7 London Sights with Teen Appeal

Take your pre-teens and teens to one of the most historical cities in the world and ... well, you might get more yawns than ‘yays!’ Want to avoid the apathy? Here are five places to add to your itinerary to keep kids engaged.

1)    Put them in the stocks. The London Dungeon is far and away the favorite destination of every double-digit aged child I know in London . While you may not want to go (nor would I advise it for kids under 8), the long queues outside are a testament to the eternal appeal of blood and guts. You can buy fast track tickets on the Web site to join priority queues.

A local pre-teen says: “The best thing about it is that it’s really gory and gross! I like everything about it, but especially the Boat Ride to Hell. I like the way that the actors interact with you, too—they jump out of dark corners or jump out of the sets and make you scream, and they take you off to be hanged or put you in the stocks and stuff.”

London Dungeon: Central London—Tooley Street, London SE1. Open daily, times vary throughout the year from 9:30-10:30 a.m. to 5-7 p.m. Tickets are for a tour lasting 1-1.5 hours. Prices:£19.95 (about $40) for adults 18 years and older, £14.95 (about $30) for students 15-17 years, £13.95 (about $28) for children 5-14 years. Transport: London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee tube lines); London Bridge (train). www.thedungeons.com

• The London Dungeon is one of the coolest sights in London for teens and adults who appreciate the dark side of history.
• MuLaN

2)    See how the other half (or the royal family) lives. For those who would like a glimpse into the more exclusive elements of British society, combine a tour of the famous Eton College (both Prince William and Prince Harry went here, along with 19 prime ministers) and Windsor Castle. You don’t need to arrange a city tour of Windsor or Eton, as the attractions are close together and easy to get to.

Eton College (for ages 13-18) is one of the most exclusive schools in the world, and among the oldest in England—it was set up by King Henry VI in 1440. Take a guided tour to see young men in the traditional uniform of black tailcoats and pinstriped trousers. It’s a lovely place to wander, and just over the bridge across the River Thames is Windsor.

Windsor has an attractive town center just steps from the train station, and the castle is England’s oldest royal residence still in use today. Should Queen Elizabeth II be at Windsor (as she often is on weekends and for Easter Court every year), there will be a Royal Standard (flag) flying, rather than the Union Jack. Among the usual swank, you’ll find Queen Mary’s Doll House, a seven-foot miniature of an Edwardian home including electric lights, running water and a grandfather clock that chimes on the hour. The detailing is incredible.

• The Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England, the source of Greenwich Mean Time.
• kirandulo

Other things to do around Windsor include Legoland (see page 4 of 6 Family Friendly Day Trips from London) and horse racing; you can take a boat from the train station to the racecourse every Monday night in the summer.

One-hour guided tours of Eton College (daily, Mar.-early Oct.) start at the main entrance to the College (on Brewhouse Yard). Prices: £5.50 (about $11) adults; £4.50 (about $9) children 8 and up; free for kids under 8. Windsor Castle is open 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Nov.-Dec., when it closes at 3 p.m. daily. Prices: £38.10 (about $75) family, £14.80 (about $29) adult, £8.50 (about $17) child. Both are 30 minutes by train from Paddington (west London) or 55 minutes from Waterloo station (central London). Walking distance between Windsor and Eton is about 10 minutes. www.etoncollege.com and www.windsor.gov.uk/. 

3)    Stand on the spot where time begins. Greenwich Meridian (0° longitude) and Greenwich Mean Time (the basis of every world time zone) are measured from the Greenwich Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Greenwich is a bustling neighborhood on the weekends, as people come to enjoy its many riverside pubs and market (arts and crafts, food, antiques).  

Greenwich is 20 minutes from central London by public transport, and the most atmospheric way to arrive is by boat. Naval history features large in Greenwich as it served as the headquarters for the Royal Navy. The Royal Observatory is in the middle of the vast Greenwich Park, so it’s a bit of a hike (one mile from public transport) but it’s a popular spot for a picnic and kicking around a football. The observatory is part of a complex that includes the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s Observatory; all are free.

• London’s famous Tower Bridge is a great place to get a bird’s eye view of the city on the Thames.
• Tammy Lo

Greenwich: Southeast London, SE10. The Meridian Line at The Royal Observatory is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Free entry to all museums, including the National Maritime Museum and Queen’s Observatory (www.nmm.ac.uk). Greenwich Market is open Thur.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in the covered area surrounded by four roads: College Approach, King William Walk, Greenwich Church Street and Nelson Road. www.greenwichmarket.net.Transport: CuttySark (Docklands Light Railway, part of the tube network) is the nearest for the market. Train: Greenwich and Maze Hill stations are closer to the Royal Observatory. Boat: Greenwich Pier from Tower of London, Charing Cross and Westminster. 

4)    Get a bird’s eye view. Tower Bridge was completed in 1894, when it was an engineering marvel for using steam-powered engines to lift the bridge so that tall boats could pass through. Today, its stone-clad towers and powder blue suspension struts make it one of the most picturesque sights in London.

However, not everyone knows you can go up to the 140-foot high walkways, which are glassed in (with openings to take photos). From the walkways, there are stunning views of nearby Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern and the striking glass egg-shaped City Hall. Anyone interested in history and engineering should head to the Victorian Engine Rooms, home of the original steam engines.

Tower Bridge: Central London—Tower Bridge, London, SE1.Open 9.30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Nov.-Mar., 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily Apr.-Oct. Purchase tickets at the north end (the end by the Tower of London). Prices £10-£14 (about $20-$28) family (depending on numbers), £6 (about $12) adult, £3 (about $6) child. Transport: London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee tube lines, train), Tower Gateway (Docklands Light Railway), Fenchurch Street (train). www.towerbridge.org.uk