first swing at itinerary...need feedback

HI Ruth,

Just a couple of thoughts: after spending all night on a plane, your 13 year old is not going to want to spend two hours on a bus and then two hours on a boat that first day. Try to substitute something low-key for that first day that involves walking around in the fresh air looking at things that are not too taxing. Jet lag and teenagers -- not a good combination. Also the day that has the Cathedral, the Globe, the Tate and a play in the evening sounds like a lot of structured activities for one day.

Try to build in some hanging out and people watching time -- especially in the evenings. With our teens, we try to build in one major sightseeing event per day, along with a lot of walking around and some hanging out. We also limit the museums -- maybe 2 in a week, and find that they get much more out of it when they know there are only a couple and they have some role in choosing which ones. The Victoria and Albert is fun for teen girls.

We always took the approach that we wanted them to experience a bit of living in a foreign country, not just seeing the sites -- so we would rent apartments and buy food in local shops and explore neighborhoods. Kid really like to picture what it's like to actually live somewhere else. Maybe have your daughter do some research and find out what her must-sees or must dos are; maybe you can take turns visiting things that are priorities for each of you.

"Friday
Arrive London 6:30 am...
Check in apartment..get settled but not too much...bite to eat...head out noonish...
HOHO bus tour (2hrs) followed by included river cruise (2 hours?) followed by dinner and, if super energized, London Eye"

You are arriving at 6:30 a.m. Have you verified what time you can actually check in to your apartment? Most check ins are in the afternoon.

Doing the HoHo on arrival day isn't a great idea. The motion of the bus will very likely put you to sleep. I find it's easier to stay awake by spending time outdoors and walking. Maybe you could find a walking tour to keep you moving.

Welcome Ruth,

Just a comment.

Jet lags affects people differently. Some can handle it some cant. You all wont know until you get there. Also if you try to sleep too long during the day i may affect your sleep that night. I always try to get going once i get there even ifs its just walking around. If i need to take a nap later, i will but thats rarely. I will usually be too busy seeing something that time flys by.

also, if you can since you get to london so early, i would spend some of that time walking around the neighborhood and see it while its still quite.

I have more issues with the lag going back home. But going there, isnt that big a deal.

happy trails.

Hi Everyone and thank you for the tips, especially regarding the jet lag issue.

Comments concerning jet leg...I know that it was going to be an issue flying over night and getting into London so early, our thoughts were the bus/boat ride would get us out and about into the fresh air to help stave off the effects of jet lag without being too taxing as didn't think we would be too energetic but didn't want to stay in the apartment and chance falling asleep...so maybe we will start out walking the area (we are right next to Kensington Park with about 20 minute walk to Science/Natural History Museums) and just do the bus tour and get off on a couple of areas that strike our fancy. Having never traveled overseas myself, wasn't sure what we will encounter. I suspect I will be ok as I am a bit of a night owl and can go without sleep and still function. The husband and 13 year old are different story. :)

@Cathy, thanks for the scheduling tips with our lovely teenager...your comments are exactly what we have done with her. We have been trying to involve her in the planning. All of us sat down after having done some research and selected our "top 5" must sees and went from there. I am worried that we are not planning enough down time as well...the people watching, browsing shops...which has always been a favorite past time (my husband is a psychologist!) So, I am certainly going to take your comments to heart and see where I can possibly rearrange activities to include more "chill time". Thanks!

@Andrea...we are currently working with the booking agency on early check in time...we will not know until closer to time so are going to have to adjust accordingly...right now it looks like it will be ok as there is a two day gap between our booking and the place being booked before us...so am hoping no one wants to stay there for only one night prior to our arrival.

We are also arriving at 6:30 a.m. And I was planning on the HOHO bus that day too. I read somewhere that it was good to do on your first day so you can be out and see stuff without wearing yourself out walking around. But since it's not something you have to reserve in advance I'll just see what we feel like doing once we're there. I think our hotel will hold our luggage but we may not be able to get in a room until 2:00 so we'll have to find something to do.

Since you are near Nottinghill, you are near the Portebello Street Market which is early Saturday morning...don't miss it! It starts very early so nothing else is open yet anyway...you can still find some affordable antiques such as book plates prints. The scene is very entertaining.

Skip Stonehenge, Bath, etc and take boat to Hampton Court and train back or vice versa. You can't get close to Stonehenge....you need overnight for to appreciate Bath. Kew Gardens is worth a visit. Study Edinburgh area to focus on your interests....there are many historic and beautiful places to visit. Look up Historic Scotland Site and National Trust for Scotland site. We followed the Mary Queen of Scots Trail when we were there. Following the Robertson Clan could be quite interesting. We followed the Campbell Clan ...they had a few castles. The Duke of Argyle is chief of the Campbells.

Thanks Kathleen on the heads up about the market...was hoping to catch that to get a "real taste" of British life...also for the info on Hampton Court...I think that would be an easier more relaxing trip than the other "run through" day...ugh!!...so frustrating!!! We want to do it all!!!

Also, I haven't even had a chance to look at Scotland...London is all consuming so thanks for that as well!

You can certainly do Windsor Castle in about a half a day on your own. The day you were going to do Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor all at once seems like a bear of a day in my opinion. For Edinburgh, our favorites were the Royal Yacht, Mary Kings Close (probably our favorite) and being at the castle at I think one pm for shooting off the cannon

I have to agree with the statement that jet lag affects people differently. I have traveled to Europe on 6 different occasions with teens and I can say from my experience... they are just fine. Combined with the fact that most of them can sleep anywhere (on the plane) there is the combination of excitement and adrenalin that always keeps us going pretty much full steam the first day. Maybe an afternoon snooze on the HoHo bus would be a great way to take a 20 minute refresher nap (I know as I have done it)
Early to bed that night and all should be up and running on day 2. First day for us is always a great day full of wonder.

Ann...that is what I am hoping for...I think the excitement of our first trip overseas as a family will have us super energized..now come day two or three is when I suspect things will begin to crumble and tempers will flare. :)

Ann...that is what I am hoping for...I think the excitement of our first trip overseas as a family will have us super energized..now come day two or three is when I suspect things will begin to crumble and tempers will flare. :)

Ruth,

I agree with those who say to get out and move the the first day. You'll have been sitting on a plane for hours already. My 17 year old son managed to fall asleep on a 20 minute double-decker bus ride the first day, but revived when we walked around Westminster and rode the London Eye. Perhaps you could explore Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and such that afternoon.

Also agree with Kathleen and Gail about Hampton Court, Windsor or Kew Gardens making manageable day trips. We've enjoyed all of those, and so did our boys.

If you want to actually see, rather than just hear the Changing of the Guard, you will probably need to allot more time than 2 hours since you need to get there early to get a spot. We were happy being further back and just seeing the bands march in and out and hearing the playing (my husband loves brass instruments).

You're wise to have built in a free day to catch any essentials you may have missed. As long as you keep that mentality day by day (as in, do we really want to see this or are we too tired to enjoy it), you should have a fine trip. (If you do decide to visit the Natural History Museum, my son and daughter-in-law enjoyed the behind the scenes tour with our British friends. However, if you're not into animals preserved in bottles, skip it. :-)) Having an apartment so that you all can go to your rooms and chill out will be helpful, too. Our boys liked the "normalness" of being able to open the frig to find something to eat and watching the local television programs in the evening.

You can't do it all, so remember your must-sees, and enjoy your trip.