Itinerary for five nights in London

Make sure you buy your tickets online in advance to avoid standing in long lines.

Thanks, Suki! One reason I posted was so I could nail down the itinerary and purchase online tickets soon. Have already bought train/Eurostar tix of course.

You’ll be busy but sounds like fun! You won’t see much around Parliament or hear Big Ben-all covered in scaffolding for the next few years. For lunch at Borough Market try https://www.padella.co. Worth the wait. For dinner in St. James area, if going fancy here: https://thestaffordlondon.com, The Game Bird. Even if not, a great stop off for a G&T at the American Bar and eavesdrop on the politicians and power brokers. If not up for fancy try https://www.cafemurano.co.uk/stjames/ for really good Italian food. Enjoy!

Alan, the minute I looked at the Cafe Murano website I saw cichetti! My husband has been talking (OK, whining) about going back to Venice for Cichetti for almost a year now. Maybe this will tide him over? Great recommendation. I had been looking at a little family run place called Il Vicolo very near there. Maybe husband and I can leave our 16-year-old in the room with his iPhone while we head over for a G&T at The American Bar! Thanks so much!

I don’t know Il’Vicolo but we’ve dined at Cafe Murano several times and it’s been great. We like this location more than the one at Covent Gardens where the servers need to climb a flight of stairs for each dish and always seem winded! The American Bar will make your son a very nice mock tail and if the weather is right you can sit outdoors. It’s behind the Ritz. Look for the carriage house. Used to be an old stable that the hotel renovated and made into suites. Stayed there once, spoiled for life!

Decided to do Changing of the guard at Horse Guards instead of Buckingham Palace.

Good plan re:Changing of the Guards at Horse Guard Parades. We were able to get up close to the Guards as they were marching and see it all-rather than the quick glances over people's head at Buck House.

I'd recommend seeing a play-London still has some of the best theatre. If you don't have a play in mind go to the Half-Price ticket booth in Leicester Square and see what's available.

Second recommendation is take your son on a London Walks. www.londonwalks.com. They have some great walks through neighborhoods and most of their guides are actors so they are entertaining as well.

I agree about Horse Guards instead of Buckingham Palace. But you're going to walk all the way to St. Paul's, the long way across the river and back, and then not go inside? I don't get it. The inside is magnificent and full of history, and just a few feet away from where you'll be looking at the building!

If you think you'll be too tired, shorten your route there from the Tower. If you don't want to climb all the steps into the dome, then certainly don't. Or let the kid do it if he has the energy. But don't miss Wren's interior. There's an admission charge, but it's not bad and, as Rick Steves says, these are the things you spent all that money to get there to see.

Otherwise it seems well paced and organized. Have fun!

Ok, thanks, Dick! Husband and I have toured St. Paul ‘s before and were concerned the teen might get burned out but we what good is taking your kid to the Uk if you can’t torture them with history! 🙂

Thanks, Heather. Was considering the Westminster by gaslight walk through London walks. My boys don’t seem inclined to theatre but maybe we should give it a shot! Shake it up!

It's been years since I've been a teen but as an adult I quite liked The Woman in Black(It's a two man play based on a book/movie about a haunted house. There were lots of school groups when we attended and I believe there's a discount at the Half-price ticket booth. I've also heard good things about The Play that Goes Wrong, a comedy about a murder mystery play which "goes wrong". I never was much of a non-musical lover until I attended a play in London.

Another vote for Woman in Black. Got my ticket last year at the box office. 3 rows from the front on the aisle. Loved it. Yes loads of kids but 5 minutes in they were focused and totally into what was happening on stage.

London Walks ghost tour is great. Also check what’s on at the Wilton Music Hall during your travel dates.
If you find something to attend be sure to enjoy the beauty of Tower Bridge lit up at night as you walk back to the Tower Hill Tube Station. In fact also check this link http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/lift-times/
It’s pretty cool ( yes I used the term cool ) to watch it lift.

I’d also like to suggest that either Brick Lane or Camden Lock markets would be of more interest to the 16 year old than Borough Market.

Great city. Enjoy your stay.

If your 16 yr old is considering universities, he may want to look at this web site, I use them to help set up my grad school option this Sept, it's totally free for American students who want to go to the UK. There's a list of universities which have the connection with the FAFSA grants and loans, so he may want to take a look at a campus while he's there.

https://www.studyacrossthepond.com/

Have a fun trip!
-Alison

Welp, just went to book tickets to Westminster Abbey (already booked Churchill War Rooms for the afternoon) and booking is closed on July 10! No worries, just moved our day to the 12th but sharing as advice to test out the booking engines before planning your itinerary!