He is also into science and not into arts/palaces. Here are some of his favorites: - The Science Museum (it's FREE and you can bring some food and literally spend an entire day there) - The Greenwich and the Royal Observatory - Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum - London Eye - Riding the trains (the ones above ground), the ferries on the Thames (not the touristy boats, just the cheap ferries), and the double decker buses Places to stay: My friend living in London told me it doesn't really matter where you stay, since London is so big and you'll have to ride the public transportation for a very long time no matter where you go. So just find a place that's close to the tube and within your budget. We stayed at Deptford Bridge b/c we got a good hotel deal there. Initially I was worried it was too far out of the way, but at the end it worked out fine exactly as what my friend said (and my son really enjoyed riding the public transportation everywhere). Day trips: I wouldn't go unless you or your daughter really want to. I took day trips to Bath/Stonehenge and Oxford/Cambridge when I was young and single, but I don't think my kid would have enjoyed it at all so we stayed in London for 6 full days. |
Anonymous
Like every single other place in the mid-north atlantic us coast. What really matters is that most London stores/accommodations will have no form of air conditioning so plan accordingly. |
Anonymous
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The Harry Potter studios are actually very cool.
Personal preference - if she is an adrenaline junkie - stay away from the London Eye. I personally found it underwhelming because although you go high and have decent views - it is painfully slow. If you want a high up view of London - I’d do a lunch at one of the Shanghai-La restaurants in the Shard or at Duck and Waffle. Lunch because breakfast can be foggy and dinner is beautiful but it’s just lights and not views. |
Anonymous
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I'm going with my tween and young teen and the things the 14yo is most excited about are:
--Borough Market --London Dungeon (I know this is a tourist trap, but it is exactly the kind of cheesy, tacky thing she loves) --the Science Tea at the Ampersand Hotel --Harry Potter Studio Tour |
Anonymous
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Take a look at the "Walks" offered by London Walks. There's a ton of variety and following a guide around keeps you moving.
https://www.walks.com/ Maybe your daughter would enjoy standing room tickets at The Globe Theater? The groundling experience? https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/a-midsummer-nights-dream/ |
Anonymous
+1000 I did this last year and it was so much fun! |
Anonymous
| I would go to Germany instead. |
Anonymous
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Thanks everyone! Yeah, I really grapple with London.. where in German do you suggest PP?
My daughter is very innovative, loves science and unique things - likes to learn but practical stuff like she is super interested in water mitigation Dutch innovations, likes to shop of course but isn't shop till you drop kinda girl, loves outdoor/adrenaline (but I'm just not prepared to do all that) stuff, any water activity/beach, she's into the horror genre but no walks, talks, literary things, art/cultural things. She loves the novelty of European/Asian train travel so London I think will be fun for her - LOVES Italy, Japan, China. She's always wanted to do Amsterdam, not so much Paris 
I just want to keep the travel easy and targeting countries that are not too far apart from each other.. I think I can make London work for a few days though and it'll be good for her to see London and know whether she wants to return
We've got the Tower of London, Science Museum, Hamilton, shopping and either the adrenaline activity - enough for 2-3 days for sure. The science tea may work
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Anonymous
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^also loves spas, NYC over CA, musicals/plays, wicked sense of humor, not so much castles unless there's something really special about them..
She had more fun in Amalfi than Rome if that makes sense? She's a S. Italy girl but digs Venice + Florence, less Rome/history buff. Because of that I was going to bypass Germany? As much as I love Italy, I think we need to explore another country
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Anonymous
| Alton Towers is where my adrenaline junkie wanted to go. |
Anonymous
London has a very thriving performance arts scene so you can definitely look into it. It's not my cup of tea and I only know the Mousetrap (an Agatha Christie play). |