7 day itinerary ideas for parent/ 3 college kids

Reality; given flights to and from US to LONDON you really only have 5 days to see things

Book:
Churchill War Rooms
Tower of London
Tickets to Hamilton or Witness For The Prosecution

IMHO Stonehenge and Bath would be full day excursions.

You need to sit down with your family and discuss what are the MUST sees!

The main Imperial War Museum is in London itself and doesn’t need pre-booking. Allow a couple of
hours. There’s also part of the IWM called the Churchill War Rooms not far from Westminster Abbey (also highly recommended). The Churchill War Rooms do need pre-booking.

Windsor Castle is an easy three-quarters of a day trip from central London. Don’t forget there’s a huge castle right in London itself - the Tower of London. This is where the Crown Jewels are - it’s not clear from your post if you realise that.

Stonehenge - get the train to Salisbury, pick up a bus there that takes you to Stonehenge. Probably a full day.

When you say you want a day trip to Bath “with swimming,” where are you thinking of swimming? The Roman Baths aren’t swimming baths - you can’t actually get in the water there. There is a place called Bath Thermae Spa, which you may have seen pictures of, which has a rooftop pool. This is mostly an expensive spa that definitely needs pre-booking and the pool is really small and mostly for just floating around in.

I feel college kids might prefer Oxford to the Cotswolds. I’m never sure of the appeal of the Cotswolds - very pretty villages, antique shops, country walks - great for a relaxed holiday but for me they don’t make sense as a day trip. Whereas college age kids might get a kick from looking at Oxford colleges, steeped in history.

Overall, I feel like you need to think a bit more about what’s actually in London to look at. I feel you’re shortchanging it a bit and might want to slim down your day trips.

I'm an all-in kind of person where historical museums are concerned. I usually either skip them or read every word posted. It took me many, many visits of multiple hours each to cover the Imperial War Museum. I no longer remember how much time I logged there over the course of two separate trips to London (10 days the first time, 12 days the second time), but it must have been over 15 hours and may have been over 20. So if someone in your family group is really interested in the IWM, that person could easily be frustrated if only given an hour or two there. For me, it wouldn't be worth going if I could just walk through the building and look at weapons without reading the explanatory material. It might be smart to split up every now and then so folks can be sure of seeing the things that are super-important to them.

If I had only five full, mostly-non-jetlagged day in London, I wouldn't take any trips outside the city because the transportation time could be spent actually sightseeing in London. If I absolutely had to see Bath and Stonehenge (which are both way, way west of London), I wouldn't make two trips out there; I'd spend a night in somewhere in the area (maybe Salisbury, maybe Bath) so I could see both places on the same trip.

I agree that it's worth considering whether Oxford (or Cambridge) might be more interesting to the college students. I liked them both more than Bath; I have no interest in Stonehenge. Oxford and Cambridge are both somewhat quicker trips to London than Bath or Stonehenge. Cambridge is the closest of them all, with some trains taking only 48 minutes.

dropping cotswald. I fly in around 7am sunday and we can do something local for 3-5 hrs that first day, narrowed it down to

Tower of London

British Museum

Churchill war rooms

Roman baths

Stone henge

Tower Bridge

National Gallery

Westminster abbey

Buckingham Palace – changing of the guard.

Windsor Castle

As I did not yet book hotels what is the two things I should book first and schedule everything else around. I can go to Stonehenge and stay over then go to Bath. Or head to bath stay over then tour roman baths.

Darens,
First off, have you ever been to England, particularly,London? Your posting doesn’t indicate whether you have previously visited the area, but I guess that this is the first time in England. Like others have mentioned, I truly believe you are short changing yourselves. London deserves so much more time than you are allocating, IMHO. Have you discussed the trip with your college aged kids? What are they interested in?

I have been to london and england several times. My kids have not yet been to england. 2 of the 3 expressed interest in Stonehenge. I also thought a nice day would be to visit roman baths, I can stay out there overnight between the 2 as I have not yet booked Hotels. I am a history buff and like to show them some of the sights I listed above. I spent 2 days at the IWM and I agree can spend 7 there. I am just trying to give them a taste of England and we are used to running around (especially in europe) . What do you feel I am missing. we can lounge at dinner and after, Also I can only take that week off for England as work (especially with 3 in college!!!!!!)

I’m sorry but have you looked at a map. Stonehenge is 2 hours from London.

Where are you flying from? Asking because jet lag may come into play.

Tower of London hours: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/visit/#gs.vca4gq

Unless you wish to endure crowds and only getting a glimpse of the Changing of The Guard I’d skip the overrated ceremony. https://www.householddivision.org.uk/changing-the-guard-overview

Personally, I’d get checked into your accommodation, see how everyone is handling the time change. Anyone need coffee? Fresh air? Food?

Then explore the neighborhood where you are staying. You could always picnic in one of Londons numerous parks.

National Gallery doesn’t reopen till June 2023
https://londonist.com/london/latest-news/national-portrait-gallery-reopening-date-june-2023

https://www.britishmuseum.org/visit

Have a pub lunch. Old Bank of England. Ye Olde Cheesire Cat. The Cross Keys. Ship and Shovel. Meander about the Shepard Market neighborhood and visit The Kings Arm. This area is a bit of a throw back to days of yore….

Lastly, walk along the Thames River Path.

ok this is what I came up with:

Sunday May 21 - Arrive 7:10 am Heathrow leave 9am
Take bus to Oxford England – arrive 11am. Punt on river walk around town
Stay overnight in Oxford.
Monday May 22 Rent car from Oxford and drive to Bath Spa.
Bath spa tour Roman ruins
Bath spa swim thermal spa
Stay overnight in Bath.
Tuesday May 23 Drive to Stonehenge
Tour Stonehenge – Pass Avebury – Drive back to London return rent a car.
Wednesday May 24 London (Westminster Abbey and British Museum)
Thursday May 25 Train to Windsor Castle – See changing of the guard . St George
Friday May 26 London (Tower of London, Crown jewels , St Pauls Cathedral)
Sat May 27 London (Imperial war museum – Churchill rooms)
Sunday May 28 Gatwick 2:10pm

What do you like/dislike I have not booked anything.

as I have 3 kids and luggage does car make more sense. I know trains run 1000% better in Europe than USA. Windsor makes sense on sunday however St George is closed and no changing of the guard on sunday.

Avebury in addition to Stonehenge. I would also go to the West Kennet Long Barrow. I was the only person there when I visited.

Any further suggestions comments ideas

hey hey darens500
lots of moving around, you really only have 6 days. arrival day check in is 3-4pm trying to keep awake, will hotel allow luggage storage before checking in? check out is 10-11am and that's a short window to get to gatwick for departure with passport & security and hoping no strikes
rebecca's post of packing light with backpack is best.
don't forget day two affects people differently with jet lag. (friends flew to barcelona this wednesday and next day slept for 12 hours)
i would book your rooms ASAP, you may get slim pickens. book 2 rooms, rooms are so small, some only allow 4 per room, plus i would prefer 2 bathrooms with your gang
so many people are traveling anywhere and everywhere nowdays, it seems to be high season all year long in many places. want to see the same places in different cities, wanting to visit or just get a picture for social media, the crowds, booking a ticket to attractions and hope not sold out. so much to see & do in london without having to travel outside but it's your trip and style.
by the way, if renting a car in england see if you and any other drivers will need an IDP (international driving permit). can be obtained at AAA or CAA ($25 plus 2 passport size photos and receive same day)
check your days/times for windsor castle changing of guard. we saw the buckingham one, absolutely nuts/crazy. so many people pushing/pulling you away from iron fence/gates, being short doesn't help. i wouldn't do it again. line up early in windsor and enjoy
walk through regents street, picadilly circus "free entertainment", trafalgar square, eat fish & chips, streetsensations.co.uk/ markets
list of all the markets, what they offer and where.
freetoursbyfoot.com affordable/cheap afternoon teas in london
we did this, so much fun and to us it's in the monarch history along with a glass of prosecco
we also did a gin crawl tour with 10 people in a limousine. stopped 6 pubs that make their own gins and bartendars made specialty cocktail of their gin for us. great tour.
b-bakery.com
check tours available on a red double decker bus going past attractions throughout, save your tired & achy feet and relax
getyourguide.com london: historical pub walking tour and history of area, pubs are so inate inside with great people in them
london: soho music & pubs, where the legends hung out, drank & played
thamesrockets.com
speed boat experiences on the river. your post is all about "I" so i've added some "kid fun" and got outside the box of many museums and churches, saw enough. one thing to do is sit outside of bar/restaurant and people watch, lots to see and some things you wish you didn't LOL loved london and everything about it. have fun enjoy & cheerio!!!
aloha

If considering visiting Stonehenge by train involving the Salisbury to London route, be aware of this post regarding issues with the trains on that route-
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/emergency-railway-changes-swr-exeter-basingstoke-salisbury-now

The more detailed SWR advice reads [spelling mistake corrected]-
Until further notice, the following service alterations will take place.
- Services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will run between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids only. Trains may have to run at reduced speed between these stations and due to the single line sections along this route trains may be delayed awaiting to pass a train in the opposite direction.

- A shuttle service will operate between Salisbury and Basingstoke

If you require a train between London Waterloo and Basingstoke, you are advised to board one of our services between London Waterloo and Weymouth, Poole and Portsmouth via Eastleigh or a stopping service to Basingstoke.

To assist you with your journey your ticket will be accepted, at no extra cost to yourself, on the following services:
- Great Western Railway services between Exeter St Davids and London Paddington (in both directions)
- Great Western Railway services between Basingstoke and Reading (in both directions)
- Great Western Railway services between Salisbury and Westbury (in both directions)
- London Underground via any reasonable route (for travel between London Waterloo and London Paddington)