Input on our stay in London - with children

Everyone will have their own opinion, but between Windsor Castle or Hampton Court, I think your children would enjoy Hampton Court more. There are a lot of interactive exhibits and demonstrations; and if the weather cooperates, the gardens are fantastic and allow plenty of space to spread out and soak up the atmosphere. Check out the Hampton Court website to see what demos and interpretations will be going on during your time in London so you can pick which day to go.

I can't believe the Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour isn't on your children's list. If it is, don't wait too long to buy your tickets. As for the "usual suspects" that this age group would really enjoy, top on the list is the Tower of London. If you go to Borough Market, get the goat's milk ice cream if available, and the cheese sandwich from Kappacasein Dairy.

I'll be back there myself in about a month - can't wait!!

My daughter at 10.5 really enjoyed our trip to Hampton Court [though we've never been to Windsor so can't compare]. In addition to the HC Palace tour, we enjoyed the gardens and a ride in a brougham - which made me realize why travelers were tired after a day riding in a carriage on often-bumpy roads. We also really enjoyed the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower when she was a bit older; tickets are free but you need to order well in advance [you should be fine if you order soon]. In fact we liked it so much we were back the next morning to see the Tower in daylight.

Have a great trip!

I agree that your children would probably enjoy Hampton Court more. You can walk through the kitchens which are quite interesting and there is a maze in the garden (not sure if it's open in Nov.) I say that with one caveat - if they are all girls they may enjoy Windsor more as you get to see Queen Elizabeth's doll house which is quite large and amazing.

We had family that lived just outside London for several years so I did many day trips into London with nieces and nephews. The things they enjoyed most were - hanging out in / near Covent Garden and watching street performers. Hamley's toy shop (it's like the UK version of FAO Schwarz) 5 stories high and every toy you could possibly imagine. The British Museum has a children's audio tour that is very well done. The Tower of London. Going to a show. The royal mews.

We will be in London in Nov also and I noticed there will be a "winter wonderland" going on in Hyde Park. It starts Nov. 21st.

I'll cast my vote also for Hampton Court over Windsor. The Tudor kitchens are good fun, and frequently have costumed presenters demoing cooking techniques. You may even run into a Tudor lord or lady gliding about the place.

There's not a lot to the Foundling Museum. There's one room with tokens the mothers left behind hoping to reclaim their children (and some are so desperately sad) but the rest of the museum is art - portraits of governors and benefactors, etc. The Museum of London may be a better choice. You can see 2000 years of London's history. There are recreated Roman rooms, remnants of Boudicca's burning of London, a walk in Saxon house, the Great Fire experience (admittedly state of the art in the 1970's), the actual prison cell of a highwayman, a full size repro of Victorian shops, and the Lord Mayors gold coach. They've also just installed part of the cauldron from the 2012 Olympics, and it's all free!

Borough market is fab if you have aspiring foodies, and try to go on a Thursday or Friday as Saturday gets uncomfortably crowded. While you're in the area, look to see if your kids would be up for the Old Operating Theatre. If you do go, try to find out if there are any tours or talks being offered. My best visit there coincided with a school field trip and I listened in to the presentation on early medicine and surgeries. Really gives you an appreciation for how far we've come!

I too vote for Hampton Court Palace. We took our 8 yr old granddaughter there 2 years ago and it was a highlight of our 3 week long trip. We went on a weekend when they were having a special event going on with lots so people in period costume. We were a little concerned that it would be really crowded, but it wasn't. Be sure to ask for the kids audio tour. If your kids like "Horrible Histories" humor they'll love the special kid's narration. We had to go buy more the of the series at the British Museum because she so loved the humor.

My first trip to London was when I was 12 yrs old. Several things stand out in my mind 50 yrs later.

• We walked across Tower Bridge to the Tower of London, several castles within one & went thru the Tower.
• Feeding pigeons on Trafalgar Square. Stand like a scarecrow & the birds will land on your arms.
• Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum where the wax figures are so life-like. Mom took my brother & I into the scary part. We could see Snow White's chest rise & fall as she breathed. Mom said the museum at one time offered money to anyone who could stay the night in the dungeon of horrors. During WWII a couple of intoxicated American soldiers came into the dungeon & "slept it off."
• Hyde Park. I found it fascinating anyone could bring a soapbox (crate) into one corner of the park & speak about whatever they wanted to. The speaker who caught my attn was promoting Communism.

If you are there in the morning, go to Buckingham Palace & watch the changing of the guards. BTW, the Union Jack flies above whichever castle the Queen is currently residing in.

The movie Mary Poppins was released prior to our trip. St Paul's Cathedral was on our itinerary.

Whatever you choose, I am sure it will leave an impression with your children.

Bon Voyage!

Rick has a chapter in his book London 2014, the chapter is London with Children.

We took our 11 and 8 year olds to London a few years ago. Their best memories are of the Tower of London and seeing Spamalot. If you think your children would enjoy it I recommend getting the half price tix and trying out a show. That also gives you something more relaxing to do in the evening. I would definitely recommend utilizing the morning and afternoon then turning in early, especially since it will be getting dark and cold by dinner time. When we travel with our kids we like to eat lunch out them try to get take out or make sandwiches for dinner and eat in the hotel.

If you want to go to an art museum and everyone is tired you might try the Portrait Gallery. It was easy and we enjoyed seeing the portraits of the royals of the past.

I haven't been to Hampton Court but it is on my list, especially after reading the comments above. We went to Windsor and I thought it was fantastic. We also enjoyed the town. You could even spend your first night in Windsor after arriving in Heathrow.

Instead of the Foundlings Museum, go see the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A on some tourist maps). It features decorative items, clothing, from the Tudor period forward. Amazing tapestries and embroidered dresses worn in Tudor and Elizabethan (Elizabeth the first) time periods. A display that shows how clothing styles, especially dresses, evolved from Tudor times until now with gorgeous dresses. A wooden writing and stationary box that belonged to Henry the 8th, beautifully decorated. Many decorative items, such as jewelery and small snuff boxes. They have Victorian dresses for young girls to try on in the British Galleries play area.

They may be interested in seeing Westminster Abbey. It is awesome and they will remember seeing where Will and Kate got married.

There is a great book, not very expensive. "Take The Kids London" by Cadogan books that has sights and restaurant recommendations for kids their ages.

Personally, I'd want to see both Hampton Court and Windsor Castle, plus Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. If you drop anything in order to do those, I'd drop Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum (unless it's on the kids' wish list and they are excited about it). A tourist attraction to miss is The London Dungeon, in case that dreadful waste of time and money comes up. Rick Steves has the same opinion of it, in his London book. Gorey, boring, about the same as your hometown spookhouse at Halloween.

The good news: you are going to all have a great time in London! The bad news: five days will pass FAST! You will have to save some things for next trip.

Hampton Court also has a very large hedge maze in the gardens to the side of the palace as well as one of the first tennis courts ever built. Large deer park in the back. The only thing that I think Windsor has over Hampton is that it is still lived in and has a much flashier interior with lots of gold gilt, paintings, and well polished grandeur! Hampton is quite a bit more understated in its interior.

Mincepie is spot on about the Museum of London. I had forgotten that I took the neices and nephews there. They REALLY enjoyed it! It's the one museum they enjoyed more than I did:)

We took our 14 and 16 year old granddaughters to London last year. We were only there for 2 days before we flew out. They loved Westminster Abbey. They enjoyed the Tower. We didn't get to take them to Hampton Court but I do agree with others that would be better than Windsor. They also really liked Camdon Market. One of them had studied Shakespeare in school so wanted to see the Globe Theater - they also enjoyed a play. (I haven't been to the London Museum for quite a number of years, but I think that would be a good destination too.)

Something really exciting to do is to take one of the "Hop-On-Hop-Off" bus tours detailed in Rick Steves' London book. It is a tour all around the city on top of a double-decker bus. You get an overview of all the sights in about two hours. (Do the one that features a live narrator onboard.) The ticket is good for 24 hours, so you can then do another loop around the city, hop off to see one sight, then hop back on the bus (another one will come by shortly). This is not a good way for transportation in general. For that, you will want to pick up a tube map, and a bus map, available at many tube and train stations, or visitors center.

Some Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tours include a boat ride on the River Thames. I think that's a lot of fun also! You get to see the sights of London from the river. And it is narrated, so you know which buildings you are passing.

Children seem to enjoy the Museum of London. They have a variety of exhibits about Roman Britain and the history of the city of London.

I was in London last year with my daughters (ages 5 and 7 at the time). They are a bit younger than your children, but here are the top things they liked in no particular order:

1. Windsor Castle. We did not see Hampton Ct., so I can't compare the two. I will say that it was very easy to get to and from Windsor. It was a great place to see a changing of the guards ceremony. The rooms that are open are very interesting. My girls liked the doll house. The staff seemed attuned to children, espcially at St. George's chapel where one of the men working there spent about 15 minutes really engaging with and pointing things out to my kids.

2. Covent Garden/London Transportation Museum/Show. Covent Garden has some great low cost performers that my kids liked (free to watch, but everyone throws some money in the hat at the end) . The London Transportation Museum (right next to Covent Garden) has a neat collection of old buses and subways that kids can climb on. As a plus it has clean bathrooms and your ticket is good for a year. There are plenty of theaters nearby. We saw the Lion King and really enjoyed it.

3. Churchill War Rooms. This was a real shocker to me. It was supposed to be a concession to daddy, but we ended up having to prod the kids along because they were taking so long looking at everything. There is a special audio tour for kids and a lot of really interesting stuff to see in the Churchill Museum portion.

4. The museums in South Kensington. The V&A has a lot of interactive kiosks that my kids liked. The natural history museum has dinosaurs. The science museum has some nice interactive displays and staff engagement learning stations.

5. Tower of London. A castle, crown jewels, ravens, live action actors in period costumes, beefeaters. This was the favorite of the group. Just show up early if you can.

6. London Eye. Great views of the city.

7. Wesminster Abbey - They have a children's tour page/hunt that my oldest daughter really liked. You get a chocloate at the end for finding all of the items on the list and filling it out. One caveat that won't apply to you - this is really for about ages 7 and up. My youngest had a near meltdown because she was having trouble reading the clues and finding the answers in the crowd.

We did not see the British Museum. I decided to pass on it figuring my kids wouldn't get much out of it. I have seen it on prior trips and highly recommend it if your kids have any interest in ancient history. Their collection is world class.

Have a great trip.

Another vote for the Museum of London and Camden Lock Market. Both excellent. Would add the Treasure Room at the British Library. Visit the Tower of London, then walk up toward the Gherkin and into the nearby Leadenhall Market Place. Nice dichotomy of traditional England, modern England and a stellar glass covered market. Visit Liberty, if weather agrees ride Barclays bikes around Hyde Park, theatre one evening, Spamalot is great, see if they are playing a match on the Heath,
http://www.hampsteadrugbyclub.co.uk, and if still in session why not attend a court trial at the Old Bailey? http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-the-city/what-we-do/Pages/Central-Criminal-Court.aspx

Yet another vote for the Museum of London. Great history there of Roman Britain and London.

Same as Rebecca: children seem to enjoy The Museum of London.

Thank you all so much!! You have been SO helpful!
I'm definitely tweaking our list...
I did not have the Museum of London on my list and now I realize it definitely must be!
"War Horse" will be onstage while we are there and I am hoping to get tickets.
Hopefully they will be offered at the half price outlet by then.

Ksh34: Another vote for Hampton Court--especially the kitchens. Also, consider making reservations for the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. It occurs at night (as I recall, around 9:00 pm or so). Google it and see if the kids want to do it.

We have returned! Shaking off the jet lag and still grinning!
When I dig out from my laundry, I will be glad to give a recap (but not sit you all down for a slide show, ha ha! ).
In a nutshell, though....I will say - Travelcards were a MAJOR yes!! Easy Breezy and make the 5 days in London wonderful. The weather was LOVELY. Ceremony of the Keys was a HUGE hit with the family. The 2-4-1 deals were well used by us at the Tower, Transport Museum (BIG hit, even with the adults!) and the War Rooms. Easy to use.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!
And Paris was WONDERFUL as well!!! It truly went even better than I had dreamed!!

Thanks to you for the feedback. I am so glad it all worked out, especially the weather.